scholarly journals A Network-Based Mixed Methods Approach to Analyze Current Perspectives on Personalized Oncological Medicine in Austria

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Ines Viktoria Stelzer ◽  
Anna Sierawska ◽  
Alena Buyx ◽  
Judit Simon

Personalized medicine (PM) to tailor healthcare (HC) to the individual, is a promising but challenging concept. So far, no study exists investigating stakeholders’ perspectives on PM in oncology in Austria potentially hindering implementation, which was the aim of this study. We performed semi-structured interviews among experts (n = 14) and cancer patients (n = 2) of the Vienna General Hospital and the Medical University of Vienna and analyzed them by a mixed methods network theoretical approach. Study results show a great variety of topics addressed by the interviewees. Clear differences in the topic selection between patients and experts could be observed. Patient-doctor relationship was the most prominent theme among experts, whereas HC systems and public health in PM was more relevant for the patients. Although promising new molecular pathology methods were explicitly mentioned, the experts believed that their practical implementation and the implementation of PM in standard care will take a long time in Austria. A variety of concerns regarding PM were mentioned by the experts, including communication issues and knowledge gaps. Besides important insights into the current situation of PM in Austria, the study has shown that network theory is a powerful tool for analyzing qualitative interview data.

Author(s):  
Lies van Roessel ◽  
Jan Švelch

Despite a growing academic interest in in-game monetization, much less attention has been paid to the production context of microtransactions. With this chapter, we aim to address this gap by focusing on the roles and responsibilities related to video game monetization. We answer the titular question of this chapter using a mixed methods approach, combining semi-structured interviews, content analysis of job descriptions, and frequency analysis of in-game credits. Results suggest that monetization responsibilities are both being integrated into various existing roles, including game designers or product managers, but also spawn new dedicated roles of monetization specialists. Monetization as a game development task is closely related to data analysis and only inconsistently appears in in-game credits.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Clare ◽  
Stephen Rowley

Background: Aseptic technique is an important infection prevention competency for protecting patients from healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Healthcare providers using the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) aseptic technique have demonstrated reduced variability and improved compliance with aseptic technique. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to determine whether standardizing aseptic technique for invasive IV procedures, using the ANTT® - Clinical Practice Framework (CPF), increases staff compliance with the infection prevention actions designed to achieve a safe and effective aseptic technique, and whether this is sustainable over time. Methods: A pragmatic evaluation using a mixed-methods approach consisting of an observational audit of practice, a self-report survey and structured interviews with key stakeholders. Compliance with aseptic technique before and after the implementation of ANTT® was measured by observation of 49 registered healthcare professionals. Results: Mean compliance with competencies was 94%; each component of practice was improved over baseline: hand hygiene = 63% ( P ≤ 0.001); glove use = 14% ( P ≤ 0.037); Key-Part protection = 54% ( P ≤ 0.001); a non-touch technique = 45% ( P ≤ 0.001); Key-Part cleaning = 82% ( P ≤ 0.001); and aseptic field management = 80% ( P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Results show implementation of ANTT® improved compliance with the prerequisite steps for safe and effective aseptic technique as defined by the ANTT®-CPF. Improvements in compliance were sustained over four years.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Joosten ◽  
L Jochems ◽  
C Wijsen ◽  
T Heijman ◽  
A Timen

Abstract In the Netherlands, the Sense program addresses several key elements of sexual health for young people <25 year. This program offers free consultations at the PHS concerning STI, contraceptives, pregnancy or sexuality. The performance of this program has not been studied yet. This mixed methods study investigates facilitators and barriers of a Sense consultation from the perspective of clients and health care professionals (HCP) and investigates the outcome of the consultation at three points in time. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after consultation among 16 clients and 6 HCP. Questionnaires were collected directly after consultation and at 3, 6 and 12 months after consultation. Two cohorts were recruited; clients with STI consultation only and clients with questions related to sexuality, contraception and pregnancy (Sense consultation, SC). Satisfaction of the consultation and applicability of the given advice was measured. In the follow up presence of STI, pregnancy, sexual problem and contraceptive use was measured. A minority of the interviewed clients were familiar with Sense, highly valued the expertise of the HCP and the open atmosphere during the consultation. Reasons for visiting Sense included expertise, more anonymity and feeling more comfortable than at the GP. The questionnaire after consultation was returned by 144 STI clients and 32 SC clients. Both type of consultation were highly valued and advice was easily applicable. The follow up cohort included 97 STI clients and 23 SC clients. Response rate of the 3- and 6 month-questionnaires was 61%. Results of the full one year follow-up are expected in September 2019. Study results provide evidence for a highly valued Sense program, by both clients and HCP. Sense is a platform to discuss STI, contraception and sexuality in an open atmosphere, though familiarity with Sense is low. A major conclusion is that an STI consultation provides the opportunity to address questions related to sexuality. Key messages The Sense program is highly valued by young people, and yet the program is not widely known among young people. There is need for more publicity to the program to enable more young people to use this program and to improve the sexual health care of young Dutch people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Willems ◽  
Erik Farin-Glattacker ◽  
Thorsten Langer

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord, resulting in muscle atrophy, and proximal muscle weakness. SMA presents with a wide range of symptoms requiring multiple clinical specialists and therapists. Integrating care between disciplines can be challenging due to the dynamic course of the disease, and great distances between specialist centers and local providers. Insufficient care integration can lead to suboptimal quality of care and more difficulties for patients and families. This study aims to improve care integration through a Case Management intervention, and taking a mixed-methods approach, to evaluate its impact.Methods: An exploratory, controlled, two-armed study with baseline, post- and follow-up measurement and process evaluation is conducted to evaluate our intervention compared to usual care. Through a multi-perspective state analysis, we investigate the experiences of caregivers and healthcare providers concerning the actual healthcare quality of patients with SMA I and II. Semi-structured interviews and care diaries are used. We apply that data to conceive a tailored Case Management intervention supplemented by a digital platform. The intervention's effect is examined in comparison to a control group taking a mixed-methods approach. As primary endpoints, we investigate the caregivers' health-related quality of life and the quality of care integration. Secondary endpoints are the use of healthcare services (patients and caregivers) and costs. We assess the process quality from the perspectives of caregivers and healthcare providers through semi-structured interviews.Discussion: This is an exploratory, controlled study to assess the impact of a tailored Case Management intervention to improve the care of patients with SMA I and II. After the evaluation, results on feasibility, expected effect sizes, and process quality will be available. On this basis, future randomized controlled trials can be planned. If demonstrated beneficial, the experience gained within this study may also be valuable for care strategies in other regions and other (non-pediatric) patient groups with rare diseases and/or chronic, complex conditions.Clinical Trial registration:https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00018778, identifier: DRKS00018778.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Geuens ◽  
Luc Geurts ◽  
Thijs W Swinnen ◽  
Rene Westhovens ◽  
Vero Vanden Abeele

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic arthritis (CA) ideally apply self-management behaviors between consultations. This enduring, tedious task of keeping track of disease-related parameters, adhering to medication schemes, and engaging in physical therapy may be supported by using a mobile health (mHealth) app. However, further research is needed to determine which self-management features are valued most by adult patients with CA patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the preference of features for an mHealth app to support self-management behavior in patients with CA. In addition, we aimed to explore the motives behind these ratings. METHODS A mixed-methods approach was used to gather information from 31 adult patients (14 females), aged 23 to 71 years (mean 51 [SD 12.16]), with CA. Structured interviews were conducted to gather data pertaining to preferences of app features. Interviews were analyzed qualitatively, whereas ratings for each of the 28 features studied were analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS In general, patients with CA favored the use of features pertaining to supporting active and direct disease management, (eg, medication intake and detecting and alarming of bad posture), helping them to keep a close watch on their disease status and inform their health care professional (eg, providing a means to log and report disease-related data) and receiving personalized information (eg, offering tailored information based on the patient’s health data). Patients strongly disliked features that provide a means of social interaction or provide incentivization for disease-related actions (eg, being able to compare yourself with other patients, cooperating toward a common goal, and receiving encouragement from friends and/or family). Driving these evaluations is the finding that every patient with CA hurts in his/her own way, the way the disease unfolds over time and manifests itself in the patient and social environment is different for every patient, and patients with CA are well aware of this. CONCLUSIONS We have offered an insight into how patients with CA favor mHealth features for self-management apps. The results of this research can inform the design and development of prospective self-management apps for patients with CA.


Author(s):  
Lei Zhou ◽  
Liyang Xiong

Village resettlement communities (VRCs) are a special type of urban community that the government has promoted considerably during China’s rapid urbanization. This study uses the theory of the production of space as a basis to explore the processes and mechanisms of the physical and social space evolution of VRCs through a case study of Qunyi Community, one of the largest VRCs in Kunshan. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed in this study. Results indicate that the coupling relationship between local government power and diversified capital is the fundamental reason that promotes the production of macrophysical space. Moreover, the economic and social relationships among residents promote the reproduction of microsocial space. Landless farmers are the most important spatial producers in the microsocial space. The individual needs and cultural differences of immigrant workers also have significant effects on microspatial production. Furthermore, the production and reproduction of the physical and social spaces, respectively, of VRCs deduce the adjustment relationship among the urbanization processes of land, population, and individuals. Results also indicate that the urbanization of individuals appears to lag behind the previous two processes. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the spatial renovation and management optimization of VRCs, as well as the promotion of a new type of “people-centered” urbanization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-205
Author(s):  
Arsalan Gharaveis ◽  
Hamed Yekita ◽  
Gholamreza Shamloo

Objectives: This research aims to explore the perceptions of nursing staff regarding the effects of daylighting on behavioral factors including mood, stress, satisfaction, medical error, and efficiency. Background: In spite of an extensive body of literature seeking to investigate the impact of daylighting on patients, a limited number of studies have been done for the sake of nurses’ perceptions and behavioral responses. Method: A mixed-methods approach, comprised of qualitative explorations (structured interviews) and a validated survey, was applied and the results were compared and triangulated. Five nurses were interviewed and 156 nurses volunteered for a lighting survey from six departments of three inpatient facilities in Iran. Results: The findings of this study are consistent with the existing evidence that daylighting and view to the outside enhance nurses’ perceptions regarding satisfaction, mood, stress, medical error, and alertness, while reducing fatigue and stress. Conclusion: Patient rooms and work stations are the most crucial areas to provide daylighting from nurses’ perspectives.


2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Doyle ◽  
Jan de Vries ◽  
Agnes Higgins ◽  
Brian Keogh ◽  
Padraig McBennett ◽  
...  

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of a one-day mental health Wellness Workshop on participants’ mental health and attitudes towards mental health. Design: Convergent, longitudinal mixed-methods approach. Setting: The study evaluated Wellness Workshops which took place throughout the Republic of Ireland. Method: Questionnaires measuring hope, mental health self-efficacy, attitudes towards mental health and perceived impact on wellbeing were administered to participants before the workshop ( n = 415), 1 week after ( n = 221) and 3 months after ( n = 110). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 24 participants to generate a more in-depth understanding of the impact of the workshop. Results: Quantitative findings relating to hope, mental health self-efficacy and attitudes towards mental health did not identify statistically significant changes; however, participants’ perceptions of the effect of the workshop on wellbeing suggested a positive impact which was maintained over time. Qualitative findings, however, suggested that hope and self-efficacy were improved and the simplicity and utility of the wellness strategies disseminated in the workshop, in addition to the warmth and openness of the narrative approach used by the facilitators, were central to the perceived positive impact. Conclusion: This evaluation demonstrates the potential for wellness interventions to have a subjective improvement in wellbeing in members of the general public.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 610-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juma Bananuka ◽  
Veronica Mukyala ◽  
Zainabu Tumwebaze ◽  
Johnson Ssekakubo ◽  
Musa Kasera ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish whether there is a relationship between religiosity, religious preferences, firm age and intention to adopt Islamic financing in an emerging economy like Uganda which is a secular state and adopting Islamic financing for the first time. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a cross-sectional and mixed-methods design. The authors administered closed-ended questionnaires and these were supplemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings Results indicate that religiosity is significantly associated with intention to adopt Islamic financing. Further, religious experience as a dimension of religiosity is significantly associated with intention to adopt Islamic financing unlike ideology. Religious preferences and firm age are also significantly associated with intention to adopt Islamic financing. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that there are significant differences in between religions whereby Muslims are more ready for Islamic financing than the Christians are. Research limitations/implications This study’s main limitation is that it uses evidence from Uganda’s micro businesses which account for 70 per cent of Uganda’s total businesses. It is unclear on whether this study results can be generalized to the remaining 30 per cent of the businesses and if results of this study can be generalized to other national settings. Originality/value Islamic financing being an emerging phenomenon on the African continent especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa where most countries are secular states, there are few empirical studies exploring religiosity, religious preferences, firm age and intention to adopt Islamic financing in an emerging economy perspective. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that provides some insights into religiosity, religious preference, firm age and intention to adopt Islamic financing from a Ugandan perspective using a mixed methods research design.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-155
Author(s):  
María Julia Raimundi ◽  
Sofía Sarries ◽  
Juan Facundo Corti ◽  
Ignacio Celsi

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar la percepción de entrenadores sobre los contenidos de charlas precompetitivas y de entretiempo desde la estrategia metodológica de los métodos mixtos. Participaron 21 entrenadores de básquetbol y voleibol, en su mayoría varones (n = 20), de categorías formativas (u15, u17 y u19) de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Se realizaron entrevistas individuales y semiestructuradas a los entrenadores y a través de la Teoría Fundamentada, se realizó un análisis cualitativo, mediante el uso del programa Atlas.Ti 7.5. Los entrenadores destacaron cinco aspectos relevantes respecto de los contenidos durante las charlas previas y de entretiempo: aspectos estratégicos, psicológicos, comunicacionales, variables que influyen en la elección de los contenidos y contenidos específicos de entretiempos. A través del análisis de los documentos primarios, se asociaron las citas significativas a cada una de las categorías. La categoría mayormente mencionada (i.e. más fundamentada en los datos) fue “Aspectos estratégicos”, mientras que los “Aspectos psicológicos” estuvieron en segundo lugar. Se realizó un análisis de asociación para estudiar la prevalencia de las categorías emergidas del análisis en función del deporte, la rama y la categoría dirigida. Los resultados de este estudio aportan claridad respecto a cuáles son los contenidos valorados por entrenadores en estos momentos específicos de interacción y qué estrategias utilizan para comunicarlos. Tener en cuenta esta información será de capital importancia para desarrollar estrategias psicológicas significativas que potencien los recursos de los entrenadores para hacer frente a las demandas en estas situaciones específicas. The present study aims to explore the perception of coaches on the contents of pre-competition and halftime talks using a mixed-methods approach. Participants were 21 youth basketball and volleyball coaches (u15, u17 and u19), mostly males (n = 20), from Buenos Aires (Argentina). Individual and semi-structured interviews were conducted to the coaches and through Grounded Theory the information collected was subjected to a qualitative analysis with program Atlas.Ti 7.5. Coaches highlight five relevant aspects of the contents in pre-competition and halftime talks: strategic, psychological, communicational, variables that influence the choice of content and specific halftime content. Analyzing the primary documents, significant quotes were associated with each category. The most mentioned category (i.e. greater frequency in data) was ‘Strategic aspects’, while ‘Psychological aspects’ were placed secondly. An association analysis was carried out to study the prevalence of the categories emerged from the analysis based on the sport, branch, and category. The results of this study provide clarity regarding which are the most valued contents for coaches to spread in these specific moments of interaction and which strategies they use to communicate them. Taking this information into account will be crucial to develop meaningful psychological strategies that enhance coaches' resources to cope with the demands of these specific situations. O presente estudo tem como objetivo explorar a percepção dos treinadores sobre o conteúdo das palestras antes da competição e no intervalo da estratégia de métodos mistos. Participaram 21 treinadores de basquete e vôlei, a maioria homens (n = 20), das categorias juvenil (u15, u17 e u19) de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Entrevistas individuais e semiestruturadas foram conduzidas aos treinadores e, por meio da Teoria Fundamentada, as informações coletadas foram submetidas a uma análise qualitativa com o programa Atlas.Ti 7.5. Os treinadores enfatizam cinco aspectos relevantes em relação ao conteúdo durante as palestras antes da competição e no intervalo: estratégicas, psicológicas, comunicacionais, variáveis que influenciam a escolha do conteúdo e o conteúdo específico no intervalo. Por meio da análise dos documentos primários, citações significativas foram associadas a cada categoria. A categoria mais mencionada (i.e. mais informada pelos dados) foi “Aspectos estratégicos”, ficando em segundo lugar os “Aspectos psicológicos”. Foi realizada uma análise de associação para estudar a prevalência das categorias emergidas da análise com base no esporte, no ramo e na categoria-alvo. Os resultados deste estudo fornecem clareza sobre quais são os conteúdos valorizados pelos treinadores nesses momentos específicos de interação e quais estratégias eles usam para comunicá-los. Levar essas informações em consideração será de suma importância para o desenvolvimento de estratégias psicológicas significativas que aprimorem os recursos dos treinadores para lidar com as demandas nessas situações específicas.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document