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3The first PA program in India was established in 1992 with a focus on expanding cardiovascular surgery. Since then, eight additional programs have developed (in total seven baccalaureate and two master's level programs). Approximately 850 graduates are distributed throughout southern India with concentrations near their home universities. While all PAs are trained as generalists, most work in hospitals in specialized roles such as surgery. With service delivery a looming issue in India, there is an increased interest in the PA profession, and existing PA programs are beginning to work together to advance the field.
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Het lectoraat Lifelong Learning in Music & the Arts van de Hanzehogeschool Groningen en de Hogeschool der Kunsten in Den Haag is onderdeel van het sinds kort ingerichte Kenniscentrum Kunst en Samenleving van de Hanzehogeschool Groningen en heeft het project „Het Cross Arts Laboratorium‟ vormgegeven. Het resultaat is dit rapport van het onderzoeksproject dat als een reisbeschrijving is beschreven. Het is een pleidooi geworden voor het belang van interdisciplinair samenwerken tussen kunstenaars en musici. Samen leren en ontdekken binnen de kunsten. Studenten van het Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen, Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag en Academie Minerva Groningen en o.l.v. van Horst Rickels en Elvira Wersche, hebben deelgenomen en samengewerkt aan het project in 2010 op het eiland Schiermonnikoog. Centraal stond de vraag op welke wijze interdisciplinaire samenwerking tussen musici en beeldend kunstenaars kan leiden tot artistieke vernieuwing.Ook de impact voor het curriculum wordt beschreven en werkbare modellen hiervoor onderzocht.
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PURPOSE: Advanced radiotherapy treatments require appropriate quality assurance (QA) to verify 3D dose distributions. Moreover, increase in patient numbers demand efficient QA-methods. In this study, a time efficient method that combines model-based QA and measurement-based QA was developed; i.e., the hybrid-QA. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the model-based QA and to evaluate time efficiency of the hybrid-QA method.
METHODS: Accuracy of the model-based QA was determined by comparison of COMPASS calculated dose with Monte Carlo calculations for heterogeneous media. In total, 330 intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plans were evaluated based on the mean gamma index (GI) with criteria of 3%∕3mm and classification of PASS (GI ≤ 0.4), EVAL (0.4 < GI > 0.6), and FAIL (GI ≥ 0.6). Agreement between model-based QA and measurement-based QA was determined for 48 treatment plans, and linac stability was verified for 15 months. Finally, time efficiency improvement of the hybrid-QA was quantified for four representative treatment plans.
RESULTS: COMPASS calculated dose was in agreement with Monte Carlo dose, with a maximum error of 3.2% in heterogeneous media with high density (2.4 g∕cm(3)). Hybrid-QA results for IMRT treatment plans showed an excellent PASS rate of 98% for all cases. Model-based QA was in agreement with measurement-based QA, as shown by a minimal difference in GI of 0.03 ± 0.08. Linac stability was high with an average GI of 0.28 ± 0.04. The hybrid-QA method resulted in a time efficiency improvement of 15 min per treatment plan QA compared to measurement-based QA.
CONCLUSIONS: The hybrid-QA method is adequate for efficient and accurate 3D dose verification. It combines time efficiency of model-based QA with reliability of measurement-based QA and is suitable for implementation within any radiotherapy department.
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BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates the start of primary school (4-5-year-old) as an essential period for the development of children's physical activity (PA) patterns, as from this point, the age-related decline of PA is most often observed. During this period, young children are exposed to a wider variety of environmental- and social contexts and therefore their PA is influenced by more diverse factors. However, in order to understand children's daily PA patterns and identify relevant opportunities for PA promotion, it is important to further unravel in which (social) contexts throughout the day, PA of young children takes place.
METHODS: We included a cross-national sample of 21 primary schools from the Startvaardig study. In total, 248 children provided valid accelerometer and global positioning (GPS) data. Geospatial analyses were conducted to quantify PA in (social) environments based on their school and home. Transport-related PA was evaluated using GPS speed-algorithms. PA was analysed at different environments, time-periods and for week- and weekend days separately.
RESULTS: Children accumulated an average of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), both during week- and weekend days. Schools contributed to approximately half of daily MVPA during weekdays. During weekends, environments within 100 m from home were important, as well as locations outside the home-school neighbourhood. Pedestrian trips contributed to almost half of the daily MVPA.
CONCLUSIONS: We identified several social contexts relevant for children's daily MVPA. Schools have the potential to significantly contribute to young children's PA patterns and are therefore encouraged to systematically evaluate and implement parts of the school-system that stimulate PA and potentially also learning processes. Pedestrian trips also have substantial contribution to daily MVPA of young children, which highlights the importance of daily active transport in school- and parental routines.
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BACKGROUND: Early accurate assessment of burn depth is important to determine the optimal treatment of burns. The method most used to determine burn depth is clinical assessment, which is the least expensive, but not the most accurate.Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) is a technique with which a more accurate (>95%) estimate of burn depth can be made by measuring the dermal perfusion. The actual effect on therapeutic decisions, clinical outcomes and the costs of the introduction of this device, however, are unknown. Before we decide to implement LDI in Dutch burn care, a study on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LDI is necessary.
METHODS/DESIGN: A multicenter randomised controlled trial will be conducted in the Dutch burn centres: Beverwijk, Groningen and Rotterdam. All patients treated as outpatient or admitted to a burn centre within 5 days post burn, with burns of indeterminate depth (burns not obviously superficial or full thickness) and a total body surface area burned of ≤ 20% are eligible. A total of 200 patients will be included. Burn depth will be diagnosed by both clinical assessment and laser Doppler imaging between 2-5 days post burn in all patients. Subsequently, patients are randomly divided in two groups: 'new diagnostic strategy' versus 'current diagnostic strategy'. The results of the LDI-scan will only be provided to the treating clinician in the 'new diagnostic strategy' group. The main endpoint is the effect of LDI on wound healing time.In addition we measure: a) the effect of LDI on other patient outcomes (quality of life, scar quality), b) the effect of LDI on diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, and c) the effect of LDI on total (medical and non-medical) costs and cost-effectiveness.
DISCUSSION: This trial will contribute to our current knowledge on the use of LDI in burn care and will provide evidence on its cost-effectiveness.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01489540.
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BACKGROUND: Total body surface area (TBSA) burned, expressed as percentage is one of the most important aspects of the initial care of a burn victim. It determines whether transfer to a burn centre is necessary as well as the need for, and amount of, intravenous fluid resuscitation. Numerous studies, however, have highlighted inaccuracies in TBSA assessment. Therefore, the differences in burn size estimates between referrers and burn centre's in children and its consequences in terms of transfer and intravenous fluid resuscitation were investigated.
METHODS: This study involved two time periods from January 2002 until March 2004 and January 2007 until August 2008. All referred children admitted to a Dutch Burn centre within 24h post burn were eligible. Data were obtained from patient records retrospectively and in part prospectively.
RESULTS: A total of 323 and 299 children were included in periods 1 and 2, respectively. Referring physicians overestimated burn size with a factor two (mean difference: 6% TBSA ± 5.5). About one in five children was referred to a burn centre without fulfilling the criteria for referral with regard to burn size (assessed by burn specialists) special localisation or inhalation trauma. Proportions of children receiving intravenous fluid resuscitation regardless of indication increased from 33% to 49% (p<0.01). The received volumes tended to be higher than necessary.
CONCLUSIONS: Referring physicians overestimate burn size in children admitted to Dutch burn centres. This has little negative consequences, however, in terms of unindicated transfers to a burn centre or unnecessary fluid resuscitation.
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Voor het project Sensing Streetscapes sprak Hogeschool van Amsterdam-onderzoeker Frank Suurenbroek met Marlies de Nijs, senior stedenbouwkundige bij de gemeente Utrecht. Zij vertelt over de Utrechtse manier van stadmaken met hoogbouw achter de coulissen van levendige plinten.
Voor het onderzoeksproject Sensing Streetscapes maakten Frank Suurenbroek en Gideon Spanjar een booklet waarin zij en andere experts het belang van de menselijke maat in de verdichte stad analyseren. Het interview met Marlies de Nijs is daarin ook opgenomen.
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BACKGROUND: Prenatal healthcare is likely to prevent adverse outcomes, but an adequate review of utilization and its determinants is lacking.
OBJECTIVE: To review systematically the evidence for the determinants of prenatal healthcare utilization in high-income countries.
METHOD: Search of publications in EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed (1992-2010). Studies that attempted to study determinants of prenatal healthcare utilization in high-income countries were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility and methodological quality of the studies. Only high-quality studies were included. Data on inadequate use (i.e. late initiation, low-use, inadequate use or non-use) were categorized as individual, contextual and health behaviour-related determinants. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible.
RESULTS: Ultimately eight high-quality studies were included. Low maternal age, low educational level, non-marital status, ethnic minority, planned pattern of prenatal care, hospital type, unplanned place of delivery, uninsured status, high parity, no previous premature birth and late recognition of pregnancy were identified as individual determinants of inadequate use. Contextual determinants included living in distressed neighbourhoods. Living in neighbourhoods with higher rates of unemployment, single parent families, medium-average family incomes, low-educated residents, and women reporting Canadian Aboriginal status were associated with inadequate use or entering care after 6 months. Regarding health behaviour, inadequate use was more likely among women who smoked during pregnancy.
CONCLUSION: Evidence for determinants of prenatal care utilization is limited. More studies are needed to ensure adequate prenatal care for pregnant women at risk.
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BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to examine the effects of a multidimensional rehabilitation program on cancer-related fatigue, to examine concurrent predictors of fatigue, and to investigate whether change in fatigue over time was associated with change in predictors.
METHODS:
SAMPLE: 72 cancer survivors with different diagnoses.
SETTING: rehabilitation center.
INTERVENTION: 15-week rehabilitation program.
MEASURES: Fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory), demographic and disease/treatment-related variables, body composition (bioelectrical impedance), exercise capacity (symptom-limited bicycle ergometry), muscle force (handheld dynamometry), physical and psychological symptom distress (Rotterdam Symptom Check List), experienced physical and psychological functioning (RAND-36), and self-efficacy (General-Self-Efficacy Scale, Dutch version). Measurements were performed before (T0) and after rehabilitation (T1).
RESULTS: At T1 (n = 56), significant improvements in fatigue were found, with effect sizes varying from -0.35 to -0.78. At T0, the different dimensions of fatigue were predicted by different physical and psychological variables. Explained variance of change in fatigue varied from 42%-58% and was associated with pre-existing fatigue and with change in physical functioning, role functioning due to physical problems, psychological functioning, and physical symptoms distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Within this selected group of patients we found that (a) rehabilitation is effective in reducing fatigue, (b) both physical and psychological parameters predicted different dimensions of fatigue at baseline, and (c) change in fatigue was mainly associated with change in physical parameters.
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Objective: To systematically describe changes in pain and functioning in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) awaiting total joint replacement (TJR), and to assess determinants of this change. Methods: MEDLINE®, EMBASE, CINAHL® and Cochrane Database were searched through June 2008. The reference lists of eligible publications were reviewed. Studies that monitored pain and functioning in patients with hip or knee OA during the waiting list for TJR were analyzed. Data were collected with a pre-specified collection tool. Methodological quality was assessed and a best-evidence analysis was performed to summarize results. Results: Fifteen studies, of which two were of high quality, were included and involved 788 hip and 858 knee patients (mean age 59-72 and main wait 42-399 days). There was strong evidence that pain (in hip and knee OA) and self-reported functioning (in hip OA) do not deteriorate during a
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