Study Monitoring Visit

BACKGROUND The credibility of a study and its internal and external validity depend crucially on the quality of the data produced. Quality control aims to monitor sampling errors and measurements during the execution of a study and is based mainly on two pillars: planning and standardization of procedures. OBJECTIVE The present article aimed to describe the stages of quality control in the POP-Brazil study and to present an analysis of the quality indicators. METHODS Quality assurance and control included several phases and processes that were initiated with the planning of the study and continued through the development of the project; thus, all centers were trained in loco. RESULTS The data were through a structured questionnaire and collection of biological samples, both performed by more than 250 trained and certified health professionals. Furthermore, to correct possible inadequacies, all 119 centers (public health units) received at least one monitoring visit, which evaluated the professionals' performance and the process of completing the online data platform. The data were monitored daily and were audited through the double entry of data, performed by the central team. The reliability of data was analyzed through the test-retest method, comparing data from the online platform and a second application of the interview, and conducted through telephone, also by the central team. The agreement between the test and retest was considered good (kappa between 0.59 and 0.74). Large multicenter clinical trials are the basis of medical evidence-based and health-based prevention, so their design, logistics, and quality processes should always be carefully considered. CONCLUSIONS This article presents the processes and quality indicators in the POP-Brazil study that allow other studies to generate reliable data.

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Case study: monitoring of Glc4 tetrasaccharide in the urine of Pompe patients, use of MALDI-TOF MS, and 1H NMR

Chemical Papers ◽

10.1007/s11696-018-0623-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 (3) ◽

pp. 701-711 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zuzana Pakanová ◽

Mária Matulová ◽

Iveta Uhliariková ◽

Darina Behúlová ◽

Anna Šalingová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

1H Nmr ◽

Maldi Tof Ms ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Study Monitoring ◽

Tof Ms

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On the behaviour of an under-studied population of bottlenose dolphins in the Southern Adriatic Sea

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315418000772 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 99 (4) ◽

pp. 1017-1023 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Flavio Affinito ◽

Cristobal Olaya Meza ◽

Aylin Akkaya Bas ◽

Deborah Brill ◽

Guy Whittaker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Group Size ◽

Bottlenose Dolphin ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Bottlenose Dolphins ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Social Predictors ◽

Dolphin Population ◽

Autumn And Winter ◽

Effective Conservation ◽

Study Monitoring

AbstractPerhaps the world's best-known cetacean, the bottlenose dolphin shows considerable variation in behaviour between and within populations in relation to differences in natural and anthropogenic conditions. Drivers of behavioural variation need to be identified to understand the dynamics of wild dolphin populations. Little research has been published on the bottlenose dolphin population found in the Southern Adriatic Sea. Using a set of spatial, temporal and social predictors, we aimed to investigate what variables are related to the behaviour of an under-studied population of bottlenose dolphins along the coastline of Montenegro. We present the results of a year-long study monitoring the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins along coastal Montenegro. We considered the effect of topography, seasonality and group size. A large proportion of travelling (55%) small groups (mean 4, range 1–9) in shallow waters (<50 m) was observed. We showed that seasonality alone explained behaviour best, with surface-feeding and socializing-resting increasing in autumn and winter. Group size was found to be a result of behavioural choice. We suggest seasonal changes in environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressure may explain the recorded behavioural pattern. This research points to the necessity of increased collaboration in the region to help understand complex patterns in behaviour and habitat use of local dolphin populations if effective conservation measures are to be developed.

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