Individual Logbooks Research Articles

The accuracy of self-report logbooks of adherence to prescribed home-based exercise in Parkinson’s disease

Purpose This study compared self-report logbooks of exercise performance to objective measures of performance to determine the accuracy of and patterns of misreporting in self-report logbooks in people with Parkinson’s disease. Materials and methods Fifteen participants from the intervention arm of a randomized control trial were prescribed a minimally supervised, 12-week, home-based upper limb exergame program (ACTRN 12614001048673). The exergame system provided an objective electronic measure of adherence for comparison with self-report logbooks. Results Logbooks showed excellent to good accuracy of overall reported adherence to prescribed sessions (Intraclass correlation (ICC) = 0.83) and games (ICC 0.71). Logbooks were also a good to fair representation of weekly adherence across participants for both sessions (ICC 0.66) and games (ICC 0.56). Individual participant ICCs ranged from minimal to perfect agreement between logbooks and electronic records (ICC sessions range: −0.02 to 1; games range: −0.24 to 0.99). The pattern of logbook reporting suggested some participants were biasing entries to match prescribed exercise. Conclusions Self-report logbooks may provide an accurate measure of overall adherence. However, the accuracy of individual logbooks was highly variable indicating caution is needed in using self-report measures to assess individual adherence in intervention studies and for clinical decision making. Clinical Trial Registration: Registered in Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.anzctr.org.au/): Registration number: ACTRN12614001048673. Implications for rehabilitation Adherence to prescribed unsupervised exercise is usually self-reported. Self-reported logbooks gave a good to excellent indication of exercise adherence overall when compared to electronically captured records for a group of participants with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. There were high levels of variability in the accuracy of individual logbooks with a tendency to record prescribed rather than actual exercise. Logbooks may be accurate to monitor group adherence, but caution is required when using them to assess an individual’s adherence to an exercise prescription.

Acute surgical experience of Australian general surgical trainees.

A principle of Australian general surgical training is exposure to a variety of operative and clinical experiences. These are potentially being impacted upon by expanding post-fellowship training positions, mandatory reduced working hours, and advances in non-operative care. This study aims to report the recent acute surgical experience of Australian general surgical trainees. A de-identified summary of general surgical trainee logbook data was obtained from General Surgeons Australia, over a 6-year period (2009-2014). Case volumes in operative and non-operative acute surgical cases were analysed, encompassing 5307 individual logbooks from 12 consecutive training terms. There was a mean of 112.2 ± 6.8 total major operative cases per trainee per term. There was an increase in case volumes reported from terms 1-8 (from 102.1 to 122.9), with the most recent reported volume being 117.8 cases per trainee in term 12. The total major operative primary operator rate increased from 35.5% in term 1 to 40.6% in term 8, with the most recent reported rate being 41.8% in term 12. Open and laparoscopic colorectal case volumes have remained stable. Operative trauma case volumes have increased. The acute surgical operative case experience of general surgical trainees has not declined. However, it should continue to be monitored in view of the changing scope of surgical practice.

Learning from Primary Health Care Centers in Nepal: reflective writings on experiential learning of third year Nepalese medical students.

BackgroundMedical education can play important role in cultivating the willingness among the medical students to work in underprivileged areas after their graduation. Experiential learning through early exposure to primary health care centers could help students better understand the opportunities and challenges of such settings. However, the information on the real experiences and reflections of medical students on the rural primary health care settings from low-income countries like Nepal are still limited. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the learning process of the medical students through their reflective writings based on Kolb’s theory of experiential learning.MethodsThe students wrote their experiences, observations and reflections on the experiential learning from the primary health care centers on individual logbook as part of their community posting assignments. We analyzed the data of 50 logbooks through content analysis using Kolb’s experiential learning cycle as a theoretical framework.ResultsThe students’ reflections are structured around the four main learning stages of Kolb’s experiential learning theory. Each learning stage consisted of different categories. The first stage consisted of concrete experiences on rural health and learning by doing. The second stage included their reflective observations on primary versus tertiary care, application of theoretical knowledge and role of supervisors. In the third stage, the students developed and refined their concepts on self-development, understanding reality, compassion and sense of responsibility. The final stage, active experimentation, included their immediate future plans, suggestions to improve curriculum, plans after becoming a doctor and suggestions to improve policies.ConclusionThis study provided important insights on different stages of experiential learning of medical students on primary health care in low resource rural settings. Reflective writing of experiential learning could be an important step to address the gaps in medical education for resource constraint settings like that of Nepal and other low-income countries.

Du carnet d’apprentissage individuel aux outils du Web 2

Dans cet article, nous nous appuyons sur les réflexions concernant l’évolution sociale du concept d’autonomie (Little 2012 ; Lewis 2013) pour étudier les effets sociaux d’une expérimentation pédagogique exploitant un outil du Web 2 (Grosbois 2012), le blogue, pour le soutien au développement des compétences métacognitives dans un dispositif d’autoformation accompagnée pour l’apprentissage de l’italien à destination d’un public de spécialistes d’autres disciplines (LANSAD). Nous étudions les interactions dans le blogue à l’aide de la grille d’analyse de Garrison et Anderson (2003) pour l’étude de la présence sociale en ligne. De plus, nous cherchons d’éventuelles traces d’un enrichissement du répertoire des stratégies d’apprentissage, ce qui représente un des éléments du développement de l’autonomie de l’apprenant (Ismail & Bailly 2011). À partir des résultats de notre analyse, nous élaborons une réflexion autour des ressources et des médiations pouvant favoriser la métacognition dans les centres de langues.

Tracing possible drivers of synchronously fluctuating species catches in individual logbook data

Abstract Recreational fisheries statistics can provide valuable information on the dynamics of fish stocks and their exploitation. For some reservoirs in the Czech Republic, there are conspicuous synchronous fluctuations in catches of different species that might be caused by fishing skills and strategies. This study describes a method that could detect signatures of such phenomena in individual logbooks. It classifies anglers by species reported during 1 year and compares the resulting angler groups by group size, fishing effort, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and annual catch. The method is illustrated by data from one reservoir, showing that the number of generalist anglers who caught several species was higher than expected. Generalists also had higher catches and effort but lower CPUE than specialists who caught only one of the species. The results indicate that generalist anglers with a low degree of specialisation and high effort could contribute to long‐term correlations in species catches.

Older Adults' Perceived Changes in Physical Self-Worth Associated With Resistance Training

Using Sonstroem, Harlow, and Josephs' (1994) expanded version of the Exercise and Self-Esteem Model (EXSEM; Sonstroem & Morgan, 1989), we explored how 9 older adults (6 women and 3 men, aged 65–72 years) involved in a resistance training program experienced and perceived changes in physical self-worth (i.e., improved strength, functional competency, physical condition, and body satisfaction). We conducted three in-depth interviews with each participant over the course of the program. In individual log books, participants recorded the weight lifted and the number of repetitions for each exercise. Our findings showed the course of changes in physical self-perceptions in these older adults and how actual individual changes in strength performance related to perceived changes in important psychological outcomes.

Is the data quality of current theatre information systems satisfactory to monitor individual surgeons' activity? : postgraduate training

Objective : To compare data collection in two theatre log systems to assess usefulness for monitoring an individual surgeon's activity. Design : A retrospective study of a handwritten theatre logbook and a computerised data collection system (Galaxy). Setting : Gynaecology theatres in a district general hospital in the UK. Sample : All abdominal hysterectomies over a consecutive 12-month period. Results : 299 abdominal hysterectomies were recorded in the handwritten log and 298 were recorded on the Galaxy system. Four cases were identified in the handwritten log that did not appear in the Galaxy system, and 3 cases appeared in the Galaxy system that did not appear in the handwritten log. In 2 cases there was a major discrepancy between recordings of the operation undertaken. In 47 cases (16%) a different primary surgeon was recorded. Conclusion : Retrospective collection of cases from both the computerised theatre log and the handwritten log have multiple inaccuracies limiting their usefulness to monitor an individual surgeon's activity as an individual logbook. South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol. 12(1) 2006: 36-37

Comparison of logbook reports of incidental blue shark catch rates by Hawaii-based longline vessels to fishery observer data by application of a generalized additive model

A generalized additive model (GAM) of blue shark, Prionace glauca, catch rates (catch per set) was fitted to data gathered by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observers stationed aboard Hawaii-based commercial longline vessels ( N=2010 longline sets) from March 1994 to December 1997. Its coefficients were then applied to the values of predictor variables, which were also contained in logbook records that described the remainder of fishery-wide effort during the study period ( N=41 319 longline sets). The objective was to determine whether predictions generated by such a GAM could serve in lieu of observers on the large fraction of longline trips that do not carry an observer (approximately 95%). After deleting data considered false or inaccurate, much of which was associated with a small number of vessels, the relationship between catch rates as reported in logbooks and GAM predictions was expressed by log e (Y+1)=0.7952 log e (X+1)−0.0586 where Y is the catch rate (i.e., the number of blue shark caught per set) and X the GAM predictions (R 2=0.307, N=40 243) . Patterns of correspondence between logbook trends and GAM predictions were further refined by plotting the trends according to the type of fishing effort (e.g., tuna- or swordfish-directed). The highest mean catch rates reported in logbooks, the highest mean GAM predictions, and the greatest differences between the two occurred consistently in mid-year on swordfish trips. In contrast, mean values from logbooks and mean GAM predictions were closest for tuna-directed effort, but this reflected an order of magnitude reduction in the scale of catch rates rather than closely similar trends. A bootstrapping algorithm developed for the GAM yielded an estimate of 23.9% under-reporting for the study period, with approximate 95% prediction limits of 15.4–28.9%. We conclude that prediction with a GAM fitted to fishery observer data is a useful monitoring technique for the Hawaii-based commercial longline fishery. It allowed us: to gain insight into fleet-wide and individual logbook reporting practices, to estimate the relationship between logbook data and predicted values, to characterize bias in this relationship, and to identify patterns specific to each major sector of the fishery.

A detailed analysis of theatre training activity in a UK teaching hospital

We examined the placement of anaesthetists in our department over a 2 yr period. Data were collected from an in-theatre system to provide details of caseload and supervision for 34,856 operations. There was wide variation between anaesthetic sub-specialties with overall supervision levels of 35% of cases for senior house officers (SHOs) and 32% for specialist registrars (SpRs). The consultant data showed the size and areas of teaching reserve in the department. We then examined individual logbooks in order to validate our data, and departmental rotas to put these data into perspective with previous attempts to quantify trainee supervision. Supervision data derived from the rota allocations showed that 86% of SHO lists and 62% of SpR lists were scheduled to be supervised. This study has described our training activity and facilitated departmental changes, as well as highlighting the need for great care in interpreting trainee supervision data acquired from different sources, particularly when comparisons are being made.

A learning resources centre: its utilization by medical students.

Innovations in medical education have led to the increasing use of problem-based learning techniques, a committee system organization, and more time for independent study in many undergraduate programmes. There has been an increase in availability of alternative methods for presentation of information. To encourage self-directed learning, resources such as computers, videos and models, among others, should be readily available to students. The University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine has provided various resources contained in one area, called the Bacs Learning Resource Centre (BLRC). Since the maintenance and further development of such a centre requires significant resources, it is important to determine student utilization of the various components used in their learning. For those who are about to set up such a learning resource centre this information gives guidance on which materials are most useful. The utilization of the centre by 69 first year medical students was studied using questionnaires. The utilization during a specific course was determined by analysing the entries in the individual log books given to the students at the beginning of the Integrative Course. With the exception of one student, all those who responded to the questionnaire used the Centre, with 20% or less of their total study time being spent there. The BLRC was most used for the Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular and Reticulo-Endothelial courses. All categories of resources were found to be useful, with the tape/slides least utilized. Utilization was most influenced by the quality of resources available and recommendations by peers. The development of a centre such as the BLRC, with a variety of resources concentrated in one area, suitable for individual or group study and accessible 24 hours a day, should be considered by all medical schools to enhance self-directed learning in medical students.