Predictive value of subclinical autistic traits at age 14–15 months for behavioural and cognitive problems at age 3–5 years

It is unclear whether subclinical autistic traits at very young age are transient or stable, and have clinical relevance. This study investigated the relationship between early subclinical autistic traits and the occurrence of later developmental and behavioural problems as well as problems in cognitive and language functioning. Parents of infants aged 14–15 months from the general population completed the Early Screening of Autistic Traits Questionnaire (ESAT). Three groups of children with high, moderate, and low ESAT-scores (total n = 103) were selected. Follow-up assessments included the CBCL 1½–5 at age 3 years, and the SCQ, the ADI-R, the ADOS-G, a non-verbal intelligence test, and language tests for comprehension and production at age 4–5 years. None of the children met criteria for autism spectrum disorder at follow-up. Children with high ESAT-scores at 14–15 months showed significantly more internalizing and externalizing problems at age 3 years and scored significantly lower on language tests at age 4–5 years than children with moderate or low ESAT-scores. Further, significantly more children with high ESAT-scores (14/26, 53.8%) than with moderate and low ESAT-scores (5/36, 13.9% and 1/41, 2.4%, respectively) were in the high-risk/clinical range on one or more outcome domains (autistic symptoms, behavioural problems, cognitive and language abilities). Subclinical autistic traits at 14–15 months predict later behavioural problems and delays in cognitive and language functioning rather than later ASD-diagnoses. The theoretical implications of the findings lie in the pivotal role of early social and communication skills for the development of self-regulation of emotions and impulses. The practical implications bear on the early recognition of children at risk for behavioural problems and for language and cognitive problems

Brief report: Comorbid psychiatric disorders of autistic disorder

The behavioral and/or psychiatric symptoms in autistic people as described above have been viewed by many professionals dealing with autistic populations as “associated features of autism” that may result from these individuals' inability to cope with the environmental demands and physical discomfort. Traditionally, in treating individuals with autism, special education intervention including behavioral modifications has been the main emphasis. Such an approach has made some progress in milder and uncomplicated cases of autism. However, if many of these behavioral and/or psychiatric symptoms in those with more severe associated features can be viewed as symptoms of various comorbid psychiatric disorders, there are data suggesting that with an appropriate evaluation, predrug workups, a specific diagnosis, and multiple measures of outcome, pharmacotherapy can be a safe and efficacious adjunct treatment for some symptoms in autistic persons. Nevertheless, the data presented here were obtained mainly from autistic children. A great deal of work remains to be done Future research should put more emphasis on developing agreeable, reliable, and valid diagnostic instruments for identifying comorbid psychiatric disorders in autistic people. Future research should also emphasize employing a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, as well as involving multicenters and using uniformed diagnostic criteria to study autistic adolescents and adults.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44613/1/10803_2005_Article_BF02172004.pd

An explorative study of the use and implementation of new digital technologies in the management of Norwegian development cooperation projects

This thesis merges the aspects of results-based management systems and new digital technologies together and explores what characterizes the use and implementation of new digital technologies in the management of Norwegian development cooperation projects. Through three research questions the research explores how Norwegian non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in development cooperation projects: (1) Collect, aggregate, present, and use data in decision making and reporting in existing management systems. (2) View the main barriers and opportunities of new technologies and innovations in improving current management systems and tools. (3) Perceives how new digital technologies can help facilitate learning and use of results data in the organization. The analysis of this thesis is based upon fifteen in-depth semi structured interviews across ten Norwegian NGOs involved in development cooperation projects. The interviews revealed several issues in the use and implementation of new digital technologies in Norwegian development cooperation projects that would need further research and investigation. (1) There were large variations in both the kinds of digital technologies the NGOs used in current management, and large variations in the aptness of these tools to solve the management issues at hand in the organization. (2) The small and large organizations had differentiated perceived needs and discussions in their responses to barriers and opportunities of new technologies, and that the response mostly encompassed technology as a barrier or opportunity in improving reporting rather than providing data suitable for management. (3) The research suggests that one of the constraints on learning in the NGOs might be that the organization primarily gathers results data on behalf of others rather than enabling their own management needs. Based on these findings further research is suggested in several areas, such as exploring suitable new digital technologies in the management of the NGOs involved in Norwegian development cooperation projects and unveiling possibilities of using new digital technologies to learn from the results data.nhhma

Fastlegers informasjonsbehov ved medisinsk avstandsoppfølging : En kvalitativ studie

Bakgrunn:For å møte den fremtidige økningen i forekomsten av ikke-smittsomme kroniske sykdommerhar Norge prøvd utmedisinsk avstandsoppfølging siden2016. Resultatene så langt viser en økt trygghet, samt følelse av oppfølging og kontroll over egen helse hos pasientene. Det understrekes at det å involvere fastleger i tjenestene har vært utfordrende(Helsedirektoratet, 2018a). Videreutprøvingble startet opp i 2018 og er planlagt å fortsette til og med2021. Hensikt:Formålet med denne masteroppgaven er å bidra med kunnskap om hvordan IKT best mulig kan understøtte fastlegenes tiltenkte rolle som koordinator i medisinsk avstandsoppfølging.Forskningsspørsmålet har i oppgaven vært: «Hvilke informasjonsbehov har fastleger i forbindelse med medisinsk avstandsoppfølging?»Utvalg og metode:Fastleger ved 3 fastlegekontor i Kristiansand Kommune ble intervjuet med semistrukturertgruppeintervju. Resultatet ble transkribert og kodet etter 5 kategorier av informasjonsbehov tilpasset fra (Gorman, 1995).Resultat:Fastlegenes informasjonsbehov omhandlet pasientdata, populasjonsstatistikk, medisinsk kunnskap, logistiskinformasjon og sosial innflytelse. Konklusjon:Viktige informasjonsbehov innebar en bedre oversiktoversine risikopasienter, bedre dokumentert effekt av medisinsk avstandsoppfølging og en klarere og mer oversiktlig strukturder fastlegene forsto sin egen rolle i oppfølgingen.Det fremkom også flere bekymringer under sosial innflytelse som kan virke negativt på fremtidige implementeringsforsøk. Videre forskning er nødvendig for å ytterligere undersøke de enkelte informasjonsbehov og hvordan IKT kan understøtte disse. Nøkkelord: Medisinsk avstandsoppfølging, fastleger, informasjonsbeho

"Well-known" varemerker i Kina - er effektiv håndhevelse mulig?

Master i rettsvitenskapJUS399MAJU

An explorative study of the use and implementation of new digital technologies in the management of Norwegian development cooperation projects

This thesis merges the aspects of results-based management systems and new digital technologies together and explores what characterizes the use and implementation of new digital technologies in the management of Norwegian development cooperation projects. Through three research questions the research explores how Norwegian non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in development cooperation projects: (1) Collect, aggregate, present, and use data in decision making and reporting in existing management systems. (2) View the main barriers and opportunities of new technologies and innovations in improving current management systems and tools. (3) Perceives how new digital technologies can help facilitate learning and use of results data in the organization. The analysis of this thesis is based upon fifteen in-depth semi structured interviews across ten Norwegian NGOs involved in development cooperation projects. The interviews revealed several issues in the use and implementation of new digital technologies in Norwegian development cooperation projects that would need further research and investigation. (1) There were large variations in both the kinds of digital technologies the NGOs used in current management, and large variations in the aptness of these tools to solve the management issues at hand in the organization. (2) The small and large organizations had differentiated perceived needs and discussions in their responses to barriers and opportunities of new technologies, and that the response mostly encompassed technology as a barrier or opportunity in improving reporting rather than providing data suitable for management. (3) The research suggests that one of the constraints on learning in the NGOs might be that the organization primarily gathers results data on behalf of others rather than enabling their own management needs. Based on these findings further research is suggested in several areas, such as exploring suitable new digital technologies in the management of the NGOs involved in Norwegian development cooperation projects and unveiling possibilities of using new digital technologies to learn from the results data