Board Practices Research Articles

Artificial intelligence large language model scores highly on focused practice designation in metabolic and bariatric surgery board practice questions.

Artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT (Open AI) have performed well on the exams of various medical and surgical fields. It is not yet known how ChatGPT performs on similar metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) questions. Assess the performance of ChatGPT on Focused Practice Designation in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery board-style questions. United States. Questions obtained from the largest commercially available bank of FPD-MBS practice questions were entered into ChatGPT-4, as is, without prior training. We assessed the overall percentage correct as well as the percentage correct within each of the five American Board of Surgery (ABS) question categories. One-way ANOVA was used to determine if the frequency of correct answers differed between categories. Out of 255 questions, ChatGPT-4 correctly answered 189 (74.1%). Between the five question categories there was no difference between the frequency of correct answers (p = 0.22). It did not matter if questions were entered individually or in groups of up to 10. Without prior training, ChatGPT-4 scored highly when evaluated on the largest practice question bank for the FPD-MBS exam.

2024 practice analysis: a comparison of expectations vs actual performance of essential competencies in public relations

PurposeWe conducted the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) practice analysis to examine perceptions of US public relations practitioners and educators regarding the essential competencies for entry-level and mid-career professionals. This is a trend analysis survey that is conducted every five years to assess changes in required competencies.Design/methodology/approachThe survey was distributed via email to organizations affiliated with the UAB. Two variations of the survey were available to differentiate between practitioners and educators. The study was conducted from February through March of 2024.FindingsWe found practitioners’ expectations for others exceeded their own actual performance levels. This may be attributed to social comparison bias. We have provided recommendations for updating the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and certificate exams based on our findings. For example, we recommend senior professionals adopt a nurturing leadership style when mentoring young professionals. The study also revealed that educators overestimated generative artificial intelligence (AI) use in the workplace, as practitioners exhibited a slower rate of adoption of AI. The literature and theories that guided the paper were AI use, the history of accreditation in public relations and the diffusion of innovation theory.Originality/valueThis research paper provides insights related to the diffusion of AI competencies in the workplace. Additionally, this research adds to public relations literature by revealing the gap in expectations of senior professionals for beginning and mid-career professionals and their own job performance.

A qualitative study of providers’ perspectives on cross-institutional care coordination for pancreatic cancer: challenges and opportunities

BackgroundDespite calls for regionalizing pancreatic cancer (PC) care to high-volume centers (HVCs), many patients with PC elect to receive therapy closer to their home or at multiple institutions. In the context of cross-institutional PC care, the challenges associated with coordinating care are poorly understood.MethodsIn this qualitative study we conducted semi-structured interviews with oncology clinicians from a HVC (n = 9) and community-based hospitals (n = 11) to assess their perspectives related to coordinating the care of and treating PC patients across their respective institutions. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using deductive and inductive approaches to identify themes related to cross-institutional coordination challenges and to note improvement opportunities.ResultsClinicians identified challenges associated with closed-loop communication due, in part, to not having access to a shared electronic health record. Challenges with patient co-management were attributed to patients receiving inconsistent recommendations from different clinicians. To address these challenges, participants suggested several improvement opportunities such as building rapport with clinicians across institutions and updating tumor board processes. The opportunity to update tumor board processes was reportedly multi-dimensional and could involve: (1) designating a tumor board coordinator; (2) documenting and disseminating tumor board recommendations; and (3) using teleconferencing to facilitate community-based clinician engagement during tumor board meetings.ConclusionsIn light of communication barriers and challenges associated with patient co-management, enabling the development of relationships among PC clinicians and improving the practices of multidisciplinary tumor boards could potentially foster cross-institutional coordination. Research examining how multidisciplinary tumor board coordinators and teleconferencing platforms could enhance cross-institutional communication and thereby improve patient outcomes is warranted.

Use of corticosteroids for adult chronic pain interventions: sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks, trigger point injections - guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society, and the North American Spine Society

BackgroundThere is potential for adverse events from corticosteroid injections, including increase in blood glucose, decrease in bone mineral density and suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis. Published studies note that doses...

Advancing Medical Education: Performance of Generative Artificial Intelligence Models on Otolaryngology Board Preparation Questions With Image Analysis Insights.

Objective To evaluate and compare the performance of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), GPT-4, and Google Bard on United States otolaryngology board-style questions to scale their ability to act as an adjunctive study tool and resource for students and doctors. Methods A 1077 text question and 60 image-based questions from the otolaryngology board exam preparation tool BoardVitals were inputted into ChatGPT, GPT-4, and Google Bard. The questions were scaled true or false, depending on whether the artificial intelligence (AI) modality provided the correct response. Data analysis was performed in R Studio. Results GPT-4 scored the highest at 78.7% compared to ChatGPT and Bard at 55.3% and 61.7% (p<0.001), respectively. In terms of question difficulty, all three AI models performed best on easy questions (ChatGPT: 69.7%, GPT-4: 92.5%, and Bard: 76.4%) and worst on hard questions (ChatGPT: 42.3%, GPT-4: 61.3%, and Bard: 45.6%). Across all difficulty levels, GPT-4 did better than Bard and ChatGPT (p<0.0001). GPT-4 outperformed ChatGPT and Bard in all subspecialty sections, with significantly higher scores (p<0.05) on all sections except allergy (p>0.05). On image-based questions, GPT-4 performed better than Bard (56.7% vs 46.4%, p=0.368) and had better overall image interpretation capabilities. Conclusion This study showed that the GPT-4 model performed better than both ChatGPT and Bard on the United States otolaryngology board practice questions. Although the GPT-4 results were promising, AI should still be used with caution when being implemented in medical education or patient care settings.

ChatENT: Augmented Large Language Model for Expert Knowledge Retrieval in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

The recent surge in popularity of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, has showcased their proficiency in medical examinations and potential applications in health care. However, LLMs possess inherent limitations, including inconsistent accuracy, specific prompting requirements, and the risk of generating harmful hallucinations. A domain-specific model might address these limitations effectively. Developmental design. Virtual. Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) relevant data were systematically gathered from open-access Internet sources and indexed into a knowledge database. We leveraged Retrieval-Augmented Language Modeling to recall this information and utilized it for pretraining, which was then integrated into ChatGPT4.0, creating an OHNS-specific knowledge question & answer platform known as ChatENT. The model is further tested on different types of questions. ChatENT showed enhanced performance in the analysis and interpretation of OHNS information, outperforming ChatGPT4.0 in both the Canadian Royal College OHNS sample examination questions challenge and the US board practice questions challenge, with a 58.4% and 26.0% error reduction, respectively. ChatENT generated fewer hallucinations and demonstrated greater consistency. To the best of our knowledge, ChatENT is the first specialty-specific knowledge retrieval artificial intelligence inthe medical field that utilizes the latest LLM. It appears to have considerable promise in areas such as medical education, patient education, and clinical decision support. The model has demonstrated the capacity to overcome the limitations of existing LLMs, thereby signaling a future of more precise, safe, and user-friendly applications in the realm of OHNS and other medical fields.

Tumor Board Practice and Current Approach of Oncologists in Türkiye

Objective: Interdisciplinary cooperation is essential in treating and following up cancer disease. The primary objective of multidisciplinary tumor councils (MDTCs) is to identify the most suitable and effective treatment strategies for cancer patients through the collective decision-making of experts in oncology. MDTC plays a key role in breaking traditional taboos, providing the most up-to-date approach to the patient, sharing responsibility and accountability, and encouraging interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Material and Methods: In this study, the perspectives, expectations, and experiences of medical oncologists regarding tumor boards were evaluated. The survey consisted of 10 questions and was conducted as an online survey at the '7th National Immunotherapy and Oncology Congress'. This study was cross-sectional and online. While those who were actively working as medical oncologists and those who wanted to voluntarily participate in the survey were included in the study, those who were not medical oncologists, those who were not actively working, and those who worked in private clinics were not included in the study. Participants were asked various questions about multidisciplinary tumor boards. They were asked about the specialties they most needed on the boards, the other clinics participating in the boards, and the clinics they felt were essential. The necessity of genetic clinics and molecular boards in shaping the future of oncology through molecular assessments was also assessed. The impact of board decisions on patient treatment and management was investigated. Results: A total of 624 oncologists participated in the survey. The majority of the participants were young oncologists. Most participants worked in tertiary healthcare units, including university hospitals and training and research hospitals. Almost all of the participants stated that they did MDTC. The most frequent and regular councils are; thoracic cancers and gastrointestinal cancers. The most needed and hard to reach branch was the medical genetics department. Conclusion: Cancer treatment is a complex process that cannot be confined to a single expertise. Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTB) are one of the cornerstones of a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment. In multidisciplinary tumor boards, various topics such as medical treatment planning for patients, diagnosis, surgical and radiotherapy planning, side effect management, and palliative care can be examined. MDTB not only provides effective treatment for cancer patients from a broad perspective but also ensures rapid and comprehensive solutions in case of potential complications.

The impact of Artificial Intelligence on E-commerce supply chain sector in achieving cost efficiency and economic growth: A business and economics perspective

The study aims to find how much cost effectiveness is achieved when e-commerce supply chain operations use automation and AI technologies. therefore,ing technology of AI and its models have essentially proved to be impactful in making data driven decisions by the organisations gaining leverage in productivity and profit sustainability in a way that the companies achieve competitive advantage therefore creating sustainable value propositions from business and economics perspective. Aim/Purpose The aim of the paper is to explore the positive relationship between AI technologies and productivity levels in the e-commerce supply chain sector through achieving cost effectiveness and economic growth. Methodology/Approach The study focussed on reviewing literature on how Artificial Intelligence driven technology can optimise various supply chain functions within e-commerce sector. Solow-Swan growth model has been applied to investigate the value AI creates in utilising capital, labour input to achieve output growth. Positivist approach that allowed for objective observation and independent conclusions has been adopted. For primary data, quantitative methodology is used through survey questionnaires to gather data from a sample of 206 employees, managers, data analysts in e-commerce supply chain sectors. Findings The findings from the secondary sources inform that the use of AI and automation in the e-commerce industry leads to a high rate of productivity in terms of reducing costs and promoting economic growth. The primary research methods, through survey questionnaires collects real-time data that helps achieve quantifiable and measurable values to conclude that AI-led technology can increase productivity and competitive advantage as it saves cost while increasing productivity and overall economic input. Descriptive statistics of measures of central tendency were used to present findings in simpler, presentable way followed by interpretations of the data in percentages. Practical implications Managers and decision-making directorial board members have important lessons to learn from these findings as the quantifiable values may give them an insight into how much capital investment should be allocated for AI technologies and how predictive analytics and data analysis can accelerate their service towards becoming customer centric. Significant strategic planning and implementation of resource management can lead to higher rates of productivity profitability and eventually higher economic growth.

EPortfolios: Enhancing confidence in student radiographers' communication of radiographic anatomy and pathology. Across-sectional study.

In 2020, the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia made several revisions to its professional capabilities. To address this, medical radiation practitioners, including diagnostic radiographers, are required to escalate urgent findings in all radiographic settings. However, the confidence of radiographers in articulating descriptions of radiographic findings varies despite this requirement. This cross-sectional study explores how the implementation of eportfolio affects student self-perceived confidence in identifying and describing radiographic findings in both an academic and a clinical setting. A Qualtrics survey was distributed to second-year radiography students who had used eportfolios. The survey comprised of four questions using a Likert-scale and one open-ended question. Quantitative data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and qualitative data was thematically assessed. Overall, 55 of 65 radiographic students (85%) completed the survey. Confidence (strongly agree and agree) decreased from 89% to 74% between academic and clinical environments when identifying abnormalities, and 89% to 73% when describing findings. This finding highlights the challenges students face when in the clinical environment. Wilcoxon signed rank test analysed a statistically significant relation between the two environments (P < 0.05). However, the relationship between identifying and describing skills was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Following a review of the qualitative data, three recurring themes were identified among responses. ePortfolios assist in improving confidence in identification and description of radiographic abnormalities, particularly in an academic setting. The clinical environment presents unique challenges which may limit student clinical performance; however, this requires further investigation.

Towards a history of transit etiquette: the development of orderly boarding practices in Tokyo

This article is a call for the historical study of transit etiquette: the behavioural expectations that guide the mundane conduct of transport users. It identifies the formation of contemporary protocols of transit etiquette as a productive line of scholarly inquiry by taking the transformation of (de)boarding behaviours in Tokyo between the 1880s and the 1960s as a case study. Zooming in on urban railways in the Japanese capital, it describes the processes through which (de)boarding practices grew more elaborate in character and more narrowly defined in terms of the spatio-temporal location at which they could be legitimately exercised. It examines three groups of factors that contributed to this process: “software” and “hardware” interventions in transport operations as well as their broader historic context. Simultaneously, it cautions against linear narratives of consistent improvement by stressing the contradictions of this process. The article contributes to mobility studies by calling attention to the malleability and socio-technical construction of the norms that guide mundane mobility practices. It provides a provisional template for subsequent historical accounts of transit etiquette, and argues that such studies can empower research on mobilities and transport to contribute to wider debates about (in)civility and the organisation of urban life.

Evidence blocks for effective presentation of genomic findings at molecular tumor boards: Single institution experience

Genomic profiling, or molecular profiling of the tumor, is becoming a key component of therapeutic decision making in clinical oncology, and is typically carried out via next generation sequencing. However, the interpretation of the results and evaluation of rationale for targeting the uncovered alterations is challenging and requires a deep understanding of cancer biology, genetics, genomics and oncology. Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards represent a promising strategy in the facilitation of molecularly-informed therapeutic decisions, and usually consist of specialists with various fields of expertise. To effectively communicate the biological and clinical significance of genomic findings, as well as to make molecular tumor board discussions more productive, we developed and implemented evidence blocks into case discussions in our center. We found that this approach facilitated clinicians’ understanding of the results of genomic profiling, and resulted in shorter yet more efficient case discussions within the molecular tumor board. Here, we discuss our experience with evidence blocks and how their implementation influenced the molecular tumor board practice.

Digital transformation under the governance of Palestinian banks

This study aims to understand and evaluate the impact of applying governance principles on digital transformation in Palestinian banks listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange. A questionnaire was distributed to 750 employees from the study population. It included four axes representing governance principles (board of directors’ tasks, board practices and conflicts of interest, disclosure and transparency, and risk management) and a fifth axe representing digital transformation. The study found a strong, statistically significant positive effect of applying governance principles on digital transformation in Palestinian banks. The results also showed the keenness of the boards of directors to discuss the commitment of bank management to implement the provisions and regulations of governance issued by the Palestine Monetary Authority. This helped in developing and approving the necessary policies for risk management and enhanced the effectiveness of oversight of the digital transformation system. This was reflected in increasing customer confidence in the banks’ performance and maintaining the interests of related parties. The study recommended the need to enhance the level of transparency and disclosure regarding governance performance and the progress of digital transformation in banks. It also recommended developing an integrated framework for analyzing and managing risks related to digital transformation. This assists in providing comprehensive training and development programs for practitioners to enhance their capabilities in the field of digital transformation and applying governance principles.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors for anaemia in chronic kidney disease: a clinical practice document by the European Renal Best Practice board of the European Renal Association.

Anaemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with poor long-term outcomes and quality of life. The use of supplemental iron, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and blood transfusions has been the mainstay for treatment of anaemia in CKD for more than 3decades. Despite available treatments, CKD patients with anaemia are undertreated and moderate-severe anaemia remains prevalent in the CKD population. Anaemia has consistently been associated with greater mortality, hospitalization, cardiovascular events and CKD progression in CKD patients, and the risk increases with anaemia severity. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase (PH) inhibitors have a novel mechanism of action by mimicking the body's response to hypoxia and have emerged as an alternative to ESAs for treatment of anaemia in CKD. Their efficacy in correcting and maintaining haemoglobin has been demonstrated in >30 phase 3 clinical trials. Additionally, HIF activation results in various pleiotropic effects beyond erythropoiesis, with cholesterol reduction and improved iron homeostasis and potential anti-inflammatory effects. The long-term safety of these agents, particularly with respect to cardiovascular and thromboembolic events, and their possible effect on tumour growth needs to be fully elucidated. This article presents in detail the effects of HIF-PH inhibitors, describes their mechanisms of action and pharmacologic properties and discusses their place in the treatment of anaemia in CKD according to the available evidence.

Dummy's Guide to using Instagram like a REAL Journalist

Journalism is an ever-growing industry. In the digital age of the 21st century, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram (Meta) have become a place for engaging with audiences in an attempt to humanize news publications. Until the summer of 2023, social media platforms were open spaces for the accessible sharing of news. The reliance of journal publications on social media to interact with the audience not only built a boundary between personal and professional image for journalists but also made journalists’ interactions with their audiences very passive. With the changes implemented by Meta in response to Bill C-18, which took away news organizations’ accounts from their social media platforms in Canada, the process of engaging with audiences and presenting news changed to become more journalist-oriented. Furthermore, journalists participated more actively as they had to present themselves by using their personal accounts. Now that the line between professional and personal identity on social media is blurred, it provides space for discourse on how a journalist brands themselves on a platform that is silencing their work. My study investigates a local independent student news publication’s editorial board practices to observe how student journalists are resisting the news-sharing ban Meta has introduced. I found that the platform’s policy changes were mostly superficial, and loopholes were easy to find and exploit. The findings were used to make an Instagram account in the form of a guide for student journalists, documenting the process of bypassing the content-sharing ban.

Incorporation of Multidisciplinary Tumour Board (MTB) Practice on Cancer Patient Care: Experiences of a Comprehensive Cancer Care Hospital in the Eastern India

Aims/objectives: A multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) is a crucial aspect of comprehensive cancer care, providing evidence-based treatment for patients. The aim of this analysis was to assess the importance of MTB in comprehensive cancer care and its impact on cancer patients’ management and treatment compliance.Method: One-year audit of the patients discussed on the tumor board of a private comprehensive cancer care hospital between September 2020 and August 2021. The data were collected before, during, and after each MTB meeting. Result: A study of 800 cases discussed on the tumor board in one year. Approximately 60% of cases were presented by surgical oncology, 21% by medical oncology, and the rest by other departments. The median age of patients was 56 years. This audit revealed that the most common tumor was head and neck cancer (28.5%), followed by gastro-intestinal and breast cancer (55.2%). The most common treatment plan was surgical management (57.6%), followed by systemic therapy (45%), radiotherapy (32.1%), and palliative care (14.5%). Treatment compliance was over 50%, and after one year, 52.87% of patients were still alive. The audit revealed that more than 20% of the data was missing. Conclusion: The difficult management of advanced-stage disease is improved, and treatment compliance is increased, through MTB practice. The demographics of cancer in this region of the country were also displayed by this audit. In the future, a prospective trial with a larger patient population, comprehensive follow-up information, and fewer missing data points should be used to evaluate the true impact of multidisciplinary care.

Hybrid board governance: Exploring the challenges in implementing social impact measurements

This paper focuses on hybrid board governance and the challenges faced by the board of directors when implementing social impact measurements. Interviews with 36 board chairs and general secretaries in social hybrids in Sweden show that while boards support social impact measurements, they face obstacles in implementing them. Drawing on the institutional logics framework, we identify three main reasons for these implementation problems. First, amid field level regulations focusing on cost efficiency, boards find it difficult to switch to a social impact that lacks a single metric that can be measured annually. Second, board members struggle to find sufficient time when they serve on a pro bono basis, and it is difficult to hold them accountable when limited progress occurs. Finally, acknowledging board practice variation, we highlight the need to distinguish between “beneficiary-driven” and “membership-driven” social hybrids. In the former, boards face the challenge of operationalizing the long-term benefits for end beneficiaries; in the latter, interactions with members are so operationally focused that boards struggle to maintain a long-term agenda for implementing social impact measurement. Given these challenges, we propose that future research should explicitly incorporate the board level in theorizing how hybrid organizations manage institutional logics and performance measurement.

Dynamic board capabilities: Developing board practices that impact corporate renewal and performance

A crucial requirement for firms to remain competitive is to consistently and simultaneously engage in exploratory and exploitative activities. The academic literature has broadly accepted that the development of dynamic capabilities (ie firms' abilities to create, reconfigure and improve resources and capabilities to fit their changing environments) are vital to meeting this competitive requirement. Research has predominately addressed these dynamic capabilities from a management perspective. Little attention has been paid to the influence of the board of directors on these firm capabilities even though boards hold the fiduciary responsibility for the corporation and its long-term viability. Even less has been written on how boards ought to organise themselves and develop their dynamic board capabilities to support and govern corporate renewal and performance effectively. This paper aims to start addressing this gap by using two related aims. First, a process framework for board behaviours is proposed that ensures, and supports, a systematic way of building and developing corporate-level dynamic capabilities. Then, evidence is presented and reviewed from a survey of two board member communities which supports the idea that board capabilities are essential for a firm's successful renewal and economic performance, and need to be improved in practice. This framework is closely aligned with well-established components identified by the management literature but differs in having the board as the unit of analysis. A crucial question and action agenda is proposed for boards eager to acquire and develop their dynamic capabilities.

Shariah Governance Practice on Indonesian Islamic Banks

Research Aims: This study aims to assess the implementation of Shariah governance in Indonesian Islamic banks. Methodology: This study utilises a qualitative approach coupled with content analysis; this study evaluates the alignment of Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) practices with relevant regulations. Research Findings: The analysis revealed that none of the Islamic banks breached regulations or deviated from the prescribed criteria in the Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) recruitment or characteristics. Theoretical Contribution: This study is poised to enrich the diversity of backgrounds within the Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB), aiming to elevate its overall quality. Research limitation and implication: This study exclusively examines the framework of Sharia governance within the context of Indonesia, and therefore, the findings should be separate from diverse country contexts.

The Intervening Influence of Internal Controls on the Relationship Between Board Practices and Performance of Government Owned Entities in Kenya

There is a growing public debate on the role of boards in government-owned entities due to poor performance, corporate scandals, and increased corruption. Good board practices and internal controls, including enterprise risk management, are crucial for enhancing performance. Research findings on their impact have been contradictory. However, improving transparency, accountability, and adherence to governance frameworks can positively influence performance. Addressing governance issues is crucial to mitigate resource mismanagement and corruption, leading to better overall performance. The objective was to determine relationships among board practices, internal controls, and government-owned entities’ performance. Data was collected from 153 properly completed questionnaires out of the 157 returned, representing 65.38% of the entire population of 234 government-owned entities. The findings established that internal controls positively and significantly intervened in the relationship between board practices and performance. Implementing good board practices and internal controls promotes accountability and transparency, leading to enhanced organizational performance. Government-owned entities should prioritize implementing effective board practices and internal controls to enhance their overall performance.

See something, say something: the coroner's perspective.

The communicating safely policy, publicised by the catchphrase See Something, Say Something was released by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia in 2019. It was developed to support medical radiation practitioners (MRPs) upholding the obligation to communicate urgent or unexpected findings in a timely manner, when identified on medical images. Prior to this policy being part of the professional capabilities, several untimely deaths occurred-the majority of whose causal factors could have been mitigated if imaging findings were urgently communicated by MRPs. This commentary summarises three coronial inquests that involved MRPs, discusses how these coronial findings are reflected in the communicating safely policy and provides some recommendations for the profession to ensure this policy is enacted in clinical practice.