Institutional-level Data Research Articles

The impact of attending a more selective college on future income

There have been many debates regarding legacy preferences, recruited athletes, and affirmative action in the U.S. college admission system. These issues hinge upon the premise that being accepted into a more selective institution would result in higher future earnings for graduates. We hypothesized that graduating from a more selective college could increase a student’s future earnings by providing students with more learning resources, connections, and opportunities. If this is the case, then we expected there to be a significant positive correlation between college selectivity and future earnings even after accounting for selection bias, as more selective schools tend to admit students who already demonstrate characteristics correlated with future success. We used weighted linear regressions to determine if college selectivity is a significant indicator of future income based on institutional level data from students entering college in 2001. Before controlling for measurable student characteristics before enrollment, attending a more selective college appeared to have a significant positive effect on future income. However, when we adjusted for measurable student characteristics such as SAT scores, race, gender, major choice, and parental income, the selectivity of the college attended became statistically insignificant. Thus, attending a selective school may not have a significant effect on the median predicted income of students, meaning that programs influencing college admissions, like affirmative action, may not have significant effects of future incomes.

Feasibility of monitoring Global Breast Cancer Initiative Framework key performance indicators in 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance member countries

The Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) Framework, launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023, emphasises assessing, strengthening, and scaling up services for the early detection and management of breast cancer. This study aims to determine the feasibility of monitoring the status of breast cancer control in the 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) countries based on the three GBCI Framework key performance indicators (KPIs): stage at diagnosis, time to diagnosis, and treatment completion. We reviewed published literature on breast cancer control among 21 ANCCA countries from May to July 2023 to establish data availability and compiled the latest descriptive statistics and sources of the indicators using a standardised data collection form. We performed bivariate Pearson's correlation analysis to measure the strength of correlation between stage at diagnosis, mortality and survival rates, and universal health coverage. Only 12 (57%) ANCCA member countries published national cancer registry reports on breast cancer age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR). Indonesia, Myanmar, and Nepal had provincial data and others relied on WHO's Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) estimates. GLOBOCAN data differed from the reported national statistics by 5-10% in Bhutan, Indonesia, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand and >10% in China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka. The proportion of patients diagnosed in stages I and II strongly correlated with the five-year survival rate and with the universal health coverage (UHC) index. Three countries (14%) reported national data with >60% of invasive breast cancer patients diagnosed at stages I and II, and a five-year survival rate of >80%. Over 60% of the ANCCA countries had no published national data on breast cancer staging, the time interval from presentation to diagnosis, and diagnosis to treatment. Five (24%) countries reported data on treatment completion. The definition of delayed diagnosis and treatment completion varied across countries. GBCI's Pillar 1 KPI correlates strongly with five-year survival rate and with the UHC index. Most ANCCA countries lacked national data on cancer staging, timely diagnosis, and treatment completion KPIs. While institutional-level data were available in some countries, they may not represent the nationwide status. Strengthening cancer surveillance is crucial for effective breast cancer control. The GBCI Framework indicators warrant more detailed definitions for standardised data collection. Surrogate indicators which are measurable and manageable in country-specific settings, could be considered for monitoring GBCI indicators. Ensuring UHC and addressing health inequalities are essential to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Funding for this research article's processing fee (APC) will be provided by the affiliated institution to support the open-access publication of this work. The funding body is not involved in the study design; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of data; or the decision to submit for publication. The funding body will be informed of any planned publications, and documentation provided.

Characterizing the most Popular Tinnitus Inquiries: Is Tinnitus Incidence on the Rise Since COVID-19?

Approximately 50 million US adults experience chronic tinnitus, yet search behaviors and topics of concern to these patients have not been investigated on a national level. Observational. Online database and tertiary otology clinic. Nationwide and institutional samples. None. A search engine optimization tool was utilized to extract metadata on "People Also Ask" (PAA) questions pertaining to tinnitus. Website quality was assessed using JAMA benchmark criteria. Search volume trends were investigated along with institutional-level data on tinnitus incidence. Of the 500 PAA questions assessed, the majority (54.0%) contained value-type content. The most popular question categories pertained to tinnitus treatment (29.3%), alternative treatment approaches (21.5%), technical details (16.9%), and timeline of symptoms (13.4%). Patients were most interested in treatment with wearable masking devices and most commonly searched for tinnitus as being attributable to a neurologic etiology. Online searches pertaining to unilateral tinnitus symptoms have increased >3-fold since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, review of patient encounters at our tertiary otology clinic revealed a nearly 2-fold increase in tinnitus consultations since 2020. Topics of interest and concern identified herein may inform the development of patient education materials and help guide clinical practice. Online search data suggest an increase in tinnitus searches since the onset of COVID-19, which did correlate clinically with an increase in tinnitus consultations at our institution.

The Route to Graduation: An Exploration of the Association Between Transit Stop Proximity and Pell Recipient Completion Rates at US Commuter Colleges

This study explores the association between having a transit stop within walking distance of campus and Pell Grant recipient completion rates at US commuter institutions, using a novel dataset on transit stop locations and institutional level data. The findings indicate that there is a positive association between transit access and Pell completion rates at commuter colleges in urban environments, but not in non-urban environments, which aligns with theoretical expectations. This study is intended to bring the issue of transit access into the academic student retention conversation, future research is needed to explore the nature of this relationship in greater depth.

Introducing a novel "real-time" outbreak alert and notification system to monitor SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and case fatality in elderly care facilities, the Netherlands, 2020-2022.

Surveillance systems collating individual-level data may limit timely information sharing during rapidly evolving, infectious disease outbreaks. We present a digital outbreak alert and notification system (MUIZ) in which institutional-level data are reported, allowing real-time outbreak monitoring in elderly care facilities (ECF). We describe trends in the number of outbreaks, mean case number per outbreak, and case-fatality rate (deaths/recovered + deaths) of SARS-CoV-2 in ECF notified through MUIZ in the Rotterdam area (April 2020-March 2022). Overall, 369 outbreaks were reported from 128 ECF that registered with MUIZ (approximately 85% of all ECF), and 114 (89%) notified at least one SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Trends were consistent with the concurrent national epidemiology and societal control measures in place. MUIZ is a simple outbreak surveillance tool that was highly adopted and acceptable to users. Dutch PHS regions are increasingly adopting the system and it has potential for adaptation and further development in similar institutional outbreak settings.

#30: Patterns of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Varicella-Zoster Virus in Pediatric Patients

Abstract Background Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is still a significant threat for severe illness for patients in high-risk groups. These patients are candidates for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), but among adult providers there is significant variation on what agents are used for PEP. There are little data on PEP practices among pediatric providers. Objective We sought to define patterns of PEP for VZV exposure across children’s hospitals. Methods Using the Pediatric Health Information Systems database, we analyzed claims data for the relevant ICD-9/10 codes for VZV exposure from 2009 to 2018. We evaluated patients for subsequent VZV disease, and we also evaluated how frequently PEP was given, how many days after the exposure or admission, and what agent was used for PEP. We analyzed annual data and institutional-level data over the study period and looked for trends over time. We performed Kruskal–Willis testing when comparing more than two independent samples of equal or different sample sizes. Results Over the 10 years, we identified 1726 children with VZV exposure, 1622 of them with only one exposure. Of these 1662 children, 683 (42.1%) were prescribed some form of PEP after VZV exposure, while 75 (4.6%) ultimately developed some form of symptomatic VZV. Among the agents used for VZV PEP, acyclovir along was the most frequently used overall, but its use declined over time (45% in 2009 to 30% in 2018). Immunoglobulin was the second most used option (26–43%), while a consistent percentage (4–19%) of children also received the combination of acyclovir and IG. Varicella-specific immune globulin (VariZIG) was used sparingly before 2013, but its use was more frequent from 2015 to 2018 (23–27%). Most children receiving VZV PEP had some form of malignancy, with various newborn populations comprising most of the rest of PEP recipients. Efficacy in preventing VZV was significantly different: 27/218 (12.4%) of children with acyclovir PEP ultimately had a VZV-diagnosis code, compared with 1/148 (0.7%) and 1/112 (0.9%) treated, respectively, with either IG or VariZIG (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Increasing use of VariZIG likely corresponded to widespread US availability after a long market absence. Nonetheless, the management of VZV PEP in children with high-risk conditions varied considerably across institutions. As the CDC and AAP Red Book list VariZIG as the primary option for PEP, there is considerable room to optimize PEP practice and reduce breakthrough VZV infections.

Determinants of nursing home choice: Does reported quality matter?

Quality report cards addressing information asymmetry in the health care market have become a popular strategy used by policymakers to improve the quality of care for older people. Using individual level data from the largest German sickness fund merged with institutional level data, we examine the relationship between reported nursing home quality, as measured by recently introduced report cards, nursing home prices, nursing home's location, and the individual choice of nursing homes. Report cards were stepwise introduced as of 2009, and we use a sample of 2010 that includes both homes that had been evaluated at that time and that had not yet been. Thus, we can distinguish between institutions with above and below average ratings as well as nonrated nursing homes. We find that the probability of choosing a nursing home decreases in distance and price. However, we find no economically significant effect of reported quality on individuals' choice of nursing homes.

Making graduation matter: initial evidence and implications for policy and research

ABSTRACT This study employs a quantitative method to understand the qualities of college experience that impact timely degree attainment. We specifically focus on how low socio-economic background students transition to and navigate the academic and social environment of a selective pubic research university. The study applies a longitudinal analysis to the institutional-level data from academic years 2006–2007 through 2012–2013 to examine college experiences germane to timely degree completion and level of academic performance. By focusing on student academic and social experiences transitioning into college, the study critically examines institutional policies and practices that influence degree attainment and the quality of further education outcomes. Implications of the results for institutional policies and practices are discussed.

OPREVENT (Obesity Prevention and Evaluation of InterVention Effectiveness in NaTive North Americans): Design of a Multilevel, Multicomponent Obesity Intervention for Native American Adults and Households

ABSTRACTObesity prevalence is high in Native American (NA) adults, and there is a critical need to establish and implement evidence-based social, behavioral, and policy interventions that are theoretically informed. The use of multilevel, multicomponent (MLMC) interventions has been shown to be an effective strategy for comprehensive health behavior change; however, there is little guidance available in the literature to facilitate implementation in this underserved and understudied population. To decrease obesity and related comorbidities in NA adults, an MLMC intervention called OPREVENT (Obesity Prevention and Evaluation of InterVention Effectiveness in NaTive North Americans) was implemented in 5 rural NA communities to modify the food-purchasing environment, improve diet, and increase physical activity (PA). Five NA communities across the Upper Midwest and Southwest United States were randomly assigned to Immediate (n = 3) or Delayed (n = 2) Intervention. OPREVENT was implemented in Immediate Intervention community food stores, worksites, schools, and media over 1 y. A community-randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate intervention impact in adults at the individual and institutional levels, with individual-level data being collected on diet, PA, and psychosocial variables at baseline and follow-up; and institutional-level data being collected on food stores, worksites, and schools, media, and process measures. The OPREVENT intervention was one of the first MLMC obesity interventions in this population and provides evidence-based practices for future program development. The purpose of this article is to describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of OPREVENT.This trial was registered at isrctn.com as ISRCTN76144389.

Business process reengineering in developing economies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between organizational adaptability, institutional leadership and business process reengineering performance using the tested complexity theory in a developing economy setting. Design/methodology/approach This study is correlation and cross-sectional and adopts institutional-level data collected via questionnaires from reengineered microfinance institutions in Uganda. Cluster analysis as data mining technique was used to classify cases based on respondents’ opinions into homogeneous clusters. Nvivo was used to understand the perceptions of business process reengineering performance based on qualitative data. The authors used structural equation modeling to derive the predictive model of business process reengineering performance in a developing world setting. Findings The authors find that organizational adaptability and institutional leadership are key predictors of business process reengineering performance. Results reveal a predictive model of 61 per cent based on structural equation modeling for the study variables. Cluster analysis as data mining approach explored complex patterns of reengineered business processes. Research limitations/implications The use of cluster analysis is susceptible to problems associated with sampling error and absence of fit indices. However, the likelihood of these problems is reduced by the interaction with the data, practical implications and use of smart partial least square to generate structural equations based on derived measurement models of each study variable. Practical implications Policymakers of Bank of Uganda, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, should develop sound policies in relation to knowledge management, institutional leadership and adaptive mechanisms to enhance business process reengineering performance to take advantage of new knowledge opportunities for the improvement of their businesses. Social implications Given the results from structural equations generated, managers need to consider institutional leadership and organizational adaptability as key drivers of business process reengineering performance in microfinance institutions. The results confirm the significant role of institutional leadership, organizational adaptability in determining business process reengineering performance outcomes. Originality/value Unlike most of the business process reengineering literature, this study contributes to literature by domesticating and testing complexity theory to explain business process reengineering performance in developing economies.

Online course enrolment and tuition: empirical evidence from public colleges in Georgia, USA

In the USA, higher education has witnessed substantial increases in tuition levels and online course offerings. In an effort to estimate the demand for online courses, this study collected institutional-level enrolment data during four academic years (2010-2011 through 2013-2014) from 22 colleges within the University System of Georgia (USG). The results indicate that: 1) the demand for online courses is price-elastic (a 10% increase in online tuition rates reduces online credit hours by 15-18% when the effect of traditional course tuition rate is not controlled, and by 30-36% when this effect is controlled); 2) online credit hours increase 1.0 to 1.3 times more than overall student enrolment; 3) online courses and traditional courses are shown to be substitutes, rather than complements.

Using Google Scholar institutional level data to evaluate the quality of university research

In recent years, the extent of formal research evaluation, at all levels from the individual to the multiversity has increased dramatically. At the institutional level, there are world university rankings based on an ad hoc combination of different indicators. There are also national exercises, such as those in the UK and Australia that evaluate research outputs and environment through peer review panels. These are extremely costly and time consuming. This paper evaluates the possibility of using Google Scholar (GS) institutional level data to evaluate university research in a relatively automatic way. Several citation-based metrics are collected from GS for all 130 UK universities. These are used to evaluate performance and produce university rankings which are then compared with various rankings based on the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF). The rankings are shown to be credible and to avoid some of the obvious problems of the REF ranking, as well as being highly efficient and cost effective. We also investigate the possibility of normalizing the results for the university subject mix since science subjects generally produce significantly more citations than social science or humanities.

Sexual violence screening practices of student health centers located on universities in Florida

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe current sexual violence screening practices of student health centers located on universities in Florida. Participants: Institutional level data was collected from 33 student health centers from November 2015 through January 2016. The student health centers were located on public or private universities. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Data was collected from student health center representatives through use of a telephone administered survey. Results: Findings reveal that the majority of student health centers screen for sexual violence. However, not all use effective screening strategies. Further, the majority of screening questions used are not specific to sexual violence. Conclusions: Findings can be used to assist universities with responding to campus sexual violence among the college population. Recommendations for strengthening sexual violence screening practices and future research are provided.

Addressing gender in agricultural research for development in the face of a changing climate: where are we and where should we be going?

ABSTRACTAgricultural development efforts that do not address persistent gender gaps miss opportunities for greater impact. This synthesis reflects on key findings from integrated quantitative and qualitative analyses at the nexus of gender, agricultural development, and climate change. Linked farm household-, intrahousehold-, community-, and institutional-level data highlight significant and nuanced gender differences in adaptive capacity of individuals and communities to respond to climate change. The gender gap is also substantial in exposure to climate change and its impacts, and uptake of new practices that lower vulnerability. Women in agriculture will remain largely neglected by information and service providers unless their differing needs, access to, and control over resources are considered at policy and project design stage. Yet clear guidelines for addressing the needs of both men and women in different environments and agricultural systems are still lacking. Participatory ‘action research’ approaches with a focus on co-learning, and using innovative cell phone or social media-based approaches offer exciting new opportunities. Agricultural development decision-makers and project designers need to ‘design with gender in mind’. Equipping them with tools and knowledge of innovative gender-transformative practices and intervention options and creating accountability for serving women and men will be key.

Student Engagement and Student Learning: Examining the Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Revised National Survey of Student Engagement

The present study examined the relationships between student engagement, represented by two versions of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and self-reported gains in learning. The study drew on institutional-level data from participating institutions in 2011 and 2013. The objective of the research was to compare evidence of convergence and discrimination for the two versions of NSSE using canonical correlation analysis. Results indicated that both versions of NSSE provided clear evidence of convergence in that student engagement measures were significantly and positively related to perceived gains in learning. However, only the most recent version of NSSE provided strong evidence of discrimination (i.e., differential relationships between engagement measures and self-reported learning outcomes). Thus, the revised NSSE appears to offer substantial advantages for institutions interested in more nuanced understandings of the relationships between student engagement and perceived learning outcomes. Implications for educators, with goals of enhancing student learning, and for researchers, who often compare complex sets of data, are included.

Staff perceptions of change resulting from participation in a European cancer accreditation programme: a snapshot from eight cancer centres.

BackgroundHealthcare accreditation is considered to be an essential quality improvement tool. However, its effectiveness has been critiqued.MethodsTwenty-four interviews were conducted with clinicians (five), nurses (six), managers (eight), and basic/translational researchers (five) from eight European cancer centres on changes observed from participating in a European cancer accreditation programme. Data were thematically analysed and verified with participants and checked against auditor’s feedback.ResultsFour change categories emerged: (i) the growing importance of the nursing and supportive care field (role change). Nurses gained more autonomy/clarity on their daily duties. Importance was given to the hiring and training of supportive care personnel (ii) critical thinking on data integration (strategic change). Managers gained insight on how to integrate institutional level data (iii) improved processes within multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (procedural change). Clinical staff experienced improved communication between MDTs (iv) building trust (organisational change). Accreditation improved the centre’s credibility with its own staff and externally with funders and patients. No motivational changes were perceived. Researchers perceived no changes. The auditor’s feedback included changes in 13 areas: translational research, biobanks, clinical trials, patient privacy and satisfaction, cancer registries, clinical practice guidelines, patient education, screening, primary prevention, role of nurses, MDT, supportive care, and data integration. However, our study revealed that staff perceived changes only in the last four areas.ConclusionStaff perceived changes in data integration, nursing and supportive care, and in certain clinical aspects. Accreditation programmes must pay attention to the needs of different stakeholder groups, track changes, and observe how/why change happens.

The Relationship Between the Employment of Part-Time Faculty and Student Degree and/or Certificate Completion in Two-Year Community Colleges

Prior research studies associated the employment of part-time faculty with student degree and/or certificate completion (Benjamin, 2002; Ehrenberg & Zhang, 2005; Jacoby, 2006; Leslie & Gappa, 2002; Umbach, 2008; Umbach & Wawrzynski, 2005). To date, institutional-level data have been utilized to investigate whether such employment adversely associated with student degree and/or certificate completion in two-year community colleges. Little research, however, has been conducted to study such association utilizing both student and institutional-level data (e.g., Eagan & Jaeger, 2009; Jacoby, 2006). In this study, we draw data from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS: 04/09), and employ a multilevel logistic regression model to investigate whether the proportion of part-time faculty is negatively associated with individual student’s likelihood of degree and/or certificate completion. Analytical results indicate the proportion of part-time faculty in community colleges is not negatively associated with student’s likelihood of degree and/ or certificate completion.

Do Elderly Choose Nursing Homes by Quality, Price or Location?

Quality report cards addressing information asymmetry in the health care market have become a popular strategy used by policymakers to improve the quality of care for elderly. Using individual level data from the largest German sickness fund merged with institutional level data, we examine the relationship between nursing home quality, as measured by recently introduced report cards, nursing home prices, nursing home’s location and the individual choice of nursing homes. Report cards were stepwise introduced as of 2009 and we use a sample of 2010 that includes both homes that had been evaluated at that time and that had not yet been. Thus, we can distinguish between institutions with good and bad ratings as well as non-rated nursing homes. We find that the probability of choosing a nursing home decreases in distance and price. However, we find no significant effect of reported quality on individuals’ choice of nursing homes.

Open Data in the Governance of South African Higher Education

The availability and accessibility of open data has the potential to increase transparency and accountability and, in turn, the potential to improve the governance of universities as public institutions. In addition, it is suggested that open data is likely to increase the quality, efficacy and efficiency of research and analysis of the national higher education system by providing a shared empirical base for critical interrogation and reinterpretation. The Centre for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) has developed an online, open data platform providing institutional-level data on South African higher education. However, other than anecdotal feedback, little is known about how the data is being used. Using CHET as a case study, this project studied the use of the CHET open data initiative by university planners as well as by higher education studies researchers. It did so by considering the supply of and demand for open data as well as the roles of intermediaries in the South African higher education governance ecosystem. The study found that (i) CHET’s open data is being used by university planners and higher education studies researchers, albeit infrequently; (ii) the government’s higher education database is a closed and isolated data source in the data ecosystem; (iii) there are concerns at both government and university levels about how data will be used and (mis)interpreted; (iv) open data intermediaries increase the accessibility and utility of data; (v) open data intermediaries provide both supply-side as well as demand-side value; (vi) intermediaries may assume the role of a ‘keystone species’ in a data ecosystem; (vii) intermediaries have the potential to democratise the impacts and use of open data – intermediaries play an important role in curtailing the ‘de-ameliorating’ effects of data-driven disciplinary surveillance. The paper concludes as follows: (i) despite poor data provision by government, the public university governance open data ecosystem has evolved because of the presence of intermediaries in the ecosystem; (ii) by providing a richer information context and/or by making the data interoperable, government could improve the uptake of data by new users and intermediaries, as well as by the existing intermediaries; and (iii) increasing the fluidity of government open data could remove uncertainties around both the degree of access provided by intermediaries and the financial sustainability of the open platforms provided by intermediaries.

A cross-sectional study of emergency department boarding practices in the United States.

The median emergency department (ED) boarding time for admitted patients has been a nationally reportable core measure that now also affects ED accreditation and reimbursement. However, no direct national probability samples of ED boarding data have been available to guide this policy until now. The authors studied new National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) survey items to establish baseline values, to generate hypotheses for future research, and to help improve survey quality in the future. This was a cross-sectional, multistage, stratified annual analysis of EDs and ED visits from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey public use files from 2007 to 2010, a total of 139,502 visit records. These data represent the only national measure of ED boarding. The main outcome of interest was boarding duration for individual patient visits. Data analyses accounted for complex sampling design. The national median boarding time was 79 minutes, with an interquartile range of 36 to 145 minutes. The prevalence of boarding for more than 2 hours among admitted patients was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 30% to 35%). Average ED volume, occupancy, acuity, and hospital admission rates increased abruptly from the second to the third quartile of median boarding duration. The half of hospitals with the longest median boarding times accounted for 73% of ED visits and 79% of ED hospitalizations nationally. Thirty-nine percent of EDs (95% CI = 32% to 46%) reported never holding patients for more than 2 hours, but visit-level analysis at these EDs found that 21% of admissions did in fact stay in the ED over 2 hours. Only 19% of EDs (95% CI = 16% to 22%) used a strategy of moving admitted patients to alternative sites in the hospital during crowded times. In this national survey, ED boarding of admitted patients disproportionately affects hospitals with higher ED volumes, which also see sicker patients who wait longer to be seen, but not hospitals with higher proportions of Medicaid or uninsured visits. This finding implies that, unlike other quality measures, there is a negative volume-outcome relationship for timely hospitalization from the ED.