Implementation Of Feedback Research Articles

Do You Dare to Speak Up at Work? A Study on Organizational Conditions Enabling or Discouraging Employee Voice

ABSTRACT Employee voice is part of internal communication, and this study extends current knowledge concerning the organizational conditions conducive to employee voice, namely: participation in decision making, consultation, information sharing, sensemaking and interactive communication, voice systems, formal policies regulating employees’ freedom of speech, solicitation of informal voice, implementation of corrective actions and feedback to employees voicing concerns. This study specifically examines the organizational and environmental characteristics that shape these organizational conditions that promote employee voice. A SEM analysis shows: the positive influence of the organizational and environmental characteristics of business strategy, organizational model, labor market conditions and company size. In addition, the mediating role of managers’ implicit beliefs that employees are self-interested, that management knows best and that dissent is undesirable was clearly emphasized.

Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation.

Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) and feedback is an evidence-supported strategy for evaluating alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment outcomes. However, the implementation of ROM and feedback into AOD services remains a significant challenge. Research aimed at understanding client perspectives on ROM and feedback is needed to facilitate successful implementation. This study examined experiences with and perceptions of ROM and feedback in a sample of clients receiving AOD treatment. Interviews and online surveys were conducted with N = 26 people (13 male; Mage = 36.12 years, SD = 10.29) enrolled in an AOD treatment program in Australia. Data analysis of the transcripts was guided by thematic analysis, while descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative survey data. Four major themes were identified in the qualitative data: (i) ROM and feedback is valuable to AOD treatment; (ii) clear and concise outcome measures with an integrated feedback loop are vital to reliable ROM; (iii) desire for visual and verbal feedback that highlights progress; and (iv) ROM and feedback can be emotionally challenging. Participants valued ROM when it was clearly integrated within AOD treatment and they received feedback on their responses. Potential facilitators to implementing and improving the provision of ROM and feedback in AOD treatment include: (i) a clear, treatment-based rationale to foster client buy-in for ROM and maximise AOD treatment benefit; (ii) brief outcome measure surveys; and (iii) graphical visualisations of ROM feedback.

Automated feedback on fluency and complexity measures for L2 academic paragraphs: Student perspectives and impacts on human-rater scores

While complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) measures are known to correlate with L2 writers’ scores, less is known about the effectiveness of providing automated feedback based on these measures for improving writing performance. Furthermore, it remains unclear if improvements in specific CAF measures correspond to improvements in human-rater scores. Finally, the trade-off hypothesis predicts that all three components of CAF cannot be improved at once, so providing multiple CAF measures to students at the same time might cause cognitive overload and overwhelm students, reducing their ability to uptake the feedback. To examine these issues, a simple paragraph feedback tool was developed to provide input on number of words, vocabulary variety, supporting detail markers, and sentence length. The tool was implemented repeatedly in L2 academic paragraph writing lessons with 124 students. Improvement was assessed through complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) measures and human-rater scores, while also gathering student opinions. Results showed significant improvements in number of words, sentence length, and supporting detail marker usage from pre- to post-treatment with improvements in number of words and vocabulary variety found to be the strongest predictors of improvements in human-rater scores. Students reported finding vocabulary variety feedback most helpful, while supporting detail marker feedback was perceived as most confusing. Notably, students reported very low cognitive load overall. This article also discusses pedagogical implications of these findings for L2 writing instruction and automated feedback implementation.

Enhancing writing ability of Iranian EFL learners through learning-oriented assessment: peer and teacher feedback implementation

Despite the widespread use of Learner-Oriented Assessment (LOA) in (English as a Foreign Language EFL classes, concerns persist regarding its suitability for contexts such as Iran. Drawing on Carless’s (SHE, 31:219-233, 2006) criteria for LOA, the present study examined the effectiveness of peer and teacher feedback in an academic writing course. To this aim, a total of 124 intermediate language learners who were homogenized in terms of language proficiency, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), were randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. A 12-session writing instruction course with specific writing tasks was developed. One group received feedback from peers, while the other group received feedback from the teacher. Findings revealed that peer feedback resulted in better writing in terms of language, content, and organization. It was also found that the peer feedback group could retain their learning in the long run. These findings underscore the effectiveness of peer feedback within the framework of LOA, particularly in teacher-directed settings.

Barriers to Progress Feedback Adoption in Outpatient Geriatric Mental Healthcare: Exploring Age-Related Factors - A Qualitative Study.

Monitoring treatment progress through progress feedback is recognized for its efficacy and demonstrated value. However, its integration and utilization within treatments still need to be improved. Insufficient understanding exists regarding the factors within geriatric mental healthcare influencing the adoption of progress feedback. This study aimed to explore the determinants impacting the utilization of progress feedback within outpatient geriatric mental healthcare, specifically focusing on age-related perspectives and patient group characteristics. This qualitative investigation employed semi-structured interviews involving clinicians (N = 14) selected from four outpatient geriatric teams. The findings revealed both inhibiting and facilitating perspectives concerning progress feedback. Clinicians preferred user-friendly, specific, and tailored measures. Challenges included organizational support, integration in work processes, training, and the digital progress feedback system. Age-related perspectives such as older adults' diverse issues, limited digital skills, and cognitive problems hindered implementation, particularly in the oldest generation of older patients. In outpatient geriatric mental healthcare, many factors and attitudes influencing progress feedback align with those observed in adult psychiatry literature. Moreover, this study highlights specific age-related factors that impede the adoption and implementation of progress feedback, shedding light on the specific barriers within this context.

Testing the incremental effectiveness of pay-for-performance to improve implementation of a motivational interviewing brief intervention for substance use disorders in HIV settings: Results of a parallel cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) have a serious adverse impact on the physical and mental well-being of people with HIV. Previously, using a 39-site dual-randomized type 2 hybrid trial design, findings from the Substance Abuse Treatment to HIV Care Project supported the Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation (ISF) strategy to improve implementation and effectiveness of a motivational interviewing brief intervention (MIBI) for SUD within HIV service settings across the United States (US). Building on this trial, this parallel cluster-randomized type 3 hybrid trial aimed to test the incremental effectiveness of a pay-for-performance (P4P), a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy. Twenty-six HIV service organizations, their staff participants (N=87), and their client participants (N=341) were cluster-randomized to one of two implementation conditions. The control condition included staff-focused training, feedback, and consultation (TFC) and team-focused implementation and sustainment (ISF). The experimental condition included TFC+ISF as well as P4P (TFC+ISF+P4P). P4P used financial incentives to reward MIBI implementation (US$10 per MIBI delivered) and MIBI implementation at or above a pre-defined level of quality (US$10 per demonstration). In addition to these outcomes, past 4-week changes/reductions in client participant's days of primary substance use and anxiety symptoms were examined. The addition of P4P had a large and significant effect on the number of MIBIs implemented (d=1.30, p<.05) and reduction in anxiety (d=-1.54), but there was no impact on days of substance use. P4P had large effects on MIBI quality (d=1.24) and MIBI implementation effectiveness (d=1.28), but these were not significant (p<.10). P4P is a form of the "alter incentive/allowance structures" strategy. Its function is to reward the implementation of a clinical innovation. Rewarding implementation is consistent with the theory of implementation effectiveness, which suggests implementation climate (i.e., the extent to which implementation is expected, supported, and rewarded) is a key antecedent of implementation effectiveness (i.e., the consistency and quality of implementation). We found that P4P had a significant, positive impact on MIBI implementation in HIV service settings, but client-level outcomes were mixed. Future research should examine the effectiveness of the P4P strategy to improve implementation and sustainment of other evidence-based innovations. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04687917. Registered 12/18/2020.

Using expansive learning to design and implement video-annotated peer feedback in an undergraduate general education module

AbstractExisting studies have measured the effect of video-based feedback on student performance or satisfaction. Other issues are underacknowledged or merit further investigation. These include sociocultural aspects which may shape the design and implementation of video-based feedback, the ways students use technology to engage in feedback, and the processes through technology may transform learning. This study investigates the design and implementation of a video-annotated peer feedback activity to develop students’ presentation skills and knowledge of climate science. It explores how their use of a video annotation tool re-mediated established feedback practices and how the systematic analysis of contradictions in emerging practices informed the subsequent redesign and reimplementation of the approach. Employing a formative intervention design, the researchers intervened in the activity system of a first-year undergraduate education module to facilitate two cycles of expansive learning with an instructor and two groups of Hong Kong Chinese students (n = 97, n = 94) across two semesters. Instructor interviews, student surveys, and video annotation and system data were analysed using Activity Theory-derived criteria to highlight contradictions in each system and suggest how these could be overcome. The findings highlight the critical importance of active instructor facilitation; building student motivation by embedding social-affective support and positioning peer feedback as an integrated, formative process; and supporting students’ use of appropriate cognitive scaffolding to encourage their interactive, efficient use of the annotation tool. Conclusions: In a field dominated by experimental and quasi-experimental studies, this study reveals how an Activity Theory-derived research design and framework can be used to systemically analyse cycles of design and implementation of video-annotated peer feedback. It also suggests how the new activity system might be consolidated and generalised.

The Research of the Disparity Between the Provision of Feedback Opportunities and the Clarity of Feedback Implementation for Business and Management Students at the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton

This research delves into the disparity between the provision of feedback opportunities and the clarity of feedback implementation for business and management students at the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. Employing a qualitative constructivist approach, the study aims to uncover the barriers to student feedback integration and propose solutions for enhancing university responsiveness. The investigation reveals significant differences in feedback implementation rates and the perceived value of student opinions, with implications for teaching quality and student satisfaction. The study employs questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups to gather insights from students and staff, emphasizing the need for transparent communication and actionable feedback loops. The findings suggest that universities must prioritize student voices to foster a positive learning culture and improve institutional practices.

Design of hybrid controller for broadband vibration isolation with active negative stiffness and ground-hook

This paper presents a novel hybrid control strategy that integrates active negative stiffness (ANS) with the ground-hook principle, aiming to enhance the vibration isolation system’s performance across both low and high-frequency ranges. Firstly, to improve vibration isolation performance, this study analyzes the existing ANS model. It identifies key factors affecting ANS stability and proposes a control parameter adjustment scheme based on stability conditions. This approach effectively refines ANS control theory and provides theoretical support for the application of ANS by ensuring stability. Secondly, addressing the limitations of ANS in high-frequency vibration isolation, this study proposes targeted solutions based on the ground-hook principle. While ANS excels in low-frequency isolation, this work tackles its shortcomings to enhance high-frequency vibration isolation. These solutions include the implementation of relative velocity feedback (RVFB) control and absolute velocity feedforward (AVFF) control to enhance high-frequency vibration isolation performance, and AVFF exhibits superior advantages over RVFB. Furthermore, the stability of different control strategies is analyzed. The findings reveal that sky-hook significantly enhances the control stability margin of the ANS loop, while RVFB decreases it, with AVFF having a minimal impact. Finally, comprehensive experiments validate a significant enhancement in both low and high-frequency vibration isolation performance, providing robust evidence for the practical engineering application of the vibration isolation system.

The effect of AGN feedback on the Lyman-α forest signature of galaxy protoclusters at z∼ 2.3

ABSTRACT The intergalactic medium in the vicinity of galaxy protoclusters are interesting testbeds to study complex baryonic effects such as gravitational shocks and feedback. Here, we utilize hydrodynamical simulations from the SIMBA and The Three Hundred suites to study the mechanisms influencing large-scale Lyman-$\alpha$ transmission in $2\lt z\lt 2.5$ protoclusters. We focus on the matter overdensity-Lyman-$\alpha$ transmission relation $(\delta _m-\delta _F)$ on Megaparsec-scales in these protoclusters, which is hypothesized to be sensitive to the feedback implementations. The lower density regions represented by the SIMBA-100 cosmological volume trace the power-law $\delta _m-\delta _F$ relationship often known as the fluctuating Gunn–Peterson approximation. This trend is continued into higher density regions covered by simulations that implement stellar feedback only. Simulations with active galactic nucleus (AGN) thermal and AGN jet feedback, however, exhibit progressively more Lyman-$\alpha$ transmission at fixed matter overdensity. Compared with the seven protoclusters observed in the COSMOS field, only two display the excess absorption expected from protoclusters. The others exhibit deviations: four show some increased transparency suggested by AGN X-ray thermal feedback models while the highly transparent COSTCO-I protocluster appears to reflect intense jet feedback. Discrepancies with the stellar-feedback-only model suggests processes at play beyond gravitational heating and/or stellar feedback as the cause of the protocluster transparencies. Some form of AGN feedback is likely at play in the observed protoclusters, and possibly long-ranged AGN jets in the case of COSTCO-I. While more detailed and resolved simulations are required to move forward, our findings open new avenues for probing AGN feedback at Cosmic Noon.

Enhancing Organizational Performance: Harnessing AI and NLP for User Feedback Analysis in Product Development

This paper explores the application of AI and NLP techniques for user feedback analysis in the context of heavy machine crane products. By leveraging AI and NLP, organizations can gain insights into customer perceptions, improve product development, enhance satisfaction and loyalty, inform decision-making, and gain a competitive advantage. The paper highlights the impact of user feedback analysis on organizational performance and emphasizes the reasons for using AI and NLP, including scalability, objectivity, improved accuracy, increased insights, and time savings. The methodology involves data collection, cleaning, text and rating analysis, interpretation, and feedback implementation. Results include sentiment analysis, word cloud visualizations, and radar charts comparing product attributes. These findings provide valuable information for understanding customer sentiment, identifying improvement areas, and making data-driven decisions to enhance the customer experience. In conclusion, promising AI and NLP techniques in user feedback analysis offer organizations a powerful tool to understand customers, improve product development, increase satisfaction, and drive business success.

Delayed feedback implementation of decentralized derivative-dependent control of large-scale systems with input delays and disturbed measurements

We study decentralized derivative-dependent control of large-scale nth-order systems with input delays via delayed feedback implementation. The unavailable derivatives can be approximated by finite differences giving rise to a time-delayed feedback. In the centralized case, an efficient simple linear matrix inequalities (LMIs)-based method for designing of such static output-feedback and its sampled-data implementation was recently suggested. In the present paper, we extend this design to large-scale systems in the presence of input delays and disturbed measurements. Under the assumption of the stabilizability of the system with small enough input delays and small enough interactions by a state-feedback that depends on the output and its derivatives, a delayed static output-feedback that stabilizes the system is presented by using the current and past disturbed measurements. To compensate the errors due to the input delays, we add the appropriate terms to the corresponding Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional that lead to LMIs conditions. The efficient bounds on the delays preserving that the resulting system is input-to-state stable (ISS) are found by verifying the LMIs. In addition, we employ the vector Lyapunov functional method that may allow larger couplings compared with the existing method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methods is illustrated by numerical examples.

Benchmarking for healthy food stores: protocol for a randomised controlled trial with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia to enhance adoption of health-enabling store policy and practice

BackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote Australia have initiated bold policies for health-enabling stores. Benchmarking, a data-driven and facilitated ‘audit and feedback’ with action planning process, provides a potential strategy to strengthen and scale health-enabling best-practice adoption by remote community store directors/owners. We aim to co-design a benchmarking model with five partner organisations and test its effectiveness with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores in remote Australia.MethodsStudy design is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial with consenting eligible stores (located in very remote Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, primary grocery store for an Aboriginal community, and serviced by a Nutrition Practitioner with a study partner organisation). The Benchmarking model is informed by research evidence, purpose-built best-practice audit and feedback tools, and co-designed with partner organisation and community representatives. The intervention comprises two full benchmarking cycles (one per year, 2022/23 and 2023/24) of assessment, feedback, action planning and action implementation. Assessment of stores includes i adoption status of 21 evidence-and industry-informed health-enabling policies for remote stores, ii implementation of health-enabling best-practice using a purpose-built Store Scout App, iii price of a standardised healthy diet using the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthy Diets ASAP protocol; and, iv healthiness of food purchasing using sales data indicators. Partner organisations feedback reports and co-design action plans with stores. Control stores receive assessments and continue with usual retail practice. All stores provide weekly electronic sales data to assess the primary outcome, change in free sugars (g) to energy (MJ) from all food and drinks purchased, baseline (July-December 2021) vs July-December 2023.DiscussionWe hypothesise that the benchmarking intervention can improve the adoption of health-enabling store policy and practice and reduce sales of unhealthy foods and drinks in remote community stores of Australia. This innovative research with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can inform effective implementation strategies for healthy food retail more broadly.Trial registrationACTRN12622000596707, Protocol version 1.

Enhancing Quality Learning in East African Higher Education: Towards a Common Understanding of Formative Feedback

The quest for enhancing quality learning in higher education across East Africa necessitates a cohesive understanding of what formative feedback is and how it can be used to promote student learning. This study explores how formative feedback is understood as it relates to improving student learning outcomes within the East African higher education context. By synthesizing existing policies and conducting qualitative analyses of current practices, the research identifies key challenges and opportunities for having a common understanding of formative feedback. Findings reveal a widespread misunderstanding of formative feedback, with many perceiving it as equivalent to course evaluations, continuous summative assessments, and student ranking based on grades. The study highlights a lack of consensus among government officials, higher education administrators, faculty, and students regarding the definition and implementation of formative feedback. This research suggests the need for a comprehensive qualitative study to examine how formative feedback is defined and perceived across East Africa. Such an investigation could catalyze robust discussions among key stakeholders, leading to the development of shared definitions and sustainable formative feedback systems, ultimately enhancing educational outcomes in the region.

Implementation models for teacher peer feedback: A systematic review

ABSTRACT Although the effects of teacher peer feedback have been previously examined, peer feedback is implemented differently in continuous professional development (CPD) programmes. Thus, a review of the implementation of teacher peer feedback can provide us with an integrated perspective of this activity, and it may further improve the practices of teacher CPD in the future. This study systematically reviewed 29 empirical articles in the last 20 years. Four implementation models of teacher peer feedback are distinguished: lesson study-based peer feedback, research-initiated peer feedback, supervisor-guided peer feedback, and self-regulated peer feedback. Additionally, five influential factors are found to affect teacher peer feedback: characteristics of participants, training and supervision, schedule and duration, support and tools, and characteristics of feedback. These findings imply that programme organisers should design peer feedback based on the precise analysis of the peer feedback model, influential factors, training goals, participants’ competencies, and learning needs.

Institutional experience with a limb salvage quality improvement initiative to reduce length of stay and readmissions

BackgroundThis article aims to outline the process and present preliminary outcomes of a local quality improvement initiative focusing on length of stay (LOS) and 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients undergoing treatment for peripheral arterial disease. MethodsInitiating with internal data acquisition, our clinical informaticists, adept in Epic data mining, were tasked with monthly query of the database for all patients with peripheral arterial disease managed since May 2021. An automated report of crucial variables, eliminating the need for individual chart review, was thus generated. Studying trends in LOS and readmissions, we set target goals of 7 days for LOS and 11% for 30-day unplanned readmission, referencing the top-decile institutions in the Vizient ranking. To enhance our quality improvement initiative, we formed a comprehensive limb salvage committee, comprising a vascular surgeon, hospitalist, podiatrists, nurses, a case management team, and a clinical researcher. This multidisciplinary team met regularly to review monthly reports, identify trends, and propose improvements. After 6 months of observation, the limb salvage committee finalized a set of recommendations, which were then communicated to the vascular surgery faculty for feedback and subsequent implementation. Monthly outcomes were continuously monitored by the limb salvage committee to assess progress and pinpoint areas necessitating further improvement. ResultsBetween May 2021 and March 2023, 985 consecutive procedures were performed. The average postoperative LOS was 7 ± 10 days, with 35% not meeting the goal. Patients not meeting the LOS goal often had a history of coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure and were admitted initially for nonvascular reasons. The readmission rate was 15%. Recommendations from the limb salvage committee included deferring nonurgent revascularization to outpatient care with prehabilitation for at-risk patients, and early follow-up by a nurse practitioner for wound check and pain management. These recommendations were implemented at the end of March 2023. After implementing these recommendations, 272 cases recorded between April and July 2023 saw a decrease in patients not meeting the target LOS to 27%, and unplanned readmissions decreased to 11%. ConclusionsOur limb salvage quality improvement project has proved efficient in monitoring quality metrics and targeting specific areas in need of improvement. Continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure compliance, track outcomes, and identify areas in need of further improvement. Future studies will assess further the effectiveness of this process in improving patient care.

Dose-Response Effects of MittEcho, a Measurement Feedback System, in an Indicated Mental Health Intervention for Children in Municipal and School Services in Norway.

Including routine client feedback can increase the effectiveness of mental health interventions for children, especially when implemented as intended. Rate of implementation, or dose, of such feedback interventions has been shown to moderate results in some studies. Variation in implementation and use of client feedback may also contribute to the mixed results observed within the feedback literature. This study evaluates dose-response associations of client feedback using a novel Measurement Feedback System (MFS) within an indicated group intervention. The primary aim was to determine whether the rate of MFS implementation predicts symptom reduction in anxiety and depression among school-aged children. The secondary aim was to assess whether the rate of MFS implementation influences children's satisfaction with the group intervention or their dropout rates. Data were collected via a randomized factorial study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04263558) across 58 primary schools in Norway. Children aged 8 to 12 years (N = 701) participated in a group-based, transdiagnostic intervention targeting elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression. Half of the child groups also received the feedback intervention using the MittEcho MFS. Group leaders (N = 83), recruited locally, facilitated the interventions. The MFS dose was measured using the Implementation Index, which combines the use of MFS by both children and providers (group leaders) into a single dose variable. Results showed no significant additional effect of dose of MFS on change in depression or anxiety scores, on user satisfaction with the intervention or on intervention dropout. The discussion addresses potential reasons for these non-significant findings and implications for MFS implementation in preventive, group-based interventions in school settings.

Pneumonia diagnosis performance in the emergency department: a mixed-methods study about clinicians' experiences and exploration of individual differences and response to diagnostic performance feedback.

We sought to (1) characterize the process of diagnosing pneumonia in an emergency department (ED) and (2) examine clinician reactions to a clinician-facing diagnostic discordance feedback tool. We designed a diagnostic feedback tool, using electronic health record data from ED clinicians' patients to establish concordance or discordance between ED diagnosis, radiology reports, and hospital discharge diagnosis for pneumonia. We conducted semistructured interviews with 11 ED clinicians about pneumonia diagnosis and reactions to the feedback tool. We administered surveys measuring individual differences in mindset beliefs, comfort with feedback, and feedback tool usability. We qualitatively analyzed interview transcripts and descriptively analyzed survey data. Thematic results revealed: (1) the diagnostic process for pneumonia in the ED is characterized by diagnostic uncertainty and may be secondary to goals to treat and dispose the patient; (2) clinician diagnostic self-evaluation is a fragmented, inconsistent process of case review and follow-up that a feedback tool could fill; (3) the feedback tool was described favorably, with task and normative feedback harnessing clinician values of high-quality patient care and personal excellence; and (4) strong reactions to diagnostic feedback varied from implicit trust to profound skepticism about the validity of the concordance metric. Survey results suggested a relationship between clinicians' individual differences in learning and failure beliefs, feedback experience, and usability ratings. Clinicians value feedback on pneumonia diagnoses. Our results highlight the importance of feedback about diagnostic performance and suggest directions for considering individual differences in feedback tool design and implementation.

AiroTouch: enhancing telerobotic assembly through naturalistic haptic feedback of tool vibrations.

Teleoperation allows workers to safely control powerful construction machines; however, its primary reliance on visual feedback limits the operator's efficiency in situations with stiff contact or poor visibility, hindering its use for assembly of pre-fabricated building components. Reliable, economical, and easy-to-implement haptic feedback could fill this perception gap and facilitate the broader use of robots in construction and other application areas. Thus, we adapted widely available commercial audio equipment to create AiroTouch, a naturalistic haptic feedback system that measures the vibration experienced by each robot tool and enables the operator to feel a scaled version of this vibration in real time. Accurate haptic transmission was achieved by optimizing the positions of the system's off-the-shelf accelerometers and voice-coil actuators. A study was conducted to evaluate how adding this naturalistic type of vibrotactile feedback affects the operator during telerobotic assembly. Thirty participants used a bimanual dexterous teleoperation system (Intuitive da Vinci Si) to build a small rigid structure under three randomly ordered haptic feedback conditions: no vibrations, one-axis vibrations, and summed three-axis vibrations. The results show that users took advantage of both tested versions of the naturalistic haptic feedback after gaining some experience with the task, causing significantly lower vibrations and forces in the second trial. Subjective responses indicate that haptic feedback increased the realism of the interaction and reduced the perceived task duration, task difficulty, and fatigue. As hypothesized, higher haptic feedback gains were chosen by users with larger hands and for the smaller sensed vibrations in the one-axis condition. These results elucidate important details for effective implementation of naturalistic vibrotactile feedback and demonstrate that our accessible audio-based approach could enhance user performance and experience during telerobotic assembly in construction and other application domains.

Strategies to address recruitment to a randomised trial of surgical and non-surgical treatment for cancer: results from a complex recruitment intervention within the Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery 2 (MARS 2) study

ObjectivesRecruiting to randomised trials is often challenging particularly when the intervention arms are markedly different. The Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery 2 randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared standard chemotherapy with or...