51 research outputs found
Прибыльность предприятия и резервы ее повышения
Целью данной работы является анализ факторов, влияющих на прибыль, анализ показателей оценки
прибыли, и разработка рекомендаций по увеличению прибыли
Single-conformation spectroscopy of hydrogen bonding networks: Solvation, synthetic foldamers, and neurodegenerative diseases
The hydrogen bond is one of the most important interactions in natural processes ranging from protein folding to chemical reactions. Two complementary methodologies are applied to understanding this important interaction: top-down and bottom-up. Top-down methods use large molecules, such as proteins, revealing secondary structure information. Bottom-up experiments are performed on small molecules, utilizing high-resolution spectroscopy to reveal underlying quantum mechanical effects. The complexity gap is formed between these two experimental regimes; between large and small molecules; between bulk and individual solvent molecules; between classical mechanics calculations and quantum chemical calculations. This dissertation will focus on the application of gas phase, single-conformation ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies to the study of molecules and clusters in the size and solvation complexity gap, with the goal of bridging the gulf between the two experimental approaches.
Single-conformation spectroscopy is perfectly suited to study solvation. Solvent molecules, in many instances water, can be frozen onto the solute in a stepwise manner. Here, we solvate a prototypical flexible bichromophore—1,2-diphenoxyethane (DPOE)—by stepwise addition of water molecules. Single-conformation spectroscopy reveals both the structural perturbations associated with water molecule addition and their effect on DPOE’s pair of closely spaced excited electronic states. These experimental studies provide excellent insight into solvent effects on vibronic and excitonic coupling, and can be used to further develop the models used to describe such processes.
Similarly, single-conformation spectroscopy can reveal the effects of conformational flexibility on the innate conformational preferences and hydrogen bonding motifs in peptides. Results obtained from a study of a cyclically constrained γ peptide, γACHC, reveal that increased conformational flexibility can be controlled by synthetic chemists in order to direct folding into pre-programmed secondary structures and that these structures are stabilized with intramolecular rather than intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This theme of conformational flexibility is continued in studies of glutamine containing peptides. Glutamine—with its flexible, hydrogen bond forming sidechain—is intimately involved with neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease. Single-conformation studies help reveal the delicate interplay between three different types of hydrogen bonds within the molecule: backbone-backbone, sidechain-backbone, and sidechain-sidechain hydrogen bonds. The importance of these competing hydrogen bonds on the conformational preferences will be discussed both locally and within the larger context of disease pathogenesis
Challenges and solutions in communication with patients with low health literacy: Perspectives of healthcare providers
Insights in the challenges that healthcare providers encounter in serving low health literate patients is lagging behind. This study explored challenges perceived by healthcare providers and provides strategies in communication with low health literate patients. Primary and secondary healthcare providers (N = 396) filled in an online survey. We assessed the frequency of challenges prior to, during and following a consultation, and which strategies were used and recommended. Survey outcomes were validated in in-depth interviews with healthcare providers (N = 7). Providers (76%) reported one or more challenges that were subscribed to patients’ difficulties in comprehending or applying health-related information, in communicating with professionals, or in taking responsibility for their health. Providers (31%) perceived difficulties in recognizing low health literate patients, and 50% rarely used health literacy specific materials. Providers expressed needs for support to recognize and discuss low health literacy, to adapt communication and to assess patient’s comprehension. Future research should focus on developing strategies for providers to ensure patients’ understanding (e.g. applying teach-back method), to recognize low health literate patients, and to support patients’ in taking responsibility for their health (e.g. motivational interviewing)
Challenges and solutions in communication with patients with low health literacy:Perspectives of healthcare providers
Insights in the challenges that healthcare providers encounter in serving low health literate patients is lagging behind. This study explored challenges perceived by healthcare providers and provides strategies in communication with low health literate patients. Primary and secondary healthcare providers (N = 396) filled in an online survey. We assessed the frequency of challenges prior to, during and following a consultation, and which strategies were used and recommended. Survey outcomes were validated in in-depth interviews with healthcare providers (N = 7). Providers (76%) reported one or more challenges that were subscribed to patients' difficulties in comprehending or applying health-related information, in communicating with professionals, or in taking responsibility for their health. Providers (31%) perceived difficulties in recognizing low health literate patients, and 50% rarely used health literacy specific materials. Providers expressed needs for support to recognize and discuss low health literacy, to adapt communication and to assess patient's comprehension. Future research should focus on developing strategies for providers to ensure patients' understanding (e.g. applying teach-back method), to recognize low health literate patients, and to support patients' in taking responsibility for their health (e.g. motivational interviewing)
Diabetes self-management in patients with low health literacy: Ordering findings from literature in a health literacy framework
Objective: To review studies on the association between health literacy (HL), diabetes self-management and possible mediating variables. Methods: We systematically searched for empirical studies in PubMed. Findings were ordered by a HL framework that outlines routes between HL, sociocognitive determinants and health actions. Results: Of the 11 relevant studies, three reported a significant positive association between HL and specific diabetes self-management domains. Ten studies investigated the association between HL and knowledge (n = 8), beliefs (n = 2), self-efficacy (n = 3) and/or social support (n = 1). Significant associations were found between HL and knowledge (n = 6), self-efficacy (n = 1) and social support (n = 1). Of the three studies evaluating the effect of these sociocognitive variables on diabetes self-management, only one found proof for a mediating variable (social support) in the pathway between HL and self-management. Conclusion: There is only limited evidence for a significant association between HL and diabetes self-management, and for the mediating role of sociocognitive variables in this pathway. Practice implications: Longitudinal studies, including HL, diabetes self-management and potential mediators, are needed to substantiate possible associations between these variables. Such research is essential to enable evidence-based development of interventions to increase adequate and sustainable self-management in diabetic patients with low HL. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve
Beperkte gezondheidsvaardigheden bij patiënten van allochtone herkomst: alleen een tolk inzetten is meestal niet genoeg
In order to provide adequate healthcare to ethnic minority patients, healthcare professionals must use professional interpreter services to effectively overcome language barriers. Many ethnic minority patients have low health literacy, i.e. they have difficulty obtaining, understanding and implementing health information. They therefore have a higher risk of poorer health outcomes. Health care professionals need to adapt their communication to patients with low health literacy by checking whether the patient has understood them, avoiding use of medical jargon and tailoring information to the patient's perspective. Various practical strategies have been developed to support health care professionals to communicate effectively with patients with low health literacy. Scientific research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of such strategies in various populations and to systematically develop, implement and evaluate new strategie
Barriers experienced by nurses providing smoking cessation support to disadvantaged, young women during and after pregnancy
In Europe, smoking during and after pregnancy is still highly prevalent among socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Nurses caring for these women can play a key role in smoking cessation, but encounter many problems when providing support. This research aims to identify barriers in providing smoking cessation support, experienced by nurses working within a Dutch preventive care programme for disadvantaged young women (VoorZorg), and to understand the underlying reasons of these barriers. Sixteen semi-structured interviews with nurses were performed. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed deductively and inductively. We found that the VoorZorg programme provided nurses with training, resources and time to deliver smoking cessation support. Yet, nurses experienced important barriers, such as unmotivated clients and support methods that do not fit clients’ needs. Underlying reasons are competing care demands, unsatisfactory training for cessation support, lack of self-efficacy in attending their clients, and conflicts with own professional attitudes. The results emphasise that nurses’ ability to provide smoking cessation support could be improved by proper training in interventions that fit their clients’ needs, and by time schedules and task definitions that help them to prioritise smoking cessation support over other matters
Mobile health for smoking cessation among disadvantaged young women during and after pregnancy: User-centered design and usability study
Objective: This study aims to describe the user-centered design and usability evaluation of Kindle, an mHealth app with game and social support elements, to support disadvantaged young women during and after pregnancy through the first stages of smoking cessation. Methods: Disadvantaged women (n=9), members of their social networks (n=4), and nurses supporting these women (n=51) were informants throughout the iterative prototype development of Kindle according to the International Organization for Standardization 9241-11:2018. Specific phases included understanding the context of use through secondary analysis of qualitative interview data (phase 1), establishing the user and organizational requirements (phase 2), production of design solutions (phase 3), and usability inspection of the prototype through a heuristic evaluation (3 experts) along with user testing by a think aloud method (5 disadvantaged women and 5 nurses; phase 4). Usability problems were categorized according to the principles of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Results: Phase 1 resulted in an understanding of the VoorZorg program and the needs of VoorZorg nurses and clients (eg, focus on early stages of change and building new supportive networks to aid clients in smoking cessation). In phase 2, we established requirements (n=22; eg, mHealth app, secure communication between nurses and clients, easy-to-use interfaces, inclusion of game elements, and tailoring at early stages of change in smoking cessation). Phase 3 resulted in a prototype of Kindle, combining the interface for nurses and clients, including the following functionalities: personal goal setting with earning points; secured chat function between nurses and other clients; and tips, diary, and profile creation. The heuristic evaluation and thinking aloud method in phase 4 revealed 78 usability problems in the interfaces. Most usability problems concerned simplicity (eg, unclear clickable button) and naturalness (eg, unclear icon). Conclusions: The user-centered design and usability testing of the mHealth app Kindle yielded useful insights. The involvement of end users, specifically socioeconomically disadvantaged women during and after their pregnancy, resulted in a prototype that met their needs and requirements (eg, mHealth app, secure communication between nurses and clients, easy-to-use interfaces, inclusion of game elements, and tailoring to the early stages of change in smoking cessation) to achieve readiness for smoking cessation. Moreover, the usability evaluation by end users and experts revealed unique usability problems for this population. These insights allow for further optimization of Kindle and encourage future studies to engage disadvantaged populations in all phases of mHealth intervention design and usability testing
The role of health literacy in explaining the relation between educational level and decision making about colorectal cancer screening
Little is known about why educational inequalities exist in informed decision making in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Insight into the role and impact of health literacy is essential for intervention development. This study investigates associations between health literacy and informed decision making in CRC screening and explores to what extent health literacy mediates the association between education and informed decision making in CRC screening. In total, 696 individuals eligible for CRC screening (55–75 years of age) were recruited from online panels and filled in an online questionnaire at T0 (n = 696), T1 (n = 407) and T2 (n = 327). A hypothetical mediation model was tested using structural equation modelling. Outcomes included CRC knowledge, CRC screening knowledge, attitude, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, risk perception, self-efficacy, decisional conflict and decisional certainty. Health literacy domains included Comprehension, Application, Numeracy and Communication. Comprehension, Application and Numeracy, were found to mediate the association between education and knowledge about CRC and CRC screening, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, decisional conflict and decisional certainty. In light of these findings, targeting multiple health literacy domains in decision-support interventions is essential for facilitating informed decision making in CRC screening
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