The aim of the thesis was to develop and evaluate a Computerised Decision Support System (CDSS) for use in pre-hospital care. The thesis was guided by a theoretical framework for developing and evaluating a complex intervention. The four studies used different designs and methods. The first study was a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. The second and the last studies had experimental and quasi-experimental designs, where the CDSS was evaluated in a simulation setting and in a clinical setting. The third study included in the thesis had a qualitative case study design. The main findings from the studies in the thesis were that there is a weak evidence base for the use of CDSS in pre-hospital care. No studies have previously evaluated the effect of CDSS in pre-hospital care. Due to the context, pre-hospital care is dependent on protocol-based care to be able to deliver safe, high-quality care. The physical format of the current paper based guidelines and protocols are the main obstacle to their use. There is a request for guidelines and protocols in an electronic format among both clinicians and leaders of the ambulance organisations. The use of CDSS in the pre-hospital setting has a positive effect on compliance with pre-hospital guidelines. The largest effect is in the primary survey and in the anamnesis of the patient. The CDSS also increases the amount of information collected in the basic pre-hospital assessment process. The evaluated CDSS had a limited effect on on-the-scene time. The developed and evaluated CDSS has the ability to increase pre-hospital patient safety by reducing the risks of cognitive bias. Standardising the assessment process, enabling explicit decision support in the form of checklists, assessment rules, differential diagnosis lists and rule out worst-case scenario strategies, reduces the risk of premature closure in the assessment of the pre-hospital patient.

Employment rates for veterans with spinal cord injuries remain low despite legislation aimed at helping individuals with significant barriers to employment succeed in finding competitive work. As access to services and resultant outcomes become more scrutinized, the need for Rehabilitation Counselors to efficiently allocate resources grows more vital to the cause. Existing research supports a mediated path model of rehabilitation counselor clinical judgment asserting observations of disability severity, intelligence, and psychosocial adjustment lead to inferences of functional status and attribution thereof, which collectively influence predictions of successful rehabilitation. The current study investigated the variance attributable to this clinical judgement model in relation to access to services and successful employment outcomes in an implementation study of the Individualized Placement and Support Model of supported employment with a sample of veterans living with spinal cord injuries. The reduced model fit the data well, Chi-square (6, N=213) = 3.391, P=.758, CFI =1, RMSEA=.00, Hoelter .05 =788. Disability Severity was found to have an indirect effect on employment, .095 P<.05. Significant direct effects for disability severity on functional status, education on competitive employment, functional status on competitive employment, and minutes on competitive employment. The results indicate time as a resource was allocated equitably among participants in the first thirty days in regard to the exogenous variables in this study. The reduced model accounted for 8.6% of the observed variance in the data.

No description available.

No description available.

O ensino dos processos de julgamento clínico e de raciocínio diagnóstico para estudantes de enfermagem torna-se cada vez mais importante para a qualificação dos cursos de graduação em enfermagem e alcance do compromisso com a formação clínica por excelência do enfermeiro, em uma realidade de saúde cada vez mais complexa. Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar o julgamento clínico e o raciocínio diagnóstico de estudantes de enfermagem, correlacionar estes dois processos e identificar diferenças entre estudantes da fase intermediária e os concluintes do curso, de uma Escola do interior paulista. Para avaliar o julgamento clínico, construímos um cenário de simulação clínica de alta-fidelidade, representando uma paciente com anemia falciforme em crise de dor e, ainda, traduzimos e adaptamos à cultura brasileira o instrumento Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LASATER, 2007); para avaliar o raciocínio diagnóstico, utilizamos o instrumento já adaptado por Rodrigues (2012) denominado de Inventário de Raciocínio Diagnóstico (BORDAGE; GRANT; MARSDEN, 1990). Os resultados demonstraram que os estudantes de enfermagem apresentaram, predominantemente, nível Proficiente na maioria das dimensões de julgamento clínico (66,7% dos estudantes do grupo concluinte e 56,5% dos estudantes do grupo intermediário). Já para o raciocínio diagnóstico, a maioria dos estudantes foi considerada com ampla habilidade para realizar diagnósticos de enfermagem (91,3% dos estudantes do grupo intermediário e 83,4% dos estudantes do grupo concluinte). Destaca-se que dos concluintes 11,1% apresentaram habilidade máxima. Os estudantes do último ano de graduação em enfermagem apresentaram desempenho superior na fase de interpretação do julgamento clínico (p=0,021). Não se observou diferença entre os grupos para o raciocínio diagnóstico (p=0,334). Houve moderada correlação entre julgamento clínico e raciocínio diagnóstico; e ainda, a fase de reconhecimento do julgamento clínico apresentou-se moderadamente correlacionada ao processo de raciocínio diagnóstico. Considerando que o raciocínio diagnóstico está presente no processo de julgamento clínico, principalmente no momento da investigação do caso clínico (fase Reconhecimento do julgamento clínico) e que as habilidades de raciocinio diagnóstico se manifestam predominantemente nesta fase, a compreensão e o desenvolvimento destes processos pelos estudantes devem ser valorizados nos currículos de graduação em enfermagem / In the increasingly more complex reality of the health field, teaching clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking to nursing students has become more relevant to the qualification of undergraduate nursing programs and the commitment to excellence in nursing clinical training. The objectives of this study were to identify the clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking skills of nursing students, find correlations between these processes and identify differences between mid-course and graduating students at a nursing school in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Clinical judgment was assessed through a high-fidelity clinical simulation, representing a patient with sickle-cell disease in acute pain, and with the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LASATER, 2007), translated and adapted by us to the Brazilian reality. To assess diagnostic thinking, we used the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (BORDAGE; GRANT; MARSDEN, 1990), which was already adapted to Brazil by Rodrigues (2012). The results showed that most of the nursing students displayed, predominantly, Accomplished competency levels in most of the dimensions of clinical judgment (66.7% of the graduating students and 56.5% of mid-course students). Regarding diagnostic reasoning, most students displayed broad nursing diagnostic abilities (91.3% of the mid-course students and 83.4% of graduating students). It is noteworthy that, among graduating students, 11.1% presented maximum ability levels. Students taking the last year of the nursing course presented a higher performance in the phase of clinical judgment interpretation (p=0.021). No difference was observed between the groups as for diagnostic thinking (p=0.334). There was a moderate correlation between clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking; furthermore, there was a moderate correlation between the phase of clinical recognition and the diagnostic thinking process. Considering that diagnostic thinking skills are present in the process of clinical judgment, mainly in the investigation of clinical cases (the Recognition phase of clinical judgment), and that diagnostic thinking skills manifest predominantly in this phase, the understanding and development of these processes by students must be valued in the curricular programs of undergraduate nursing courses

Clinical decision rules improve health care fidelity, benefit patients, physicians and healthcare systems, without reducing patient safety or satisfaction, while promoting cost-effective practice standards. It is critical to appropriately and consistently apply clinical decision rules to realize these benefits. The objective of this thesis was to understand how physicians use the Ottawa Ankle Rules to guide radiography decision-making. The study employed a clinical judgment survey targeting members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Statistical analyses were informed by the Brunswik Lens Model and Social Judgment Analysis. Physicians’ overall agreement with the ankle rule was high, but can be improved. Physicians placed greatest value on rule-based cues, while considering non-rule-based cues as moderately important. There is room to improve physician agreement with the ankle rule and use of rule-based cues through knowledge translation interventions. Further development of this Lens Modeling technique could lend itself to a valuable cognitive behavioral intervention.

Clinical decision rules improve health care fidelity, benefit patients, physicians and healthcare systems, without reducing patient safety or satisfaction, while promoting cost-effective practice standards. It is critical to appropriately and consistently apply clinical decision rules to realize these benefits. The objective of this thesis was to understand how physicians use the Ottawa Ankle Rules to guide radiography decision-making. The study employed a clinical judgment survey targeting members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Statistical analyses were informed by the Brunswik Lens Model and Social Judgment Analysis. Physicians’ overall agreement with the ankle rule was high, but can be improved. Physicians placed greatest value on rule-based cues, while considering non-rule-based cues as moderately important. There is room to improve physician agreement with the ankle rule and use of rule-based cues through knowledge translation interventions. Further development of this Lens Modeling technique could lend itself to a valuable cognitive behavioral intervention.

O ensino dos processos de julgamento clínico e de raciocínio diagnóstico para estudantes de enfermagem torna-se cada vez mais importante para a qualificação dos cursos de graduação em enfermagem e alcance do compromisso com a formação clínica por excelência do enfermeiro, em uma realidade de saúde cada vez mais complexa. Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar o julgamento clínico e o raciocínio diagnóstico de estudantes de enfermagem, correlacionar estes dois processos e identificar diferenças entre estudantes da fase intermediária e os concluintes do curso, de uma Escola do interior paulista. Para avaliar o julgamento clínico, construímos um cenário de simulação clínica de alta-fidelidade, representando uma paciente com anemia falciforme em crise de dor e, ainda, traduzimos e adaptamos à cultura brasileira o instrumento Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LASATER, 2007); para avaliar o raciocínio diagnóstico, utilizamos o instrumento já adaptado por Rodrigues (2012) denominado de Inventário de Raciocínio Diagnóstico (BORDAGE; GRANT; MARSDEN, 1990). Os resultados demonstraram que os estudantes de enfermagem apresentaram, predominantemente, nível Proficiente na maioria das dimensões de julgamento clínico (66,7% dos estudantes do grupo concluinte e 56,5% dos estudantes do grupo intermediário). Já para o raciocínio diagnóstico, a maioria dos estudantes foi considerada com ampla habilidade para realizar diagnósticos de enfermagem (91,3% dos estudantes do grupo intermediário e 83,4% dos estudantes do grupo concluinte). Destaca-se que dos concluintes 11,1% apresentaram habilidade máxima. Os estudantes do último ano de graduação em enfermagem apresentaram desempenho superior na fase de interpretação do julgamento clínico (p=0,021). Não se observou diferença entre os grupos para o raciocínio diagnóstico (p=0,334). Houve moderada correlação entre julgamento clínico e raciocínio diagnóstico; e ainda, a fase de reconhecimento do julgamento clínico apresentou-se moderadamente correlacionada ao processo de raciocínio diagnóstico. Considerando que o raciocínio diagnóstico está presente no processo de julgamento clínico, principalmente no momento da investigação do caso clínico (fase Reconhecimento do julgamento clínico) e que as habilidades de raciocinio diagnóstico se manifestam predominantemente nesta fase, a compreensão e o desenvolvimento destes processos pelos estudantes devem ser valorizados nos currículos de graduação em enfermagem / In the increasingly more complex reality of the health field, teaching clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking to nursing students has become more relevant to the qualification of undergraduate nursing programs and the commitment to excellence in nursing clinical training. The objectives of this study were to identify the clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking skills of nursing students, find correlations between these processes and identify differences between mid-course and graduating students at a nursing school in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Clinical judgment was assessed through a high-fidelity clinical simulation, representing a patient with sickle-cell disease in acute pain, and with the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LASATER, 2007), translated and adapted by us to the Brazilian reality. To assess diagnostic thinking, we used the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (BORDAGE; GRANT; MARSDEN, 1990), which was already adapted to Brazil by Rodrigues (2012). The results showed that most of the nursing students displayed, predominantly, Accomplished competency levels in most of the dimensions of clinical judgment (66.7% of the graduating students and 56.5% of mid-course students). Regarding diagnostic reasoning, most students displayed broad nursing diagnostic abilities (91.3% of the mid-course students and 83.4% of graduating students). It is noteworthy that, among graduating students, 11.1% presented maximum ability levels. Students taking the last year of the nursing course presented a higher performance in the phase of clinical judgment interpretation (p=0.021). No difference was observed between the groups as for diagnostic thinking (p=0.334). There was a moderate correlation between clinical judgment and diagnostic thinking; furthermore, there was a moderate correlation between the phase of clinical recognition and the diagnostic thinking process. Considering that diagnostic thinking skills are present in the process of clinical judgment, mainly in the investigation of clinical cases (the Recognition phase of clinical judgment), and that diagnostic thinking skills manifest predominantly in this phase, the understanding and development of these processes by students must be valued in the curricular programs of undergraduate nursing courses

Clinical decision rules improve health care fidelity, benefit patients, physicians and healthcare systems, without reducing patient safety or satisfaction, while promoting cost-effective practice standards. It is critical to appropriately and consistently apply clinical decision rules to realize these benefits. The objective of this thesis was to understand how physicians use the Ottawa Ankle Rules to guide radiography decision-making. The study employed a clinical judgment survey targeting members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Statistical analyses were informed by the Brunswik Lens Model and Social Judgment Analysis. Physicians’ overall agreement with the ankle rule was high, but can be improved. Physicians placed greatest value on rule-based cues, while considering non-rule-based cues as moderately important. There is room to improve physician agreement with the ankle rule and use of rule-based cues through knowledge translation interventions. Further development of this Lens Modeling technique could lend itself to a valuable cognitive behavioral intervention.

Job dissatisfaction among nurses may contribute to disengagement and withdrawal from the profession. The degree of leadership support in the workplace influences job satisfaction, and when nurses are satisfied with their job, they provide better patient care. Guided by the social cognitive theory, which asserts a relationship between behavior change and one's surroundings, this quantitative, exploratory project sought to determine the type of nursing leadership practiced in the facility where the project took place, whether nurses were satisfied with their job, and if patients were satisfied with their care. Participants in the project included 55 registered nurses and 5 nurse managers. Three surveys of demographics, job satisfaction, and leadership styles were administered to 60 RN participants; patient satisfaction data were obtained from the hospital's last reported Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Descriptive statistics from the nurse surveys showed 75% were female, 56.7% had a bachelor's degree, and, most were under the age of 50 years. Results showed that 90.8% of nurses enjoyed working for the hospital, leaders primarily used transformational leadership styles, and 80.2 to 89.7% of patients were satisfied with their care. This project has implications for positive social change because healthy, transformative leadership leads to staff satisfaction and improved patient satisfaction.