Parental perceptions of fifth grade physical education : a case study.

Throughout the professional literature in physical education there is considerable rhetoric about the need to recruit and maintain the support of parents. Among those who teach a vulnerable and sometimes marginal special subject, there is a widely held belief that parental approval and support matters a great deal, in fact, that parental dispositions are critical to the future of the subject in the public schools. Despite this article of professional faith, there are few studies that describe the attitudes of parents about physical education. None of those employed the strategy of probing the communication of program information and subsequent parental responses to program operation at a single site--that is, rich case analyses simply are not available. The purpose of this study was to describe parents\u27 perceptions of and attitudinal dispositions toward a physical education program at a single public school site. The primary sources of data were (a) a parent background questionnaire; (b) open-ended interviews with participants (27 parents of fifth grade children, the physical education teacher who taught those children, nine classroom teachers at the same school, and the principal); and (c) observations at the site. Results indicated that many parents possessed inaccurate information about the physical program--information that typically was acquired from their children. Few parents attempted to obtain information from other sources. Further, all parents drew on their own, often negative, recollections of gym classes when describing perceptions of and dispositions toward their child\u27s program. Although anxious to obtain parental support, the teacher did not attempt either to communicate more than minimal information about the program, or to solicit more than trivial forms of parental support and cooperation. Her strong sense of the importance of teacher autonomy, and school norms restricting parental participation in educational matters, appeared to limit her efforts to improve relations with parents. This study concludes with a discussion of the communication process between the physical education teacher and the parents, and a comparison of that with what occurred between the classroom teachers and parents. This is followed by implications for both teacher preparation and school practice

Professional Learning Community: Thriving While Facing the Challenges of Faculty Life Together

Researchers have begun to focus attention on the participation of teacher educators in communities of practice (CoPs) and the role that participation plays in improving the quality of teacher education. This case study explores an inter-university CoP (sustained for over 10 years) that includes four faculty members at three universities, who work collaboratively on teacher education program development (e.g., accreditation), research, and service. This exploration is situated in the literature on CoPs, professional capital, and teacher educators’ involvement in CoPs. In this paper the evolution of this inter-university CoP and each CoP member’s personal meaning is shared. Key influences of this involvement in our professional learning (PL) and suggestions for teacher educators’ PL as members of an academic community are offered

Chapter 2: Navigating the mentoring process in a research-based teacher development project: A situated learning perspective

In this article, the authors investigate key aspects of a 2-year study of mentoring within a reform-based teacher development project, explore the various mentor relationships, and theorize about key events, tensions, and dynamics that resulted in an unexpected sense of community among project stakeholders as a direct result of mentoring. Data for this article describe the impact of teacher mentoring within the Assessment Initiative for Middle School Physical Education (AIMS-PE) project. AIMS-PE was a multi-year Center for Disease Control grant funded project with goals including assisting in-service teachers to examine and reframe their assessment practices and to increase their students. knowledge and behaviors of physical activity. Initiation and development of positive mentoring relationships among participating teachers and their mentors was a major component of this effort, providing necessary support and encouragement to meet project objectives. Also, the authors explore participants\u27 experiences in the project to better understand the influences of teacher mentoring that contributed to the development of a sense of community

A third generation vaccine for human visceral leishmaniasis and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis : First-in-human trial of ChAd63-KH

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL or kala azar) is the most serious form of human leishmaniasis, responsible for over 20,000 deaths annually, and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a stigmatizing skin condition that often occurs in patients after successful treatment for VL. Lack of effective or appropriately targeted cell mediated immunity, including CD8+ T cell responses, underlies the progression of VL and progression to PKDL, and can limit the therapeutic efficacy of anti-leishmanial drugs. Hence, in addition to the need for prophylactic vaccines against leishmaniasis, the development of therapeutic vaccines for use alone or in combined immuno-chemotherapy has been identified as an unmet clinical need. Here, we report the first clinical trial of a third-generation leishmaniasis vaccine, developed intentionally to induce Leishmania-specific CD8+ T cells. METHODS: We conducted a first-in-human dose escalation Phase I trial in 20 healthy volunteers to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a prime-only adenoviral vaccine for human VL and PKDL. ChAd63-KH is a replication defective simian adenovirus expressing a novel synthetic gene (KH) encoding two Leishmania proteins KMP-11 and HASPB. Uniquely, the latter was engineered to reflect repeat domain polymorphisms and arrangements identified from clinical isolates. We monitored innate immune responses by whole blood RNA-Seq and antigen specific CD8+ T cell responses by IFNγ ELISPOT and intracellular flow cytometry. FINDINGS: ChAd63-KH was safe at intramuscular doses of 1x1010 and 7.5x1010 vp. Whole blood transcriptomic profiling indicated that ChAd63-KH induced innate immune responses characterized by an interferon signature and the presence of activated dendritic cells. Broad and quantitatively robust CD8+ T cell responses were induced by vaccination in 100% (20/20) of vaccinated subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the further development of ChAd63-KH as a novel third generation vaccine for VL and PKDL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial (LEISH1) was registered at EudraCT (2012-005596-14) and ISRCTN (07766359)

Rheumatoid arthritis - clinical aspects: 134. Predictors of Joint Damage in South Africans with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes progressive joint damage and functional disability. Studies on factors affecting joint damage as clinical outcome are lacking in Africa. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of joint damage in adult South Africans with established RA. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 black patients with RA of >5 years were assessed for joint damage using a validated clinical method, the RA articular damage (RAAD) score. Potential predictors of joint damage that were documented included socio-demographics, smoking, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, delay in disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) initiation, global disease activity as measured by the disease activity score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and autoantibody status. The predictive value of variables was assessed by univariate and stepwise multivariate regression analyses. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean (SD) age was 56 (9.8) years, disease duration 17.5 (8.5) years, educational level 7.5 (3.5) years and DMARD lag was 9 (8.8) years. Female to male ratio was 10:1. The mean (SD) DAS28 was 4.9 (1.5) and total RAAD score was 28.3 (12.8). The mean (SD) BMI was 27.2 kg/m2 (6.2) and 93% of patients were rheumatoid factor (RF) positive. More than 90% of patients received between 2 to 3 DMARDs. Significant univariate predictors of a poor RAAD score were increasing age (p = 0.001), lower education level (p = 0.019), longer disease duration (p < 0.001), longer DMARD lag (p = 0.014), lower BMI (p = 0.025), high RF titre (p < 0.001) and high ESR (p = 0.008). The multivariate regression analysis showed that the only independent significant predictors of a higher mean RAAD score were older age at disease onset (p = 0.04), disease duration (p < 0.001) and RF titre (p < 0.001). There was also a negative association between BMI and the mean total RAAD score (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Patients with longstanding established RA have more severe irreversible joint damage as measured by the clinical RAAD score, contrary to other studies in Africa. This is largely reflected by a delay in the initiation of early effective treatment. Independent of disease duration, older age at disease onset and a higher RF titre are strongly associated with more joint damage. The inverse association between BMI and articular damage in RA has been observed in several studies using radiographic damage scores. The mechanisms underlying this paradoxical association are still widely unknown but adipokines have recently been suggested to play a role. Disclosure statement: C.I. has received a research grant from the Connective Tissue Diseases Research Fund, University of the Witwatersrand. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Spondylarthropathies (including psoriatic arthritis): 244. Validity of Colour Doppler and Spectral Doppler Ultrasound of Sacroilicac Joints Againts Physical Examination as Gold Standard

Background: Sacroiliac joints (SJ) involvement is a distinctive and charasteristic feature of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and x-ray is the test routinely used to make a diagnosis. However, x-ray reveals late structural damage but cannot detect active inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of Doppler ultrasound in SJ. Methods: Prospective blinded and controlled study of SJ, in which three populations were compared. We studied 106 consecutive cases, who were divided into three groups: a) 53 patients diagnosed with SpA who had inflammatory lumbar and gluteal pain assessed by a rheumatologist; b) 26 patients diagnosed with SpA who didn't have SJ tenderness and had normal physical examination; c) control group of 27 subjects (healthy subjetcs or with mechanical lumbar pain). All patients included that were diagnosed with SpA met almost the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) classification criteria. Physical examination of the SJ included: sacral sulcus tenderness, iliac gapping, iliac compression, midline sacral thrust test, Gaenslen's test, and Patrick s test were used as gold standard. Both SJ were examined with Doppler ultrasound (General Electric Logiq 9, Wauwatosa WI, USA) fitted with a 9-14 Mhz lineal probe. The ultrasonographer was blinded to clinical data. Doppler in SJ was assessed as positive when both Doppler colour and resistance index (RI) < 0.75 within the SJ area were present. Statistical analysis was performed estimating sensitivity and specificity against gold standard. The Kappa correlation coefficient was used for reliability study. Results: 106 cases (53 female, 55 male; mean age 36 10 years) were studied. There were no statistical differences between groups related to age or sex. Physical examination of SJ was positive in 38 patients (59 sacroiliac joints). US detected Doppler signal within SJ in 37 patients (58 SJ): 33 of them were symptomatic SpA (52 SJ), one of them were asymptomatic SpA (1 SJ) and one was a healthy control (1 SJ). The accuracy of US when compared to clinical data as gold standard at subject level in the overall group was: sensitivity of 68.6% and specificity of 85.7%, positive predictive value of 70.5% and negative predictive value of 84.5%. A positive likelihood ratio of 4.8, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.36 and a kappa coefficient of 0.55 were achieved. Conclusions: Doppler US of SJ seems to be a valid method to detect active SJ inflammation. Disclosure statement: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Teachers’ Perception and Use of Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Middle School Physical Education

In 2001, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) created a lengthy position statement identifying specific, research-based guidelines for high quality teaching of physical education. A commonly held notion is that these guidelines, universally referred to as the developmentally appropriate practices (DAPs) facilitate achievement of the national standards in PE, yet little evidence exists regarding the extent to which teachers are implementing these practices (Logan, Lambdin, Ramirez, & Farr, 2000; Chen 2006). Therefore, this study was designed to examine current perceptions and practices of sixth-grade PE teachers as related to the DAPs. Data were collected through a 58-item, online survey (created using the DAP policy document) followed by 120 minute interviews with 26 full-time middle school physical educators. This summer grant will be used to conduct an in-depth analysis, using axial and selective coding, of the interview data collected for the project. After completing the analysis, I will prepare and submit a manuscript for publication in a refereed, research journal as well as present my work at the CART May Celebration

Academic Peer Mentoring in PETE: A Win-Win

Background/Purpose: Physical education mentoring literature has focused primarily on 3 distinct areas: beginning teachers, higher education faculty (Griffin & Ayers, 2005), and K-12/ university partnerships (e.g., Parker, Patton, & Tannehill, 2012). Mentoring also plays a substantial role on university campuses with the current focus on promoting student success and increasing graduation rates; however, academic peer mentoring within the university classroom remains largely unexamined (Colvin & Ashman, 2010). The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of physical education teacher education (PETE) academic peer mentors and to examine how they enhanced their understanding of constructivist teaching, developed leadership skills, and supported learning for peers. Method: Participants included 7 academic peer mentors, serving in disciplinary, activity, or pedagogy course, and 3 PETE faculty at a midsized liberal arts university. Data collection included a 60- min to 90-min focus-group interview with peer mentors and faculty, audio recordings of classroom interactions, student open response questions, informal interviews, and written artifacts. Analysis/Results: Data were analyzed qualitatively and were collected during 1 semester for each peer mentor (Corbin & Strauss, 1998). First, peer mentors deepened their understanding of constructivist teaching as they used a range of approaches to support learning of difficult concepts for their peers. Second, increased social capital was afforded to the mentors through the enhanced social connections that developed. Third, the collaborative mentor-faculty relationship further enhanced the mentors’ social capital and overall academic experience. Fourth, development of leadership skills for peer mentors varied based on the personal characteristics and position in the PETE program. Conclusions: Researchers found mentors gained social capital in the form of perceived support from other students and from their relationship with professors. In addition, peer mentors experienced connectedness to other students and faculty as they were a resource to students both in and outside of class. The importance of social connections to academic success has been well documented and is an important outcome for the peer mentors in this study. The academic peer mentors served to both uncover and help mitigate the hierarchical relationship that existed between professors and students, which is essential to a positive educational experience. Access to academic peer mentors was salient given the student population at the study site, as students reported that they are average or below-average in intellectual self-confidence as compared with their U.S. peers

The effects of coxib formulary restrictions on analgesic use and cost: Regional evidence from Canada

Background Public insurance plans for pharmaceuticals in Canada differ substantially across provinces in the conditions under which pharmaceuticals are reimbursed. Coxibs provide a good example. Québec had no restrictions on reimbursement for these drugs. Ontario required physicians to submit the clinical indications for their use on the prescription. British Columbia required physicians to seek and receive prior authorisation from the drug plan.Objective This study compares the effects of different reimbursement policies on coxib, non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs), and gastro-protective agent (GPA) use and cost.Study design Analysis of retrospective time series analysis of all NSAID and GPA administrative claims data from April 1997 through December 2002.Setting Administrative claims data from April 1997 through December 2002 for each of the publicly funded drug plans in Québec, Ontario, and British Columbia. In addition, we obtained data from BC PharmaNet, which records all dispensed prescriptions in British Columbia.Patients or other participants Senior beneficiaries (>= 65 years).Main outcome measure We compared the projected total NSAID utilisation in the absence of coxib reimbursement restriction with actual utilisation by province and drug category. Projected utilisation was based on ARIMA modelling and reported as the number of defined daily doses (DDDs) per 100 senior (>=65 years) beneficiaries/month.Results In Ontario, under its "limited use" policy, uptake and steady-state use of coxibs was similar to that in Québec, where there were no restrictions. In British Columbia, publicly funded use of coxibs was 6% of that in Ontario and Québec. Despite a shift to private reimbursement, total coxib use in BC was only 50% of use in Ontario and Québec. The use of all NSAIDS (nsNSAIDS plus coxibs) increased for all provincial drug plans except for BC. The increase and overall rate of total NSAID use was greatest in Ontario. Neither Ontario's nor BC's policies had an impact on use of nsNSAIDs or GPAs.Conclusion Only BC's policy effectively limited publicly funded coxib use. However, there was substantial cost-shifting to out-of-pocket and third party insurance plans in BC.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Coxibs Cox-2 inhibitors Health policy Drug diffusion Administrative restrictions Special authority Limited use policy Analgesics