Advantage Of Best Practices Research Articles

LifeCycle Transparency: Why, and How, Transparency Information Exchange Should be Distributed throughout the Life of Technology Usage

Transparency in automation and AI systems is the ability for the operator to know or see the agent’s working processes to be able to more accurately trust them. The problem is that automation frequently exists to offload an otherwise overly busy human operator. Requiring that operator to process, understand, and evaluate “transparency information” on the automation’s processing in the moment of execution is likely to be too big a task. This panel will explore the need, opportunity, methods and benefits stemming from spreading the transfer of “transparency information exchange” throughout the lifecycle of human–autonomy interaction, thereby taking advantage of best practices in training, pre-mission planning, explanation, and post-mission debriefing, after action reviews and even learning and initial design across organizational stakeholders to reduce the need and resources required to transfer transparency information “in the moment” in frequently high tempo periods of execution.

Automation of Genealogical Records at the National Archives of Zimbabwe

The emergence of automated systems created tremendous opportunities for access promotion in archival institutions throughout the globe. Genealogical research at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) has been boosted by technological access systems conveyed by the FamilySearch organisation. Public archivists in national archival institutions must adopt digital finding aids to facilitate effective and efficient retrieval mechanisms in this green revolution epoch. The transition from traditional retrieval tools, which include card catalogues, inventories and guides, to digital finding aids has provided greater opportunities for genealogists to search large databases for information. Genealogists or family historians are major users of the archival collection, and archival institutions should take advantage of best practices brought in by technology to create flawless access systems. The researcher used a qualitative case study methodology with an interpretivist perspective where the main focus of the research was on the head office of the NAZ in Harare. Interviews, document analysis and observations were used as the major data collecting tools. The results show the NAZ automated a few classes of genealogical records, including deceased estate records, and is yet to automate immigration, chieftainship and census returns records, which are also crucial in family history research. The study recommends the adoption of the best of both worlds, which involves automation and digitisation of all family history records to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery to genealogists.

Vestibular rehabilitation in Europe: a survey of clinical and research practice

Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is practiced across Europe but little in this area has been quantified. The aim of this study was to investigate current VR assessment, treatment, education, and research practices. This was an online, cross-sectional survey with 39 VR specific questions and four sections: demographics, current practice, education, and research. The survey was disseminated through the Dizzynet network to individual therapists through country-specific VR special interest groups. Results were analysed descriptively. A thematic approach was taken to analyse open questions. A total of 471 individuals (median age 41, range 23 − 68 years, 73.4% women), predominately physiotherapists (89.4%) from 20 European countries responded to the survey. They had worked for a median of 4 years (range < 1 − 35) in VR. The majority (58.7%) worked in hospital in-patient or out-patient settings and 21.4% in dedicated VR services. Most respondents specialized in neurology, care of the elderly (geriatrics), or otorhinolaryngology. VR was reported as hard/very hard to access by 48%, with the main barriers to access identified as lack of knowledge of health care professionals (particularly family physicians), lack of trained therapists, and lack of local services. Most respondents reported to know and treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV 87.5%), unilateral vestibular hypofunction (75.6%), and cervicogenic dizziness (63%). The use of vestibular assessment equipment varied widely. Over 70% used high-density foam and objective gait speed testing. Over 50% used dynamic visual acuity equipment. Infrared systems, Frenzel lenses, and dynamic posturography were not commonly employed (< 20%). The most frequently used physical outcome measures were the Clinical Test of the Sensory Interaction of Balance, Functional Gait Assessment/Dynamic Gait Index, and Romberg/Tandem Romberg. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, Falls Efficacy Scale, and the Vertigo Symptom Scale were the most commonly used patient reported outcome measures. Adaptation, balance, and habituation exercises were most frequently used (> 80%), with virtual reality used by 15.6%. Over 70% reported knowledge/use of Semont, Epley and Barbeque-Roll manoeuvres for the treatment of BPPV. Most education regarding VR was obtained at post-registration level (89.5%) with only 19% reporting pre-registration education. There was strong (78%) agreement that therapists should have professionally accredited postgraduate certification in VR, with blended learning the most popular mode. Three major research questions were identified for priority: management of specific conditions, effectiveness of VR, and mechanisms/factors influencing vestibular compensation and VR. In summary, the survey quantified current clinical practice in VR across Europe. Knowledge and treatment of common vestibular diseases was high, but use of published subjective and objective outcome measures as well as vestibular assessment varied widely. The results stress the need of improving both training of therapists and standards of care. A European approach, taking advantage of best practices in some countries, seems a reasonable approach.

Towards rigour in qualitative health and social research across European partnerships.

Undertaking projects with European partners is an enterprising and rewarding activity, where societies can start to learn how to transfer knowledge and take advantage of best practices to further the benefits to health and social care service users. However, this can also be a challenging experience, more so when there is scanty guidance about the best way to conduct European partnership research. Using an on-going study of integrated care for older persons as an example (the PROCARE project), this paper provides an account of the methodological strengths and challenges of the qualitative approach used. It suggests that factors assisting a rigorous approach include sound and inclusive coordination, a strong research design, the construction of universally acceptable selection criteria, detailed interview schedules, and a transversal approach to data analysis.