Application Of National Standards Research Articles

Ultrasound transducer disinfection for percutaneous procedures: A review of the evidence supporting guideline recommendations

AbstractIntroduction/PurposeThere are varying international recommendations regarding the minimum level of disinfection required for ultrasound transducers used in percutaneous procedures. While some guidelines recommend high‐level disinfection (HLD), others question the additional benefit this delivers over low‐level disinfection (LLD).MethodsThis narrative review identifies current guidelines and evaluates the evidence used to support disinfection recommendations for ultrasound transducers used in percutaneous procedures. Thirteen guidelines were identified using a search encompassing PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Google from 1st January 2013 to 31st January 2024.ResultsNo guidelines were supported by high‐quality evidence, instead, guidelines relied upon: expert opinion through the application of national standards and infection control principles; consideration of recommendations from other published guidelines; and the incidence of infection from retrospective studies. Guidelines were uniformly supportive of using ultrasound transducer covers and sterile ultrasound gel during ultrasound‐guided percutaneous procedures. However, the minimum recommended disinfection level was varied with seven guidelines recommending HLD, four LLD and two not specifying a level. Spaulding's classification was commonly used to support disinfection recommendations, however, the resultant wide variation in classification and subsequent recommendations suggest that its utility in accurately determining the minimum level of disinfection in this specific context is low.ConclusionWithout high‐level evidence, using a risk‐based assessment will likely remain fundamental to future guideline recommendations in determining the minimum disinfection level for an ultrasound transducer used in percutaneous procedures. This risk assessment must include the highest level of evidence available in addition to acknowledging the contribution of all steps taken to prevent infection during ultrasound‐guided percutaneous procedures.

О необходимости применения современных инструментов менеджмента как основы повышения эффективности деятельности учреждений культуры

The present research featured official methods of efficiency assessment of cultural institutions. The existing system focuses on quantitative assessment and does not take into account the delayed social and economic effects associated with the quality of human capital. Therefore, the current system of indicators requires expansion. Cultural institutions acquire state or municipal support based on their compliance to efficiency criteria. The author analyzed the financial support provided for implementation of priority national projects. The amount of funds for the development of the cultural sphere appeared to be one of the smallest. The current global uncertainty and new challenges caused the budget funding focus to shift. Taking into consideration the growing variability of external environment, cultural institutions can become efficient only by using modern management tools. The author studied official approaches to assessing the efficiency of cultural institutions. The research objective was to justify the need to use modern management tools in order to increase the efficiency of cultural institutions. The study was based on the institutional approach, as well as the methods of analysis, synthesis, and comparison. The paper introduces some practical recommendations for the use of modern management tools and the application of national standards. The results can be of some interest to top management of cultural institutions. The author proposes systemic and process approaches for implementation of creative projects. She believes that PDCA methodology, benchmark and GAP analyses, and the method of key performance indicators will develop the dynamic capabilities of cultural institutions and increase their strategic flexibility in conditions of high external variability.

The Influence of Teacher Preparation on Student Achievement and the Application of National Standards by Teachers of Mathematics in Urban Secondary Schools

The influence of traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs on student achievement and instruction in high-need urban secondary schools was investigated through a mixed-method comparative design. Three research questions were addressed: (a) Does the type of teacher training influence the academic achievement of students in mathematics? (b) Does teacher preparation influence the implementation of the process standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics? (c) Does the frequency with which teachers use process and content standards influence student achievement? Data from the standardized state test and district level quarterly assessments revealed a significant difference favoring the alternative preparation teachers on two measures of student achievement as well as the use of standard-driven instructional strategies. The findings suggest that alternative teacher preparation programs are a viable avenue to explore in meeting the needs of public schools for providing qualified teachers in mathematics classrooms at the middle and high school levels.

Enforcement policy and practice: evidence-based or rhetoric-based?

Thomas Ellis argues that probation enforcement policy has concentrated on the application of national standards and breaching offenders while failing to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.