Different behavior versus differential opportunity to observe : factors associated with inter-rater agreement within a 360-degree appraisal process

The explanations for performance appraisal rating disagreement between supervisors and subordinates center on one of the following four perspectives; raters have different opportunities to observe performance, raters have different expectations, raters use different scales, and raters have different constructs of performance appraisal dimensions. An alternative, and much simpler, explanation for rating disagreement is that the ratee behaves differently when interacting with different raters; therefore, the raters rate the ratee differently. The purpose of this study was to explore and better understand rating differences in a 360-degree performance appraisal context. Specifically, this study examined rating differences between supervisors and subordinates as well as among subordinates to identify potential explanations for rating differences. Using actual 360-degree performance appraisal data, influence tactic ratings, Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) ratings, and self-monitoring scores, this study examined whether the relationship (i.e., LMX) between the rater and ratee might be related to rating differences and rater agreement. Self-monitoring was proposed as an individual difference variable that could be related to rater agreement. Three-hundred sixty-two managers, 40 senior managers, and 1086 subordinates participated in the study. Data was collected through surveys sent to each of the three sources approximately one month prior to completing the company\u27s annual 360-degree performance appraisal process. The surveys included measures of influence tactics, Leader-Member Exchange, and self-monitoring. Results provided some support for the study\u27s hypotheses. In-group subordinates did rate their manager differently than out-group subordinates on both influence tactic ratings and on performance appraisal ratings. Further, LMX similarity moderated rater agreement, measured through rwg, both between senior managers and subordinates as well as among subordinate raters. The results indicate that those with similar relations with the target rated the target similarly. None of the relationships hypothesized for self-monitoring received support. The findings pertaining to LMX rating differences and agreement moderation suggest that rater disagreement may be a function of ratee behavior as opposed to error or misperception as hypothesized in much of the performance appraisal literature. Direction for future research, study limitations and implications of these findings are discussed

Construing and body dissatisfaction in chronic depression: a study of body psychotherapy.

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The frequent association of depression with somatic symptoms suggests that body psychotherapy may be an appropriate therapeutic intervention for people with chronic depression. Using a subset of twenty-three participants from a randomized controlled trial that had demonstrated the effectiveness of such an intervention in reducing depressive symptoms, the present study investigated whether it may also impact aspects of construing which have been associated with depression. Patients presenting with chronic depression were randomly allocated to a treatment group or a waiting list group, which received body psychotherapy after a period on a waiting list. Correlations between repertory grid, questionnaire, and visual analogue measures indicated that depression and bodily dissatisfaction were associated with features of the content and structure of construing. There were no significant changes while patients were on the waiting list, but during treatment reduction in depression and bodily dissatisfaction, together with increase in self-esteem and quality of life, were accompanied by an increase in the salience of construing of the bodily self.Peer reviewe

mHealth: providing a mindfulness app for women with chronic pelvic pain in gynaecology outpatient clinics: qualitative data analysis of user experience and lessons learnt

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a pre-existing smartphone app to teach mindfulness meditation is acceptable to women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and can be integrated into clinical practice within the National Health Service (NHS) CPP pathways, and to inform the design of a potential randomised clinical trial. DESIGN: A prestudy patient and public involvement (PPI) group to collect feedback on the acceptability of the existing app and study design was followed by a three-arm randomised feasibility trial. In addition, we undertook interviews and focus groups with patients and staff to explore app usability and acceptability. We also obtained participant comments on the research process, such as acceptability of the study questionnaires. SETTING: Two gynaecology clinics within Barts Health NHS, London, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CPP lasting ≥6 months with access to smartphone or personal computer and understanding of basic English. INTERVENTION: The intervention was mindfulness meditation content plus additional pain module delivered by a smartphone app. Active controls received muscle relaxation content from the same app. Passive (waiting list) controls received usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Themes on user feedback, app usability and integration, and reasons for using/not using the app. RESULTS: The use of the app was low in both active groups. Patients in the prestudy PPI group, all volunteers, were enthusiastic about the app (convenience, content, portability, flexibility, ease of use). Women contributing to the interview or focus group data (n=14), from a 'real world' clinic (some not regular app users), were less positive, citing as barriers lack of opportunities/motivation to use the app and lack of familiarity and capabilities with technology. Staff (n=7) were concerned about the potential need for extra support for them and for the patients, and considered the app needed organisational backing and peer acceptance. CONCLUSION: The opinions of prestudy PPI volunteers meeting in their private time may not represent those of patients recruited at a routine clinic appointment. It may be more successful to codesign/codevelop an app with typical users than to adapt existing apps for use in real-world clinical populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN10925965

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of body psychotherapy in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia - a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Chiroptical Properties and Conformation of 4,5-Saturated Derivatives of 5-Aryl-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones

CD spectra of a series of 5-aryl-7-chloro-l,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 2H-l,4-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives having different substituents at positions 1, 3, 4, and 5 were studied. The absolute configuration at C-5 of two homochiral analogues, 1 and 2, having enantiomorphous ring conformations was determined on the basis of chiroptical correlations and theoretical calculations. The latter have shown that the optical activity mainly originates from the one-electron mechanism and is determined by the helicity of the diazepine ring, i. e. by the inherent chirality of the partial chromophore 4-chloro-N,2-dimethyl-formanilide. Exciton inter action s between transitions of the two arornatic chromophores A and C also give a significant contribution to chiroptical properties. By applying simple chiroptical rules dedueed from experimental spectra and supported by calculations, the stereochemistry (absolute conformation and configuration), of 3,5-disubstituted cis and trans epimeric pairs (7-17) was revealed

Effectiveness of group body psychotherapy for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: multicentre randomised controlled trial

Background Negative symptoms of schizophrenia have a severe impact on functional outcomes and treatment options are limited. Arts therapies are currently recommended but more evidence is required. Aims To assess body psychotherapy as a treatment for negative symptoms compared with an active control (trial registration:ISRCTN84216587). Method Schizophrenia out-patients were randomised into a 20-session body psychotherapy or Pilates group. The primary outcome was negative symptoms at end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included psychopathology, functional, social and treatment satisfaction outcomes at treatment end and 6-months later. Results In total, 275 participants were randomised. The adjusted difference in negative symptoms was 0.03 (95% CI –1.11 to 1.17), indicating no benefit from body psychotherapy. Small improvements in expressive deficits and movement disorder symptoms were detected in favour of body psychotherapy. No other outcomes were significantly different. Conclusions Body psychotherapy does not have a clinically relevant beneficial effect in the treatment of patients with negative symptoms of schizophreni

Codesigning a systemic discharge intervention for inpatient mental health settings (MINDS): a protocol for integrating realist evaluation and an engineering-based systems approach

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Introduction: Transition following discharge from mental health hospital is high risk in terms of relapse, readmission and suicide. Discharge planning supports transition and reduces risk. It is a complex activity involving interacting systemic elements. The codesigning a systemic discharge intervention for inpatient mental health settings (MINDS) study aims to improve the process for people being discharged, their carers/supporters and staff who work in mental health services, by understanding, co-designing and evaluating implementation of a systemic approach to discharge planning. Methods and analysis: The MINDS study integrates realist research and an engineering-informed systems approach across three stages. Stage 1 applies realist review and evaluation using a systems approach to develop programme theories of discharge planning. Stage 2 uses an Engineering Better Care framework to codesign a novel systemic discharge intervention, which will be subjected to process and economic evaluation in stage 3. The programme theories and resulting care planning approach will be refined throughout the study ready for a future clinical trial. MINDS is co-led by an expert by experience, with researchers with lived experience co-leading each stage. Ethics and dissemination: MINDS stage 1 has received ethical approval from Yorkshire & The Humber—Bradford Leeds (Research Ethics Committee (22/YH/0122). Findings from MINDS will be disseminated via high-impact journal publications and conference presentations, including those with service user and mental health professional audiences. We will establish routes to engage with public and service user communities and National Health Service professionals including blogs, podcasts and short videos. Trial registration number: MINDS is funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR 133013) https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR133013. The realist review protocol is registered on PROSPERO. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021293255.Peer reviewe

Predictors of Post-Traumatic Growth in a Sample of United Kingdom Mental and Community Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Experiences of adversity can generate positive psychological effects alongside negative impacts. Little research to date has evaluated predictors of post-traumatic growth in mental or community healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a survey of 854 community and mental healthcare staff in the United Kingdom in July to September 2020, multiple linear regression was used to determine the association between hypothesised risk and protective factors (personal, organisational and environmental variables) and total scores on the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory-Short Version. Positive self-reflection activities, black and minority ethnic status, developing new healthcare knowledge and skills, connecting with friends and family, feeling supported by senior management, feeling supported by the UK people, and anxiety about the personal and work-related consequences of COVID-19 each significantly independently predicted greater post-traumatic growth. Working in a clinical role and in mental healthcare or community physical healthcare predicted lower post-traumatic growth. Our research supports the value of taking an organisational growth-focused approach to occupational health during times of adversity, by supporting staff to embrace opportunities for personal growth. Valuing staff's cultural and religious identity and encouraging self-reflective activities, such as mindfulness and meditation, may help to promote post-traumatic growth