<p>The aim of this research was to examine whether a significant relationship exists between ethical decision-making had an impact on HR employees within a retail organisation. The questionnaire for the South African Board for People Practices, and the Ethical Position Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 150 employees in a large retail organisation within the Western Cape &ndash / South Africa. The researcher used a non-probability sampling technique specifically, a convenience sampling approach. The results of this study indicate that there is a statistically significant correlation between moral awareness and decision-making amongst HR employees. However with regards to gender there seems to be no statistical significant relationship amongst HR employees and ethical decision-making. Similarly results also indicated that there was no significant relationship between ethical ideology and ethical decision-making. Notwithstanding the limited generalisability of this study, implications for research and practice are suggested and recommendations are made to facilitate improved functioning.</p>

The overall aim of the present thesis was to explore and compare professional co-operation in child welfare investigations, explore the psychometric properties, and describe the clinical utility from different perspectives of a translated Swedish version of the standardized assessment instrument the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (the HOME Inventory). Social workers in Sweden, Denmark, Britain, Germany, and Texas (USA) co-operated with different professionals around a fictitious child welfare case. Differences were found between and within country-based samples, indicating an unsystematic work procedure in the social work agencies studied. The psychometric properties of the translated Early Childhood version (EC-HOME) and Middle Childhood version (MC-HOME) of the HOME Inventory were explored in terms of inter-observer reliability and by Rasch analysis. The samples were authentic Swedish child welfare cases recruited from a field setting. Inter-observer reliability was satisfactory. Results were ambiguous regarding measurement construction of the two versions studied. Because of the differentiating ability of the EC-HOME and MC-HOME, total scores could provide an indication of inadequate home environments. Experiences of social work practitioners of the clinical utility of the HOME Inventory suggested that they considered the instrument to be comprehensive and have explicit potential benefits, i.e. to be clinically useful. Correspondingly, caregivers’ overall perceptions of the HOME Inventory were positive, determining the content relevant and the format acceptable. However, certain flaws have to be rectified before the HOME Inventory is to be implemented and used successfully. Further, education and the possibility to practice administering the instrument seemed to be essential conditions for future use according to social workers. When social workers and teachers’ apprehensions about support and stimulation provided by caregivers to children in their home environments were compared, preschool teachers’ apprehensions correlated poorly with the social workers’ assessment. These results suggest that the HOME Inventory is promising but cultural adaptation and further studies of psychometric properties are necessary. Different forms of support to practitioners and agencies for successful implementation are required. Awareness of the type of information provided by different sources is important when co-operating in child welfare.

This study examined the utility of the Mini-Social Phobia Inventory (MS) as a self-report screening measure of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). It also assessed whether there were any differences in the way in which respondents used the MS and other self-report measures when administered via the internet, as compared to standard pen and paper format. Data was collected from Swedish populations, using on clinical sample (n=133) and two samples of university students (n=795). The MS demonstrated adequate concurrent, convergent and divergent validity, and satisfactory discriminative validity, with an optimal cut-off value of 3. The psychometric properties of the scale were found to be equivalent across administration formats. / Denna studie undersökte nyttan av Mini-Social Phobia Inventory (MS), ett kort självskattat screeningformulär för socialt ångestsyndrom (SAD). I studien undersöktes även om det fanns skillnader i användning av MS och andra självskattningsformulär när dessa administrerades via internet jämfört med det vanliga pennaoch-papper-formatet. Data samlades in från svenska populationer genom användning av ett kliniskt sample (n=133)och två samples bestående av universitetsstuderande (n=795). MS uppvisade adekvat samtidig, konvergent och divergent validitet samt tillfredsställande diskriminativ validitet, med ett optimalt cut-off-värde på tre. De psykometriska egenskaperna hos skalan ansågs vara likvärdiga mellan de olika administrationsformaten.

Att vara aktiv och klara av att utföra sitt arbete har en central betydelse för en individs hälsa och välbefinnande. Begreppet arbetsförmåga är ett komplext begrepp som beskrivs som flerdimensionellt. Vid bedömning av arbetsförmåga är det viktigt att bedömaren använder sig av tillförlitliga metoder som syftar till att hjälpa individen med sin fortsatta rehabilitering. Syftet med studien är att kartlägga olika bedömningsinstrument som mäter arbetsförmåga i olika avseenden. Bland annat vilket syfte instrumentet har, vilken datainsamlingsmetod instrumentet använder samt vilka psykometriska egenskaper som har prövats för instrumentet. För att besvara syftet gjordes en systematisk litteraturstudie med sökning i följande databaser: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus och OT-seeker vilket resulterade i tio artiklar. En manuell sökning utfördes för att komplettera den initiala sökningen vilket resulterade i ytterligare sex artiklar. Resultatet visar att sju instrument kunde identifieras som på olika sätt mäter en individs arbetsförmåga. Majoriteten av dem har ett tydligt syfte samt är förankrade i en teoretisk grund och är prövade utifrån olika psykometriska egenskaper. Författarna har konstaterat att begreppet arbetsförmåga saknar enhetlig definition och är ett komplext begrepp. I diskussionen föreslås en samverkan av olika instrument som framkommit i studien för att tydliggöra och bistå bedömningen av en individs arbetsförmåga. / Being active and able to perform one’s work is of central importance to an individual’s health and wellbeing. Work capacity is a complex concept that is described as multidimensional. When assessing an individual’s work capacity, it is of great importance to use reliable methods designed to help the individual with his continuing rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to identify existing assessment instruments for measuring work capacity in different ways, considering for example: the purpose of the instrument, the method for data collection, and the psychometric properties tested for the instrument. A systematic literature review was performed by searching the following databases; PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and OT-seeker.  The search resulted in ten articles. A complementary manual search was conducted, producing six additional articles. The contents of the 16 articles identified seven instruments, all of which measured an individual's work capacity in different ways. The majority of the instruments had a clear purpose, were anchored in a theoretical basis, and were tested on different psychometric properties. The authors found that the concept of work capacity has no single definition and is a complex concept. The discussion suggests the combined use of various instruments that emerged in the study to clarify and assist in the assessment of an individual’s work capacity.

Studien undersöker om och i så fall hur rekryteringsprocessen är en bidragande mekanism till fortlevnad av vertikal- och horisontell segregering. Studien genomförs i fem av Göteborgs Stads stadsdelsförvaltningar och belyser hur könsfördelningen och rekryteringen ser ut vid chefsrekrytering i kommunen. Vi har även intervjuat respondenter från den fackliga organisationen Vision Göteborg och processledaren för rekryteringsprocessen från Stadsledningskontoret.Vi utgår från forskningsfrågor om könsfördelningen, regler och policys, och bidragande faktorer till könsmönster. I referensramen behandlas teorier om homosocialitet, psykometriska- och sociala ansatsen, glastak, manliga- och kvinnliga egenskaper, könskodade yrken, positiv särbehandling samt Svenska lagar om diskriminering. Vi har genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju respondenter. Med hjälp av vår referensram skapar vi intervjufrågor där vi sedan i analysen kopplar respondenternas svar till teorier som vi presenterat tidigare, vi jämför teorin med praktiken.Studien visar att det finns skilda meningar bland respondenterna om det förekommer könsmönster eller inte i Göteborgs Stad. Vår kvantitativa forskning visar att andelen kvinnor på chefsposter inte är tillräcklig för att bidra till representativitet. / The study investigates whether, and if so, how the recruitment process is a contributing mechanism for the survival of vertical and horizontal segregation. The study is conducted in five of the City of Gothenburgs administrations districts and highlights how gender distribution in the recruitment of executives appears in the municipality. We also interviewed respondents from the trade union organization Vision Gothenburg and the process manager for the recruitment process from the City Executive Office.Our research questions are about gender balance, the framework addressed theories of homosociality, psycometric and social approach, glass roof, male- and female characteristics, gender-coded professions, affirmative action and Swedish laws about discrimination. We conducted semi-structured interviews with seven respondents. Using our framework, we create interview questions where we in the analysis linking the respondents' answers to the theories that we presented earlier, we compare theory with practice.The study shows that there are different opinions among the respondents if there are gender patterns or not the City of Gothenburg. Our quantitative research shows that the proportion of women in executive posts is not enough to contribute to representativeness.

The fundamental of surgical training is the traditional apprenticeship method introduced by William Halsted which has been used for the last 100 years. It is based on learning in the operating room (OR) where the resident is guided by an experienced surgeon and gradually and methodically exposed to surgery. The continuous development of surgical methods together with the growing awareness of medical errors and ethical considerations have made the Halsted method outdated and there is an obvious need to be able to learn the skills of surgery without risking patient safety. New methods such as laparoscopy and endoscopy demand specific skills and abilities that may not be met by everyone. At the same time, the physical limitations of these new methods have made it possible to construct virtual reality (VR) simulators to practise and learn the skills necessary. This study is about the construction and evaluation of a VR-simulator for the training of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). It also concerns the specific abilities needed to become a good surgeon. A simulator for training TURP was developed after a face validity study where 17 experienced urologists gave their opinion of the specific content necessary for the training of this procedure. After a content validity study by nine experienced urologists and application of necessary improvements, a group of 11 medical students and nine experienced urologists performed a construct validity test where the urologists showed significantly higher levels of both skill and effectiveness compared to the inexperienced students when performing a simulated TURP procedure. The students showed a positive learning curve, but did not reach the levels of the urologists. The results of the experienced urologists were used as the minimal criterion level when 24 urology residents practised the procedure. Training took place while on a course on benign enlargement of the prostate and its treatment options, with emphasis on the “gold standard” treatment – TURP. During the course they performed three guided and video-taped TURP-procedures each on selected patients. Between two of the procedures they performed criterion-based training in the simulator. This VR-to-OR study showed improvement in operative skills with the same patient outcome as in the normal clinical situation. It also showed that simulator training improved their skills even more. During their time on the course their personality traits (TCI) and cognitive abilities (Rey complex figure and recognition trial, tower of London, WAIS-III) were tested. The results showed that a better learning curve in the OR was associated with a better simulator learning curve and a good visuospatial memory. The associated personality traits were high levels of goal directedness, impulse control, responsibility, anticipation of harmful events and a balanced attachment style. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that it was technically possible to construct a useful simulator for the training of TURP (PelvicVision®) which may now be considered clinically validated for this purpose. Novice training and performance in the simulator improves the learning curve and predicts the resident’s performance in the OR. The results support the implementation of validated simulation technology in a criterion-based training curriculum for residents. Furthermore, the results showed preliminary data on personality traits and visuospatial abilities that are important for learning a complex surgical procedure.

Raida – tai progresuojantys ir nuoseklūs vaiko motorinės, kognityvinės, socialinės, kalbos bei adaptacinio elgesio plėtotės pokyčiai. Siekiant suteikti pagalbą raidos problemų turintiems vaikams, pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas ankstyvajai psichomotorinės raidos sutrikimų diagnostikai, rizikos veiksnių išaiškinimui ir ankstyvajam ugdymui. Temos aktualumas leido suformuluoti hipotezę - tinkamai parengtas bei pradėtas ankstyvuoju kūdikystės periodu psichomotorinis ugdymas, priklausomai nuo tėvų edukacijos ir tikslingo dalyvavimo motoriniame ugdyme, sudaro didesnes galimybes kūdikiui kuo anksčiau ir pilniau atgauti sutrikusių judesių raidą. Tyrimo tikslas - įvertinti psichomotorinio ugdymo poveikį kūdikių motorinei raidai skirtingais kūdikystės periodais. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) įvertinti įvairaus amžiaus tiriamųjų motorinę raidą prieš kineziterapijos (KT) procedūras; 2) nustatyti KT poveikį kūdikių motorinei raidai; 3) palyginti skirtingo amžiaus kūdikių raidos ypatumus prieš ir po KT taikymo; ir 4) įvertinti psichomotorinio ugdymo poveikio kūdikių motorinei raidai skirtumus priklausomai nuo tėvų dalyvavimo ugdymo procese. Tyrimo metodai: teorinės analizės ir apibendrinimo metodas, Miuncheno funkcinės raidos diagnostikos testas, eksperimentas, statistika. Tyrime dalyvavo 34 įvairaus amžiaus kūdikiai, kuriems nustatytas motorinės raidos sutrikimas, bei jų tėvai. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjama motorinių funkcijų (ropojimo, sėdėjimo, vaikščiojimo ir griebimo) kaita taikant... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Evolution is progressive and successive changes of child’s motor, cognitive, social speech and adaptive behaviour. The main attention is paid to diagnosis of early psychometric education, clearing up of risk factors and early education with the aim of helping children who have evolution problems. Urgency of the topic allowed to formulate the following hypothesis – well prepared and begun psychometric education at the period of early childhood creates better conditions for a baby earlier and better get back evolution of disordered motion. Of course, it is related to the education of parents and their participance in motoric education. The aim of investigation is to evaluate influence of psychometric education on children’s motoric evolution at different periods of childhood. The goals of investigation: 1) to evaluate motoric evolution of different ages for procedures of kinezytherapy (KT); 2) to establish the influence of KT on children’s motor evolution; 3) to compare specialities of evolution of different ages of children before and after KT application; 4) to estimate the influence of psychometric education on children’s motor evolution and differences in it depending on parents` participance in educational process. The methods of investigation: theoretical analysis and generalization, Miunchen functional evolution diagnostic tests, experiment, statistics. 34 children who have motor evolution disorder and their parents took part in the investigation. In the... [to full text]

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<p>The aim of this research was to examine whether a significant relationship exists between ethical decision-making had an impact on HR employees within a retail organisation. The questionnaire for the South African Board for People Practices, and the Ethical Position Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 150 employees in a large retail organisation within the Western Cape &ndash / South Africa. The researcher used a non-probability sampling technique specifically, a convenience sampling approach. The results of this study indicate that there is a statistically significant correlation between moral awareness and decision-making amongst HR employees. However with regards to gender there seems to be no statistical significant relationship amongst HR employees and ethical decision-making. Similarly results also indicated that there was no significant relationship between ethical ideology and ethical decision-making. Notwithstanding the limited generalisability of this study, implications for research and practice are suggested and recommendations are made to facilitate improved functioning.</p>

The aim was to psychometrically test the S-HSOPSC and HSOPSC, investigate health care staff’s perceptions of patient safety culture and their suggestions for improvement. Methods: A three-time cross-sectional study with data from health care staff (N= 3721) in a Swedish county council was conducted in 2009 (N = 1,023), 2011 (N = 1,228) and 2013 (N =1,470) using the S-HSOPSC (I, II, III). Health care staff’s suggestions for improvement were analyzed in a qualitative content analysis study (IV). Results: The S-HSOPSC (14 dimensions, 51 items) is acceptable for measuring patient safety culture (I). Health care staff held a positive attitude towards their own unit’s teamwork, and a less favorable attitude towards hospital managers’ support for patient safety work (I). Managers held a more positive attitude towards patient safety than others and enrolled nurses held a more positive attitude than registered nurses and physicians (II, III). Positive attitudes towards learning, nonpunitive response and staffing was associated with positive attitudes towards overall safety (II). Health care staff’s attitudes towards patient safety decreased between 2009- 2013 for 12 dimensions (III). A diversity of approaches, nuanced in relation to the informant’s profession was suggested to improve patient safety, for example ‘Increased staffing’ ‘Teamwork and collaboration’ and ‘Committed management' (IV). Conclusions: The S-HSOPSC is suitable for measuring patient safety culture. Supporting and committed managers, teamwork and collaboration are important for patient safety improvement. RNs have an important coordinating position in patient safety work, since they work in close proximity to the patients, and strategically in teams, where decisions of importance for patient safety are made. Health care staff attitudes towards communication, nonpunitive approach, feedback and learning from mistakes have deteriorated. To prevent from organizational fatigue, actions are needed. / Baksidestext: In health care, many patients are being harmed, with leads to suffering and financial costs. Health care staff’s patient safety culture reflects their attitudes towards safety for patients. The overall aim was to psychometrically test the questionnaires S-HSOPSC and HSOPSC for measuring patient safety culture, investigate health care staff’s perceptions of patient safety culture and their suggestions for improvement. In this thesis, respondents in the most common health care staff groups participated. Health care staff held a positive attitude towards patient safety culture within their own unit’s work. The perception of patient safety culture differed between professions and managers had a more positive attitude towards patient safety culture than others. Health care staff’s attitudes towards patient safety decreased during the measurement period for almost all aspects and they suggested many approaches to improve patient safety. Patient safety needs to be a responsibility for everyone. Supporting, committed managers, teamwork and collaboration are important for patient safety improvement. RNs have an important coordinating position in patient safety work. / Syftet var att psykometriskt testa frågeformulären S-HSOPSC och HSOPSC och undersöka sjukvårdspersonals attityder till patientsäkerhet samt förslag till förbättringar. Metod: Tre tvärsnittsundersökningar genomfördes. Sjukhuspersonal (N = 3 721) i ett landsting besvarade enkäten Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture om patientsäkerhetskultur år 2009 (n = 1 023), 2011 (n = 1 228) och 2013 (n = 1 470) (I, II, III). Sjukvårdspersonalens förslag på förbättring av patientsäkerhet studerades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys (IV). Resultatet visade att den svenska versionen S-HSOPSC (14 dimensioner, 51 frågor) är acceptabel för att mäta patientsäkerhetskultur (I). Sjukvårdspersonalen hade en positiv attityd till aspekter av patientsäkerhet som handlade om arbete på den egna vårdenheten, men en mindre positiv attityd till högsta ledningens stöd för patientsäkerhetsarbetet (I). Chefer hade en mer positiv attityd till patientsäkerhet än andra och undersköterskor hade en mer positiv attityd än sjuksköterskor och läkare (II, III). Förmågan att dra lärdom av misstag, en icke-skuldbeläggande attityd vid misstag samt bemanning var positivt associerad till en positiv attityd till generell patientsäkerhet (II). Sjukvårdspersonalens attityder till patientsäkerheten försämrades under mätperioden för 12 av 14 dimensioner. (III). Sjukvårdspersonalen föreslog en mängd förbättringar av patientsäkerheten. Förslagen var nyanserade i relation till informanternas egen profession (IV). Konklusioner: Engagerade chefer är viktigt för patientsäkerheten. Teamwork och förståelse för varandras arbete är gynnsamt för patientsäkerheten. Sjuksköterskor är viktiga i patientsäkerhetsarbetet, då de både arbetar nära patienterna och i team där beslut fattas som rör patientsäkerheten. Personalens attityd till kommunikation, icke- bestraffande synsätt, återkoppling och lärande i samband med misstag har försämrats. Detta kan indikera en organisatorisk utmattning och kräver åtgärder.