Audit Tool Research Articles

Improvement of violence management among nurses in Iran: The best practice implementation project in a health promoting hospital.

This project aimed to assess compliance with evidence-based criteria' for the prevention and management of workplace violence against nursing staff in Shahid-Beheshti hospital, Maragheh, Iran. Workplace violence is a managerial and workplace occupational health and safety issue that can affect the performance of an institution. Further, it might turn the work environment into an insecure and hostile one which can influence the performance of employees and their professional relationships negatively. Nevertheless, staff have their own legal rights, and their organizations are legally and ethically in charge of providing them with safe work environments. Following the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit and feedback tool with three phases of activities, this project utilized an implementation framework incorporating quality improvement. Furthermore, the audit tool was used to establish the project and set up the measurement and evaluation of three evidence-based criteria. The post-implementation audit results indicated a significant improvement in violence management and prevention. The compliance rate on the first criterion, i.e. aggression management training, increased from 49% at baseline to 81% at the end. The second criterion, i.e. timely support and assistance following an incident, exhibited greater increase from eight to 73%. Finally, an increased compliance was noted on the third criterion, i.e. policy for risk management and safe environment, from 22 to 77%. The current project successfully implements evidence-based violence management in Shahid-Beheshti hospital. It reveals significant results on compliance and the increasing knowledge of nurses on evidence-based stress management, communication skills and self-companion.

Research- vs. government-driven physical activity policy monitoring: a systematic review across different levels of government

BackgroundEven though the importance of physical activity policy monitoring has increased in the last decade, there is a lack of understanding what different approaches exist and which methodology they employ. In order to address this research gap, this review attempts to map existing approaches of physical activity policy monitoring and to analyse methodological aspects, especially with regards to the roles of governments and researchers.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in five scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, Psycinfo, Web of Knowledge) in July 2021, and the identified records were screened independently by two reviewers. Records were included if they (a) focused on the monitoring of public policies to promote PA, (b) allowed to compare policies across time, across nations/regions or across policy sectors, and (c) were written in English, German or Russian. During full text analysis, information on methodological aspects was extracted and studies were categorized based on the level of government involvement.ResultsThe search yielded in a total of 112 studies. 86 of these studies (76.8%) followed a research-driven approach (little or no government involvement) while only two studies (1.8%) were based on a government-driven approach (led by governments). The remaining 24 studies (21.4%) were based on a co-production approach (strong collaboration between researchers and governments). All in all, 18 different tools for physical activity policy monitoring were identified; key examples are the Report Cards on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (research-driven approach), the HEPA Monitoring Framework (government-driven approach) and the HEPA Policy Audit Tool (co-production approach).ConclusionsThe level of government involvement in policy monitoring differs significantly, and research-driven, government-driven and co-production approaches can be distinguished. These approaches have different strengths and weaknesses, and can be linked to distinct theories of change and models on research-policy relations. Increasing awareness on the implications of these approaches is key to improve the understanding and further development of physical activity policy monitoring.

A novel approach for a pre-assessment of textile innovation process: innovation gap finder model (IGFM)

PurposeThe textile industry is a labor-intensive industry in which where innovation-oriented studies are conducted intensively. However, identifying potential innovation gaps for a firm operating in the textile industry is not easy and greatly influences the firm's future success. To this end, this study aims to propose a novel integrated approach for the pre-assessment of the firm-level innovation process.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach uses two important tools: the technology capability audit tool and innovation audit tool. The proposed approach integrates these tools to discover possible innovation opportunities for firms. The proposed approach is called the innovation gap finder model (IGFM).FindingsA real case study in the textile industry is conducted to show how IGFM works in practice. The results of this study show that decision-makers can easily identify existing innovation gaps using IGFM.Originality/valueFirms must first identify innovation gaps in order to initiate achievable projects in line with their current situation. Addressing a firm-level pre-assessment of the textile innovation process helps achieve growth and enables the firm to know what it should do in the near future. By identifying innovation gaps by considering the innovation processes at the firm level, it is also easier to prepare an action plan on what and how to do in accordance with the firm's own culture. There is no specific tool developed to discover potential innovation gaps in the literature. To fill this gap, a novel integrated approach is proposed for a pre-assessment of firm level innovation process in this study. The proposed approach can also accelerate the establishment of the “idea-invention-innovation” path within the firm.

Fraud in Financial Institutions: The Contribution of Bengkulu Bank Internal Audit

This research explores the key role internal audit plays in mitigating fraud risk. We revealed that internal audit actively examines financial transactions, evaluates internal control procedures, and identifies potential fraud risks. With internal audit's strong competence and team structure, they are at the forefront of protecting banks from fraud risk. Risk evaluation is an essential step in fraud prevention, and this research highlights how internal audit continuously conducts risk evaluations to identify the most vulnerable areas. A fast and effective fraud detection process is also emphasized in this study, where Bank Bengkulu's internal audit has built sophisticated audit tools and techniques to detect suspicious patterns in real-time. While internal audit plays a crucial role in fraud prevention, the research also identified several obstacles and challenges internal audit teams face. In particular, technological developments and increasingly sophisticated fraud demand proactive measures and investment in resources, education, and training. This research confirms that the internal audit at Bengkulu Bank significantly contributes to maintaining the integrity and stability of the bank's operations. In the face of increasingly complex fraud threats, constant efforts in developing internal audit capabilities are essential to protect banks from fraud risks.

Implementing Triple Entry Accounting as an Audit Tool—An Extension to Modern Accounting Systems

Despite the technological leaps modern accounting systems have brought about, fraud is still prevalent. This necessitates spending time and money on audits. Connecting modern accounting ledgers to a public blockchain would make accounting records easily verifiable, aiding the audit evidence gathering and analytics process. Continuous audits will be made viable by readily available audit evidence from the public blockchain. The proposed audit solution creates verifiable “Financial Fingerprints” (signed indexes) for every accounting entry. These Financial Fingerprints are then published to a certain range of addresses on the public blockchain. The objective is to help accounting ledgers be structured in a Triple Entry Accounting format. The third entry can be defined as publishing a notarized index of each accounting entry to the public blockchain. The crux of Triple Entry Accounting is atomicity, meaning there can only be one book. Trying to present an alternative set of books would still be possible, but it would be automatically detected. The method used to achieve the objective can be presented as two value propositions. The first value proposition of Triple Entry Accounting is to define a provable official true set of books. This is important because it is a door into the market without being dependent on network effects. The second value proposition of Triple Entry Accounting is to break down the data silos by using the blockchain as a shared ledger and thus help auditors immensely in their tedious work to gather sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. Because of value proposition number one, Triple Entry Accounting presents standalone value even before the network effect begins. The result of this is an open standardized protocol for implementing Triple Entry Accounting as an extension to modern accounting systems.

Neural network-based energy signatures for non-intrusive energy audit of buildings: Methodological approach and a real-world application

Energy Signatures (ES) are highly informative gray-box regression models. Thanks to their simplicity and interpretability, to their data-driven approach, and to their effectiveness in describing a building response to external weather variables, they are employed for (i) the determination of the Balance Point (BP) temperature of a building, (ii) the ranking of the efficiency of heating or cooling systems, (iii) the provision of building diagnostic information, and (iv) the development of strategies for more energy-efficient buildings and the estimation of potential savings. In this work, we propose an innovative energy audit tool, based on a Feed-Forward Neural Network (NN) to determine ES from aggregated (meter-level) electric load profiles of buildings. Multiple NN-based regression models are defined for each building and compared to provide the most accurate and informative one, by considering proper fit and significance indexes. This allows the eventual existence of multiple cooling regimes to be detected. Moreover, the energy audit methodology defines and applies an innovative Key Performance Indicator (KPI), called Temperature Unstandardized Beta Weight (βTemp∗), to account not only for the thermal behavior of buildings but also for the efficiency of the conditioning system and the internal heat generation. This ES approach has been applied to a dataset of electric consumption patterns from about eighty industrial buildings from a telecommunication (TLC) service provider in Italy. The useful outputs from the proposed methodology, together with its simplicity, effectiveness and applicability, are intended to support the diffused understanding of the thermal behavior of buildings and the analysis of their inefficiencies, in order to enhance energy retrofit actions and reduce consumption.

DETERMINANTS OF AUDIT AND FORENSIC ECONOMIC EXAMINATION IN THE SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL CONTROL OF LOCAL BUDGETS

Strengthening the fight against economic crimes and fraud in local budget institutions requires improvement of financial control. The article is devoted to the issue of ways and content of introduction of audit and forensic economic examination tools into the internal control system. The research method chosen was an empirical assessment of the state and prospects for improving the control system through a questionnaire. The structure of the questionnaire included grouping of questions into four sections. Questions of informational nature are included in the first section, characteristics of internal control and audit are included in the second section of the questionnaire. The third section contained the issues of contact with external control and audit institutions, and the fourth section assessed the potential capabilities and intentions to use internal and external audit tools and forensic economic expertise. The quality of the survey was ensured by its preliminary pilot testing. The selection of respondents from local government institutions in the five oblasts ensured representation in the survey. Technically, the questionnaire was distributed through open official work emails of representatives of institutions using Google form, which ensured open distribution and anonymity of responses. The paper analyses the results of the responses, which showed the state of the internal control system and the directions of its development. The study provides a comparative assessment of the state of the internal control system and the availability of internal audit services in local self-government institutions. The publication considers the results of questionnaires on the state of interaction between local self-government institutions and external auditors in terms of audits of annual financial statements and consulting. It also identifies the extent of the need to supplement the internal control system with external audit tools. The author identifies differences in assessments of the needs for interaction with external auditors and forensic experts, and substantiates the directions for improving the internal control system of local budget institutions. It was also suggested that the effectiveness of control in preventing, detecting and combating fraud should be strengthened based on foreign experience of cooperation with external auditors and forensic experts.

Re-audit of the quality of neuropsychological assessment practice using a self-assessment audit tool: 18 months after an initial audit

BackgroundKing et al. (2022) developed an audit tool, listing standards against which individuals and services can benchmark their neuropsychological assessment practice. Our adult neuropsychology outpatient service in Stoke-on-Trent, utilised the tool to assess our current practice, and to assess the impact of completing the audit over two time-points, 18 months apart.MethodAll service users assessed by us within a sample month were included in the retrospective clinical audits: N=22 at time-point 1 (July 2020) and N=17 at time-point 2 (February 2022). The yes/no tick list was completed for each core and supplementary standard, for each assessment. Percentage compliance was calculated for each standard, to benchmark practice and appraise changes over time.ResultsAll service users gave verbal consent for their data to be used for research purposes. The service largely scored 100% compliance on most standards at both time-points, with improvements observed in seven standards between the two audits, and some areas of reduced standard compliance over time, prompting further discussion about different report styles for different contexts.Conclusion and RecommendationsOur service has discussed the audit results and are planning to improve our practice in terms of report length, waiting times for feedback sessions, use of performance validity tests and provision of service leaflets.

Harnessing the benefits of the Nutrition Care Process Quality Evaluation and Standardization Tool: a national auditing initiative to improve quality of documentation.

The Nutrition Care Process Quality Standardization and Evaluation Tool (NCP QUEST) is a validated audit instrument assessing the quality of NCP documentation by Registered Dietitians Nutritionists (RDNs). The present quality improvement project describes change in documentation quality as measured by NCP QUEST and word count of notes after a monthly national digital training provided to Veteran Affairs (VA) RDNs. The training and adoption of NCP QUEST was voluntary. Facilities were recruited among those that had participated during the design and validation study of NCP QUEST. The NCP QUEST score was calculated and the word count was determined for 52 documentation notes (28 from NCP QUEST non-user facilities and 24 from NCP QUEST user facilities) before and after training. The mean pre-training NCP QUEST score for notes from NCP QUEST non-user facilities was 13.71 and 13.88 for NCP QUEST user facilities. The mean post training total NCP QUEST score for non-user facilities was 14.00 and 17.65 for user facilities, with no improvement for the non-user facilities (P=0.69). A significant improvement was identified for the NCP QUEST user facilities (P≤0.001). All facilities experienced a significant reduction in the word count of assessment notes (P=0.04). Use of the electronic NCP terminology website increased 123-fold and was sustained after the training. NCP QUEST users reported that the audit tool is useful. The NCP QUEST should be at the center of RDNs' training and more strategic effort is needed to engage practitioners in the optimal application of the NCP.

Applying a Maternal Standards of Care Audit Tool and Quality Improvement Process to Improve Healthcare for Pregnant Women in Prison.

Women are the fastest growing prison population, but little is known about the quality of maternal care for pregnant women in prison. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Transitional Healthcare Team (THT), we developed a maternal standard of care (MSOC) audit tool to identify existing strengths and weaknesses and recommend evidence-based strategies for improvement. After creating the MSOC audit tool, we used it to audit 52 charts and conducted interviews of IDOC staff regarding maternal health care processes. Identified strengths include prenatal care, screening/treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and substance use disorders, contraception use, and health education. Mental and nutritional health care are areas of weakness. Staff motivation and community partnerships facilitate positive change, but a "punitive" culture, lack of resources, and communication challenges are barriers to change. Developing accountability tools and processes to promote maternal standards of care holds the potential to increase the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies and improve re-integration into society.

Shift to Digital Audit: A Study Investigating the Benefits and Challenges of Digitalization on the Audit Profession

This study intends to evaluate the perceived benefits and challenges that these technologies offer in the context of digitalization, to one of the most suitable professions for the particular procedure; the audit profession. A qualitative study was conducted to gain a better grasp of the implications of digitalization on audit tools in the audit profession. This is accomplished by conducting ten (10) semi-structured interviews with professional auditors, emphasizing interpretation. It has been found that this study backs up some of the conclusions of prior research on the issue of digital auditing. Conclusively, the empirical findings of this study support the assumption that auditors believe digitalization will become even more popular in the future and that it will not result in job losses, as prior studies have suggested.

Comparisons of Built Environment Correlates of Walking in Urban and Suburban Campuses: A Case Study of Tianjin, China

Current Chinese campus planning and design have neglected to promote walking activity (WA). Lacking WA and developing sedentary and physical inactivity habits can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases. Academia has confirmed that WA can be facilitated by planning and designing built environment (BE) interventions. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the effect of campus BE features on walking in different regions’ campuses and present nuanced campus planning and design strategies. We selected the objectively measured BE features of destination accessibility, land use, street connectivity, and spatial configuration. Environmental design qualities and pedestrian facilities were chosen as the micro-level BE features. We applied GIS 10.1 and sDNA to calculate gross BE features and field audit tools to measure street environmental features and pedestrian volume (PV). We built negative binomial regression models and eliminated spatial autocorrelation to investigate and compare the BE correlates of walking in urban and suburban campuses. Similarities and differences were found among the outcomes derived from the two regions. We found that campus Walk Score, land use attributes of facility density and park land ratio, complexity, and other features closely correlate with PV in the two types of campuses. Comparatively, closeness, transparency, and complexity only influence urban campuses’ PV, while block length, entropy, facility land ratio, and sidewalk quality only correlate with PV on suburban campuses. According to these findings, we proposed different and targeted campus renewal and planning strategies for WA and walkability promotion.

Design of infrastructure for visualising and benchmarking patient data from general practice (CARA)

Abstract Background Patient Management Software (PMS) is commonly used for patient consultations. PMS supports individual patient data storage but accessing and using aggregated information is challenging. CARA set out to provide an infrastructure to enable Irish general practitioners (GPs) to understand their patient population, disease management and prescribing through dashboards. This paper explains the design and development of the CARA infrastructure. Methods The first exemplar dashboard focused on antibiotic prescribing to develop and showcase the proposed infrastructure. The data integration process involved extracting, loading and transforming de-identified patient data into data models. These, in turn, feed the interactive dashboards for GPs to visualise, compare and audit their data. Results The architecture of the CARA infrastructure includes two main sections: the ELT process (extract, load and transform anonymous patient data into data models) and a REST API (which provides the security barrier between the data models and their visualisation on the CARA dashboard). CARAconnect was created to facilitate data extraction and de-identification of patient data from the practice database. Conclusions CARA includes two dashboards, a practice overview and an exemplar dashboard focused on antibiotic prescribing which includes an audit tool as well as filters (within practice) and between-practice comparisons. Next steps will include the development of additional dashboards for topics such as chronic disease and mental health. Key messages • CARA developed a sustainable infrastructure to enable Irish GPs to better understand their patient population and management through dashboards. • CARA infrastructure consists of CARAconnect to extract and de-identify data, a common data model (to combine data from different PMS systems), and CARA dashboards for use in Irish general practice.

7.F. Workshop: Local physical activity policy evaluation: state of the art, tools and methods and future directions

Abstract Insufficient physical activity (PA) is one of the most significant risk factors for chronic diseases and premature mortality worldwide. Public policies are recognized as upstream factors providing system change beyond individual changes. Policies have been recognised as an effective way to increase population PA levels, as they support the development of evidence-based interventions and programs in different domains, that help create a ‘healthy’ PA environment and enhanced PA opportunities. Previous studies have shown an important impact of PA promotion policies at local level (municipalities), but insufficient research and tool development has been realised on PA policies beyond national level. First, the workshop will briefly describe the scientific state of the art on local PA promotion policies evaluation, based on results from a literature review. Second, the panel will present the CAPLA-Santé, a policy evaluation tool designed by a stakeholders’ group in France, based on the Health Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool of the World Health Organisation, to comprehensively review local PA policies. The final version of CAPLA-Santé contains 21 items divided into six sections: 1. Overview of HEPA stakeholders in the local government area, 2. Policy documents, 3. Policy contents, 4. Funding and political engagement, 5. Studies and measures relating to physical activity in the local government area, and 6. Progress achieved and future challenges. CAPLA-Santé allows the collection and in-depth analysis of local level policies to assess the progress in promoting PA and intersectoral collaboration as well as identifying successful policy levers and remaining challenges. Third, the panel will illustrate its use in 5 countries worldwide (Finland, France, Germany, Japan and Romania), summarising findings and explaining how such tools allow cross-cultural comparison. Fourth, panellists will discuss the challenges and success in using such tools and provide insights on how these tools can serve as capacity building for policy makers and to draw recommendations, as well as cross-cultural comparisons. Key messages • The workshop will provide key advise on how to monitor local physical activity policies. • The workshop will equip participants with tools to face the challenge of local physical activity policy evaluation. Speakers/Panelists Petru Sandu Cluj School of Public Health, Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Anne Vuillemin Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France François Berdougo Société Française de Santé Publique, Laxou, France Peter Gelius FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

Development of the Nova Scotia Potential Donor Audit (PDA) Tool and 2020 Historic Performance Database: Lessons Learned From the First 1000 Medical Record Reviews.

Legislation and accountability frameworks are key components of high-performing deceased-donation systems. In 2021, Nova Scotia (NS), Canada, became the first jurisdiction in North America to enact deemed consent legislation and concurrently implemented mandatory referral legislation similar to that found in other Canadian provinces. Frontline financial resources were provided by the government to support the development of program infrastructure, including implementation of means to evaluate system performance. The Organ Donation Program (ODP), in collaboration with other stakeholders, developed a Potential Donor Audit (PDA) tool and database for referral intake and manual performance audits. Medical record reviews of deaths in the year before legislative change were conducted to pilot and revise the PDA and evaluate missed donation opportunities. The NS PDA was piloted on 1028 patient deaths. Of 518 patients (50.4%) who met clinical triggers for referral to the ODP, 72 (13.9%) were referred (86.1% missed referral rate). One hundred sixty-three patients met the NS definition of a potential donor; 53 (32.5%) were referred (110 missed potential donors). Referral consent rates reached 71.7% (n = 38 of 53 approaches). The actualized donation rate reported by Canadian Blood Services was 29.9 donors per million population (n = 34 donors). We documented high rates of missed referrals and missed potential donors before the enactment of mandatory referral and deemed consent legislation. The ODP has intentionally broadened clinical criteria for referral to shift the responsibility of identifying medically suitable potential donors from bedside clinicians to organ donation specialists. Lessons learned from our experience developing a PDA include the importance of early involvement of multiple stakeholders and ongoing modification of fields and workflow based on data availability and utility for clinical, educational, research, and reporting purposes.

A physiotherapy-led review of guideline-based care for community-dwelling older people presenting to a metropolitan hospital with accidental falls.

Several guidelines exist to inform best-practice management of community-dwelling fallers. This study aimed to outline a pragmatic approach to developing an audit tool for guideline-based care of falls and provide an overview of current practice. An audit tool to determine compliance with guideline-based care was developed with an allied health and physiotherapy focus, utilising the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health-Care Guidelines for Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People (2009) and Queensland State Government 'Stay on your Feet' guidelines. A retrospective audit of medical records was completed in July 2020 of community-dwelling people aged 65 years and over with a fall-related emergency department (ED) presentation in a medium-sized metropolitan hospital in Australia. Data were compared between patients admitted to hospital and those discharged home from the ED. Ninety-three patients were included: 68 were discharged home from ED and 25 were admitted to hospital. There was a significant difference in receiving an allied health review (p < .001) between admitted patients (96%) and those who discharged home from ED (68%). The Clinical Frailty Scale was only completed for 23% of patients. Physiotherapy quality-of-care (n = 46 patients) was variable, with poor completion of physical outcome measures (7%) and fall education (4%). However, assessment of mobility was routinely completed (94%), and most patients were referred to an appropriate community service (66%). Adherence to guideline-based care of community-dwelling fallers is inconsistent. Improvements are required in the consistency of risk stratification, comprehensive physical assessment and patient education.

Understanding the Transformative Potential of Computer-Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques (CAATTs) in the Accounting Profession

The transformative CAATTs enhance auditing with technology-driven approaches and data analytics. While widely used in large audit firms, their benefits and future impact on accounting remain uncertain for smaller firms. This study aims to provide a theoretical overview of CAATTs, examining their concept, benefits, and significance compared to traditional audit methods. It also explores the challenges associated with CAATTs' adoption. Through up-to-date insights from previous studies, the research sheds light on the potential impact of CAATTs on the auditing sector. Additionally, this study reviews the existing literature that addresses the obstacles hindering CAATTs' adoption in small and medium-sized firms and offers strategies to overcome these adoption challenges. The aim is to provide a better understanding of these innovative tools and their role in shaping the accounting profession. By leveraging CAATTs' capabilities, auditors can enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in conducting audits, paving the way for a more promising future of accounting endeavours.

AI in Auditing: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Benefits and Challenges

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has brought about transformative changes in various industries, and the field of auditing is no exception. This research paper presents a comprehensive review of the integration of AI in auditing practices, highlighting its applications, benefits, and associated challenges. Auditing, a critical process for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial information, has traditionally been a labor-intensive and time-consuming endeavor. The emergence of AI technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics, has revolutionized the way audits are conducted. AI-powered auditing tools offer advanced capabilities for data analysis, pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and risk assessment. These capabilities enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of audits by allowing auditors to focus on high-risk areas and perform more in-depth analysis. The paper explores various applications of AI in auditing, including: Automated Data Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Fraud Detection, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), Continuous Monitoring. While AI brings significant benefits to the auditing process, its adoption also presents certain challenges like Data Quality and Integration, Interpretability, Ethical Considerations, Technical Expertise, Regulatory Frame Work. In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize auditing practices by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and risk assessment. However, successful integration requires addressing challenges related to data quality, transparency, ethics, skills, and regulations. As AI technologies continue to evolve, auditors and stakeholders must collaborate to harness the full potential of AI while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the auditing process. This paper serves as a comprehensive resource for auditors, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand the current landscape and future directions of AI in auditing.

Common measures of green and blue space for built environment, health equity and intervention research: a scoping review

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe self-report and audit-based measurement tools of green and blue space used for health equity and intervention research. This scoping review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). In March 2022, we performed a literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. We found 22 papers, six of which used self-report tools and 16 of which relied on audit-based measures to assess green or blue space. These tools measure aspects of blue and green space including accessibility, equipment, and use. The System for Observing Parks and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was most used followed by the Public Open Space Audit Tool (POST) and the Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT). The priority populations most often studied were residents of low socio-economic status/high disadvantage neighbourhoods, followed by racialized groups and women. This scoping review provides guidance on common measurement tools that can be used by researchers working on green/blue space for health equity and intervention research. No reliable and valid self-report measure was used or available in the literature to examine equity in green/blue space.

A national repository of complete radiotherapy plans: design, Results, and experiences

Background Previously, many radiotherapy (RT) trials were based on a few selected dose measures. Many research questions, however, rely on access to the complete dose information. To support such access, a national RT plan database was created. The system focuses on data security, ease of use, and re-use of data. This article reports on the development and structure, and the functionality and experience of this national database. Methods and materials A system based on the DICOM-RT standard, DcmCollab, was implemented with direct connections to all Danish RT centres. Data is segregated into any number of collaboration projects. User access to the system is provided through a web interface. The database has a finely defined access permission model to support legal requirements. Results Currently, data for more than 14,000 patients have been submitted to the system, and more than 50 research projects are registered. The system is used for data collection, trial quality assurance, and audit data set generation. Users reported that the process of submitting data, waiting for it to be processed, and then manually attaching it to a project was resource intensive. This was accommodated with the introduction of triggering features, eliminating much of the need for users to manage data manually. Many other features, including structure name mapping, RT plan viewer, and the Audit Tool were developed based on user input. Conclusion The DcmCollab system has provided an efficient means to collect and access complete datasets for multi-centre RT research. This stands in contrast with previous methods of collecting RT data in multi-centre settings, where only singular data points were manually reported. To accommodate the evolving legal environment, DcmCollab has been defined as a ‘data processor’, meaning that it is a tool for other research projects to use rather than a research project in and of itself.