Measuring Learning Gains in Chemical Education: A Comparison of Two Methods

Evaluating the effect of a pedagogical innovation is often done by looking for a significant difference in a content measure using a pre−post design. While this approach provides valuable information regarding the presence or absence of an effect, it is limited in providing details about the nature of the effect. A measure of the magnitude of the pre−post change, commonly called learning gain, could provide this additional information to chemical education researchers. In this paper, we compare two methods of measuring learning gains using data from large-scale administrations of the Chemical Concepts Inventory at four universities. The intent of this study is to compare various measures of learning gain, not to contrast the teaching effectiveness at the four universities. In this gain analysis, we introduce a method based on Rasch modeling and discuss the advantages offered by this type of analysis over more commonly used measures of learning gain

Electron Affinity of Chlorine Dioxide

The flowing afterglow technique was used to determine the electron affinity of chlorine dioxide. A value of 2.37 ± 0.10 eV was found by bracketing between the electron affinities of HS° and SF4 as a lower limit and that of NO2 as an upper limit. This value is in excellent agreement with 2.32 eV predicted from a simple thermodynamic cycle involving the reduction potential of the C102/C102- couple and a Gibbs hydration energy identical with that of SO2-

Application of Two-Parameter Item Response Theory for Determining Form-Dependent Items on Exams Using Different Item Orders

Using multiple versions of an assessment has the potential to introduce item environment effects. These types of effects result in version dependent item characteristics (i.e., difficulty and discrimination). Methods to detect such effects and resulting implications are important for all levels of assessment where multiple forms of an assessment are created. This report describes a novel method for identifying items that do and do not display form dependence. The first two steps identify form dependent items using a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis of item parameters estimated by Item Response Theory. The method is illustrated using items that appeared in four forms (two trial and two released versions) of a first semester general chemistry examination. Eighteen of fifty-six items were identified as having item parameters that were form dependent. Thirteen of those items displayed a form dependence consistent with reasons previously identified in the literature: preceding item difficulty, content priming, and a combination of preceding item difficulty and content priming. The remaining five items had form dependence that did not align reasons reported in the literature. An analysis was done to determine if all possible instances of predicted form dependence could be found. Several instances where form dependence could have been found, based on the preceding item difficulty or content priming, were identified, and those items did not display form dependence. We identify and rationalize form dependence for thirteen of the eighteen items flagged; however, we are unable to predict form dependence for items

Fundamental nursing care: a systematic review of the evidence on the effect of nursing care interventions for nutrition, elimination, mobility and hygiene

This is the final version of the article. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of nursing interventions for people's nutrition, elimination, mobility and hygiene needs. BACKGROUND: Patient experience of health care is sensitive to nursing quality. A refocus on fundamental nursing care is undermined by lack of evidence of effectiveness for interventions in core areas such as elimination, nutrition, mobility and hygiene. DESIGN: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: METHODS: We searched for and included experimental studies on interventions by professionally qualified and unregistered nurses that addressed participants' nutrition, elimination, mobility and hygiene needs. We extracted data on scope, quality and results of studies followed by descriptive narrative synthesis of included study outcomes using a novel form of harvest plots. RESULTS: We included 149 studies, 35 nutrition, 56 elimination, 16 mobility, 39 hygiene, and three addressing two or more areas simultaneously (67 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 32 non-RCTs and 50 uncontrolled trials). Studies into interventions on participant self-management of nutrition (n=25), oral health (n=26), catheter care (n=23), and self-management of elimination (n=21) were the most prevalent. Most studies focussed their outcomes on observational or physiological measures, with very few collecting patient reported outcomes, such as quality of life, experience or self-reported symptoms. All but 13 studies were of low quality and at significant risk of bias. The majority of studies did not define primary outcomes, included multiple measures of identical concepts, used inappropriate analyses, and did not conform to standard reporting quality criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence for fundamental nursing care interventions is sparse, of poor quality and unfit to provide evidence-based guidance to practising nurses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.This study was funded by a Programme Development Grant from the UK National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). RP-DG-1214-10001. David Richards and Victoria Goodwin receive funding support from the UK National Institute for Health Research South West Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care

Patients’ and nurses’ experiences of fundamental nursing care: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordAims and objectives To systematically identify, appraise and synthesise patients’, residents’, and nurses’ experiences of fundamental nursing care for nutrition, elimination, mobility, and hygiene. Background The evidence base for effective nursing behaviours to assist people with their fundamental care needs is sparse, hampering the development of effective interventions. Synthesising data on patients’ and nurses’ experiences of fundamentals of nursing care could contribute to the development of such an intervention. Methods Systematic review and synthesis of qualitative data from qualitative studies on patients’ and nurses’ experiences of fundamental nursing care behaviours addressing peoples’ nutrition, elimination, mobility, and hygiene needs. We appraised study quality and relevance and used a narrative approach to data synthesis, fulfilling PRISMA criteria (Supplementary file 1). Results We identified 22,374 papers, 47 met our inclusion criteria. Most papers were of low quality. Sixteen papers met our quality and relevance criteria and were included for synthesis. Papers were about nutrition (2) elimination (2), mobility (5), hygiene (5) and multiple care areas (2). We found nurses and patients report that fundamental nursing care practices involve strong leadership, collaborative 2 partnerships with patients and cohesive organisational practices aligned to nursing care objectives and actions. Conclusions. To improve fundamental care and interventions suitable for testing may require attention to leadership, patient-nurse relationships and organisational coherence plus the fundamentals of care nursing interventions themselves. Relevance to clinical practice. More rigorous mixed methods research about fundamental nursing care is needed to inform nursing practice and improve patient’s experience. Nursing interventions should include effective nurse leadership and nurse patient collaboration and a focus on fundamental care by the host organisation

Dynamics of precipitation pattern formation at geothermal hot springs

We formulate and model the dynamics of spatial patterns arising during the precipitation of calcium carbonate from a supersaturated shallow water flow. The model describes the formation of travertine deposits at geothermal hot springs and rimstone dams of calcite in caves. We find explicit solutions for travertine domes at low flow rates, identify the linear instabilities which generate dam and pond formation on sloped substrates, and present simulations of statistical landscape evolution

Dyadic influences on awareness of condition in people with dementia: findings from the IDEAL cohort

Copyright \ua9 2023 Alexander, Martyr, Gamble, Quinn, Pentecost, Morris, Clare and on behalf of the IDEAL study team.Introduction: The discrepancy between caregiver-ratings and self-ratings of abilities is commonly used to assess awareness in people with dementia. We investigated the contribution of caregiver and dyadic characteristics to the difference in perspective between caregiver-informants and people with dementia about difficulties experienced, when considering awareness of condition. Methods: We conducted exploratory cross-sectional analyses using data from the IDEAL cohort. Participants were 1,038 community-dwelling people with mild-to-moderate dementia, and coresident spouse/partner caregivers. The Representations and Adjustment to Dementia Index (RADIX) checklist reporting difficulties commonly experienced in dementia was completed by 960 caregiver-informants and 989 people with dementia. Difference in scores was calculated for 916 dyads. Demographic information, cognition, informant-rated functional ability and neuropsychiatric symptoms were recorded for the person with dementia. Self-reported data were collected on mood, comorbidity, religion, importance of religion, relationship quality, and caregiver stress. Results: For most dyads, caregivers reported more RADIX difficulties than people with dementia. Caregiver RADIX ratings were more closely associated with informant-rated functional ability and neuropsychiatric symptoms than with cognition. More RADIX difficulties and higher stress were reported by female caregivers. Greater RADIX difference was associated with more caregiver stress, and older age but less depression in people with dementia. Conclusion: Few dyadic characteristics were important, but caregiver stress was higher where caregivers reported more RADIX difficulties and/or the difference in perspective was greater, whereas partners with dementia reported better mood. In addition to offering information about awareness of condition, the caregiver rating and difference in perspectives could indicate where more support is needed

Living well with dementia: An exploratory matched analysis of minority ethnic and white people with dementia and carers participating in the IDEAL programme

\ua9 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Objectives: The increasing heterogeneity of the population of older people is reflected in an increasing number of people with dementia and carers drawn from minority ethnic groups. Data from the IDEAL study are used to compare indices of ‘living well’ among people with dementia and carers from ethnic minority groups with matched white peers. Methods: We used an exploratory cross-sectional case-control design to compare ‘living well’ for people with dementia and carers from minority ethnic and white groups. Measures for both groups were quality of life, life satisfaction, wellbeing, loneliness, and social isolation and, for carers, stress, relationship quality, role captivity and caring competence. Results: The sample of people with dementia consisted of 20 minority ethnic and 60 white participants and for carers 15 and 45 respectively. People with dementia from minority ethnic groups had poorer quality of life (−4.74, 95% CI: −7.98 to −1.50) and higher loneliness (1.72, 95% CI: 0.78–2.66) whilst minority ethnic carers had higher stress (8.17, 95% CI: 1.72–14.63) and role captivity (2.00, 95% CI: 0.43–3.57) and lower relationship quality (−9.86, 95% CI: −14.24 to −5.48) than their white peers. Conclusion: Our exploratory study suggests that people with dementia from minority ethnic groups experience lower quality of life and carers experience higher stress and role captivity and lower relationship quality than their white peers. Confirmatory research with larger samples is required to facilitate analysis of the experiences of specific minority ethnic groups and examine the factors contributing to these disadvantages

Are profiles of social, cultural, and economic capital related to living well with dementia? Longitudinal findings from the IDEAL cohort

Copyright © 2022 Rationale: Research exploring social, cultural, and economic capital among people with dementia is scarce. Objective: We describe levels of social, cultural, and economic capital in people with dementia at baseline and levels of social and cultural capital 12 and 24 months later. We identify groups of people with dementia having different combinations of capital and explore whether the identified groups differ in personal characteristics at baseline and in quality of life (QoL), satisfaction with life (SwL), and well-being over time. Method: Baseline, 12-months, and 24-months data from 1537 people with dementia (age, mean = 76.4 years; SD = 8.5; Alzheimer's Disease = 55.4%) enrolled in the IDEAL cohort were analyzed. Social (interactions with friends, civic participation, social participation, neighborhood trust, social network), cultural (education, cultural participation) and economic (annual income) capital, QoL, SwL, well-being, and personal characteristics were assessed. Results: Compared to people their age, people with dementia reported slightly lower frequency of interactions with friends, social networks and social support, civic and cultural participation, education, and annual income. However, social engagement, cultural participation, and annual income are low among British older adults. Latent profile analysis identified four groups that, based on their levels of social, cultural, and economic capital were named socially and economically privileged (18.0% of participants); financially secure (21.0% of participants); low capital (36.9% of participants); and very low capital (24.1% of participants). Latent growth curve models showed that over time QoL, SwL, and well-being remained largely stable for all groups. Compared to the low capital group, the socially and economically privileged and financially secure groups had higher QoL and well-being whereas the group with very low capital had poorer QoL, SwL, and well-being. Conclusions: New policies and efforts from the government, philanthropic foundations, the voluntary and primary care sectors are needed to address social, cultural, and economic disadvantage among people with dementia.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through grant ES/L001853/2. Alzheimer's Society, grant number 348, AS-PR2-16-001

Combining behavioural activation with physical activity promotion for adults with depression: findings of a parallel-group pilot randomised controlled trial (BAcPAc)

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with physical inactivity, which may mediate the relationship between depression and a range of chronic physical health conditions. However, few interventions have combined a psychological intervention for depression with behaviour change techniques, such as behavioural activation (BA), to promote increased physical activity. METHODS: To determine procedural and clinical uncertainties to inform a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT), a pilot parallel-group RCT was undertaken within two Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in South West England. We aimed to recruit 80 adults with depression and randomise them to a supported, written self-help programme based on either BA or BA plus physical activity promotion (BAcPAc). Data were collected at baseline and 4 months post-randomisation to evaluate trial retention, intervention uptake and variance in outcomes to inform a sample size calculation. Qualitative data were collected from participants and psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the trial methods and the intervention. Routine data were collected to evaluate resource use and cost. RESULTS: Sixty people with depression were recruited, and a 73 % follow-up rate was achieved. Accelerometer physical activity data were collected for 64 % of those followed. Twenty participants (33 %) attended at least one treatment appointment. Interview data were analysed for 15 participants and 9 study PWPs. The study highlighted the challenges of conducting an RCT within existing IAPT services with high staff turnover and absences, participant scheduling issues, PWP and participant preferences for cognitive focussed treatment, and deviations from BA delivery protocols. The BAcPAc intervention was generally acceptable to patients and PWPs. CONCLUSIONS: Although recruitment procedures and data collection were challenging, participants generally engaged with the BAcPAc self-help booklets and reported willingness to increase their physical activity. A number of feasibility issues were identified, in particular the under-use of BA as a treatment for depression, the difficulty that PWPs had in adapting their existing procedures for study purposes and the instability of the IAPT PWP workforce. These problems would need to be better understood and resolved before proceeding to a full-scale RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN74390532 . Registered on 26 March 2013