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Senior medical students (n=23), family practitioners (n=16), general practitioners (n=41), and family practice educators (n=7) analyzed 12 sets of radiographs. Mean score across all groups was 73%, with no significant differences among groups. Experiential training did not appear to improve diagnostic skill. (Contains 17 references.) (SK)

This work presents a novel monitoring method for detecting material loss from the decay inventory of the molten salt breeder reactor (MSBR) by monitoring for changes to the system dynamics using an isotopic ratio. The isotopic masses in the decay inventory of a MSBR were simulated under several material loss scenarios. In each case, the ratio of 231Pa to 233Pa served as a sensitive and lasting indicator of material loss. This isotope ratio quickly decreased outside the normal range after a material loss, and the ratio remained depressed for several years after the loss. The dynamics of this ratio were driven by the periodic batch discard from the decay inventory every 220 days, which was specified in the MSBR design to periodically remove fission product buildup. For this method, isotopic ratios were found to be rapid and enduring indicators of inventory change if they comprise a pair with a short half-life (e.g., 233Pa) and a long half-life (e.g., 231Pa) relative to the effective half-life induced by the driving system process (e.g., the batch discard cycle). Using such an isotope pair enabled a method to monitor for changes to the effective half-life of the system and by extension changes to the system inputs and outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Funding for research is under pressure to be accountable in terms of benefits and translation of research findings into practice and policy. Primary health care research has considerable potential to improve health care in a wide range of settings, but little is known about the extent to which these impacts actually occur. This study examines the impact of individual primary health care research projects on policy and practice from the perspective of Chief Investigators (CIs). Methods The project used an online survey adapted from the Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework to collect information about the impacts that CIs expected and achieved from primary health care research projects funded by Australian national competitive grants. Results and Discussion Chief Investigators (CIs) provided information about seventeen completed projects. While no CI expected their project to have an impact in every domain of the framework used in the survey, 76% achieved at least half the impacts they expected. Sixteen projects had published and/or presented their work, 10 projects included 11 doctorate awards in their research capacity domain. All CIs expected their research to lead to further research opportunities with 11 achieving this. Ten CIs achieved their expectation of providing information for policy making but only four reported their research had influenced policy making. However 11 CIs achieved their expectation of providing information for organizational decision making and eight reported their research had influenced organizational decision making. Conclusion CIs reported that nationally funded primary health care research projects made an impact on knowledge production, staff development and further research, areas within the realm of influence of the research team and within the scope of awareness of the CIs. Some also made an impact on policy and organizational decision-making, and on localized clinical practice and service delivery. CIs reported few broader economic benefits from their research. Routine use of an instrument of this type would facilitate primary health care research funders' determination of the payback for funding of research in this sector.

Residents in Australian aged care facilities can suffer serious preventable harm from incidents ('adverse events' (AEs)). An inadequate response to AEs by aged care facilities can compound distress to residents and their families/carers. Facilities have an obligation to respond to and investigate AEs involving residents, learn from them, and take action to reduce the chance of them reoccurring. Residential aged care facilities have a duty to create a culture where staff, residents and families/carers feel comfortable reporting AEs or complaints; there is adequate time and resources to manage AEs and complaints; and feedback is provided to staff, residents and their families/carers on the results of investigations into AEs/complaints. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's role should encompass additional governance functions such as sharing results and lessons learnt from AEs, complaints and investigations across Australia, assuring the quality of investigations conducted by facilities, and undertaking national system‐wide investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]