Learning from failure

We study decentralized learning in organizations. Decentralization is captured through a symmetry constraint on agents’ strategies. Among such attainable strategies, we solve for optimal and equilibrium strategies. We model the organization as a repeated game with imperfectly observable actions. A fixed but unknown subset of action profiles are successes and all other action profiles are failures. The game is played until either there is a success or the time horizon is reached. For any time horizon, including infinity, we demonstrate existence of optimal attainable strategies and show that they are Nash equilibria. For some time horizons, we can solve explicitly for the optimal attainable strategies and show uniqueness. The solution connects the learning behavior of agents to the fundamentals that characterize the organization: Agents in the organization respond more slowly to failure as the future becomes more important, the size of the organization increases and the probability of success decreases.Game theory

Induction of labour versus expectant management in women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes between 34 and 37 weeks (the PPROMEXIL-trial)

Contains fulltext : 53155.pdf ( ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes (PPROM) is an important clinical problem and a dilemma for the gynaecologist. On the one hand, awaiting spontaneous labour increases the probability of infectious disease for both mother and child, whereas on the other hand induction of labour leads to preterm birth with an increase in neonatal morbidity (e.g., respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)) and a possible rise in the number of instrumental deliveries. METHODS/DESIGN: We aim to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of immediate delivery after PPROM in near term gestation compared to expectant management. Pregnant women with preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes at a gestational age from 34+0 weeks until 37+0 weeks will be included in a multicentre prospective randomised controlled trial. We will compare early delivery with expectant monitoring.The primary outcome of this study is neonatal sepsis. Secondary outcome measures are maternal morbidity (chorioamnionitis, puerperal sepsis) and neonatal disease, instrumental delivery rate, maternal quality of life, maternal preferences and costs. We anticipate that a reduction of neonatal infection from 7.5% to 2.5% after induction will outweigh an increase in RDS and additional costs due to admission of the child due to prematurity. Under these assumptions, we aim to randomly allocate 520 women to two groups of 260 women each. Analysis will be by intention to treat. Additionally a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed to evaluate if the cost related to early delivery will outweigh those of expectant management. Long term outcomes will be evaluated using modelling. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide evidence as to whether induction of labour after preterm prelabour rupture of membranes is an effective and cost-effective strategy to reduce the risk of neonatal sepsis. CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTER: ISRCTN29313500

Perceptions of women, nurses, midwives and doctors about the use of video during birth to improve quality of care: Focus group discussions

The use of video during birth for quality of care was discussed in focus groups with women, nurses, midwives and doctors. Qualitative analysis revealed three categories of importance. First, goals and benefits: improving quality of care, teaching, research and legal issues are important potential applications. Second, limitations: concerns for privacy, fear of feedback and use of video in case of adverse events. Third, rules and regulations: goals and scope of the use of video need to be clearly described, access to video needs to be secured, and time until destruction needs to be specified. Video capture of birth is considered useful and seems acceptable if specific conditions are met

Perceptions of women, nurses, midwives and doctors about the use of video during birth to improve quality of care: focus group discussions

Please cite this paper as: van Lonkhuijzen L, Groenewout M, Schreuder A, Zeeman G, Scherpbier A, Aukes L, van den Berg P. Perceptions of women, nurses, midwives and doctors about the use of video during birth to improve quality of care: focus group discussions. BJOG 2011; DOI:10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.02943.x. The use of video during birth for quality of care was discussed in focus groups with women, nurses, midwives and doctors. Qualitative analysis revealed three categories of importance. First, goals and benefits: improving quality of care, teaching, research and legal issues are important potential applications. Second, limitations: concerns for privacy, fear of feedback and use of video in case of adverse events. Third, rules and regulations: goals and scope of the use of video need to be clearly described, access to video needs to be secured, and time until destruction needs to be specified. Video capture of birth is considered useful and seems acceptable if specific conditions are met

Adjuvanted vaccines in pregnancy:no evidence for effect of the adjuvanted H1N1/09 vaccination on occurrence of preeclampsia or intra-uterine growth restriction

OBJECTIVE: During the H1N1/09 pandemic, pregnant women in the Netherlands were vaccinated with an adjuvanted vaccine. During pregnancy, the maternal immune system changes to enable placental development and growth and acceptance of the semi-allogeneic fetus. As an adjuvant is a pro-inflammatory substance, it may interfere with these immunological changes, resulting in poor placentation or placental growth, which may result in preeclampsia (PE) and fetal intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study investigated a possible association between adjuvanted H1N1/09 vaccination and the development of PE and/or IUGR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. Cases were Dutch women with PE and/or IUGR occurring during H1N1/09 vaccination program. Controls had uncomplicated pregnancies during the same period. Maternal characteristics, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were collected from medical files. Participants were contacted by telephone to enquire about vaccination. Data were analyzed using t-tests, Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate analysis was conducted to control for confounders. RESULTS: We included 254 cases and 247 controls. Of the cases, 90 (35.4%) were vaccinated, compared to 87 (35.2%) of the controls (OR:1.009, 95% CI:0.70-1.46, p:0.961). The majority (73.5%) had been vaccinated in second and third trimester. In multivariate analysis, there were no confounders influencing these results. Exploratory subgroup analysis did not show an association between vaccination status in subgroups of women with either PE or IUGR. CONCLUSION: Our study showed no association between adjuvanted H1N1/09 vaccination and PE and/or IUGR

Does induction of labor in women with a positive GBS vaginal culture decreases the risk for neonatal sepsis in women with PPROM between 34 and 37 weeks?

Obstetric

Behavioural and neurodevelopmental outcome of 2-year-old children after preterm premature rupture of membranes: follow-up of a randomised clinical trial comparing induction of labour and expectant management

Abstract not availableJantien L. van der Heyden, Christine Willekes, Anneloes L. van Baar, Aleid G. van Wassenaer-Leemhuis, Eva Pajkrt, Martijn A. Oudijk, Martina M. Porath, Hans, J, J. Duvekot, Kitty W.M. Bloemenkamp, Mariette Groenewout, Mallory Woiski, Bas Nij Bijvank, Caroline J. Bax, Janneke van 't Hooft, Marko, (J) M. Sikkema, Bettina M.C. Akerboom, Twan, A, L.M. Mulder, Jan G. Nijhuis, Ben Willem J. Mon, David P. van der Ha

Can neonatal sepsis be predicted in late preterm premature rupture of membranes? Development of a prediction model

Abstract not availableDavid P. van der Ham, Sander van Kuijk, Brent C. Opmeer, Christine Willekes, Johannes J. van Beek, Antonius L.M. Mulder, Aren J. van Loon, Martiët Groenewout, Gerald D. Mantel, Kitty W.M. Bloemenkamp, Martina Porath, Anneke Kwee, Bettina M.C. Akerboom, Dimitri N.M. Papatsonis, Godfried C.H. Metz, Jan G. Nijhuis, Ben W.J. Mol, The PPROMEXIL trial grou