Team Emotional Intelligence in Working Contexts: Development and Validation of the Team-Trait Meta Mood Scale (T-TMMS)

The collective construct of Team Emotional Intelligence (TEI) has been widely used and discussed. However, although several studies have examined the relationship between individual emotional intelligence and transformational leadership, few reports have explored the TEI of leadership teams. The aim of this study was to develop a scale to measure TEI, developing and validating the T-TMMS in a sample of 1,746 participants grouped into 152 leadership teams. The research design of the study was cross-sectional, and, in order to observe reliability as well as the construct, convergent, and predictive validity of the scale, we conducted an internal consistency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, as well as a correlation and hierarchical linear regression analysis. The T-TMMS showed a three-factor structure (Attention, Clarity, and Repair), with adequate internal consistency, temporal stability, and convergent validity. We also examined the relationship between TEI and organizational performance. The limitations and implications of this new scale for organizational contexts are discussed

Inteligência emocional, gênero e clima familiar em adolescentes peruanos

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship of emotional intelligence and family environment. A cross-sectional and correlational study was executed, involved 127 adolescents in San Juan de Lurigancho District, Lima - Peru. Data obtained were on age, sex, and family structure. Measurements of family environment (FE) and emotional intelligence (EI) were made through an adapted version of the Family Environment Scale (FES) and a EI scale, respectively. Student's t test was used for the comparison of emotional intelligence scores by gender and family structure and Pearson's r for the correlation analysis between family environment and emotional intelligence. The analysis revealed gender differences in empathy (t = 3.445, p <.01) and social skills (t = 2.711, p <.01), where women presented higher scores than men. There were no gender differences in the total score of EI. There were also significant differences in self-regulation (t = 2.319; p <.05) and self-motivation (t = 2.713; p <.01) in adolescents from nuclear and non-nuclear families. Finally, a direct correlation between family environment and emotional intelligence was found (r = .632, p <.01).O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre a inteligência emocional e o clima familiar. Realizou-se um estudo transversal-correlacional no qual participaram 127 adolescentes do distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, em Lina, no Peru, onde obteve-se informação sobre sua idade, gènero e estrutura familiar. As medições do clima familiar (CF) e inteligência emocional (IE) foram feitas através de uma versão adaptada da escala do clima social familiar (FES) e uma escala de inteligência emocional. Utilizou-se o teste estatístico t de Student para a comparação das pontuações de inteligência emocional segundo o gênero e a estrutura familiar, e a r de Pearson para a análise de correlações entre o clima familiar e a inteligência emocional. Como resultado, foram encontradas diferenças de gênero em empatia (t = 3.445; p < .01) e habilidades sociais (t = 2.711; p < .01), onde as mulheres apresentaram pontuações mais altas do que os homens, mas não na pontuação total da inteligência emocional. Também, foram encontradas diferenças significativas na autorregulação (t = 2.319; p < .05) e automotivação (t = 2.713; p < .01) dos adolescentes de famílias nucleares e monoparentais e observou-se uma correlação direta entre o clima familiar e a inteligência emocional (r = .632; p < .01).El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre la inteligencia emocional y el clima familiar. Se realizó un estudio transversal-correlacional en el que participaron 127 adolescentes del distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, en Lima, Perú, donde se obtuvo información sobre su edad, género y estructura familiar. Las mediciones del clima familiar (CF) e inteligencia emocional (IE) se hicieron a través de una versión adaptada de la escala del clima social familiar (FES) y una escala de inteligencia emocional. Se utilizó la prueba estadística t de Student para la comparación de las puntuaciones de inteligencia emocional según el género y la estructura familiar, y la r de Pearson para el análisis de correlaciones entre el clima familiar y la inteligencia emocional. Como resultado, se encontraron diferencias de género en empatía (t = 3.445; p < .01) y habilidades sociales (t = 2.711; p < .01) -donde las mujeres presentaron puntuaciones más altas que los hombres-, pero no en la puntuación total de la inteligencia emocional. También, se encontraron diferencias significativas en la autorregulación (t = 2.319; p < .05) y automotivación (t = 2.713; p < .01) de los adolescentes de familias nucleares y monoparentales; y se observó una correlación directa entre el clima familiar y la inteligencia emocional (r = .632; p < .01)

OPTIMUM study protocol: an adaptive randomised controlled trial of a mixed whole-cell/acellular pertussis vaccine schedule.

INTRODUCTION: Combination vaccines containing whole-cell pertussis antigens were phased out from the Australian national immunisation programme between 1997 and 1999 and replaced by the less reactogenic acellular pertussis (aP) antigens. In a large case-control study of Australian children born during the transition period, those with allergist diagnosed IgE-mediated food allergy were less likely to have received whole-cell vaccine in early infancy than matched population controls (OR: 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.95)). We hypothesise that a single dose of whole-cell vaccine in early infancy is protective against IgE-mediated food allergy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This adaptive double-blind randomised controlled trial is investigating whether a mixed whole-cell/aP vaccine schedule prevents allergic disease in the first year of life. The primary outcome is IgE-mediated food allergy by 12 months of age. Secondary outcomes include new onset of atopic dermatitis by 6 or 12 months of age; sensitisation to at least one allergen by 12 months of age; seroconversion in anti-pertussis toxin IgG titres after vaccination with aP booster at 18 months of age; and solicited systemic and local adverse events following immunisation with pertussis-containing vaccines. Analyses will be performed using a Bayesian group sequential design. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Child and Adolescent Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee, Perth, Western Australia (RGS 00019). The investigators will ensure that this trial is conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and with the International Conference on Harmonisation Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. Individual consent will be requested. Parents will be reimbursed reasonable travel and parking costs to attend the study visits. The dissemination of these research findings will follow the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Open Access Policy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12617000065392p

The effect of team affective tone on team performance : the roles of team identification and team cooperation

Affective tones abound in work teams. Drawing on the affect infusion model and social identity theory, this study proposes that team affective tone is related to team performance indirectly through team identification and team cooperation. Data from 141 hybrid-virtual teams drawn from high-tech companies in Taiwan generally supported our model. Specifically, positive affective tone is positively associated – while negative affective tone is negatively associated – with both team identification and team cooperation, team identification is positively associated with team cooperation, and team cooperation is positively associated with team performance. Managerial implications and limitations are discussed

Prevalence of chronic wet cough and protracted bacterial bronchitis in Aboriginal children

Background: Chronic wet cough, the most common symptom of a disease spectrum that encompasses protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and bronchiectasis, is common among Aboriginal children. In the absence of any community prevalence data, and with the high burden of respiratory disease and the European Respiratory Society task force’s recommendation to identify disease burden, we determined the prevalence of chronic wet cough and PBB in young Aboriginal children in four remote communities in north Western Australia. Methods: A whole-population, prospective study was conducted. Aboriginal children aged ⩽7 years were clinically assessed for chronic wet cough by paediatric respiratory clinicians between July 2018 and May 2019. Where children had a wet cough but parents reported a short or uncertain cough duration, children were followed up 1 month later. A medical record audit 6 weeks to 3 months later was used to determine those children with chronic wet cough who had PBB (based on response to antibiotics). Results: Of the 203 children, 191 (94%; median age 3.5 years, range 0–7 years) were enrolled. At the initial visit, chronic wet cough was present in 21 (11%), absent in 143 (75%) and unknown in 27 (14%). By follow-up, the total prevalence of chronic wet cough was 13% (95% CI 8–19%) and 10% (95% CI 7–17%) for PBB. Chronic wet cough was more common in the two communities with unsealed roads (19%) compared to the two with sealed roads (7%). Conclusion: Given the relatively high prevalence, strategies to address reasons for and treatment of chronic wet cough and PBB in young Aboriginal children in remote north Western Australia are required.</p

Recognition and Management of Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis in Australian Aboriginal Children : A Knowledge Translation Approach

Background: Chronic wet cough in children is the hallmark symptom of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and if left untreated can lead to bronchiectasis, which is prevalent in Indigenous populations. Underrecognition of chronic wet cough by parents and clinicians and underdiagnosis of PBB by clinicians are known. Research Question: We aimed to improve recognition and management of chronic wet cough in Aboriginal children using knowledge translation (KT), a methodologic approach that can be adapted for use in Indigenous contexts to facilitate effective and sustained translation of research into practice. Study Design and Methods: A mixed-methods KT study undertaken at a remote-based Aboriginal primary medical service (February 2017 to December 2019). Our KT strategy included the following: (1) culturally secure (ie, ensuring Aboriginal people are treated regarding their unique cultural needs and differences) knowledge dissemination to facilitate family health seeking for chronic wet cough in children, and (2) an implementation strategy to facilitate correct diagnosis and management of chronic wet cough and PBB by physicians. Results: Post-KT, health seeking for chronic wet cough increased by 184% (pre = eight of 630 children [1.3%], post = 23 of 636 children [3.6%]; P = .007; 95% CI, 0.7%-4.0%). Physician proficiency in management of chronic wet cough improved significantly as reflected by improved chronic cough-related quality of life (P < .001; 95% CI, 0.8-3.0) and improved physician assessment of cough quality (P < .001; 95% CI, 10.4%-23.0%), duration (P < .001; 95% CI, 11.1%-24.1%), and appropriate antibiotic prescription (P = .010; 95% CI, 6.6%-55.7%). Interpretation: Health seeking for children with chronic wet cough can be facilitated through provision of culturally secure health information. Physician proficiency in the management of PBB can be improved with KT strategies which include training in culturally informed management, leading to better health outcomes. Comprehensive strategies that include both families and health systems are required to ensure that chronic wet cough in children is detected and optimally managed.</p

Bayesian hidden Markov models in DNA sequence segmentation using R: the case of Simian Vacuolating virus (SV40)

Segmentation models aim to partition compositionally heterogeneous domains into homogeneous segments which may be reflective of biological function. Due to the latent nature of the segments a natural approach to segmentation that has gained favour recently uses Bayesian hidden Markov models (HMMs). Concomitantly in the last few decades, the free R programming language has become a dominant tool for computational statistics, visualization and data science. Therefore, this paper aims to fully exploit R to fit a Bayesian HMM for DNA segmentation. The joint posterior distribution of parameters in the model to be considered is derived followed by the algorithms that can be used for estimation. Functions following these algorithms (Gibbs Sampling, Data Augmentation and Label Switching) are then fully implemented in R. The methodology is assessed through extensive simulation studies and then being applied to analyse Simian Vacuolating virus (SV40). It is concluded that: (1) the algorithms and functions in R can correctly estimate sequence segmentation if the HMM structure is assumed; (2) the performance of the model improves with sequence length; (3) R is reasonably fast for short to medium sequence lengths and number of segments and (4) the segmentation of SV40 appears to correspond with the two major transcripts, early and late, that regulate the expression of SV40 genes

The AuTOMATIC trial: a study protocol for a multi-arm Bayesian adaptive randomised controlled trial of text messaging to improve childhood immunisation coverage.

BACKGROUND: While most Australian children are vaccinated, delays in vaccination can put them at risk from preventable infections. Widespread mobile phone ownership in Australia could allow automated short message service (SMS) reminders to be used as a low-cost strategy to effectively 'nudge' parents towards vaccinating their children on time. METHODS: AuTOMATIC is an adaptive randomised trial which aims to both evaluate and optimise the use of SMS reminders for improving the timely vaccination of children at primary care clinics across Australia. The trial will utilise high levels of digital automation to effect, including eligibility assessment, randomisation, delivery of intervention, data extraction and analysis, thereby allowing healthcare-embedded trial delivery. Up to 10,000 parents attending participating primary care clinics will be randomised to one of 12 different active SMS vaccine reminder content and timing arms or usual practice only (no SMS reminder). The primary outcome is vaccine receipt within 28 days of the scheduled date for the index vaccine (the first scheduled vaccine after randomisation). Secondary analyses will assess receipt and timeliness for all vaccine occasions in all children. Regular scheduled analyses will be performed using Bayesian inference and pre-specified trial decision rules, enabling response adaptive randomisation, suspension of any poorly performing arms and early stopping if a single best message is identified. DISCUSSION: This study will aim to optimise SMS reminders for childhood vaccination in primary care clinics, directly comparing alternative message framing and message timing. We anticipate that the trial will be an exemplar in using Bayesian adaptive methodology to assess a readily implementable strategy in a wide population, capable of delivery due to the levels of digital automation. Methods and findings from this study will help to inform strategies for implementing reminders and embedding analytics in primary health care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR: ACTRN12618000789268