Academic Mentoring of Social Work Faculty: A Group Experience With a Feminist Influence

Using theory and principles of group process, and influenced by feminist theory of co-mentoring, a group of social work educators met monthly in a telephone mediated support group. The purpose of the group was to offer support to faculty involved in the tenure process in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service. This paper offers an analysis of this experience. Suggestions for improved mentoring of social work faculty will be explored and areas for further research will be identified

Mobility and strength training with and without protein supplements for pre-frail or frail older adults with low protein intake: the Maximising Mobility and Strength Training (MMoST) feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol

Background Frailty is a common syndrome affecting older people and puts them at risk of hospitalisation, needing care or death. First signs of frailty include reduced muscle strength and mobility decline. A key cause of mobility decline as we age is sarcopenia (age related reduction in muscle strength and mass). Poor nutrition contributes to sarcopenia. A shortfall in protein is associated with reduced muscle mass and strength. This may be due to inadequate intake but also because older people have higher protein needs, especially those with multimorbidity. We need to develop effective treatment to reduce or slow the onset of frailty and mobility decline. Exercise is a recommended treatment. Protein supplements to address the shortfall in protein have the potential to enhance the benefit of regular exercise in frail or pre-frail older adults. This has yet to be definitively demonstrated. Aim To establish the feasibility of conducting an RCT evaluating mobility and strength training with or without protein supplements for people over 60 years old who are frail or pre-frail with a low protein intake. Methods A multicentre, parallel, 2-group, feasibility RCT. Participants (recruitment target = 50) with problems walking, low protein intake and classified as frail or pre-frail will be recruited from four NHS Physiotherapy community services. Participants will be randomised (secure computer-generated: 1:1) to receive 24 weeks of mobility and strength training (delivered in 16 group sessions plus home exercises) or 24 weeks of mobility and strength training with daily protein supplements. Primary feasibility objectives are to estimate 1) ability to screen and recruit eligible participants, 2) intervention fidelity, adherence, and tolerance and 3) retention of participants at follow up. Secondary objectives are to 1) test data collection procedures, 2) assess data completeness and 3) confirm sample size calculation for a definitive RCT. Registration ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN30405954; 18/10/2022)

Social Difficulties in Youth with Autism With and Without Anxiety and ADHD Symptoms

Social difficulties inherent to autism spectrum disorder are often linked with co‐occurring symptoms of anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study sought to examine the relation between such co‐occurring symptoms and social challenges. Parents of adolescents with autism (N = 113) reported upon social challenges via the social responsiveness scale (SRS) and anxiety and ADHD symptomatology via the Child Behavior Checklist. Results revealed differences in SRS scores across co‐occurring symptom subgroups (Anxiety, ADHD, Both, Neither)—namely, adolescents with autism and anxiety as well as those with autism, anxiety, and ADHD showed greater scores on the SRS than the other groups. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed and recommendations are offered. Lay Summary Anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are related to greater social challenges for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The present study found that autism with anxiety and autism with anxiety and ADHD, was related to greater social difficulties than autism alone. Findings provide further support for the intertwined nature of anxiety and ADHD symptoms in autism. What this may mean for research and clinical practice is considered and recommendations are suggested

Social Difficulties in Youth with Autism With and Without Anxiety and ADHD Symptoms

Social difficulties inherent to autism spectrum disorder are often linked with co‐occurring symptoms of anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study sought to examine the relation between such co‐occurring symptoms and social challenges. Parents of adolescents with autism (N = 113) reported upon social challenges via the social responsiveness scale (SRS) and anxiety and ADHD symptomatology via the Child Behavior Checklist. Results revealed differences in SRS scores across co‐occurring symptom subgroups (Anxiety, ADHD, Both, Neither)—namely, adolescents with autism and anxiety as well as those with autism, anxiety, and ADHD showed greater scores on the SRS than the other groups. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed and recommendations are offered. Lay Summary Anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are related to greater social challenges for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The present study found that autism with anxiety and autism with anxiety and ADHD, was related to greater social difficulties than autism alone. Findings provide further support for the intertwined nature of anxiety and ADHD symptoms in autism. What this may mean for research and clinical practice is considered and recommendations are suggested

A Psychometric Analysis of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents Among Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Caregiver–Adolescent Agreement, Factor Structure, and Validity

Social anxiety is common among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An ongoing challenge for both research and clinical practice in ASD is the assessment of anxious symptomatology. Despite its widespread use in samples of youth with ASD, the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) has not received psychometric evaluation within this population; thus, the validity of its use in research and clinical practice for ASD remains unclear. The present study conducted a psychometric analysis of caregiver and adolescent SAS-A forms in a sample of adolescents with ASD (N = 197). Results revealed (1) poor caregiver–adolescent item-level agreement, (2) a two-factor structure, (3) lack of measurement invariance between reporters, and (4) modest evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Overall, findings suggest that this measure demonstrates reasonable psychometric properties in an ASD sample. Lack of measurement invariance, however, calls for careful interpretation of research involving the SAS-A in ASD samples, particularly when the primary goal is to compare adolescent and caregiver reports. The implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed

Executive Compensation, Corporate Governance and Corporate Performance: A Simultaneous Equation Approach

This paper investigates the association between executive compensation and performance. It uniquely utilises a comprehensive set of corporate governance mechanisms within a three-stage least squares (3SLS) simultaneous equation framework. Results based on estimating a conventional single equation model indicate that the executive pay and performance sensitivity is relatively weak, whereas those based on estimating a 3SLS model generally suggest improved executive pay and performance sensitivity. Our findings highlight the need for future research to control for possible simultaneous interdependencies when estimating the executive pay and performance link. The findings are generally robust across a raft of econometric models that control for different types of endogeneities, executive pay and performance proxies.<br/

An international perspective on definitions and terminology used to describe serious reportable patient safety incidents: A systematic review

Objectives: Patients are unintentionally, yet frequently, harmed in situations that are deemed preventable. Incident reporting systems help prevent harm, yet there is considerable variability in how patient safety incidents are reported. This may lead to inconsistent or unnecessary patterns of incident reporting and failures to identify serious patient safety incidents. This systematic review aims to describe international approaches in relation to defining serious reportable patient safety incidents. Methods: Multiple electronic and gray literature databases were searched for articles published between 2009 and 2019. Empirical studies, reviews, national reports, and policies were included. A narrative synthesis was conducted because of study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 50 articles were included. There was wide variation in the terminology used to represent serious reportable patient safety incidents. Several countries defined a specific subset of incidents, which are considered sufficiently serious, yet preventable if appropriate safety measures are taken. Terms such as “never events,” “serious reportable events,” or “always review and report” were used. The following dimensions were identified to define a serious reportable patient safety incident: (1) incidents being largely preventable; (2) having the potential for significant learning; (3) causing serious harm or have the potential to cause serious harm; (4) being identifiable, measurable, and feasible for inclusion in an incident reporting system; and (5) running the risk of recurrence. Conclusions: Variations in terminology and reporting systems between countries might contribute to missed opportunities for learning. International standardized definitions and blame-free reporting systems would enable comparison and international learning to enhance patient safety