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2. A Half Century of Progress in U.S. Student Achievement: Ethnic and SES Differences; Agency and Flynn Effects. Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series. PEPG 21-01
- Author
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Harvard University, Program on Education Policy and Governance, Shakeel, M. Danish, and Peterson, Paul E.
- Abstract
Principals (policy makers) have debated the progress in U.S. student performance for a half century or more. Informing these conversations, survey agents have administered seven million psychometrically linked tests in math and reading in 160 waves to national probability samples of selected cohorts born between 1954 and 2007. This study is the first to assess consistency of results by agency. We find results vary by agent, but consistent with Flynn effects, gains are larger in math than reading, except for the most recent period. Non-whites progress at a faster pace. Socio-economically disadvantaged white, black, and Hispanic students make greater progress when tested in elementary school, but that advantage attenuates and reverses itself as students age. We discuss potential moderators.
- Published
- 2021
3. The Changing Nature and Role of Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Volume 5: Education and Labour Market Outcomes for Graduates from Different Types of VET System in Europe. Cedefop Research Paper. No 69
- Author
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Department for VET Systems and Institutions (DSI)
- Abstract
This research paper is the fifth in a series produced as part of the Cedefop project The changing nature and role of VET (2016-18). Based on comparative analysis of labour force survey data from 2014, the report analyses the vocational effect on labour market and education outcomes, asking whether any advantages conferred by vocational qualifications in early career would be offset by disadvantages later in life. The report explores the functioning of the safety net and the diversion effects across countries, demonstrating how these vary considerably with the specific institutional structure of schooling and work-based training. The results indicate that VET graduates are potentially sacrificing the longer-term gains associated with further education in favour of short-term benefits. [This research was carried out by a consortium led by 3s Unternehmensberatung GmbH and including the Danish Technological Institute, the Institute of Employment Research (University of Warwick), the Institute of International and Social Studies (Tallinn University) and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Germany is supporting the project as a subcontractor.]
- Published
- 2018
4. The TeCoLa Project: Pedagogical Differentiation through Telecollaboration and Gaming for Intercultural and Content Integrated Language Teaching
- Author
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Jauregi, Kristi and Melchor-Couto, Sabela
- Abstract
The Erasmus+ TeCoLa project (2016-2019) aims to develop and test innovative gamified telecollaboration approaches for secondary schools that address issues of learning diversity in intercultural and Content Integrated Language Learning (CLIL) and teaching. Authentic task-based transnational interactions among peers from different socio-cultural, educational and language backgrounds are at the very heart of the learning process, using telecollaboration as a way to communicate and collaborate. In this paper we will shortly describe the project's foci and will elaborate on the teacher training programme that has been designed on the basis of the teachers' needs and on a sound conceptualisation of telecollaboration tasks that are useful, enjoyable, and meaningful. [For the complete volume, see ED578177.]
- Published
- 2017
5. Evaluating Eco-Innovation of OECD Countries with Data Envelopment Analysis
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Mavi, Reza Kiani and Standing, Craig
- Abstract
Government regulations require businesses to improve their processes and products/services in a green and sustainable manner. For being environmentally friendly, businesses should invest more on eco-innovation practices. Firms eco-innovate to promote eco-efficiency and sustainability. This paper evaluates the eco-innovation performance of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with data envelopment analysis (DEA). Data were gathered from the world bank database and global innovation index report. Findings show that for most OECD countries, energy use and ecological sustainability are more important than other inputs and outputs for enhancing eco-innovation. [For full proceedings, see ED571459.]
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- 2016
6. ELEKTRONIČKI MONITORING U SUVREMENOM KAZNENOM PRAVU I HRVATSKOJ -- ALTERNATIVA KAZNI ZATVORA I PANCEJA ZA PRENAPUČENOST ZATVORA ILI SAMO JOŠ JEDAN OD NAČINA NADZORA IZVRŠAVANJA SANKCIJA I MJERA.
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Dragičević Prtenjača, Marta and Gracin, Dijana
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ELECTRONIC surveillance ,CRIMINAL justice system ,HOME detention ,ALTERNATIVES to imprisonment ,CRIMINAL law ,COUNTRIES - Abstract
Copyright of Collected Papers of the Faculty of Law in Split / Zbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Splitu is the property of Split Faculty of Law and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2021
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7. Lifelong Learning: Capabilities and Aspirations
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Ilieva-Trichkova, Petya
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The present paper discusses the potential of the capability approach in conceptualizing and understanding lifelong learning as an agency process, and explores its capacity to guide empirical studies on lifelong learning. It uses data for 20 countries from the Adult Education Survey (2007; 2011) and focuses on aspirations for lifelong learning. The study results show that there are considerable country differences in the level of people's aspirations. They highlight the fact that, despite the growing emphasis on lifelong learning, the level of aspirations has decreased in half of the European countries. However, this decrease occurs to a greater extent among people who did not participate in lifelong learning, but wanted to participate, than among people who had already participated in some form of education or training in the previous 12 months. [For the complete Volume 14, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568088.]
- Published
- 2016
8. International comparison of professional competency frameworks for nurses: a document analysis.
- Author
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Wit, Renate F., de Veer, Anke J.E., Batenburg, Ronald S., and Francke, Anneke L.
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NURSING audit ,NURSING education ,NATIONAL competency-based educational tests ,RESEARCH evaluation ,NURSING ,COMMUNICATIVE competence ,LEADERSHIP ,BACCALAUREATE nursing education ,QUALITATIVE research ,PROFESSIONAL competence ,PHILOSOPHY of education ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,RESEARCH funding ,PROFESSIONALISM ,HEALTH promotion ,PATIENT safety ,EVALUATION - Abstract
Background: Nursing competency frameworks describe the competencies; knowledge, skills and attitudes nurses should possess. Countries have their own framework. Knowledge of the content of professional competency frameworks in different countries can enhance the development of these frameworks and international collaborations. Objective: This study examines how competencies and task divisions are described in the current professional competency frameworks for registered nurses (RNs with a Bachelor's degree) in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and the United States (US). Methods: Qualitative document analysis was conducted using the most recently published professional competency frameworks for registered nurses in the above-mentioned five countries. Results: All the competency frameworks distinguished categories of competencies. Three of the five frameworks explicitly mentioned the basis for the categorization: an adaptation of the CanMEDS model (Netherlands), European directives on the recognition of professional qualifications (Belgium) and an adapted inter-professional framework (US). Although there was variation in how competencies were grouped, we inductively identified ten generic competency domains: (1) Professional Attitude, (2) Clinical Care in Practice, (3) Communication and Collaboration, (4) Health Promotion and Prevention, (5) Organization and Planning of Care, (6) Leadership, (7) Quality and Safety of Care, (8) Training and (continuing) Education, (9) Technology and e-Health, (10) Support of Self-Management and Patient Empowerment. Country differences were found in some more specific competency descriptions. All frameworks described aspects related to the division of tasks between nurses on the one hand and physicians and other healthcare professionals on the other hand. However, these descriptions were rather limited and often imprecise. Conclusions: Although ten generic domains could be identified when analysing and comparing the competency frameworks, there are country differences in the categorizations and the details of the competencies described in the frameworks. These differences and the limited attention paid to the division of tasks might lead to cross-country differences in nursing practice and barriers to the international labour mobility of Bachelor-educated RNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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9. Evolution of National Guidelines on Medicines Used to Treat COVID-19 in Pregnancy in 2020–2022: A Scoping Review.
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Maisonneuve, Emeline, de Bruin, Odette, Favre, Guillaume, Goncé, Anna, Donati, Serena, Engjom, Hilde, Hurley, Eimir, Al-Fadel, Nouf, Siiskonen, Satu, Bloemenkamp, Kitty, Nordeng, Hedvig, Sturkenboom, Miriam, Baud, David, and Panchaud, Alice
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COVID-19 ,COVID-19 treatment ,PREGNANT women ,DRUG therapy ,LOPINAVIR-ritonavir - Abstract
The lack of inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of medicines to treat COVID-19 has made it difficult to establish evidence-based treatment guidelines for pregnant women. Our aim was to provide a review of the evolution and updates of the national guidelines on medicines used in pregnant women with COVID-19 published by the obstetrician and gynecologists' societies in thirteen countries in 2020–2022. Based on the results of the RECOVERY (Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial, the national societies successively recommended against prescribing hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir–ritonavir and azithromycin. Guidelines for remdesivir differed completely between countries, from compassionate or conditional use to recommendation against. Nirmatrelvir–ritonavir was authorized in Australia and the UK only in research settings and was no longer recommended in the UK at the end of 2022. After initial reluctance to use corticosteroids, the results of the RECOVERY trial have enabled the recommendation of dexamethasone in case of severe COVID-19 since mid-2020. Some societies recommended prescribing tocilizumab to pregnant patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation from June 2021. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies were authorized at the end of 2021 with conditional use in some countries, and then no longer recommended in Belgium and the USA at the end of 2022. The gradual convergence of the recommendations, although delayed compared to the general population, highlights the importance of the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials and of international collaboration to improve the pharmacological treatment of pregnant women with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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10. The Ocean-Going Autonomous Ship—Challenges and Threats.
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Felski, Andrzej and Zwolak, Karolina
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RELIABILITY in engineering ,DIRECT action ,FREIGHT & freightage ,SHIPS ,CONTAINER ships - Abstract
Unmanned vehicles have become a part of everyday life, not only in the air, but also at sea. In the case of sea, until now this usually meant small platforms operating near shores, usually for surveying or research purposes. However, experiments with larger cargo vessels, designed to operate on the high seas are already being carried out. In this context, there are questions about the threats that this solution may pose for other sea users, as well as the safety of the unmanned vehicle itself and the cargo or equipment on board. The problems can be considered in the context of system reliability as well as the resilience to interference or other intentional actions directed against these objects—for example, of a criminal nature. The paper describes the dangers that arise from the specificity of systems that can be used to solve navigational problems, as well as the analysis of the first experiences of the authors arising from the transit of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) from the United Kingdom to Belgium and back, crossing the busiest world shipping route—the English Channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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11. Returns to Workplace Training for Male and Female Employees and Implications for the Gender Wage Gap: A Quantile Regression Analysis
- Author
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Icardi, Rossella
- Abstract
Context: Existing studies have explored the association between workplace training and wages suggesting that training participation may have a positive association with wages. However, we still know very little about whether this association varies between men and women. Through its potential positive association with wages, training may balance wage differences between men and women. In addition, the gender wage gap varies across the wage distribution. Differences in the association between training participation and wages for men and women across the earnings spectrum may offer an explanation as to why the discrepancy in female/male earnings is larger at some point of the wage distribution compared to others. Approach: Using data from the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and unconditional quantile regression, this paper examines whether the association between workplace training and wages differs between men and women at different points of the wage distribution across 14 European countries. To partly control for endogeneity in training participation, detailed measures of cognitive skills have been included in the models. Findings: Findings show gender differences in the association between training and wages across the wage distribution. In most countries, results indicate larger training coefficients for women than men at the lower end of the wage spectrum whereas they are larger for men at the top. This pattern holds across most countries with the only exception of Liberal ones, where women benefit less than men across the entire wage spectrum. Conclusions: The findings of this work reveal that distributional variations in returns to workplace training follow a similar pattern across industrialized countries, despite their different institutional settings. Moreover, differences in training coefficients of men and women at different parts of the wage distribution suggest that training could reduce gender wage differences among low earners and potentially widen the gap in wages among individuals at the top of the wage distribution.
- Published
- 2021
12. Incubators for Student Leader Identity Emergence
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Arendale, D. R.
- Abstract
Too often student services have become a provider of discrete assistance in which one-way information transactions take place between the staff/student paraprofessionals providers and the students receiving the services. Students attend academic advising appointments, listen during tutorial or small groups study meetings, and read computer screens of information during career exploration sessions. Transactions seldom lead to transformations of engagement, identity, and deep learning for the students who provide or receive the service. Student leaders involved in student services, Students as Partners partnerships, student organizations, and athletics experience unanticipated personal and professional growth. Case studies from Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States display global connections among common themes of co-curricular learning events from such rich environments. This chapter provides a conceptual model for an ecosystem of leader identity emergence that can be effective in a variety of student activity venues and recommendations to be more intentional in fostering growth. [This paper was published in: H. Juijser, M. Kek, and F. F. Padro (Eds.) (2021). "University Development and Administration. Student Support Services." Springer Nature.]
- Published
- 2021
13. Designing and Implementing Virtual Exchange -- A Collection of Case Studies
- Author
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Research-publishing.net (France), Helm, Francesca, Beaven, Ana, Helm, Francesca, Beaven, Ana, and Research-publishing.net (France)
- Abstract
Virtual exchange is gaining popularity in formal and non-formal education, partly as a means to internationalise the curriculum, and also to offer more sustainable and inclusive international and intercultural experiences to young people around the world. This volume brings together 19 case studies (17 in higher education and two in youth work) of virtual exchange projects in Europe and the South Mediterranean region. They span across a range of disciplines, from STEM to business, tourism, and languages, and are presented as real-life pedagogical practices that can be of interest to educators looking for ideas and inspiration. [This content is provided in the format of an e-book. Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]
- Published
- 2020
14. Efficiency Measurement with Network DEA: An Application to Sustainable Development Goals 4
- Author
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Koçak, Deniz, Türe, Hasan, and Atan, Murat
- Abstract
Education is the core of the factors that improved people for a better lifestyle and increases the level of society' development. Quality education is one of the most vital goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to actualizing these factors. Using relational network data envelopment analysis (DEA), which have three interrelated substages, this current paper computes the educational economy efficiency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries bearing in mind the characteristics related to SDGs. The contribution of our study is the use of a novel approach to computing the educational economy efficiency using relational network DEA with GAMS. Even though some interesting differences reveal in the efficiency of the countries, the findings show that countries with high-efficiency scores are clustered around countries like Latvia, Slovenia, and Korea.
- Published
- 2019
15. Government Spending across the World: How the United States Compares. National Issue Brief No. 144
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University of New Hampshire, Carsey School of Public Policy, Ettlinger, Michael, Hensley, Jordan, and Vieira, Julia
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In this brief, authors Michael Ettlinger, Jordan Hensley, and Julia Vieira analyze how much the governments of different countries spend, and on what, to illuminate the range of fiscal policy options available and provide a basis for determining which approaches work best. They report that the United States ranks twenty-fourth in government spending as a share of GDP out of twenty-nine countries for which recent comparable data are available. The key determinant of where countries rank in overall government spending is the amount spent on social protection. The United States ranks last in spending on social protection as a share of GDP and twenty-second in per capita spending. The United States ranks at or near the top in military, health care, education, and law enforcement spending. Measuring government spending by different methods and including tax expenditures does not appear to significantly alter the conclusion that the United States is a low-tax, low-spending country relative to the other countries examined, particularly when compared to its fellow higher-income countries. [This paper is an evolution of a previous work, "Comparing Public Spending and Priorities Across OECD Countries" (ED606844).]
- Published
- 2019
16. Fostering Inquiry and Creativity in Early Years STEM Education: Policy Recommendations from the 'Creative Little Scientists Project'
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Stylianidou, Fani, Glauert, Esme, Rossis, Dimitris, Compton, Ashley, Cremin, Teresa, Craft, Anna, and Havu-Nuutinen, Sari
- Abstract
"Creative Little Scientists" was a 30-month (2011-2014) EU/FP7-funded research project focusing on the synergies between early years science and mathematics education and the development of children's creativity, in response to increasing interest in these areas in European educational policy. Using a variety of methods, including desk research, a teacher survey and classroom-based fieldwork, the research provided insights into whether and how children's creativity is fostered and appropriate learning outcomes, including children's interest, emerge. Based on these and ongoing collaboration and dialogue with participants and other stakeholders the project proposed recommendations for policy and teacher education. This paper presents these recommendations and the research on which they were based. Throughout the study, mixed methods were employed, combining quantitative approaches used in surveys of policy and teachers' views based on a list of factors, alongside qualitative approaches employed in case studies of classroom practice. A strong conceptual framework developed at the start of the project guided data collection and analysis, as well as the presentation of findings and the development of policy recommendations, thus ensuring the latter's strong and consistent relationship with the relevant theoretical knowledge, the comparative research, analysis of classroom practices and the production of guidelines for teacher education.
- Published
- 2018
17. Dancing with COVID: Choreographing Examinations in Pandemic Times
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Alarcón López, Cristina, Decuypere, Mathias, Dey, Joyeeta, Gorur, Radhika, Hamilton, Mary, Lundahl, Christian, and Sundström Sjödin, Elin
- Abstract
In this paper, we explore the improvisations made in examination practices in higher education during the pandemic of 2020. Drawing on STS, we start from the theoretical assumption that examinations constitute an obligatory passage point in universities and colleges: a sacred point which students need to pass if they want to gain recognized qualifications. We base our analysis of higher education examinations on cases from six countries around the world: Australia, Belgium, Chile, India, Sweden and the UK. We use the analytical heuristic of choreography to follow the movements, tensions and resistance of the 'emergency examinations' as well as the re-orderings of actors and stages that have inevitably occurred. In our analytical stories we see the interplay between the maintenance of fixed and sacred aspects of examinations and the fluidity of improvisations aimed at meeting threats of spreading COVID-19. These measures have forced the complex network of examinations both to reinforce some conventional actors and to assemble new actors and stages, thus creating radically new choreographies. Although higher education teaching and didactics are being framed as a playground for pedagogical innovation with digital technologies, it is clear from our data that not all educational activities can be so easily replicated.
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- 2021
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18. First records of alien crayfish of the Procambarus acutus species complex in Belgium.
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Scheers, Kevin, Boets, Pieter, Abeel, Thomas, and Van den Neucker, Tom
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CRAYFISH ,INTRODUCED species ,RECORDS - Abstract
We present the first Belgian records of potentially invasive alien crayfish of the Procambarus acutus species complex, including the first confirmed record of P. acutus acutus. The species complex was observed at four different sites in three provinces in the north of the country. Only at one site the presence of a form I male specimen made identification to species level possible, based on gonopod morphology. The other three observations are considered as belonging to the P. acutus species complex. Procambarus acutus acutus is the fifth alien crayfish species known to Belgium. In Europe, it was previously only known as an established alien species from the Netherlands and Great Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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19. Does Variation in the Extent of Generalized Trust, Individual Education and Extensiveness of Social Security Policies Matter for Maximization of Subjective Well-Being?
- Author
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Valeeva, Rania F.
- Abstract
In this paper, I examine whether generalized trust and education, as well as social security policies of welfare state institutions matter for cross-national differences in subjective well-being (SWB), because knowledge on this issue is still lacking. For this purpose I integrated the insights of two sociological theories: Social Function Production theory and Actor-Centred Institutionalism. Based on these theoretical notions we derived several hypotheses, which I tested using multilevel analysis of the data from the European Social Survey (2006), in a sample of 37,237 respondents from 22 European countries. My findings indicate that various extensiveness of social security policies matter for the level of SWB, and for the impact of education on SWB. I found negative impact of low education on SWB in all countries, except in Northern and Western European countries. This might suggest that social security policies of the latter countries have diminished the negative impact of low education on SWB. Moreover, my findings indicate positive relationship between individual education and generalized trust; as well as between generalized trust and SWB in countries with all five types of social security policies.
- Published
- 2016
20. Game--The Beer Transportation Game: How to Decarbonize Logistics by Moving Freight to Sustainable Transport Modes
- Author
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Dong, Chuanwen and Boute, Robert
- Abstract
Moving freight to sustainable transport modes is one of the most frequently mentioned suggestions to decarbonize logistics. Regrettably, even with regulation and technology developing over the past years, most of the freight volumes are still shipped via road, the least sustainable means of transport. This paper presents a beer transportation game to support logistics decarbonization via a modal shift from road to rail. In the game, student teams play the role of a logistics manager of a beer brewer and decide on the transport mode and shipment volume from the brewery to a distribution center. Their decisions are evaluated by the impact on total logistics costs and emissions. The game consists of two rounds, each with a student participation part and a lecturer debriefing part. The first round helps students understand why firms are often reluctant to shift freight from road to the low-emission transport mode (e.g., rail), and the second round encourages students to overcome the obstacles and helps them design practical approaches to alter the modal split in favor of rail transport. The game can be sealed into a 90-minute session and incorporated into any courses covering the topic of sustainable logistics or supply chain management.
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- 2020
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21. Cross-Border Higher Education Institutions in Mainland China: A Developmental Perspective
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Wu, Mei and Li, Shengbing
- Abstract
Cross-border higher education institutions are considered a main way to fulfill the educational internalization in Mainland China; to some extent they represent the attitude of entering the international market. In this paper, the history, status quo, and future of Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools are analyzed and discussed. Cross-border higher education institutions in Mainland China have experienced the process from accidental and disorder to a systematic and quality orientation.
- Published
- 2015
22. Exploring absolute and relative measures of exposure to food environments in relation to dietary patterns among European adults.
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Pinho, MGM, Mackenbach, JD, Oppert, J-M, Charreire, H, Bárdos, H, Rutter, H, Compernolle, S, Beulens, JWJ, Brug, J, Lakerveld, J, and Mackenbach, J D
- Subjects
CONVENIENCE foods ,MULTIPLE correspondence analysis (Statistics) ,LIQUOR stores - Abstract
Objective: To explore the associations of absolute and relative measures of exposure to food retailers with dietary patterns, using simpler and more complex measures.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Setting: Urban regions in Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands and the UK.ParticipantsEuropean adults (n 4942). Supermarkets and local food shops were classified as 'food retailers providing healthier options'; fast-food/takeaway restaurants, cafés/bars and convenience/liquor stores as 'food retailers providing less healthy options'. Simpler exposure measures used were density of healthy and density of less healthy food retailers. More complex exposure measures used were: spatial access (combination of density and proximity) to healthy and less healthy food retailers; density of healthier food retailers relative to all food retailers; and a ratio of spatial access scores to healthier and less healthy food retailers. Outcome measures were a healthy or less healthy dietary pattern derived from a principal component analysis (based on consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, fast foods, sweets and sweetened beverages).Results: Only the highest density of less healthy food retailers was significantly associated with the less healthy dietary pattern (β = -129·6; 95 % CI -224·3, -34·8). None of the other absolute density measures nor any of the relative measures of exposures were associated with dietary patterns.Conclusions: More complex measures of exposure to food retailers did not produce stronger associations with dietary patterns. We had some indication that absolute and relative measures of exposure assess different aspects of the food environment. However, given the lack of significant findings, this needs to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2019
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23. Do associations between objectively-assessed physical activity and neighbourhood environment attributes vary by time of the day and day of the week? IPEN adult study.
- Author
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Cerin, Ester, Mitáš, Josef, Cain, Kelli L., Conway, Terry L., Adams, Marc A., Schofield, Grant, Sarmiento, Olga L., Siqueira Reis, Rodrigo, Schipperijn, Jasper, Davey, Rachel, Salvo, Deborah, Orzanco-Garralda, Rosario, Macfarlane, Duncan J., De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse, Owen, Neville, Sallis, James F., and Van Dyck, Delfien
- Subjects
PHYSICAL activity ,ACCELEROMETERS ,COMPARATIVE studies ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,EMPLOYMENT ,GEOGRAPHIC information systems ,HEALTH behavior ,MOTOR ability ,POPULATION geography ,PROBABILITY theory ,REGRESSION analysis ,SEASONS ,SELF-evaluation ,SEX distribution ,SURVEYS ,TIME ,MATHEMATICAL variables ,WORLD health ,RESIDENTIAL patterns ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,EDUCATIONAL attainment ,CROSS-sectional method ,DATA analysis software ,MEDICAL coding ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,ADULTS ,PSYCHOLOGY - Abstract
Background: To more accurately quantify the potential impact of the neighbourhood environment on adults' physical activity (PA), it is important to compare environment-PA associations between periods of the day or week when adults are more versus less likely to be in their neighbourhood and utilise its PA resources. We examined whether, among adults from 10 countries, associations between objectively-assessed neighbourhood environment attributes and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) varied by time of the day and day of the week. The secondary aim was to examine whether such associations varied by employment status, gender and city. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 6,712 adults from 14 cities across 10 countries with ≥1 day of valid accelerometer-assessed MVPA and complete information on socio-demographic and objectively-assessed environmental characteristics within 0.5 and 1 km street-network buffers around the home. Accelerometer measures (MVPA min/h) were created for six time periods from early morning until late evening/night, for weekdays and weekend days separately. Associations were estimated using generalized additive mixed models. Results: Time of the day, day of week, gender and employment status were significant moderators of environment-MVPA associations. Land use mix was positively associated with MVPA in women who were employed and in men irrespective of their employment status. The positive associations between MVPA and net residential density, intersection density and land use mix were stronger in the mornings of weekdays and the afternoon/evening periods of both weekdays and weekend days. Associations between number of parks and MVPA were stronger in the mornings and afternoon/evenings irrespective of day of the week. Public transport density showed consistent positive associations with MVPA during weekends, while stronger effects on weekdays were observed in the morning and early evenings. Conclusions: This study suggests that space and time constraints in adults' daily activities are important factors that determine the impact of neighbourhood attributes on PA. Consideration of time-specific associations is important to better characterise the magnitude of the effects of the neighbourhood environment on PA. Future research will need to examine the contribution of built environment characteristics of areas surrounding other types of daily life centres (e.g., workplaces) to explaining adults' PA at specific times of the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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24. Lifestyle correlates of overweight in adults: a hierarchical approach (the SPOTLIGHT project).
- Author
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Roda, Célina, Charreire, Hélène, Feuillet, Thierry, Mackenbach, Joreintje D., Compernolle, Sofie, Glonti, Ketevan, Bárdos, Helga, Rutter, Harry, McKee, Martin, Brug, Johannes, De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse, Lakerveld, Jeroen, and Oppert, Jean-Michel
- Subjects
ALCOHOLIC beverages ,CHI-squared test ,CROSSOVER trials ,DEMOGRAPHY ,FOOD habits ,HEALTH behavior ,NONPARAMETRIC statistics ,OBESITY ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,RESEARCH funding ,SLEEP ,SMOKING ,STATISTICS ,SURVEYS ,DATA analysis ,MULTIPLE regression analysis ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,BODY mass index ,LIFESTYLES ,PHYSICAL activity ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,KRUSKAL-Wallis Test - Abstract
Background: Obesity-related lifestyle behaviors usually co-exist but few studies have examined their simultaneous relation with body weight. This study aimed to identify the hierarchy of lifestyle-related behaviors associated with being overweight in adults, and to examine subgroups so identified. Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted across 60 urban neighborhoods in 5 European urban regions between February and September 2014. Data on socio-demographics, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, eating habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep duration were collected by questionnaire. Participants also reported their weight and height. A recursive partitioning tree approach (CART) was applied to identify both main correlates of overweight and lifestyle subgroups. Results: In 5295 adults, mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) was 25.2 (4.5) kg/m², and 46.0 % were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m²). CART analysis showed that among all lifestyle-related behaviors examined, the first identified correlate was sitting time while watching television, followed by smoking status. Different combinations of lifestyle-related behaviors (prolonged daily television viewing, former smoking, short sleep, lower vegetable consumption, and lower physical activity) were associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight, revealing 10 subgroups. Members of four subgroups with overweight prevalence >50 % were mainly males, older adults, with lower education, and living in greener neighborhoods with low residential density. Conclusion: Sedentary behavior while watching television was identified as the most important correlate of being overweight. Delineating the hierarchy of correlates provides a better understanding of lifestyle-related behavior combinations which may assist in targeting preventative strategies aimed at tackling obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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25. Reducing discretionary food and beverage intake in early childhood: a systematic review within an ecological framework.
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Johnson, Brittany J., Hendrie, Gilly A., and Golley, Rebecca K.
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DIET ,BEVERAGES & health ,PUBLIC health ,NUTRITION ,EDUCATION ,CHILD nutrition ,DECISION making ,FOOD habits ,HEALTH promotion ,PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDLINE ,META-analysis ,NUTRITIONAL requirements ,ONLINE information services ,SYSTEMATIC reviews - Abstract
Objective: To systematically review the literature and map published studies on 4-8-year-olds' intake of discretionary choices against an ecological framework (ANalysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity; ANGELO). Design: Articles were identified through database searches (PubMed, PyscINFO®, Web of Science) in February and March 2014 and hand-searching reference lists. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and mapped against the ANGELO framework by environment size (macro and micro setting) and type (physical, economic, policy and socio-cultural influences). Setting: Studies were conducted in the USA (n 18), Australia (n 6), the UK (n 3), the Netherlands (n 3), Belgium (n 1), Germany (n 1) and Turkey (n 1). Subjects: Children aged 4-8 years, or parents/other caregivers. Results: Thirty-three studies met the review criteria (observational n 23, interventions n 10). Home was the most frequently studied setting (67% of exposures/strategies), with the majority of these studies targeting family policy-type influences (e.g. child feeding practices, television regulation). Few studies were undertaken in government (5·5%) or community (11%) settings, or examined economic-type influences (0%). Of the intervention studies only four were categorised as effective. Conclusions: The present review is novel in its focus on mapping observational and intervention studies across a range of settings. It highlights the urgent need for high-quality research to inform interventions that directly tackle the factors influencing children's excess intake of discretionary choices. Interventions that assist in optimising a range of environmental influences will enhance the impact of future public health interventions to improve child diet quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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26. How do national cultures influence lay people's preferences toward doctors' style of communication? A comparison of 35 focus groups from an European cross national research.
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Rimondini, Michela, Maria Angela Mazzi, Myriam Deveugele, Jozien M. Bensing, Mazzi, Maria Angela, Deveugele, Myriam, and Bensing, Jozien M
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PHYSICIAN-patient relations ,MEDICAL communication ,HEALTH education ,HEALTH programs ,FOCUS groups ,COMMUNICATION ,COMPARATIVE studies ,CULTURE ,ETHNIC groups ,INTERNATIONAL relations ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL cooperation ,PATIENT satisfaction ,PHYSICIANS ,RESEARCH ,ETHNOLOGY research ,EVALUATION research - Abstract
Background: The evidence that inspires and fosters communication skills, teaching programmes and clinical recommendations are often based on national studies which assume, implicitly, that patients' preferences towards doctors' communication style are not significantly affected by their cultural background. The cross-cultural validity of national results has been recognized as a potential limitation on how generally applicable they are in a wider context. Using 35 country-specific focus group discussions from four European countries, the aim of the present study is to test whether or not national cultures influence lay people's preferences towards doctors' style of communication.Methods: Lay people preferences on doctor's communication style have been collected in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Italy. Each centre organized between eight and nine focus groups, where participants (n = 259) were asked to comment on a video of a simulated medical interview. The discussions were audiotaped, transcribed and coded using a common framework (Guliver Coding System) that allowed for the identification of different themes.Results: The frequency distribution of the topics discussed highlights lay people's generally positive views towards most part of doctors interventions. The regression model applied to the Guliver categories highlighted slight national differences and the existence of a cross-cultural appreciation, in particular, of five types of intervention: Doctors attitudes (both Task-Oriented and Affective/Emotional), Summarizing, Structuring and Providing solution.Conclusion: Lay panels valued doctors' communication style in a similar manner in the countries selected. This highlights the existence of a common background, which in the process of internationalization of heath care, might foster the implementation of cross-national teaching programmes and clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2015
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27. What do people appreciate in physicians' communication? An international study with focus groups using videotaped medical consultations.
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Mazzi, Maria A., Rimondini, Michela, Deveugele, Myriam, Zimmermann, Christa, Moretti, Francesca, van Vliet, Liesbeth, Deledda, Giuseppe, Fletcher, Ian, and Bensing, Jozien
- Subjects
AFFECT (Psychology) ,BEHAVIOR ,CHI-squared test ,COMMUNICATION ,CONTENT analysis ,EMOTIONS ,FOCUS groups ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL cooperation ,NONVERBAL communication ,PHYSICIAN-patient relations ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH funding ,STATISTICAL sampling ,VIDEO recording ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
The article presents a study which aims to listen to peoples' perspectives on what constitutes a good physician communication. The researchers detail the study design using videotaped standardized medical encounters to discuss their preferences in gender-specific focus groups. It implies that the physicians' affective attitude is most desired and appreciated by patients.
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- 2015
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28. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical staff towards obesity management in patients with spinal cord injuries: an International survey of four western European countries.
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Wong, S, van Middendorp, J, Belci, M, van Nes, I, Roels, E, Smith, É, Hirani, S P, and Forbes, A
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PREVENTION of obesity ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,CHI-squared test ,HEALTH care teams ,MEDICAL personnel ,PROFESSIONS ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,RESEARCH funding ,SPINAL cord injuries ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,CROSS-sectional method ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,MANN Whitney U Test ,DISEASE complications - Abstract
Objective:To (1) examine the opinions of medical staff working in spinal cord injury (SCI) centres (SCICs); (2) evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards obesity prevention and management; (3) report the number of beds and dietitians available at each SCIC.Methods:A 37-item questionnaire was sent to 23 SCICs in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland between September 2012 and January 2013.Results:Eighteen SCICs returned the questionnaires for analysis. All respondents stated that they had an interest in obesity treatment but only 2.3% of the respondents received training in obesity management. Sixty-one percent of staff did not consider body mass index (BMI) to be appropriate for use in SCI patients and subsequently less than half of the respondents use BMI routinely. The majority of respondents reported that they are confident in dealing with overweight (74.5%) and obese (66.1%) SCI adults, less than half (44.1%) are confident in treating overweight and obese SCI children. Respondents also indicated the need for nationally adopted guidelines and a lack of physical activity provision. There were 17.5 whole-time equivalent (WTE) dietitians recorded in 22 SCICs, equivalent to 47.8 beds per WTE dietitians (range 10-420). Non-UK SCIC dietitians are significantly better resourced than in UK SCICs (beds per WTE dietitian: 36 vs 124, P=0.035).Conclusion:Medical staff expressed the need to participate in obesity prevention and management. Appropriate training should be considered for all medical staff and the development of specific weight management guidelines and dietetic provision should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2015
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29. Questioning Discrimination through Critical Media Literacy. Findings from Seven European Countries
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Ranieri, Maria and Fabbro, Francesco
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This paper presents the main findings of an action-research study that took place in seven European countries in order to develop effective educational responses to prevent and combat discrimination. The study entailed the design of media and citizenship education activities, their implementation in the different educational contexts and the evaluation of their effectiveness in raising young people's awareness of discrimination. The results of the study shed light both on the advantages and constraints of educational practice, variations that often depend on the specific cultural and social context. On the one hand, the analysis and the evaluation of educational experiences suggest that critical media literacy can enable the development of critical reading/viewing skills as well as acts of participatory and inclusive citizenship that question derogative and essentialist media representations of the Other. On the other hand, the results highlight the difficulty of promoting young people's awareness of discrimination through active methods of teaching and learning or through media content which is far from young people's experience, interests and concerns.
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- 2016
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30. Scaling up telemedicine for adults with cochlear implants.
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Cullington, H. E., Kitterick, P., Margol-Gromada, M., Riggs, C., Finch, T., and Weal, M.
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CONFERENCES & conventions ,COCHLEAR implants ,TELEMEDICINE - Abstract
Objectives: 1. Roll out telemedicine tools to adults using any cochlear implant device in the UK 2. Commission a formal evaluation to establish whether the new care model improves: • patient empowerment • equity of access • patient and staff experience • clinic efficiency Methods We will introduce a remote care pathway choice to adults using cochlear implants in participating centres in the UK. Benefits will be available to users of any device. This is a complex intervention comprising four components successfully trialled together previously: • personalised responsive web app (hearing rehabilitation, music, advice, troubleshooting, training, ordering spares, goal setting, questionnaires, reminders, monitoring of implant site photos) • home hearing test • self device adjustment at home (with appropriate device) • upgrading of sound processors at home Clinicians will access an online dashboard to monitor their patients, and will receive alerts if patients are not interacting with the tools or other indicators are achieved. Conclusions : We previously completed an RCT of remote care tools. We examined patient preference using conjoint analysis; the main outcome evaluated was patient empowerment. The remote care group had a significant increase in empowerment after using the telemedicine tools. Their hearing improved, suggesting better ability to take action to keep hearing stable. Patients and clinicians were very positive about remote care and wanted to continue. We need high quality evidence that a remote care pathway delivers our aims. An independent evaluation will be done to establish if the new care model improves: 1. patients' confidence to self-manage 2. stability of hearing as a result of self-initiated monitoring and action 3. equity of access to follow-up care 4. patients' experience of care 5. staff experience 6. use of resources [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
31. VSHR: A Mathematical Model for the Prediction of Second-Wave COVID-19 Epidemics in Malaysia.
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Yu X, Lu L, Guo J, Qin H, and Ji C
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- Algorithms, Belgium epidemiology, COVID-19 transmission, Computational Biology, Computer Simulation, France epidemiology, Germany epidemiology, Humans, Malaysia epidemiology, United Kingdom epidemiology, COVID-19 epidemiology, Epidemics statistics & numerical data, Epidemiological Models, SARS-CoV-2
- Abstract
Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread all over the world, causing unpredictable economic losses and public fear. Although vaccines against this virus have been developed and administered for months, many countries still suffer from secondary COVID-19 infections, including the United Kingdom, France, and Malaysia. Observations of COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom and France and their governance measures showed a certain number of similarities. A further investigation of these countries' COVID-19 transmission patterns suggested that when a turning point appeared, the values of their stringency indices per population density (PSI) were nearly proportional to their absolute infection rate (AIR). To justify our assumptions, we developed a mathematical model named VSHR to predict the COVID-19 turning point for Malaysia. VSHR was first trained on 30-day infection records prior to the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Belgium's known turning points. It was then transferred to Malaysian COVID-19 data to predict this nation's turning point. Given the estimated AIR parameter values in 5 days, we were now able to locate the turning point's appearance on June 2
nd , 2021. VSHR offered two improvements: (1) gathered countries into groups based on their SI patterns and (2) generated a model to identify the turning point for a target country within 5 days with 90% CI. Our research on COVID-19's turning point for a country is beneficial for governments and clinical systems against future COVID-19 infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Xiang Yu et al.)- Published
- 2022
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32. Representativeness of personality and involvement preferences in a web-based survey on healthcare decision-making.
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Birkeland S, Linkhorst T, Haakonsson A, Barry MJ, and Möller S
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- Aged, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Health Surveys, Humans, Internet, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Neuroticism, New Zealand, Norway, Patient Preference, Prostatic Neoplasms therapy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Decision Making, Patient Participation, Personality, Prostatic Neoplasms psychology
- Abstract
Background: Obtaining a sample that is representative of the group of interest is of utmost importance in questionnaire studies. In a survey using a state authorized web-portal for citizen communication with authorities, we wanted to investigate the view of adult men on patient involvement in health care decision-making regarding Prostate-Specific Antigen test for prostatic cancer. In this paper, we report on sample characteristics and representativeness of our sample in terms of personality and baseline involvement preferences., Methods: We compared personality profiles (BFI-10) and baseline healthcare decision-making preferences (CPS) in our sample (n = 6756) to internationally available datasets. Pooled data from a) US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (n = 1512), b) Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium (n = 1136), and c) Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark (n = 1313) were used for BFI-10 comparisons. Regarding CPS, we compared our sample with three previous datasets relating to decision-making in cancer (n = 425, 387, and 199)., Results: Although statistically significant differences particularly appeared in large dataset comparisons, sample BFI-10 and CPS profiles mostly were within the range of those previously reported. Similarity was greatest in BFI-10 comparisons with group a) where no statistically significant difference could be established in factors 'agreeableness' and 'neuroticism' (p = .095 and .578, respectively)., Conclusion: Despite some variation, our sample displays personality and baseline preference profiles that are generally similar to those described in previous international studies. For example, this was the case with the BFI-10 'agreeableness' measure (incl. trust and fault-finding items), an important factor in healthcare decision-making.
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- 2020
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33. Challenges in turning a great idea into great health policy: the case of integrated care.
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Raus K, Mortier E, and Eeckloo K
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- Belgium, Health Care Reform, Health Services Research, Humans, Norway, State Medicine organization & administration, United Kingdom, Delivery of Health Care organization & administration, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated, Health Policy
- Abstract
Background: In the organization of health care and health care systems, there is an increasing trend towards integrated care. Policy-makers from different countries are creating policies intended to promote cooperation and collaboration between health care providers, while facilitating the integration of different health care services. Hopes are high, as such collaboration and integration of care are believed to save resources and improve quality. However, policy-makers are likely to encounter various challenges and limitations when attempting to turn these great ideas into effective policies. In this paper, we look into these challenges., Main Body: We argue that the organization of health care and integrated care is of public concern, and should thus be of crucial interest to policy-makers. We highlight three challenges or limitations likely to be encountered by policy-makers in integrated care. These are: (1) conceptual challenges; (2) empirical/methodological challenges; and (3) resource challenges. We will argue that it is still unclear what integrated care means and how we should measure it. 'Integrated care' is a single label that can refer to a great number of different processes. It can describe the integration of care for individual patients, the integration of services aimed at particular patient groups or particular conditions, or it can refer to institution-wide collaborations between different health care providers. We subsequently argue that health reform inevitably possesses a political context that should be taken into account. We also show how evidence supporting integrated care may not guarantee success in every context. Finally, we will discuss how promoting collaboration and integration might actually demand more resources. In the final section, we look at three different paradigmatic examples of integrated care policy: Norway, the UK's NHS, and Belgium., Conclusions: There seems widespread agreement that collaboration and integration are the way forward for health care and health care systems. Nevertheless, we argue that policy-makers should remain careful; they should carefully consider what they hope to achieve, the amount of resources they are willing to invest, and how they will evaluate the success of their policy.
- Published
- 2020
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