If parents perceive the neighborhood as child friendly, they will allow their children more independent travel and play. Parental perception of child friendliness is therefore an important prerequisite for designing neighborhoods that promote children's health and wellbeing. However, there is currently no comprehensive and practical instrument to measure it. This study develops and empirically validates a measurement instrument for parental perception of child friendliness in neighborhoods. Survey data was collected from 309 parents in the Netherlands. The data was randomly divided into a calibration (n = 155) and a validation sample (n = 154). The factorial validity of parental perception of child friendliness in neighborhoods was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The construct validity was tested by using structural equation modelling (SEM) of assumed relationships between parental perception of child friendliness in neighborhoods and variables influencing this perception (antecedents) and children's physical activity (consequence). Overall, the results provided good reliability and validity for the instrument. This instrument does not only offer a practical tool; it also provides practical guidelines for designing child-friendly neighborhoods as perceived by parents. It suggests that measures, such as providing green spaces, care facilities and recreation facilities, can enhance child friendliness of neighborhoods as perceived by parents.
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This work investigates the connection among optical aspects of photographic composition and the quality, perception and interpretation of the level of realism of images. Therefore, to investigate this connection, an experiment was carried out in two steps: The first step consisted of performing analyzes of the optical or photographic contrasts of previously selected images. The second step was the elaboration of a questionnaire with 19 images selected in the first step, aiming to collect data about the perception and opinion of the users. Finally, the objective data from the first step was crossed with the subjective data from the second. The conclusion indicates evidence of the connection or convergence between images that obey the principles of photographic composition that are perceived as having better realism by the users. It is plausible to consider the importance of photo-graphic theory to image design for the users perceive the images as more realistic.
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from the article: Abstract Based on a review of recent literature, this paper addresses the question of how urban planners can steer urban environmental quality, given the fact that it is multidimensional in character, is assessed largely in subjective terms and varies across time. The paper explores three questions that are at the core of planning and designing cities: ‘quality of what?’, ‘quality for whom?’ and ‘quality at what time?’ and illustrates the dilemmas that urban planners face in answering these questions. The three questions provide a novel framework that offers urban planners perspectives for action in finding their way out of the dilemmas identified. Rather than further detailing the exact nature of urban quality, these perspectives call for an approach to urban planning that is integrated, participative and adaptive. ; ; sustainable urban development; trade-offs; quality dimensions
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Purpose - This paper aims to identify perception gaps on the quality of facility services among different users of educational buildings, and provide possible explanations for these perception gaps, and discussing the consequences regarding Facility Management (FM) governance.Design/methodology/approach - This paper is based on the first preliminary analyses of a national online survey among members of the Board of Directors (n=17), education managers (n=211), facility managers (n=76), and lecturers (n=1,755) of 18 Dutch Universities of Applied Science. We used Mann-Whitney U tests to analyse the data.Findings – The results seem to indicate a misfit between the perceived quality of facility services of Board of Directors and facility managers of the different institutions on the one hand, indicating an above average quality level, and the education managers and lecturers on the other hand, indicating an under average quality level. FM likely acts in accordance with the Board and both seem dissociated from the primary process and users’ support needs.Practical implications – Based on the research findings, we propose that, when it comes to determining service requirements, FM aligns more with the users of the built learning environment and puts their interests and needs first. Following a user focus approach may contribute to the value-adding capability of FM.Originality/value - This study is the first to find that FM (implicitly) is aligned with the Board, which however seems to result in users' needs to be underestimated.
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Bachelor students of Hotel Management School Maastricht, part of Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, start their educational program with a semester of orientation on Hotel Operations in theory and practice. The teaching staff was curious about students’ perception of what they learn during their duty in the Teaching Hotel Château Bethlehem. Students were interviewed about the learning environment, the coaching and their learning outcomes. The interview findings gave insight in different unexpected and subconscious learning outcomes together with the conditions under which they occur during practice-based learning. Findings were presented to the teaching staff during a work conference. The entire team emphasised the value of the research method for fine-tuning students’ learning outcomes.
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Background: Nurse-sensitive indicators and nurses’ satisfaction with the quality of care are two commonly used ways to measure quality of nursing care. However, little is known about the relationship between these kinds of measures. This study aimed to examine concordance between nurse-sensitive screening indicators and nurse-perceived quality of care. Methods: To calculate a composite performance score for each of six Dutch non-university teaching hospitals, the percentage scores of the publicly reported nurse-sensitive indicators: screening of delirium, screening of malnutrition, and pain assessments, were averaged (2011). Nurse-perceived quality ratings were obtained from staff nurses working in the same hospitals by the Dutch Essentials of Magnetism II survey (2010). Concordance between the quality measures was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: The mean screening performances ranged from 63 % to 93 % across the six hospitals. Nurse-perceived quality of care differed significantly between the hospitals, also after adjusting for nursing experience, educational level, and regularity of shifts. The hospitals with high-levels of nurse-perceived quality were also high-performing hospitals according to nurse-sensitive indicators. The relationship was true for high-performing as well as lower-performing hospitals, with strong correlations between the two quality measures (r S = 0.943, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Our findings showed that there is a significant positive association between objectively measured nurse sensitive screening indicators and subjectively measured perception of quality. Moreover, the two indicators of quality of nursing care provide corresponding quality rankings. This implies that improving factors that are associated with nurses’ perception of what they believe to be quality of care may also lead to better screening processes. Although convergent validity seems to be established, we emphasize that different kinds of quality measures could be used to complement each other, because various stakeholders may assign different values to the quality of nursing care.
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The benefits of having a high indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for a healthy life and optimal performance are well known. In addition, research has been executed on the effects of indoor environmental parameters such as (day)light, sound/ acoustics, temperature, and air quality on people living with dementia.
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A keynote address, introducing the pdca quality systeem into education in prosthetics and orthotcs.
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This report is the second in a series of three reports named Value Added Planning, consisting of three unique, but interconnected tools, namely the Green Credit Tool, the Workbench Method and Value Added Planning, These tools have been developed and/or tested in the context of the European INTERREG programme: VALUE (INTERREG IVB North West Europe - Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy), in which the municipality of Amersfoort is involved. Aim of this programme is to understand how green space in urban centres can become more competitive with other urban functions. In this context, the municipality of Amersfoort has introduced the interactive method named Workbench Spatial Quality (Werkbank Ruimtelijke Kwaliteit in Dutch) in their spatial design in several areas in their municipality. The Workbench Spatial Quality (to be referred to as Workbench) has been applied on two cases in Amersfoort: Park Randenbroek and Vathorst NW. In this report the Workbench as applied in Amersfoort is evaluated. Research was done on the basis of literature research, case-material and interviews performed with several experts. Furthermore, research was done by students at the Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR). Part of the evaluation in this report makes use of a quick scan of 19 Dutch cases. The question addressed in this report is: 1.How was the Workbench Spatial Quality applied in Amersfoort? 2.Can the Workbench contribute to sustainable spatial planning?
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Staffing practices in long-term care lack a clear evidence base and often seem to be guided by opinions instead of evidence. While stakeholders believe intuitively that there is a positive relationship between staffing levels and quality in nursing homes, the research literature is contradictory (1). In this editorial we consider the evidence found in a literature study that we conducted for the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS). The aim of this study was to summarize all available evidence on the relationship between staffing and quality in nursing homes. Specifically, we focused on the quantity and the educational background of staff and quality in nursing homes. The literature study has contributed to the recent Dutch quality framework for nursing homes (Kwaliteitskader verpleeghuiszorg in Dutch) of the National Health Care Institute. This quality framework was published in January 2017 and provides norms – among other quality aspects – for nursing home staffing. As well as a description of the main findings of the literature study, we present implications for different stakeholders charged with staffing issues in nursing homes.
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