Objective Instrument Research Articles

Suitability of Social Services for the Older Persons: Analysis of Degree of Fit between Needs and Services

ABSTRACT Increased life expectancy coupled with decreased birth rates has led to a notable aging of the population. In the social care sector, resources for the older persons should be allocated by means of objective instruments that ensure an appropriate fit between older people’s needs and the characteristics of the services. This paper analyzes the appropriacy of actual assignments of resources in a sample of 632 older users of social services, evaluating the degree of fit between these assignments and those made by a Decision Making Model (DMM) which is strictly based on an objective assessment of user’s needs and characteristics. The results indicate that biopsychosocial variables included as predictors in the DMM are appropriate for ensuring that the needs of the older persons are met and resources are optimized. However, the current assignments of users to services cannot be explained by relying solely on these variables, suggesting that the allocation of users to services may be conditioned by factors that are different from those covered by the DMM.

Is the Pelvis-Thorax Coordination a Valuable Outcome Instrument to Assess Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis?

Objective: The evaluation of the disease severity in hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients being currently based on subjective instruments. It would be of interest to develop more objective instruments, for example based on gait analysis. The aims of this study were to explore if pelvis-thorax coordination parameters could be valuable instrument outcomes to achieve this evaluation by assessing their reliability, discriminant capacity and responsiveness.Methods: Three groups of subjects; healthy, hip OA patients with severe disease (defined as indication to surgery), hip OA patients with less severe disease (no indication to surgery) were included. Hip OA patients with severe disease were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery. Subjects had to perform a gait analysis at comfortable speed, and pelvis-thorax coordination was evaluated. The correlations with clinical and structural parameters, as well as reliability, discriminant capacities and responsiveness, were assessed.Results: The pelvis-thorax coordination in the coronal plane during walking was correlated to clinical and to structural severity in hip OA patients (R2 = 0.13). The coronal plane coordination allowed to discriminate healthy subjects from all hip OA patients (sensibility = 0.86; specificity = 0.59). Moreover, when comparing OA patients only, coronal plane coordination allows to discriminate patients with indication of surgery from those with no indication of surgery (sensibility = 0.72; specificity = 0.72). Moreover, the pelvis-thorax coordination demonstrated an excellent reliability and a good responsiveness.Conclusion: Changes in the pelvis-thorax coordination might refer to different mechanisms, from analgesia to motor control plasticity, and might be a possible explanation for the weak correlation between structure and symptoms in hip OA patients. Moreover, such parameter might be used as an objective outcome in hip OA clinical trials.Clinical Trials Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02042586 and NCT01907503.

Comparisons of Subjective and Objective Measures of Free-Living Daily Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in College Students

To compare physical activity and sedentary behavior between four commonly used subjective and objective measures: the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (7DPAR), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), pedometer, and accelerometer. A total of 130 college students completed four measures for the same 7 days. Body composition was measured using a bioelectric impedance analyzer. Wilcoxon signed rank tests and Spearman correlations were performed to compare estimates between activity measures. The Spearman correlations between different activity measures were further examined separately for the higher and the lower body fat groups. Compared with accelerometer-derived data, both the 7DPAR and the IPAQ overestimated light physical activity (P < 0.001) while underestimated sedentary behavior (P < 0.001). Across comparisons, the highest correlation was found between accelerometers and pedometers on steps/day (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). The 7DPAR and the IPAQ were correlated with each other for all physical activity variables and sedentary behavior (r = 0.37–0.45). There were low correlations (r = 0.20–0.47) between the 7DPAR, the IPAQ, and accelerometers in sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and vigorous physical activity. Higher correlations between different activity modalities were observed among individuals with lower body fat (r = 0.41–0.80) than among those with higher body fat (r = 0.31–0.65). The 7DPAR and the IPAQ yielded comparable estimation of moderate physical activity relative to accelerometers. There were significant differences in sedentary time across activity measures. Body compositions should be considered when comparing the estimates of activity levels between subjective and objective instruments.

Correlates of sedentary behaviour in Asian adults: A systematic review

The objective of this study is to systematically review the evidence on correlates of sedentary behaviour (SB) among Asian adults. We searched for studies that examined individual, environmental, and political/cultural correlates of total and domain-specific SB (transport, occupation, leisure, and screen time) in Asian adults published from 2000 onwards in nine scientific databases. Two reviewers independently screened identified references. Following quality assessment of included studies, we performed narrative synthesis that considered differences based on SB measurements, regions, and population characteristics (PROSPERO: CRD42018095268). We identified 13 249 papers of which we included 49, from four regions and 12 countries. Researchers conducted cross-sectional analyses and most relied on SB self-report for SB measurement. Of the 118 correlates studied, the following associations were consistent: higher age, living in an urban area (East Asia), and lower mental health with higher total SB; higher education with higher total and occupational SB; higher income with higher leisure-time SB; higher transit density with higher total SB in older East Asians; and being an unmarried women with higher SB in the Middle East. We encourage more research in non-high-income countries across regions, further exploration of important but neglected correlates using longitudinal designs and qualitative research, and the use of objective instruments to collect SB data.

Acupoint Injection for Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.

Introduction Nonspecific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) became a public health and economic problem. Acupoint injection was used widely for patients with NCLBP. However, there were inconsistent results on the efficacy for these people. Therefore, this review was performed to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of acupoint injection. Materials and Methods The literature sources were collected via EMBASE, Medline, CENTRAL, CINAHL, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and Sino-Med Database from their inception to October 13, 2019. Endnote X7, widely used document management software, was used to manage and screen the literature sources. Each record was screened according to the predetermined inclusion criteria by two review authors independently. Quality assessment tool, “Risk of table,” was used to assess the quality of the included studies according to the recommendation of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data extraction was performed by one reviewer and verified by another reviewer. Any disagreement was addressed via consulting with a third reviewer in the abovementioned processes. All procedures were performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Results This review included 13 studies involving 1381 patients with NCLBP. Quantitative analysis results indicated that there is no sufficient evidence that acupoint injection can improve the pain of patients with low back pain based on two trails: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS: MD = −1.33, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) −3.30 to 0.64, P=0.18, random-effect model). When assessing the effectiveness of acupoint injection therapy, the results indicated that acupoint injection can improve the effective rate for nonspecific chronic low back pain (OR = 3.64, 95% CI 2.4 to 5.21, P < 0.0001, fixed-effect model). Conclusion There is insufficient evidence to indicate that acupoint injection therapy could improve the pain for patients with NCLBP. However, the level of evidence was downgraded to “very low quality” because of the poor methodological quality and clinical heterogeneity. The results should be interpreted with caution. Higher quality RCTs with more appropriate comparison, more objective outcome instruments, and adequate follow-up periods are necessary to assess the efficacy of acupoint injection for NCLBP. The PROSPERO Research registration identifying number is CRD42019119158.

Testing Self-Report Time-Use Diaries against Objective Instruments in Real Time

This study provides a new test of time-use diary methodology, comparing diaries with a pair of objective criterion measures: wearable cameras and accelerometers. A volunteer sample of respondents ( n = 148) completed conventional self-report paper time-use diaries using the standard UK Harmonised European Time Use Study (HETUS) instrument. On the diary day, respondents wore a camera that continuously recorded images of their activities during waking hours (approximately 1,500–2,000 images/day) and also an accelerometer that tracked their physical activity continuously throughout the 24-hour period covered by the diary. Of the initial 148 participants recruited, 131 returned usable diary and camera records, of whom 124 also provided a usable whole-day accelerometer record. The comparison of the diary data with the camera and accelerometer records strongly supports the use of diary methodology at both the aggregate (sample) and individual levels. It provides evidence that time-use data could be used to complement physical activity questionnaires for providing population-level estimates of physical activity. It also implies new opportunities for investigating techniques for calibrating metabolic equivalent of task (MET) attributions to daily activities using large-scale, population-representative time-use diary studies.

Sensitivity and specificity in methods for examination of the eye astigmatism.

We usually use objective and subjective methods for examination of the eye astigmatism in optometry, respectively ophthalmology. Objective methods enable to measure sphere-cylindrical refraction of the eye. If we want to prescribe new glasses or contact lenses we usually use subjective methods. The aim of this study was to measure sensitivity and specificity of some subjective and objective methods for examination of the eye astigmatism. We supposed that automatic objective refraction will be the most exact method so we choose this method as the reference method. For comparison we chose subjective methods Jackson crossed cylinders (JCC), fogging method (FM) and objective method Spot Vision Screener (SVS, WelschAllyn). We had in total 30 subjects with average age 23 years (SD 1 year) in our study. We made each measurement per eye separately and it was independent measurement so we could use measurement from each eye (n = 60). Each eye was firstly measured by subjective method FM, followed by JCC method and finally was use objective method Spot Vision Screener (SVS, WelschAllyn). Measurement with objective instrument TRK-1P (TOPCON) was use as reference measurement. The significance level was set at p = 0.05. In variable FM we measured sensitivity 76.2 % and specificity 66.7 %. Criterion for positive finding was -0.25 D. Result was statistically significant on level p &lt; 0.001. In variable JCC we measured sensitivity 95.2 % and specificity 66.7 %. Criterion for positive finding was -0.25 D. Result was statistically significant on level p &lt; 0.001. In variable SVS we measured sensitivity 47.6 % and specificity 94.4 %. Criterion for positive finding was -0.75 D. Result was statistically significant on level p &lt; 0.001. Direct comparison of all methods showed statistically important difference between techniques JCC and FM (p = 0.0095). In other method we did not find statistically important difference (FM vs. SVS, p = 0.526 and JCC vs. SVS, p = 0.105). All subjective and objective techniques were statistically significant in detection of eye astigmatism. Comparison of ROC curves showed statistically significant difference between FM and JCC technique. The JCC method showed the highest sensitivity, whereas SVS highest specificity.

Stress radiography in the diagnosis and assessment of the outcomes of surgical treatment of chronic anterolateral ankle instability.

In about 20-40% of patients, damage to the soft tissues surrounding the ankle leads to recurrent and chronic pain with signs of instability of the talus in the tibiofibular fork. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of stress X-ray images in the diagnosis of long-term outcomes of conservative versus surgical treatment of anterolateral ankle instability. Thirty patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 15 non-operatively treated individuals diagnosed with anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) damage. The second group consisted of 15 patients who had undergone surgical reconstruction of the ATFL. In both groups of patients, the contralateral normal limb was used as a control. In all patients, anteroposterior and lateral view stress radiographs of both ankles were taken using the TELOS Stress Device (GA - III/E, Hungen, Germany). Statistical tests showed that the surgically treated patients had a significantly greater ankle stability compared to the non-surgically treated patients (P = 0.001 for talar tilt angle and P = 0.009 for anterior drawer distance). The results obtained in this study indicate that this method can also be used in postoperative assessment of the function of the reconstructed lateral ankle ligaments. Stress radiography is a reliable and safe tool for diagnosing CAI. This imaging method is an objective instrument that can be successfully used in postoperative assessment of the function of the reconstructed ATFL.

An Empirical Formula to Classify the Quality of Earthquake Locations

Abstract Providing a quantitative estimate of earthquake location quality is not a simple task. Traditional methods, used in literature, are not exhaustive and depend on a subjective point of view, because they consist of empirical choice of quality thresholds of different estimators of location uncertainty. However, we notice that these estimators are correlated with one another, implying the need to combine them to obtain a numerical and impartial estimate of the quality of a seismic location. Therefore, we provide a formula that associates a quality factor (qf) value with a seismic location, which is based on the combination of a set of uncertainty estimators, suitably normalized. We apply the criterion to two different‐type and different‐scale earthquake catalogs, located by two different methods, obtaining encouraging results. The qf parameter definition is a fast, simple, and objective instrument to provide a user‐friendly classification of location quality. Thus, the qf could represent a powerful tool for routine monitoring location computation.

The Short Physical Performance Battery (ASSESSMENT)

The Short Physical Performance Battery (ASSESSMENT)

The experiential expertise of primary care midwives in the detection of gender violence during pregnancy. Qualitative study

AimTo use the reflections of primary care midwives to know the barriers and facilitators for detecting IPV during pregnancy. The second aim is to know proposals for measures to improve the detecting. MethodQualitative methodology with a interpretative phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve midwives, who work in the sexual and reproductive health care centers in Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). ResultsThe difficulties in detection are the system of visits, the situation of women and barriers of the professional such as fear. The follow-up in the control of pregnancy and the relationship of trust with the midwife stand out as facilitators. The proposals for improvement were to increase training and use safe and reliable health care procedures. ConclusionsThe complexity of IPV makes it likely that IPV during pregnancy is undetected. It would be desirable to implement actions such as expanding training and agreeing on an internal work circuit that includes objective instruments to detecting IPV, coordination with other services and the ethical and legally appropriate way of recording in the clinical record.

Oro-Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease and Related Movement Disorders.

Oro-pharyngeal dysphagia is a common symptom in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related disorders, even in their early stage of diseases. Dysphagia in these patients has been underdiagnosed, probably due to poor the self-awareness of the conditions and the underuse of validated tools and objective instruments for assessment. The early detection and intervention of dysphagia are closely related to improving the quality of life and decreasing the mortality rate in these patients. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the characteristics of dysphagia, including the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical symptomatology, in patients with PD compared with other parkinsonian disorders and movement disorders. The management of dysphagia and future research directions related to these disorders are also discussed.

Validação de um instrumento para avaliação clínica de pessoas com úlcera venosa

Objetivo: validar o conteúdo de um instrumento de coleta de dados para pacientes com úlcera venosa Método: Trata-se de um estudo metodológico, do tipo validação de conteúdo. Os itens do instrumento foram elucidados por meio da aplicação da Técnica Delphi. O processo de validação de conteúdo foi realizado por treze especialistas. Para análise dos dados foram aplicados a taxa de concordância e índice de validade de conteúdo ≥ 0,80. Resultados: As categorias julgadas pelos especialistas no processo de validação indicaram alta confiabilidade e concordância. A análise feita pelos juízes contribuiu na validação de um instrumento claro, objetivo e operacional na medida em que sugeriram mudanças e inserções de itens de avaliação. Conclusão: O instrumento mostrou evidências de validade de conteúdo contribuindo para a padronização da consulta de enfermagem das instituições de saúde que prestam assistência a pacientes com feridas crônicas.

An Analysis of Aesthetic Refinements in 120 Secondary Cleft Rhinoplasties.

Secondary cleft nose rhinoplasty remains a challenging procedure. Cartilage memory and scar contraction are problematic factors. The need for more detailed procedures for secondary reconstruction in this patient population has arisen. Contemporary refinements demonstrate a highly structured approach. We conducted a retrospective study evaluating the aesthetic results of cleft patients who underwent secondary rhinoplasty. In a retrospective study, a photometric analysis of cleft patients operated in the period 2003-2011 was conducted. Reconstructive methods were documented. Pre- and postoperative photographs of cleft rhinoplasty patients were evaluated using a standardized protocol. Nostril width ratio, columellar angle, tip projection ratio, and nasolabial angle served as objective instruments. The Unilateral Cleft Lip Surgical Outcomes Evaluation score was chosen for external photometric rating and rated blindly by 2 external individual plastic surgeons as independent nonbiased reviewers. The interrater and intrarater reliabilities were calculated using the Cohen kappa coefficient (κ). A total of 120 secondary rhinoplasties in 85 uni- and bilateral cleft patients could be included. Mean follow-up was 20 months. A total of 60 (71%) patients needed additional bone grafting (chin/pelvis), and 23 (27%) patients a LeFort I osteotomy. In one third of the secondary rhinoplasties, a medial and/or lateral osteotomy was performed (34%). In one fourth (24%), an external septoplasty was considered necessary. In 55% (47 patients) of the cases, a columellar strut was used. Excluding bone grafts, a total of 173 other grafts (mean of 2 grafts/patient) were applied. Postoperative measurements for nostril width ratio and columellar angle were statistically significant. A structured approach with contemporary refinements is described in detail. Intra- and interrater reliabilities for photometric assessment according to the Unilateral Cleft Lip Surgical Outcomes Evaluation score are shown. A structured approach for secondary cleft rhinoplasty yields satisfying, reproducible, and stable results.

The experiential expertise of primary care midwives in the detection of gender violence during pregnancy. Qualitative study.

To use the reflections of primary care midwives to find out the barriers and facilitators for detecting IPV during pregnancy. The second aim is to determine proposals for measures to improve detection of IPV. Qualitative methodology with a interpretative phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12midwives, working in the sexual and reproductive health care centres of Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). The difficulties in detection relate to the system of visits, the situation of women and barriers of practitioners themselves, such as fear. Follow-up of pregnancy and the relationship of trust with the midwife stand out as facilitators. The proposals for improvement were to increase training and use safe and reliable health care procedures. The complexity of IPV makes it likely that IPV during pregnancy is undetected. It would be desirable to implement actions such as expanding training and agreeing on an internal work circuit that includes objective instruments to detect IPV, coordination with other services and ethical and legally appropriate way of recording in the clinical record.

Development and Validation of a Pioneer Scale on Service Leadership Behavior in the Service Economies.

In response to the severe lack of leadership assessment tools in the Chinese context, the Service Leadership Behavior Scale was developed based on the Service Leadership Model proposed by Po Chung, the co-founder of DHL International. Utilizing responses from 4,486 Hong Kong undergraduates, this paper reports the findings of a validation study on the Short-Form Service Leadership Behavior Scale (SLB-SF-65). Previous findings based on exploratory factor analysis supported a six-factor 48-item solution (SLB-SF-48). With the removal of ten items, confirmatory factor analysis showed that the final 38-item scale (SLB-SF-38) possessed excellent internal consistency, concurrent validity, and factorial validity based on multigroup invariance analyses. Overall speaking, the present study underscores the utility of the SLB-SF-38 as an objective assessment instrument of service leadership behavior in the education, research and personnel training contexts.

Assessment and validation of a screening questionnaire for the diagnosis of pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction

Pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) is a common problem in children. However, the current ability to diagnosis and quantify pediatric BBD is limitedas only a few validated instruments exist. In addition, the current questionnaires are limited by their lack of psychometric processing and methods of validation. To address these issues, the authors developed a new questionnaire to objectively diagnose pediatric BBD symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of this newly devised objective instrument in diagnosing and quantifying the symptomatology of BBD in children. An 18-item, 5-point questionnaire was developed using both a literature review and expert opinions. The total questionnaire score could range from 0 to 72. Questions were subgrouped into six symptom categories: (1) nocturnal enuresis, (2) lower urinary tract symptoms, (3) urinary holding, (4) infrequent urination, (5) bowel symptoms, and (6) daytime urinary incontinence. The questionnaire also assessed the degree of bother associated with the symptoms. Patients were divided into cases and controls, and these two groups were compared. A total of 1265 new patients (758 cases and 507 controls) completed the new BBD questionnaire. The mean age of the whole study cohort was 9.5 years (range, 3-19 years). The total mean questionnaire score was significantly higher at 23 (3-58) in the cases, compared with 8 (0-35) in the controls (p<0.001) (Summary Figure). Reliability analysis of the 18-item instrument showed a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.80 for the scale. This new instrument provides a valid and reliable method for diagnosis of pediatric BBD and classification of patients into subcategories of BBD based on their specific symptoms.

A Review on Evaluation of Wireless Medical Monitoring Schemes and Analysis over Shared Operating Frequency Bands

Abstract Wireless technology greatly created a transformation in healthcare and thereby removed the usage of cables, which were typically employed as an interweave amid hospital patients, thereby enabling the whole thing from remote access to connectivity amid monitoring devices. Numerous portable medical gadgets integrate wireless technology that might result in risks for life-support gadgets and similar applications. For ensuring amenability and preventing interferences, a need to validate the medical device with electromagnetic compatibility standards becomes mandatory. Protective patient privacy is deemed to be an energetic characteristic towards isolated patient monitoring schemes. Considering the rise in the quantity of feasible wireless medicinal products, they engage different wireless standards, and measured data have been transported at dissimilar rates. Thus, the foremost significant movement is towards supplementing the quantity of integration in wireless medical monitoring schemes. Similarly, the applications of implantable and ingestible wireless medical approaches are becoming increased, as they offer access to data collecting and data which was previously dreadful. Hence, there becomes a bigger possibility of improving the exactness of wireless positioning arrangements. In this article, a review on the evaluation of wireless medical monitoring schemes and analysis over shared operating frequency bands has been evaluated in a state-of-art manner; thereby, every structure has the potential to assist doctors for improving the dominance in lives of patients, thus application developments are properly discussed for progressing with these implements. Every device considered in this article is identical with each other in their elementary contrivances. However, they get fine-tuned in service towards different applications. Hence, every device entailed here is positioned to fit within the operating frequencies, either at 2.4 GHz or 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. A brief review has been made on these upcoming and prevailing strategies, like a wireless blood pressure cuff, wireless oximeter, wireless electrocardiogram monitoring, wireless electroencephalography headset, wireless glucometer, wireless blood pressure monitoring system, wireless alcoholmeter, wireless capsule camera, wireless triangulating position of objective instruments, wireless sensor network-based monitoring scheme, wireless posture monitoring scheme, wireless acceleration sensor, wireless gait analysis arrangement, wireless telemetry strain gauging humerus implant, wireless monitoring using a microelectromechanical system and application-specific integrated circuit, wireless telemetry stress monitoring knee implant, and wireless protein detection device.

Tools for the assessment of breast cancer screening beliefs in women: a literature review.

Aim: This review aims to compare the development, characteristics and validity of three widely used breast cancer screening belief tools (the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale [CHBMS], the Breast Module of a Cancer Awareness Measures [BCAM] and the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire [BCSBQ]). Materials &methods:Literature reports were retrieved from electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, and other references. All three tools had good reliability and validity. Certain significant differences between these tools should be noted. Results:CHBMS, BCAM and BCSBQ are valid and reliable instruments within certain populations. Due to the high heterogeneity among the targeted population, their characteristics and those of the instruments should be fully considered for clinical decision-making. Conclusion:The conclusion of this review contributes to the development of a more comprehensive and objective instruments based on the deficiencies of the existing studies.

A taxonomy of factors affecting attitudes towards educational technologies for use with technology acceptance models

AbstractThe aim of this theoretical review was to identify the important factors shown to affect attitudes towards use of educational technologies by students or educators in higher education institutions and organise them into broad, intermediate and narrow groupings. This was done to assist the construction of more objective measurement instruments used in the evaluation of educational technologies. A qualitative review of the influential factors that affect user attitudes, intentions and motivations to use educational technologies was conducted, first by interrogating the fundamental behavioural theories underpinning technology acceptance models, and then by exploring the findings of later and contemporary empirical research conducted in the educational context. Identified factors were grouped to produce an ordered taxonomy of measurement constructs. This taxonomy provides each construct’s lineage back through tertiary, secondary and primary taxonomic groups and provides a greater scope of measurement than commonly used models. Seven primary and twenty two secondary and tertiary taxonomic groups were defined, which collectively comprise sixty one measurement constructs. The taxonomy is designed to reduce measurement bias within studies and also acts as a basis for consistent and objective benchmarking within and across institutions. Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic Technology acceptance models are derived from a number of foundational behavioural and motivational theories. The TAM and UTAUT are validated models that appraise attitude and/or behavioural intent to use an educational technology, which nonetheless do not cover the entire scope of what has been shown to be important in various studies. There is little consistency from study to study of measurement constructs used in technology acceptance models. What this paper adds Collection and organisation of the salient measurement constructs into a flexible taxonomy. Establishment of a consistent measurement scope that is specifically suited to educational technology research. Establishment of construct lineage that clearly shows similarities and differences between the various constructs. Implications for practice and/or policy The taxonomy supports robust instrument construction to improve both convergent and discriminant validity of measurement models. The taxonomy provides a recommended scope for higher education institutions to measure factors affecting use of various educational technologies. Consistent use of the taxonomy will provide an objective standard that can be used to compare across institutions or within institutions over time, which assist with benchmarking and management decisions. The taxonomy can be used as a framework for meta‐analyses or to collate ‘prior’ data to use in Bayesian‐type technology evaluation.