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Student evaluations of college teaching have been endorsed and criticized for as long as they have been used as part of important decision-making practices in higher education. With the growth of distance education, the need for alternative approaches for these assessments has increased. We were interested in the extent to which outcomes were comparable across in-class and on-line course evaluations. We conducted a randomized controlled trial across 7 colleges, 25 departments, and 41 instructors at a large urban research university in the southeastern part of the United States. The distribution of ratings across demographic and comparison groups was similar. Response rates were lower for students participating online; however, none of the scale score differences between groups exceeded an effect size 0.21 and the estimated benefits were large. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches for evaluating instruction in the context of past, current, and future research and practice.

The time, material, and staff-consuming nature of anatomy's traditional pen-and-paper assessment system, the increase in the number of students enrolling in medical schools and the ever-escalating workload of academic staff have made the use of computer-based assessment (CBA) an attractive proposition. To understand the impact of such shift in the assessment method, an experimental study evaluating its effect on students' performance was designed. Additionally, students' opinions toward CBA were gathered. Second-year medical students attending a Clinical Anatomy course were randomized by clusters in two groups. The pen-and-paper group attended two sessions, each consisting of a traditional sectional anatomy steeplechase followed by a theoretical examination, while the computer group was involved in two similar sessions conducted in a computerized environment. At the end of each of the computer sessions, students in this group filled an anonymous questionnaire. In the first session, pen-and-paper group students scored significantly better than computer-group students in both the steeplechase (mean ± standard deviation: 66.00 ± 14.15% vs. 43.50 ± 19.10%; P < 0.001) and the theoretical examination (52.50 ± 12.70% vs. 39.00 ± 21.10%; P < 0.001). In the second session, no statistically significant differences were found for both the steeplechase (59.50 ± 17.30% vs. 54.50 ± 17.00%; P = 0.085) and the theoretical examination (57.50 ± 13.70% vs. 54.00 ± 14.30%; P = 0.161). Besides, an intersession improvement in students' perceptions toward CBA was registered. These results suggest that, after a familiarization period, CBA might be a performance equivalent and student accepted alternative to clinical anatomy pen-and-paper theoretical and practical examinations.

This paper provides an introduction to issues surrounding the participation rights of young people in research and the implications of their growing involvement in research as well as providing a discourse on the ethical implications related to consent. The unique contribution of this paper is that it considers children's rights in respect to the increasing opportunities for young people to take part in evaluation research. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to acknowledge the growing involvement for young people in research and the implications of ensuring that their rights of participation are respected. Secondly, we will consider the children's rights legislation and our obligations as researchers to implement this. Finally, we will explore consent as an issue in its own right as well as the practicalities of accessing participants. This paper will postulate that any research about young people should involve and prioritize at all stages of the research process; including participation in decision-making. We conclude by identifying five key principles, which we believe can help to facilitate the fulfilment of post-primary pupils' ability to consent to participate in trials and evaluative research.

Under the umbrella of ubiquitous technologies, many computational artifacts have been designed to enhance the learning experience in physical settings such as classrooms or playgrounds, but few of them focus on aiding orchestration. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of the signal orchestration system (SOS) used by students for a jigsaw activity in an authentic classroom setting. The SOS comprises multiple wearable personal signal devices and an orchestration signal manager. Color and sound signals can be configured in the manager to be transmitted to the personal devices worn by the students to indicate orchestration signals for collaboration. The comparison between the SOS and a paper-based method traditionally employed for the orchestration of the jigsaw collaborative pattern showed that students in the SOS group spent significantly less time organizing the activity, obtained higher scores in the tests, experienced a stronger feeling of group formation awareness, and reported having enjoyed the experience to a greater degree.

Home-based rehabilitation programs for older adults have demonstrated effectiveness, desirability, and reduced burden. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of balance-intervention training delivered through traditional paper-versus novel smartphone-based methods is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate if a home-based balance-intervention program could equally improve balance performance when delivered via smartphone or paper among adults over the age of 65. A total of 31 older adults were randomized into either a paper or phone group and completed a 4-week asynchronous self-guided balance intervention across 12 sessions for approximately 30 min per session. Baseline, 4-week, and 8-week walking and standing balance evaluations were performed, with exercise duration and adherence recorded. Additional self-reported measures were collected regarding the enjoyment, usability, difficulty, and length of the exercise program. Twenty-nine participants completed the balance program and three assessments, with no group differences found for any outcome measure. Older adults demonstrated an approximately 0.06 m/s faster gait velocity and modified balance strategies during walking and standing conditions following the intervention protocol. Participants further self-reported similar enjoyment, difficulty, and exercise effectiveness. Results of this study demonstrated the potential to safely deliver home-based interventions as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering balance intervention through a smartphone-based application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussions of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in education that do not show an impact regularly focus on the intervention and how it failed to impact on expected measures, with typologies identifying persistent critical points of failure. This paper uses one such RCT--the Integrating English programme--to exemplify the application of a new model to explain failure in RCTs. To do so, the paper develops a set of categories of context drawing on the wider social evaluation field: backdrop, design, operation and interpretation. Thus, the paper exposes critical weak points in the commission and interpretation, as well as the implementation, of an RCT. Our aim is to work towards more robust evaluations by demonstrating that it is not simply the programme design, implementation and evaluation that can contribute to a lack of impact; there can be more fundamental system issues at play.

Scholars are generally aware of a lack of citizen knowledge about politics in the United States. One commonly suggested remedy is the production of nonpartisan voter guides to provide voters a simple and low-cost information source to help inform voters. One of the more significant variations across states is whether the voter guide is provided in a hard-copy format or distributed on the internet. This paper explores the results of a randomized controlled trial comparing a group of registered voters in Utah who received a hard-copy of a paper voter guide against a group registered voters who received a postcard inviting them to view their voter guide online. Results show few statistically significant differences between the paper guide group and the postcard group in knowledge and turnout, and those that are observed slightly favor the postcard/online group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the electronic Compassion Competence Scale (e-CCS). Methods: A cross-sectional, randomized, two-period crossover design was used. Nursing students from four South Korean universities were surveyed between June 2017 and April 2018. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups-paper/paper, electronic/electronic, and paper/electronic or electronic/paper-and a test-retest procedure was implemented. The reliability and validity of the e-CCS were evaluated using linear weighted kappa coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Internal consistency reliability was verified using linear weighted kappa coefficients and ICCs. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the initial test and retest scores were all statistically significant. Results: The newly developed e-CCS was found to have good reliability and validity. We suggest that future research should increase sample heterogeneity by recruiting diverse age groups, nurses working in different nursing fields, and students from multiple colleges. Conclusion: This electronic instrument will help determine the differences in the level of compassion competence and devise interventions to improve compassion competence in nurses and nursing students. Further studies on enhancing compassion competence among nurses and nursing students may rely on the use of this electronic format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The instructor-led CPR training method has been used for over 4 decades. However, nurses' knowledge and skills are still low. Instructor-led CPR training is an extremely capital-intensive programme that requires more time, workforce, and space, thus serving as an impediment to effective learning among the prospective nurses' trainees. Self-directed training method is suggested to improve the knowledge and skills of CPR among healthcare practitioners due to the low cost and flexibility. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of self-directed method in improving nurses' knowledge and skill retention from baseline to post-test, one, three-, and six months. Method: A two-arm double-blinded randomised controlled trial will be conducted in two referral hospitals. The control group training consists of a one-day session taught by AHA-certified instructors, whereas the intervention group training entails participants learning on computers in a simulation lab for seven days. A generalised estimated equation model will be used for statistical analysis. Discussion: Through the self-directed training method, participants will have significantly better knowledge and skills of CPR compared to the conversational training method across the time points. Self-directed training method is a simple, cost-effective and flexible method, which can facilitate the training of more nurses in the acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills, especially for those who prefer to learn at their own pace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) validly and reliably measures symptoms and concerns of those receiving palliative care. Aim: To determine the equivalence of the paper version with an electronic version of the IPOS (eIPOS). Design: Multicentre randomised crossover trial (NCT03879668) with a within-subject comparison of the two modes (washout period 30 min). Setting/Participants: Convenience sample of specialist inpatient and palliative home care patients aged over 18 years with cancer and non-cancer conditions was recruited. Scores were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plots and via a mixed-effects analysis of variance. Results: Fifty patients were randomised to complete paper-electronic (n = 24) and electronic-paper (n = 26) IPOS with median age 69 years (range 24–95), 56% male, 16% non-cancer. The ICCs showed very high concordance for the total score (ICC 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00), lowest ICCs being observed for symptoms 'Appetite loss' and 'Drowsiness' (ICC 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.97). Nine of seventeen items had ICCs above 0.98, as did all subscales. No statistically significant mode, order, age, and interaction effects were observed for IPOS total score and subscales, except for 'Communication' (Fmode = 5.9, p = 0.019). Fifty-eight percent preferred the electronic version. In the group 75+ years, 53% preferred the paper version. Only three entries in the free-text main problems differed between the versions. Conclusion: The very high equivalence in scores and free text between the IPOS and the eIPOS demonstrates that eIPOS is feasible and reliable in an older palliative population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although experimental evaluations have been labeled the "gold standard" of evidence for policy (U.S. Department of Education, 2003), evaluations without an analysis of costs are not sufficient for policymaking (Monk, 1995; Ross et al., 2007). Funding organizations now require cost-effectiveness data in most evaluations of effects. Yet, there is little guidance on how to integrate research on costs into efficacy or effectiveness evaluations. As a result, research proposals and papers are disjointed in the treatment of costs, implementation, and effects, and studies often miss opportunities to integrate what is learned from the cost component into what is learned about effectiveness. To address this issue, this paper uses common evaluation frameworks to provide guidance for integrating research on costs into the design of field experiments building on the ingredients method (Levin et al., 2018). The goal is to improve study design, resulting in more cohesive, efficient, and higher-quality evaluations.

Primary paper mill sludge (PPMS) is the major waste expelled from the pulp and paper industries contributing soil and water pollution through the recalcitrant organic and inorganic constituents. These pollutants can, however, be transformed into a high-value soil ameliorating material with nominal investment and time. Current study therefore evaluated the potential of rotary drum composting PPMS for 20 days to delineate an environmentally sustainable option. Five trials with proportions of PPMS, cow dung and saw dust: Trial 1 (10:0:0), Trial 2 (8:1:1), Trial 3 (7:2:1), Trial 4 (6:3:1) and Trial 5 (5:4:1) were performed for evaluation of degrading and nutritive ability along with the fate of pollutants for total mass of 150 kg. Trial 4 exhibited highest metabolic activity contributing higher temperature evolution and longer thermophilic phase (10 days) owing to optimum addition of innoculum and nitrogen through the cattle manure. Moreover, degradation of 16.8% organic matter was also best achieved in Trial 4 following up first-order kinetics. Furthermore, BOD, COD and C/N ratio also explains degradation to be maximum in trial 4 (6:3:1) with reduction of 59.3%, 60.1% and C/N ratio from 55.1 to 18 respectively, proving to be the essential determining factors. Phosphorus availability increased by around 67% in trial 4. PPMS can be thus transformed into a potential valued added product and safe for subsequent land application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In people with bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, do feedback-guided exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen hasten return to work, reduce healthcare usage and improve clinical recovery more than a home exercise program prescribed on paper? Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. Seventy-four workers with limited functional ability due to bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers. Participants in the experimental and control groups received the same in-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Participants in the experimental group received a home exercise program using the ReHand tablet application, which guides exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen with feedback, monitoring and progression. Participants in the control group were prescribed an evidence-based home exercise program on paper. The primary outcome was the time taken to return to work. Secondary outcomes included: healthcare usage (number of clinical appointments); and functional ability, pain intensity, and grip and pinch strength 2 and 4 weeks after randomisation. Compared with the control group, the experimental group: returned to work sooner (MD –18 days, 95% CI –33 to –3); required fewer physiotherapy sessions (MD –7.4, 95% CI –13.1 to –1.6), rehabilitation consultations (MD –1.9, 95% CI –3.6 to 0.3) and plastic surgery consultations (MD –3.6, 95% CI –6.3 to –0.9); and had better short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength. In people with bone and soft-tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, prescribing a feedback-guided home exercise program using a tablet-based application instead of a conventional program on paper hastened return to work and improved the short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength, while reducing the number of required healthcare appointments. ACTRN12619000344190 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Novel survey methods are needed to tackle declining response rates. The 2020 National Maternity Survey included a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and social media survey to compare different combinations of sampling and data collection methods with respect to: response rate, respondent representativeness, prevalence estimates of maternity indicators and cost. Methods: A two-armed parallel RCT and concurrent social media survey were conducted. Women in the RCT were sampled from ONS birth registrations and randomised to either a paper or push-to-web survey. Women in the social media survey self-selected through online adverts. The primary outcome was response rate in the paper and push-to-web surveys. In all surveys, respondent representativeness was assessed by comparing distributions of sociodemographic characteristics in respondents with those of the target population. External validity of prevalence estimates of maternity indicators was assessed by comparing weighted survey estimates with estimates from national routine data. Cost was also compared across surveys. Results: The response rate was higher in the paper survey (n = 2,446) compared to the push-to-web survey (n = 2,165)(30.6% versus 27.1%, difference = 3.5%, 95%CI = 2.1–4.9, p < 0.0001). Compared to the target population, respondents in all surveys were less likely to be aged < 25 years, of Black or Minority ethnicity, born outside the UK, living in disadvantaged areas, living without a partner and primiparous. Women in the social media survey (n = 1,316) were less representative of the target population compared to women in the paper and push-to-web surveys. For some maternity indicators, weighted survey estimates were close to estimates from routine data, for other indicators there were discrepancies; no survey demonstrated consistently higher external validity than the other two surveys. Compared to the paper survey, the cost saving per respondent was £5.45 for the push-to-web survey and £22.42 for the social media survey. Conclusions: Push-to-web surveys may cost less than paper surveys but do not necessarily result in higher response rates. Social media surveys cost significantly less than paper and push-to-web surveys, but sample size may be limited by eligibility criteria and recruitment window and respondents may be less representative of the target population. However, reduced representativeness does not necessarily introduce more bias in weighted survey estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based medicine integrates results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses, combining the best external evidence with individual clinical expertise and patients' preferences. However, RCTs of surgery differ from those of medicine in that surgical performance is often assumed to be consistent. Yet, evaluating whether each surgery is performed to the same standard is quite challenging. As a primary issue, the novelty of this review is to emphasize—with a focus on orthopedic trauma—the advantage of having complete intra-operative image documentation, allowing the direct evaluation of the quality of the intra-operative technical performance. The absence of complete intra-operative image documentation leads to the inhomogeneity of case series, yielding inconsistent results due to the impossibility of a secondary analysis. Thus, comparisons and the reproduction of studies are difficult. Access to complete intra-operative image data in surgical RCTs allows not only secondary analysis but also comparisons with similar cases. Such complete data can be included in electronic papers. Offering these data to peers—in an accessible link—when presenting papers facilitates the selection process and improves publications for readers. Additionally, having access to the full set of image data for all presented cases serves as a rich resource for learning. It enables the reader to sift through the information and pinpoint the details that are most relevant to their individual needs, allowing them to potentially incorporate this knowledge into daily practice. A broad use of the concept of complete intra-operative image documentation is pivotal for bridging the gap between clinical research findings and real-world applications. Enhancing the quality of surgical RCTs would facilitate the equalization of evidence acquisition in both internal medicine and surgery. Joint effort by surgeons, scientific societies, publishers, and healthcare authorities is needed to support the ideas, implement economic requirements, and overcome the mental obstacles to its realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Promoting physical activity (PA) for university students is essential as PA levels decrease during the transition from secondary to higher education. Providing technology-supported university courses targeting students' PA levels may be a viable option to combat the problem. However, it is still unclear how and what technologies should be implemented in university courses to promote PA. This study aims to create a series of design principles for technology-supported physical education courses that aim to increase university students' PA knowledge, motivation and levels. Method: The proposed methodology underpinning the research program is a seven-phase design-based research (DBR) approach, with the seven phases encompassed in four sequential studies. These four studies are a systematic review, a qualitative focus group study, a pilot study, and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) study. The protocol paper aims to detail the plan for conducting the four studies in a comprehensive and transparent manner, thus contributing to the methodological evidence base in this field. Discussion: Design principles generated from this project will contribute to the growing evidence focusing on effective design and implementation features. Future practitioners can also use these to develop physical education courses that aim to promote university students' physical activity levels, knowledge, and motivation. Trial registration: The RCT registry number: ACTRN12622000712707, 18/05/2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Question In people who have undergone surgical carpal tunnel release, do sensorimotor-based exercises performed on the touchscreen of a tablet device improve outcomes more than a conventional home exercise program prescribed on paper? Design Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants Fifty participants within 10 days of surgical carpal tunnel release. Intervention Each participant was prescribed a 4-week home exercise program. Participants in the experimental group received the ReHand tablet application, which administered and monitored exercises via the touchscreen. The control group was prescribed a home exercise program on paper, as is usual practice in the public hospital system. Outcome measures The primary outcome was functional ability of the hand, reported using the shortened form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were grip strength, pain intensity measured on a 10-cm visual analogue scale, and dexterity measured with the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Outcomes were measured by a blinded assessor at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period. Results At Week 4, functional ability improved significantly more in the experimental group than the control group (MD –21, 95% CI –33 to –9) on the QuickDASH score (0 to 100). Although the mean estimates of effect on the secondary outcome also all favoured the experimental group, none reached statistical significance: grip strength (MD 5.6 kg, 95% CI –0.5 to 11.7), pain (MD –1.4 cm, 95% CI –2.9 to 0.1), and dexterity (MD –1.3 seconds, 95% CI –3.7 to 1.1). Conclusion Use of the ReHand tablet application for early rehabilitation after carpal tunnel release is more effective in the recovery of functional ability than a conventional home exercise program. It remains unclear whether there are any benefits in grip strength, pain or dexterity. Trial registration ACTRN12618001887268. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The experiment tested the effects of a web‐push survey research protocol, compared with the standard mailed paper‐and‐pencil protocol, among young adults aged 19–30 years in the 'Monitoring the Future' (MTF) longitudinal study. Design, Setting and Participants: The US‐based MTF study has measured substance use trends among young adults in panel samples followed biennially, using consistent mailed survey procedures from 1977 to 2017. In 2018, young adult participants in the MTF longitudinal component scheduled to be surveyed at ages 19–30 in 2018 (from high school senior cohorts of 2006–17, n = 14 709) were randomly assigned to receive the standard mail/paper survey procedures or new web‐push procedures. Measurements Primary outcomes were responding to the survey and prevalence estimates for past 30‐day use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and illicit drugs. Findings The web‐push response rate was 39.07% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 37.889, 40.258]; this was significantly better than the standard MTF response rate of 35.12% (95% CI = 33.964, 36.285). After adjusting for covariates, the web‐push condition was associated with a 19% increase in the odds of responding compared with standard MTF (adjusted odds ratio = 1.188; 95% CI = 1.096, 1.287). Substance use prevalence estimates were very similar and differences became negligible when using attrition weights and controlling for socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusions: The web‐push protocol produced a higher response rate than the mailed pencil and paper protocol in the Monitoring the Future panel study, without substantially affecting estimates of substance use once attrition weights and socio‐demographic variables were factored in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a large vessel vasculitis affecting relatively younger population. Since literature on bibliometric analysis of TAK is scarce, we analyzed top-cited articles in TAK to address this knowledge gap. Methods: We analyzed the top hundred cited articles in TAK on Web of Science and Scopus for time of publication, article type, country of origin, source journal, and authors. Furthermore, we conducted univariable- and multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses to explore associations of rank of cited articles, mean number of annual citations, and total citations with traditional (journal impact factor, CiteScore) and alternative (PlumX) metrics. Results: Concordance between databases was 76%. Most top-cited articles were from the USA, Japan, or the UK, and published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis and Rheumatism, and Circulation and Rheumatology (Oxford). Original articles comprised a majority of these top-cited articles. Articles describing criteria or disease management recommendations received the highest mean number of citations. Performing multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses, years of publication associated with mean annual citations on Web of Science as well as total citations across databases (p < 0.01). The 2-year JIF significantly associated with mean annual citations on Web of Science (p = 0.047). On Scopus, the number of captures denoted under PlumX metrics consistently associated with citations (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both traditional and alternative metrics associate with higher citations in TAK. Development of disease assessment and clinical practice guidelines and conduct and reporting of randomized controlled trials to guide TAK management are important research areas. The key points themselves are all right. Key Points • A majority of top-cited papers in TAK are original articles. • Both traditional and alternative metrics associate with number of citations for these papers. • Recommendations for disease assessment or clinical practice and clinical trials are important research agenda in TAK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID‐19 has underlined the need for reliable information to guide clinical practice and policy. This urgency has to be balanced against disruption to journal handling capacity and the continued need to ensure scientific rigour. We examined the reporting quality of highly disseminated COVID‐19 research papers using a bibliometric analysis examining reporting quality and risk of bias (RoB) amongst 250 top scoring Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) COVID‐19 research papers between January and April 2020. Method‐specific RoB tools were used to assess quality. After exclusions, 84 studies from 44 journals were included. Forty‐three (51%) were case series/studies, and only one was an randomized controlled trial. Most authors were from institutions based in China (n = 44, 52%). The median AAS and impact factor was 2015 (interquartile range [IQR] 1,105–4,051.5) and 12.8 (IQR 5–44.2) respectively. Nine studies (11%) utilized a formal reporting framework, 62 (74%) included a funding statement, and 41 (49%) were at high RoB. This review of the most widely disseminated COVID‐19 studies highlights a preponderance of low‐quality case series with few research papers adhering to good standards of reporting. It emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation of research and the increasingly vital responsibility that journals have in ensuring high‐quality publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of uncoated paper on skin moisture, pressure injury risk and pressure injury incidence in neurological intensive care unit patients. Methods: A randomized controlled design was used. The experimental group (n = 68) received usual care (repositioning every 2 h and use of an air mattress) and application of uncoated paper on the sacral area for 5 days, whereas the control group (n = 67) received only usual care. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine changes in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injury between the groups. A chi‐squared test was used to determine the change in the incidence of pressure injuries for sacral area. Data were collected from 20 October 2017 to 6 March 2018. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injuries between the experimental and control groups. However, a significant difference was not observed in the incidence of pressure injuries between the groups. Conclusion: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The neurological intensive care unit patients with motor deficits, loss or deterioration of sensory function and decreased consciousness have high risk of pressure injuries.Although various guidelines consider excessive skin moisture as an important cause of pressure injuries, few targeted interventions exist to manage excessive skin moisture. What this paper adds? The uncoated paper application was effective in reducing skin moisture in neurologic intensive care unit patients.In addition, application of uncoated paper application has an effect on risk of pressure injury in neurologic intensive care unit patients. The implications of this paper: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients.Nurses should recognize that pressure injuries are potentially preventable adverse events and use various preventive interventions including skin moisture management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use of the ProFibro app for six weeks was not more effective than the use of a traditional paper book with similar content for health-related quality of life, symptoms, or self-care agency in individuals with fibromyalgia. • Improvements on severity of symptoms in both groups suggest that the self-care program using a mobile app or a paper book may be beneficial in individuals with fibromyalgia. • The Sleep Strategies was the most used function of the ProFibro app, followed by the Exercise Program, and the diary for the practice of gratitude. The ProFibro application (app) was developed as a Mobile Health resource to promote self-care in fibromyalgia management. This study aimed to assess the effects of the use of the ProFibro app for six weeks compared to the use of a traditional paper book of similar content to improve health-related quality of life, symptoms, and self-care agency in individuals with fibromyalgia. Forty individuals with fibromyalgia were included in this randomized, single-blind, parallel trial. One group received intervention content using the ProFibro app on a smartphone while the other received similar information using a paper book. Participants were assessed at baseline and after six weeks. The primary outcome was the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were Widespread Pain Index, Pain Visual Analog Scale, Symptom Severity Scale, and Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale – Revised. No differences in changes were found between groups at the end of the treatment for any outcome. Both groups showed improvements in symptom severity. The use of the ProFibro app for six weeks was not more effective than the use of a traditional paper book with similar content for health-related quality of life, symptoms, or self-care agency in individuals with fibromyalgia. Both groups showed improvements from baseline on severity of symptoms, suggesting that the self-care program using a mobile app or a paper book may be beneficial for individuals with fibromyalgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question Do people with musculoskeletal conditions better adhere to their home exercise programs when these are provided to them on an app with remote support compared to paper handouts? Design Randomised, parallel-group trial with intention-to-treat analysis. Participants Eighty participants with upper or lower limb musculoskeletal conditions were recruited to the trial. Each participant was prescribed a 4-week home exercise program by a physiotherapist at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia. Participants were randomly assigned via a computer-generated concealed block randomisation procedure to either intervention (n = 40) or control (n = 40) groups. Intervention Participants in the intervention group received their home exercise programs on an app linked to the freely available website www.physiotherapyexercises.com . They also received supplementary phone calls and motivational text messages. Participants in the control group received their home exercise programs as a paper handout. Outcome measures Blinded assessors collected outcome measures at baseline and 4 weeks. The primary outcome was self-reported exercise adherence. There were five secondary outcomes, which captured functional performance, disability, patient satisfaction, perceptions of treatment effectiveness, and different aspects of adherence. Results Outcomes were available on 77 participants. The mean between-group difference for self-reported exercise adherence at 4 weeks was 1.3/11 points (95% CI 0.2 to 2.3), favouring the intervention group. The mean between-group difference for function was 0.9/11 points (95% CI 0.1 to 1.7) on the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, also favouring the intervention group. There were no significant between-group differences for the remaining outcomes. Conclusion People with musculoskeletal conditions adhere better to their home exercise programs when the programs are provided on an app with remote support compared to paper handouts; however, the clinical importance of this added adherence is unclear. Trial registration ACTRN12616000066482. [Lambert TE, Harvey LA, Avdalis C, Chen LW, Jeyalingam S, Pratt CA, Tatum HJ, Bowden JL, Lucas BR (2017) An app with remote support achieves better adherence to home exercise programs than paper handouts in people with musculoskeletal conditions: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 63: 161–167] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ability to critically analyse surgical papers is an important skill that all surgeons should possess. This article describes a simple two-step approach to the appraisal of scientific literature. It relies on a rapid review based on the abstract followed by a detailed review based on simple checklists. These can be applied to systematic reviews, randomized trials and observational studies. At the end of the process, the quality of the methods, quality of the results and applicability of the work are evaluated to formulate an opinion on overall quality. The article ends with a suggested format for writing a report based on such an appraisal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Treatment adherence is one of the milestones in the care of hypertensive patients, with new information and communication technologies as potential educational tools. This study aimed to evaluate the add-on effect of a digital cartoon educative video on the therapeutic observance of patients followed up in the General Hospital Yaoundé compared to standard of care. We conducted a randomized simple blind clinical trial at the cardiology unit of the Yaoundé General Hospital over a 6-month period from 1st March to 30th August 2022. We enrolled 110 patients and randomized them in blocs of 4 creating two groups of 57 and 53, respectively, without (group 1) and with (group 2) intervention. Preintervention treatment adherence was assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). In the standard group (G1), we provided standard paper-based clinical counselling, including oral advice, and in the intervention group (G2), we did the same and added a digital cartoon video containing exactly the same message as images and audio. The primary outcome was medication adherence after three months. The mean age was 56.65 ± 10.98 years in group 1 (paper) and 56.42 ± 10.46 years in group 2 (paper + video), without any significant difference. The two groups were similar regarding the proportion of females (36.8% in G1 and 49.3% in G2) and educational levels. According to the Morisky medication adherence scale, before the intervention, the proportions of patients with good, medium and low treatment adherence in groups 1 and 2 were 7%, 25.6%, 67.4%, and 5.1%, 43.6%, 51.3%, respectively, without any significant difference. After interventions, the proportion of patients presenting a good observance moved from 7 to 11% in group 1 (paper) and 5.1 to 20% in group 2 (paper + video). The intragroup variation in treatment adherence in the intervention group (before-after) tended to be significant, with a p-value = 0.0572, while this p-value was 0.712 in the standard group. Our results provide insight into how digital cartoon videos can help to have an add-on effect on the treatment adherence of hypertensive patients, with clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, the first large‐scale placebo‐controlled trial designed to assess cardiovascular safety of glucose‐lowering with sodium–glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition in type 2 diabetes mellitus raised hypotheses that the class could favourably modify not only risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but also hospitalization for heart failure, and the development or worsening of nephropathy. By the start of 2021, results from 10 large SGLT2 inhibitor placebo‐controlled clinical outcome trials randomizing ∼71 000 individuals have confirmed that SGLT2 inhibitors can provide clinical benefits for each of these types of outcome in a range of different populations. The cardiovascular and renal benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors appear to be larger than their comparatively modest effect on glycaemic control or glycosuria alone would predict, with three trials recently reporting that clinical benefits extend to individuals without diabetes mellitus who are at risk due to established heart failure, or albuminuric chronic kidney disease. This European Society of Cardiology position paper summarizes reported results from these 10 large clinical outcome trials considering separately each of the different types of cardiorenal benefit, summarizes key molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms, and provides a synopsis of metabolic effects and safety. We also describe ongoing placebo‐controlled trials among individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and among individuals with chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper presents the baseline characteristics and their moderators in the Healthy Learning Mind (HLM)-- school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial. Objectives: The paper evaluates the state of various measures of well-being, their moderators and how these results compare to national and global norms/population studies. Methods: Data were collected from all participants prior to the intervention and further analyzed by gender, grade and perceived socioeconomic status, including standardized measures for resilience, depressive symptoms and socioemotional functioning; health-related quality of life, dispositional mindfulness, satisfaction with life, compassion/self-kindness, self-rated health and morning tiredness. Results: Participating 2793 students (1425 girls, 1368 boys), ages 12 to 15 years, filled in the questionnaires. The outcomes were in line with previous research, demonstrating gender differentiation and lower wellbeing among older children and adolescents. Conclusions: All outcomes were associated with perceived socioeconomic status, suggesting that perceived low socioeconomic status should be addressed as a serious risk factor and included as a moderator in similar trials.

Reading is critical to success in college. Faculty members often decry students who come to class without reading, and unprepared for the lessons of the day. Yet, relatively little empirical research assesses how to best stimulate collegiate reading and what types of reading assessments provide the best student learning outcomes. This paper assesses two common ways of assessing reading compliance and learning--reading quizzes and Course Preparation Assignments (CPAs)--using a randomized trial in a large introductory political science course. The data show that students are more compliant with completing the reading quizzes vs. the CPAs, and that students prefer completing the reading quizzes to the CPAs. Data from the 2020 Assessing Critical Reading Techniques study demonstrate little substantive difference between the two groups on the measured learning outcomes through either the exams or the papers. These findings provide empirical support that traditional methods of reading checks or assessments can provide value to the student learning process. Implications for instructors across different course formats are discussed.

This paper introduces a simple, quotient effect size, termed (for 'quotient'), suitable for reporting on the effectiveness of educational interventions. The quotient effect size for a pre-test-post-test design is defined as the gain score (i.e. post-test minus pre-test) for the intervention group, divided by the gain score for the control group. This quotient effect size measure is easy to calculate and interpret, and, like Cohen's d, is scale-free. However, it achieves scale independence without acquiring the well-reported difficulties that arise with standardized effect sizes, such as Cohen's d, as a result of incorporating the standard deviation. Since the standard deviation is sensitive to many factors that are unrelated to 'the effect', Cohen's d is not a pure measure of 'effect'. By contrast, the quotient effect size, q, is dimensionless, without needing to involve the standard deviation, and is consequently intuitively easy to comprehend and communicate. For example, a q of 1.2 would mean that the intervention group improved by 20% more than the control group did. This paper explores the advantages of using as an effect size for reporting on the effectiveness of educational interventions, as compared with Cohen's d, and addresses some possible objections.

It is not uncommon for randomised trials in education to have the performance of sample members in national examinations as their primary outcome. In many cases, examination results are available as summary measures only. Taking the example of GCSE examination results in England, this paper shows that using summary measures of an underlying score or mark, such as exam grade, complicates the design of trials and can lead to underpowered studies. Simple simulations are used to explore the consequences of powering trials to detect a difference assuming grade or summary measures are the only outcome metric available, where the effects of an intervention are primarily captured in the unknown mark or score distribution. The analysis draws on data that relate the entire distribution of marks in English language and mathematics examinations to grades. Recommendations are made in order to address this problem.

Background and objective: The number of people suffering from dementia is increasing worldwide and so is the need for reliable and economical diagnostic instruments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the processing times of the neuropsychological tests Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT-A/B) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT), which were performed in both digital and paper versions. Methods: The pilot study was conducted among 50 healthy participants (age 65–83 years) using a randomized crossover design. The correlations and differences in the individual processing times of the two test versions were statistically analyzed. Further research questions concerned the influence of the individual usage of technology and the technology commitment of participants as well as the influence of the assessed usability on participants' performance. Results: Between the two versions (paper-based vs. digital) statistically significant correlations were found in all tests, e.g., TMT-A r(48) = 0.63, p < 0.01; TMT-B rs(48) = 0.77, p < 0.001). The mean value comparison showed statistically significant differences, e.g., interference table (CWIT) t(49) = 11.24, p < 0.01). Correlations with medium effect were found between the differences in processing times and the individual usage of computer (e.g., rs(48) = − 0.31) and smartphone (rs(48) = − 0.29) and between the processing times of the TMT-B and the usability (rs(48) = 0.29). Conclusions: The high correlations between the test procedures appear promising. However, the differences found in the processing times of the two test versions require validation and standardization of digitized test procedures before they can be used in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

McKinney (2018) has argued that for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) to advance within a discipline, the integration of SoTL must be closely examined and opportunities for growth in SoTL must be recognized and discussed. To that end, this paper reflects on the degree to which SoTL is integrated into communication sciences and disorders (CSD) by examining a variety of topics: perspectives and theories historically valued by our discipline, existing supports for SoTL at various levels (i.e., individual teacher-scholars, departments, institutions, and the CSD discipline as a whole), the application of SoTL findings in teaching and learning. Four specific recommendations are made because of this examination and reflection.

Randomized A/B tests within online learning platforms represent an exciting direction in learning sciences. With minimal assumptions, they allow causal effect estimation without confounding bias and exact statistical inference even in small samples. However, often experimental samples and/or treatment effects are small, A/B tests are underpowered, and effect estimates are overly imprecise. Recent methodological advances have shown that power and statistical precision can be substantially boosted by coupling design-based causal estimation to machine-learning models of rich log data from historical users who were not in the experiment. Estimates using these techniques remain unbiased and inference remains exact without any additional assumptions. This paper reviews those methods and applies them to a new dataset including over 250 randomized A/B comparisons conducted within ASSISTments, an online learning platform. We compare results across experiments using four novel deep-learning models of auxiliary data and show that incorporating auxiliary data into causal estimates is roughly equivalent to increasing the sample size by 20% on average, or as much as 50-80% in some cases, relative to t-tests, and by about 10% on average, or as much as 30-50%, compared to cutting-edge machine learning unbiased estimates that use only data from the experiments. We show that the gains can be even larger for estimating subgroup effects, hold even when the remnant is unrepresentative of the A/B test sample, and extend to post-stratification population effects estimators.