Evaluation of the impact of interdisciplinarity in cancer care

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Teamwork is a key component of the health care renewal strategy emphasized in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada and in other countries to enhance the quality of oncology services. While this innovation would appear beneficial in theory, empirical evidences of its impact are limited. Current efforts in Quebec to encourage the development of local interdisciplinary teams in all hospitals offer a unique opportunity to assess the anticipated benefits. These teams working in hospital outpatient clinics are responsible for treatment, follow-up and patient support. The study objective is to assess the impact of interdisciplinarity on cancer patients and health professionals.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is a quasi-experimental study with three comparison groups distinguished by intensity of interdisciplinarity: strong, moderate and weak. The study will use a random sample of 12 local teams in Quebec, stratified by intensity of interdisciplinarity. The instrument to measure the intensity of the interdisciplinarity, developed in collaboration with experts, encompasses five dimensions referring to aspects of team structure and process. Self-administered questionnaires will be used to measure the impact of interdisciplinarity on patients (health care utilization, continuity of care and cancer services responsiveness) and on professionals (professional well-being, assessment of teamwork and perception of teamwork climate). Approximately 100 health professionals working on the selected teams and 2000 patients will be recruited. Statistical analyses will include descriptive statistics and comparative analysis of the impact observed according to the strata of interdisciplinarity. Fixed and random multivariate statistical models (multilevel analyses) will also be used.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will pinpoint to what extent interdisciplinarity is linked to quality of care and meets the complex and varied needs of cancer patients. It will ascertain to what extent interdisciplinary teamwork facilitated the work of professionals. Such findings are important given the growing prevalence of cancer and the importance of attracting and retaining health professionals to work with cancer patients.</p

S-N curve for riveted details in corrosive environment and its application to a bridge

A formula for stress‐life curve is proposed to predict the fatigue life of riveted bridges located in corrosive environments. The corrosive environment‐dependent parameters of the S‐N curve are determined based on the corrosion fatigue testing results of different types of steel specimens in air, fresh water, and seawater. Eurocode detail category 71 and UK WI‐rivet detail category represent the fatigue strength of riveted members. The proposed S‐N curve formula is compared with full‐scale fatigue test results of riveted joints, plate girders, and truss girders, which were tested in a corrosive environment. Thus, the validity of the formula is confirmed. The formula does not require any material parameter other than the code‐given fatigue curve of riveted details. The fatigue life of a riveted railway bridge is estimated by using the proposed formula, and the results are compared with conventional approaches. The applicability and significance of the proposed curve are confirmed.publishedVersio

Conservation culturomics

Culturomics is an emerging field of study that seeks to understand human culture through the quantitative analysis of changes in word frequencies in large bodies of digital texts. Culturomics research can help nature conservation respond to cultural trends, building and reinvigorating its societal relevance. We identify five areas where culturomics can be used to advance the practice and science of conservation: 1) demonstrating constituency and public interest in nature; 2) identifying conservation emblems; 3) providing new metrics and tools for near real-time environmental monitoring and to support decision-making; 4) assessing the cultural impact of conservation interventions, and; 5) framing conservation issues and promoting public understanding. More generally, culturomics opens up an exciting new area of research, equipping conservationists with novel tools to engage with and shape human interactions with the natural world.</p