The effectiveness and usability of wearable devices in the prevention of hospital readmission in patients with chronic conditions: a comprehensive literature review protocol

Literature review protoco

Views from Others (Duty to the Profession)

Scholarly opinion on the duty of architects to the architectural profession and its professional institutes, invited by authors Carys Rowland and Alasdair Ben Dixon. Contained with Chapter 5, Duty to the Profession

Strategies for Collaborative Research in Architectural Practice: Communicating Metropolitan Workshop's A New Kind of Suburbia

Despite evidence that architects are increasingly conducting research in practice, few have published detailed accounts of their experience of designing and implementing research projects within commercial architectural practices. This represents a distinct barrier to establishing a shared culture of research within a profession that relies on learning through practice. This chapter considers A New Kind of Suburbia, a practice-based research project conducted by Metropolitan Workshop, before discussing strategies to enhance collaboration through research dissemination and shared research agendas. This is intended to complement guidance offered by others concerning research design, implementation and dissemination for shared learning in practice settings. The case study and subsequent guidance considers the need to reconcile research with the commercial priorities of architectural practice. These insights are useful for architects undertaking practice-based research, and potentially, for academics wishing to collaborate with architects to define and implement their research agenda within commercial practice

Midwives assessing progress in labour : working and learning

This Thesis is based upon a project researching midwives confidence and capability in holistic assessment for 'normal labour' and the development of these attributes as a response to learning to care for women. The project was an exploratory qualitative study uSing interview, ethnography and questionnaires to collect data from three sites in the UK. Qualitative data analysis was adopted to build theory and this resulted in the development of a project model (Figure 6.1: Midwives Assessing Intrapartum Progress) that represents the findings of the study. Results identify a range of diagnostic information that midwives can consider when judging labour progress and identifies differences when assessing lowrisk cases between those using an active management style of assessment and those using an expectant management style in the extent of making use of internal or external indicators of progress respectively. Differences in interpreting information and judgements about using procedures reflect a focus on childbirth and care, learning from experience and influences within the midwifery team and organisation. Differences in understanding and in philosophical position towards childbirth interact with capability resulting from experience, and this interaction is expressed in the degree of discretion to practice holistic assessment, negotiated within the structures and processes of the work place. To adopt an expectant management style of assessment for normal labour midwives must sustain motivation. Motivation is dependant upon understanding and capability, both learned in practice, but not well developed in many of the respondents in the study. Active management creates an illusion of accuracy and certainty and this is not safe or effective for midwifery diagnosis. It has also restricted midwives tolerance for uncertainty and decreased the credibility of less technical information that is important. A holistic approach to assessment based on observation and complemented by technology when required is a more effective diagnostic approach when midwives spend sustained periods with women without on-site medical cover

Molecular Identification of Eimeria Species in Broiler Chickens in Trinidad, West Indies

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease of chickens of major economic importance to broiler industries worldwide. Species of coccidia found in chickens include Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox, and Eimeria tenella. In recent years, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed to provide accurate and rapid identification of the seven known Eimeria species of chickens. The aim of this study was to use species-specific real-time PCR (qPCR) to identify which of the seven Eimeria species are present in Trinidad poultry. Seventeen pooled fecal samples were collected from 6 broiler farms (2–5 pens per farm) across Trinidad. Feces were also collected from birds showing clinical signs of coccidiosis in two live bird markets (pluck shops). qPCR revealed the presence of five species of Eimeria (E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. mitis, E. necatrix, and E. tenella), but not E. brunetti or E. praecox. Mixed infections were detected on all broiler farms, and DNA of two highly pathogenic Eimeria species (E. tenella and E. necatrix) was detected in feces taken from clinically sick birds sampled from the two pluck shops

Smartphones and Social Health: Does Reduced Phone Use Lead to Better Social Health Outcomes?

Within the past decade, smartphones have become a necessity for modern life. However, there has been little to no experimental scientific research on how problematic use of these devices influences social health. Problematic smartphone use (PSU) may reduce our ability to communicate and understand one another, thereby reducing our ability to bond together, connect, and improve relationships. Research has examined many social health correlates of PSU, including technology’s impact on emotional intelligence, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness. However, these studies have been limited in causal validity by their survey-based approach. We propose the use of a pre-test/post-test experiment designed to reduce PSU in the treatment group to explore whether reducing PSU improves social health over time. We plan to help people reduce their phone use through an educational intervention over five weeks while tracking and analyzing their smartphone usage over that time. During these five weeks, we will measure social health indicators including emotional intelligence, empathy, social sensitivity, social anxiety, and loneliness

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on the management of pain in older people - a summary report.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop an update of the evidence-based guidelines for the management of pain in older people. DESIGN: Review of evidence since 2010 using a systematic and consensus approach is performed. RESULTS: Recognition of the type of pain and routine assessment of pain should inform the use of specific environmental, behavioural and pharmacological interventions. Individualised care plans and analgesic protocols for specific clinical situations, patients and health care settings can be developed from these guidelines. CONCLUSION: Management of pain must be considered as an important component of the health care provided to all people, regardless of their chronological age or severity of illness. By clearly outlining areas where evidence is not available, these guidelines may also stimulate further research. To use the recommended therapeutic approaches, clinicians must be familiar with adverse effects of treatment and the potential for drug interactions