Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Background Venous blood tests constitute an important part in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. However, test results are often viewed as objective values rather than the end result of a complex process. This has clinical importance since most errors arise before the sample reaches the laboratory. Such preanalytical errors affect patient safety and are often due to human mistakes in the collection and handling of the sample. The preanalytical performance of venous blood testing in primary health care, where the majority of the patients contact with care occurs, has not previously been reported. Aims To investigate venous blood sampling practices and the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples in primary health care. Methods A questionnaire investigated the collection and handling of venous blood samples in primary health care centres in two county councils and in two hospital clinical laboratories. Haemolysis index was used to evaluate the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples sent from primary health care centres, nursing homes and a hospital emergency department. Results and discussion The results indicate that recommended preanalytical procedures were not always followed in the surveyed primary health care centres. For example, only 54% reported to always use name and Swedish identification number, and 5% to use photo-ID, the two recommended means for patient identification. Only 12% reported to always label the test tubes prior to blood collection. This increases the possibility of sample mix-up. As few as 6% reported to always allow the patient to rest at least 15 minutes before blood collection, desirable for a correct test result. Only 31% reported to have filed an incident report regarding venous blood sampling, indicating underreporting of incidents in the preanalytical phase. Major differences in the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples were found. For example, samples collected in the primary health care centre with the highest prevalence of haemolysed samples were six times (95% CI 4.0 to 9.2) more often haemolysed compared to the centre with the lowest prevalence. The significant variation in haemolysed samples is likely to reflect varying preanalytical conditions. Conclusions This thesis indicates that the preanalytical procedure in primary health care is associated with an increased risk of errors with consequences for patient safety and care. Monitoring of haemolysis index could be a valuable tool for estimating preanalytical sample quality. Further studies and interventions aimed at the preanalytical phase in primary health care are clearly needed.

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) has become an important outcome in asthma, since traditional outcomes, such as respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function, might not entirely express the patient’s perception of the limitations caused by the disease. The aim of this thesis was to study HRQL in asthma and to analyse if HRQL was related to asthma onset and prognosis. Other aims were to identify determinants of low HRQL in clinically-verified asthmatics, and to study whether low HRQL was a predictor of mortality. In 1990, a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 12,560 individuals from three age groups (16, 30-39, and 60-69 years) in two counties of Sweden. In a second phase, all subjects who reported a history of obstructive respiratory symptoms (n = 1,851) and 600 randomly-selected controls were invited to a clinical investigation including spirometry, allergy testing, and assessment of HRQL with the Gothenburg Quality of Life instrument. In 2003, the eligible subjects in the cohort (n=11,282) were sent a new questionnaire. Mortality data in the cohort was followed up during 1990–2008 using data from the National Board of Health and Welfare Mortality Database. The 616 subjects with clinically-verified asthma 1990 had significantly lower HRQL than subjects without asthma. In the 2003 follow-up, the 305 subjects with persistent asthma had a lower HRQL than the 155 subjects who showed improvement in asthma during the follow-up. Subjects who had developed asthma by the follow-up had a significantly lower HRQL at baseline than those who did not develop asthma. Significant determinants of quality of life in asthma were female sex, smoking habits, higher airway responsiveness to irritants, respiratory symptom severity, positive skin prick test, and absenteeism from work or school. Low HRQL was related to increased mortality, but this association was not found when analyzing the asthmatic group alone. In conclusion, measurements of HRQL are of value for evaluating both the impact and progression of asthma.

The current paper presents a study conducted at At-Bristol Science Centre, UK. It is a front-end evaluation for the “Live Science Zone” at At-Bristol, which will be built during the autumn of 2004. It will provide a facility for programmed events and shows, non-programmed investigative activities and the choice of passive or active exploration of current scientific topics. The main aim of the study is to determine characteristics of what kind of techniques to use in the Live Science Zone. The objectives are to explore what has already been done at At-Bristol, and what has been done at other science centres, and to identify successful devices. The secondary aim is mapping what sorts of topics that visitors are actually interested in debating. The methods used in the study are deep qualitative interviews with professionals working within the field of science communication in Europe and North America, and questionnaires answered by visitors to At-Bristol. The results show that there are some gaps between the intentions of the professionals and the opinions of the visitors, in terms of opportunities and willingness for dialogue in science centre activities. The most popular issue was Future and the most popular device was Film.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 52 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: Physical activity questionnaires (PAQ) have been extensively used to determine physical activity (PA) levels. Most PAQ are derived from an energy expenditure-based perspective and assess activities with a certain intensity level. Activities with a moderate or vigorous intensity level are predominantly used to determine a person’s PA level in terms of quantity. Studies show that the time spent engaging in moderate and vigorous intensity PA does not appropriately reflect the actual PA behavior of older people because they perform more functional, everyday activities. Those functional activities are more likely to be considered low-intense and represent an important qualitative health-promoting activity. For the elderly, functional, light intensity activities are of special interest but are assessed differently in terms of quantity and quality. The aim was to analyze the content of PAQ for the elderly.

Background: About 60%–80% of decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment are based on laboratory test results. Low adherence to venous blood specimen collection (VBSC) guidelines may lead to erroneous or delayed test results, causing patient harm and high healthcare costs. Educational intervention programs (EIPs) to update, improve and sustain VBSC practices are seldom evaluated. After testing a self-reported venous blood sampling questionnaire, the overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of a large-scale EIP on healthcare personnel’s VBSC practices. Methods: The study settings were primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in northern Sweden. Participants were VBSC personnel. Data consisted of a VBSC questionnaire of self-reported practices, records of low-level haemolysis index in serum samples (specimen quality indicator), and interviews reflecting VBSC practices. First, experts on questionnaires and VBSC were consulted, and test-retest statistics were used when testing the VBSC questionnaire for validity and reliability. Thereafter, we evaluated the impact of a short, large-scale EIP with a before-after approach comparing self-reported VBSC questionnaire of two county councils. The personnel of the county councils (n = 61 PHCs) were divided into an intervention group (n = 84) and a corresponding control group (n = 79). In order to test changes in blood specimen quality we monitored haemolysis in serum samples (2008, n = 6652 samples and 2010, n = 6121 samples) from 11 PHCs. Finally, 30 VBSC personnel from 10 PHCs reported their experiences. The interview questions were open-ended with reflective elements and the interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The VBSC questionnaire was found to be valid and could be used to identify risk of errors (near misses) and evaluate the impact of an EIP emphasising VBSC guideline adherence. The intervention group demonstrated several significant improvements in self-reported practices after the EIP, such as information search, patient rest, test request management, patient identification, release of venous stasis, and test tube labelling. The control group showed no significant improvements. In total, PHCs showed minor differences in blood specimen quality. Interviews summarized VBSC personnel experiences in the overall theme: education opened up opportunities for reflection about safety.   Conclusion: This thesis is, to our knowledge, the first to evaluate the impacts of a large-scale EIP on VBSC practices. The VBSC questionnaire and monitoring for low-level haemolysis reflected VBSC practices. The frequently occurring near-miss markers made it possible to compare and benchmark VBSC practices down to the healthcare unit and hospital ward. The short, general EIP opened up opportunities for reflection about safety and improved VBSC practices in PHCs with larger deviations from guidelines. EIPs that provide time for reflection and discussion could improve VBSC further. Directed EIPs focused on specific VBSC flaws might be more effective for some near misses in VBSC practices, while some near misses must be changed at a different level in the system. Clinical relevance: Our results indicate that monitoring and counteracting the near misses in VBSC practices is a well-functioning preventive action. We propose that the VBSC monitoring instruments (VBSC questionnaire & haemolysis index) we used and the EIP strategy proposed should be tested in additional countries with different healthcare settings. It is suggested that a national program intended to identify near misses and prevent VBSC errors be developed in the healthcare system. General e-learning programs may be cheaper than, and as effective as, the EIP program and may be performed everywhere and any time. Systematic planning, useful for reflection and with focus on the specific elements in a skill, together with VBSC guidelines, could probably increase improvements. Our studies have led to deeper and extended knowledge of the impact of an EIP on VBSC practices. Our results can be used when considering future VBSC practice interventions. Using a model for practical skills in nursing to describe VBSC in a more holistic and less technical way might highlight VBSC as a practical nursing skill. / Bakgrund: Av kliniska beslut angående diagnostik och behandling baseras 60%–80% på laboratorieresultat. Därför är det helt nödvändigt att laboratorieresultat är tillförlitliga. Låg följsamhet till provtagnings anvisningar kan leda till felaktiga och fördröjda analysresultat, förorsaka skada och lidande för patienter och utgöra en stor kostnad för hälso- och sjukvården. Felaktiga provsvar beror till stor del på felaktig provtagning och provhantering och går oftast att undvika. Interventioner som avser att uppdatera och säkra korrekt venprovtagning kan leda till förbättringar men genomförda interventioner har sällan utvärderats. Efter att en enkät för självrapporterad venprovtagning testats för validitet och reliabilitet genomfördes ett omfattande interventionsprogram som utvärderades med hjälp av den testade enkäten och andra utvärderingsmått. Det övergripande syftet var att utvärdera i vilken utsträckning interventionsprogrammet påverkade provtagande personals praktiska utförande av venprovtagning. Metoder: Studierna i denna avhandling omfattade provtagande personal vid hälsocentraler i norra Sverige. För datainsamling användes en enkät som mäter självrapporterad venprovtagning, förekomst av låggradig hemolys (indikator på blodprovets kvalitet) och intervjuer. Initialt testades enkätens förmåga att mäta vad som avsetts (validitet) och testades enkätens förmåga att vid upprepade mätningar vara tillräckligt stabil (reliabilitet) för att användas i interventionsstudier. Därefter utvärderades ett kort men storskaligt interventionsprogram i preanalys inkluderande venprovtagning med före och efter mätningar. Vi jämförde provtagande personal från två landsting vid 61 hälsocentraler. Landstingens personal delades upp i en interventionsgrupp (n=84) och en motsvarande kontrollgrupp (n = 79). För att mäta kvaliteten av blodproverna extraherades uppgifter om hemolys i serumprover (2008, n = 6652 blodprov) och (2010, n = 6121 blodprov) från elva hälsocentraler i ett landsting. Slutligen, intervjuades 30 provtagande personal från 10 hälsocentraler efter att de deltagit i interventionsprogrammet. Intervjuerna var öppna och genererade korta berättelser och analyserades med innehållsanalys. Resultat: Venprovtagningsenkäten befanns vara valid och kan användas för att utvärdera personalens följsamhet till provtagningsanvisningar i venprovtagning och identifiera riskhändelser. Interventionsgruppen visade flera signifikanta förbättringar i självrapporterat utförande av venprovtagning såsom förbättrad informationssökning, vila inför provtagning, remissförfarande, kontroll av patientidentitet, användning av stas och etikettering av provrör. Kontrollgrupen visade inga signifikanta förbättringar. Blodprovskvaliteten visade små skillnader. Provtagande personals erfarenheter från intervjuerna sammanfattades i ett övergripande tema; utbildningsinsatsen öppnade upp möjligheter för reflektion om säkerhet.   Slutsats: Avhandlingen är så vitt vi vet den första att utvärdera effekten av ett storskaligt interventionsprogram med hjälp av självrapporterat utförande av venprovtagning och blodprovers kvalitet (låggradig hemolys). Med dessa metoder ökar andelen riskhändelser så att jämförelser kunde göras även på enhetsnivå och avdelningsnivå. Utbildningsprogrammet öppnade upp för reflektioner om säkerhet och förbättrade utförande av venprovtagning vid enheter med större brister. Utbildningsprogram som öppnar upp för reflektion och diskussion kan leda till ökad patientsäkerhet i hälso- och sjukvården. Trots utfallet av resultaten, är riktade utbildningsinsatser för sjukvårdsenheter som uppvisar specifika brister troligtvis mer effektiva än breda utbildningsinsatser. Klinisk betydelse: Interventionsprogram avseende preanalys och venös provtagning förbättrade personalens praktiska utförande. Monitorering av och åtgärder för att minska riskhändelser är väl fungerande preventiva åtgärder. Instrumenten (självrapporterande enkät och hemolys) bör också testas i andra kontexter inom hälso- och sjukvården. Ett externt nationellt program för att identifiera och förebygga riskhändelser bör utvecklas i hälso- och sjukvården. Interventioner i form av e-lärande kan då vara ett alternativ som är billigt och effektivt. Dessutom kan systematisk planering och genomförande med fokus på reflektion av specifika delar i en färdighet vara effektivt för att uppnå förbättringar. Våra studier har bidragit till en djupare och utökad kunskap om effekten av ett interventionsprogram på utförande av venprovtagning. Resultaten kan användas vid framtida planering av utbildningsinsatser. Modeller för praktiskt färdighetsutövande inom omvårdnad kan beskriva venprovtagning ur ett helhetsperspektiv och synliggöra venprovtagning som en viktig praktisk färdighet inom omvårdnad. / Preanalys

Tyrime dalyvavo 18 - 69 metų amžiaus 92 tiriamieji, 63 moterys ir 29 vyrai. Darbe naudoti tiesioginis (akselerometrija) ir netiesioginis (IPAQ-LT trumposios versijos klausimynas) metodai, siekiant įvertinti tiriamųjų bendrą savaitės fizinį aktyvumą ir palyginti gautus duomenis tarpusavyje. Kiekvienas tyrimo dalyvis IPAQ-LT trumposios versijos anketą pildė baigęs fizinio aktyvumo (FA) vertinimą akselerometru (buvo prisimenamas FA praėjusios savaitės – pirmas anketų pildymo atvejis) ir kitą - po savaitės baigus FA vertinimą akselerometru (buvo prašoma ,,prisiminti“ FA vykusį už praėjusią savaitę - antras anketų pildymo atvejis). Pagal IPAQ-LT trumposios versijos pirmo ir antro anketos pildymo atvejų gautus bendrus savaitės fizinio aktyvumo duomenis, tarp pirmo ir antro anketos pildymo atvejų egzistuoja vidutinis koreliacinis ryšys (rho=0,531, p=0,01). Vertinant akselerometro pagalba gautus duomenis ir lyginant juos su anketų duomenimis (bendro savaitės fizinio aktyvumo pirmo ir antro anketos pildymo atvejų) tarp akselerometro nustatyto FA ir IPAQ-LT pirmo anketų pildymo atvejo egzistuoja silpnas koreliacinis ryšys (r=0,270, p=0,009), o tarp antro IPAQ-LT anketų pildymo atvejo – labai silpnas ryšys (r=0,057, p=0,591). Tyrimo metu gauti rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad dauguma tyrime dalyvavusių savanorių savo fizinį aktyvumą buvo linkę pervertinti. Tyrimo objektas - IPAQ-LT trumposios versijos klausimynas ir jo patikimumo bei pagrįstumo nustatymas. Darbo tikslas – nustatyti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The study involved 92 18 - 69 year old subjects, 63 women and 29 men. In our work we used the direct (accelerometer) and indirect (IPAQ-LT short version of the questionnaire) methods to assess the total weekly physical activity and compare the findings with each other. Each study participant the first International physical activity questionnaire short Lithuanian version filled when completed physical activity estimation with accelerometer (physical activity was remembered of the last week - the first case of the questionnaires filling and another - after a week when physical activity estimation was completed with accelerometer (was asked „to remember“ physical activity that was done for the last week - the second case of the questionnaires filling). According to the IPAQ-LT short version the first and second questionnaire filling cases received the total weekly physical activity data between the first and second questionnaire filling cases exists a moderate correlation (rho=0,531, p=0,01). Evaluating the data of accelerometer and comparing them with the questionnaire data (the first and second guestionnaire filling cases of the total weekly physical activity) between the accelerometer and the the first guestionnaires filling case there is a small correlation (r=0,270, p=0,009), but between the second guestionnaires filling case - a very small (negligible) correliation (r=0,057, p=0,591). The study results suggest that the majority of volunteers in the study of their... [to full text]

La dépendance à la cocaïne est un problème de santé publique d'importance croissante. Il n'existe pas actuellement de traitement pharmacologique validé dans la dépendance à la cocaïne. Les essais thérapeutiques nécessitent une méthodologie qui permette d'évaluer l'efficacité des médicaments employés. Il n'existait pas à ce jour de mesure d'efficacité des traitements pharmacologiques dans la dépendance à la cocaïne validée en français. Nous avons mis au point et validé des questionnaires pouvant servir de mesures intermédiaires d'efficacité pour les essais pharmacologiques dans la dépendance à la cocaïne. Nous avons choisi de nous intéresser à deux types de variables intermédiaires : le craving et les symptômes psychotiques. Le craving est le besoin impérieux de reconsommer une drogue. Ce concept psychologique est un marqueur de dépendance. Nous avons conçu un questionnaire de craving en langue française : l'OCCS (Obsessive Compulsive Cocaïne Scale), en nous basant sur les travaux de plusieurs équipes travaillant dans le domaine de la dépendance à l'alcool. Nous avons validé ce questionnaire sur une population de 119 sujets cocaïnomanes suivis en centre de soins (Vorspan et al 2012). Nous avons notamment montré que les scores à ce questionnaire étaient corrélés à une mesure de craving par échelle visuelle analogique, étaient supérieurs chez les sujets dépendants par rapport aux sujets abuseurs de cocaïne, et étaient sensible au changement. Nous avons déjà utilisé le questionnaire de craving OCCS dans un essai thérapeutique en ouvert d'aripiprazole chez 10 patients dépendants du crack non schizophrènes (Vorspan et al 2008). Nous proposons également de l'utiliser pour évaluer l'efficacité d'interventions non pharmacologiques dans la dépendance à la cocaïne, comme la stimulation cérébrale profonde (Vorspan et al 2011), ou des interventions psychothérapeutiques. Les symptômes psychotiques se composent de différentes manifestations (hallucinations, idées délirantes et modifications comportementales). Nous avons choisi d'adapter en français un questionnaire évaluant les symptômes psychotiques transitoires survenant dans les quelques minutes à quelques heures suivant une consommation de cocaïne : le SAPS-CIP (Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms for Cocaine-Induced Psychosis). Nous avons montré que ces symptômes sont fréquents mais d'intensité variable dans une population de patients cocaïnomanes suivis en centre de soins (Vorspan et al, soumis), et qu'ils étaient sensibles au changement (Vorspan et al 2011). Il existe des hypothèses de vulnérabilité génétique à la survenue des symptômes psychotiques lors de l'usage de cocaïne. La vulnérabilité à cette complication pourrait être un facteur de protection vis-à-vis de l'acquisition d'une dépendance à la cocaïne (Brousse et al 2010). La mesure des symptômes psychotiques survenant lors de l'usage de drogue permet de modéliser une vulnérabilité pharmacogénétique vis-à-vis des addictions. Nous proposons d'utiliser ces deux mesures (OCCS pour le craving et SAPS-CIP pour les symptômes psychotiques) dans les essais thérapeutiques dans la dépendance à la cocaïne. En effet, il paraît pertinent, au regard des particularités cliniques de la dépendance à la cocaïne, de viser une réduction ou une disparition de ces deux ordres de symptômes. Une diminution du craving pourrait constituer une variable intermédiaire de l'objectif final d'obtenir une abstinence de la drogue. Une diminution des symptômes psychotiques pourrait constituer un moyen de réduction de la morbi-mortalité liée à l'usage de cocaïne.