Value of sialendoscopy in German ENT-hospitals in 2016

Objective In 2009 a nationwide survey revealed that only 24 % of the German ENT-hospitals performed sialendoscopy. In 2016 the survey was repeated to reevaluate the actual ranking of sialendoscopy in Germany. Material und Methods Again, the same questionnaire as in 2009 was sent to all German ENT-hospitals. It is a self-developed questionnaire including eleven questions. The results from 2009 and the new results from 2016 were matched with each other. Results The amount of hospitals performing sialendoscopy doubled and the number of interventions tripled. There were various reasons for denying sialendoscopy. Main reason was a lack of patients. No differences were seen in ambulant vs. inpatient interventions and the duration of sialendoscopy. Preoperative ultrasound was performed in all hospitals. Conclusions The survey reveals an increasing number of hospitals performing sialendoscopy and an increasing number of sialendoscopies. Simultaneously, some hospitals alleged a lack of patients. These facts could explain a development of specialized centers for obstructive sialadenitis and sialendoscopy. Meanwhile, further salivary gland diseases are treated with sialendoscopy. The preoperative diagnostic of choice is ultrasound. Sialendoscopy seems to be more and more established in German ENT-hospitals

Hidden connections: the link between board gender diversity and corporate social performance

This study examines whether and how female board directors may affect corporate social performance (CSP) by drawing on social role theory and feminist ethics literature. The empirical analysis, based on a sample of 126 firms drawn from the S&P500 group of companies over a five-year period, suggests that board gender diversity (BGD) significantly affects corporate social performance. However, this impact depends on the social performance metric under investigation. In particular, more gender diverse boards exert stronger influence on CSP metrics focusing on ‘negative’ business practices, such as the ‘concerns’ dimension of the Kinder Lydenberg Domini, Inc. (KLD) ratings . This is because such CSP ratings have the potential to induce higher levels of ‘empathic caring’, which strongly appeals to female directors. Hence, this study reveals further hidden connections in the BGD-CSP link which have important implications for managers, nongovernmental organisations and socially responsible investors