Recommendations For Quality Assurance Research Articles

AAPM Medical Physics Practice Guideline 8.b: Linear accelerator performance tests.

The purpose of this guideline is to provide a list of critical performance tests to assist the Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) in establishing and maintaining a safe and effective quality assurance (QA) program. The performance tests on a linear accelerator (linac) should be selected to fit the clinical patterns of use of the accelerator and care should be given to perform tests which are relevant to detecting errors related to the specific use of the accelerator. Current recommendations for linac QA were reviewed to determine any changes required to those tests highlighted by the original report as well as considering new components of the treatment process that have become common since its publication. Recommendations are made on the acquisition of reference data, routine establishment of machine isocenter, basing performance tests on clinical use of the linac, working with vendors to establish QA tests and performing tests after maintenance and upgrades. The recommended tests proposed in this guideline were chosen based on consensus of the guideline's committee after assessing necessary changes from the previous report. The tests are grouped together by class of test (e.g., dosimetry, mechanical, etc.) and clinical parameter tested. Implementation notes are included for each test so that the QMP can understand the overall goal of each test. This guideline will assist the QMP in developing a comprehensive QA program for linacs in the external beam radiation therapy setting. The committee sought to prioritize tests by their implication on quality and patient safety. The QMP is ultimately responsible for implementing appropriate tests. In the spirit of the report from American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 100, individual institutions are encouraged to analyze the risks involved in their own clinical practice and determine which performance tests are relevant in their own radiotherapy clinics.

Use of an automated software module for monthly routine Machine QA tests

The goal of this work is to investigate the feasibility of implementing an automated module of a commercial software for monthly routine Linac QA tests. The AAPM TG 142 report is a reference document which includes recommendations for general Quality Assurance (QA) tests for medical linear accelerators. DoseLab software includes an AutoQA module for users to run TG-142's Machine QA tests in an automated sequence. The execution of the individual monthly tests (without DoseLab) is compared with AutoQA in terms of time consuming, reproducibility, additional data and user friendliness. The total time required was 195 minutes for single test mode, without DoseLab, and 80 minutes for AutoQA. Auto QA allows the user to analyze more parameters than single-test mode, especially for kV and MV images. Different profiles in sizes and energies are examined in minor time. The Winston-Lutz test is more quickly and complete. CBCT QA test is less laborious and no user-dependent. Reproducibility of results is verified: the coefficient of variation over 5 consecutive repeated measurements is less than 5%. The software database makes it possible to monitor the trend of different parameters over time. AutoQA module significantly reduces the time spent for QA. It also allows to get more quantitative informations and delete the user-dependent uncertainties.

Development of phantom for current modulation quality assurance test on computed tomography.

Automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) in computed tomography (CT) is a powerful tool for reducing the dose delivery to the patient during the scan. A phantom is used to perform the ATCM quality control (QC) test, assessing how the CT system adapts the tube current as a function of object size. Considering quality assurance recommendations (Brazilian and international), we developed a dedicated phantom for the ATCM test. The phantom was built-in high-density polyethylene in a cylindric shape with three different sizes. To verify the applicability of this phantom, we tested it in two different CT scanners (Toshiba and Philips). The results demonstrated concordance between a discrete change in phantom size, and the corresponding change in the tube current, indicating that the CT system could adapt current when a discrete attenuation shift occurred. The developed phantom might be used in ATCM QC tests.

The Effect of Sound in the Dental Office: Practices and Recommendations for Quality Assurance-A Narrative Review.

Sound is inextricably linked to the human senses and is therefore directly related to the general health of the individual. The aim of the present study is to collect data on the effect of two dimensions of sound, music, and noise from an emotional and functional point of view in the dental office and to perform a thorough review of the relevant literature. We collected articles from the databases PubMed and Google Scholar through keywords that were related to noise and music in healthcare. Important information was also extracted from articles on the web and official websites. Screening of the relevant literature was performed according to accuracy and reliability of the methodology tested. A total of 261 articles were associated to sound and music in healthcare. Ninety-six of them were the most well documented and were thus included in our article. Most of the articles associate noise with negative emotions and a negative impact on performance, while music is associated with positive emotions ranging from emotional state to therapeutic approaches. Few results were found regarding ways to reduce noise in a health facility. If there is a difficulty to find effective methods of reducing the daily noise-inducing sounds in the dental office, we must focus on ways to incorporate music into it as a means of relaxation and therapy.

Organizational and Economic Features and Approaches to the Educational Process Management in HEIs

The aim of the research is to identify organizational and economic features and approaches to the management of the educational process in HEIs in Ukraine. Methodology. The study used a mixed design to analyze and evaluate the organizational and economic features and approaches to the management of the educational process. Results. The study highlights the general features and approaches to the management of the educational process in HEIs in Ukraine in the context of European integration. Among the key changes in management is the introduction of the basic principles of the European Higher Education Area for the modernization of the higher education system. It is based on standards and recommendations for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area. The main content of higher education is determined by the standards of higher education of the new generation, which are based on a competency-based approach to education. Ukraine has experimentally introduced a dual form of higher education.

An initial framework for use of ultrasound by speech and language therapists in the UK: Scope of practice, education and governance.

There is growing evidence to support the use of ultrasound as a tool for the assessment and treatment of speech, voice and swallowing disorders across the Speech and Language Therapy profession. Research has shown that development of training competencies, engagement with employers and the professional body are vital to progressing ultrasound into practice. We present a framework to support translation of ultrasound into Speech and Language Therapy. The framework comprises three elements: (1) scope of practice, (2) education and competency and (3) governance. These elements align to provide a foundation for sustainable and high-quality ultrasound application across the profession. Scope of practice includes the tissues to be imaged, the clinical and sonographic differentials and subsequent clinical decision-making. Defining this provides transformational clarity to Speech and Language Therapists, other imaging professionals and those designing care pathways. Education and competency are explicitly aligned with the scope of practice and include requisite training content and mechanisms for supervision/support from an appropriately trained individual in this area. Governance elements include legal, professional and insurance considerations. Quality assurance recommendations include data protection, storage of images, testing of ultrasound devices as well as continuous professional development and access to a second opinion. The framework provides an adaptable model for supporting expansion of ultrasound across a range of Speech and Language Therapy specialities. By taking an integrated approach, this multifaceted solution provides the foundation for those with speech, voice and swallowing disorders to benefit from advances in imaging-informed healthcare.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ СТУДЕНТОЦЕНТРОВАНОГО НАВЧАННЯ ЯК СКЛАДНИК ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ВИКЛАДАЧА ЗВО

The article analyzes European and national acts in the field of the European area of ​​higher education (Standards and recommendations for quality assurance in the European area of ​​higher education (2015), the Paris Communiqué (2018), Regulations on the accreditation of educational programs, according to which higher education students are trained in Ukraine (2019), EKTS User Guide (2015), etc.), as well as scientific literature on the issues of the article. Summarizing the results of the analysis made it possible to establish that, it was established that the implementation of student-centered education is a mandatory condition for ensuring and constantly improving the quality of higher education. It was found that the forms of implementation of student-centered education as the one that most fully takes into account the needs and interests of education seekers are the development and implementation of interdisciplinary educational programs, the combination of academic education and training at the workplace, education – with innovative activities, research. It was found that the basis of such training is mutual respect, as well as communication, dialogue between the student and the teacher, in which these main subjects of the educational process are equal. It was established that the organization of such training requires the use of appropriate methods and technologies of training and evaluation, in particular innovative ones. An analysis of the abilities and skills of a teacher of higher educational institutions, formalized in the relevant Professional Standard, allows us to state that a significant part of them is the ability to implement a student-centered approach in the educational process – during training, evaluation, organization of the scientific activity of students, namely: teachers of higher education have implement a cold-centered approach, developing educational and methodological support in a form that is optimal for perception and understanding by students, as well as take into account the requirements of this approach during training sessions and advising students taking into account their individual characteristics and educational needs, provide individual support, provide group and individual consultations on various issues, including construction of individual educational trajectory, conducting scientific/ creative activities; during evaluation, teachers must provide feedback to students, provide recommendations for improving their learning results; taking into account the needs, requests, and feedback of students during the revision and updating of the educational programs as the main stakeholders is important for the implementation of student-centered learning. As a result of the conducted research, a conclusion was formed: the ability to organize and implement student-centered learning is an integral component of the professional activity of a teacher of higher education, an invariant component of the corresponding general professional competence.

Planning and Treatment Recommendations for Breast Proton Therapy From a Single Center's Experience

PurposeProton therapy use for breast cancer has grown due to advantages in coverage and potentially reduced late toxicities compared with conventional radiation therapy. We aimed to provide recommendations for robustness criteria, daily imaging, and quality assurance computed tomography (QA CT) frequency for these patients. Methods and MaterialsAll patients treated for localized breast cancer at the Johns Hopkins Proton Center between November 2019 and February 2022 were eligible for inclusion. Daily shift information was extracted and examined through control charts. If an adaptive plan was used, the time to replan was recorded. Three and 5 mm setup uncertainty was used to calculate robustness. Robust evaluation of QA CTs was compared with initial robustness range for breast/chest wall and lymph node target coverage. ResultsSixty-six patients were included: 19 with intact breast, 25 with non-reconstructed chest wall, and 22 with chest wall plus expanders or implants. Sixteen percent, 13%, and 41% of breast, chest wall, and expander/implant patients had a replan. Only patients with expanders or implants required 2 adaptive plans. Daily shift data showed large variation and did not correlate with plan adaptation. Patients without adaptive plans had QA CTs with dose-volume histogram metrics within robustness more frequently than those with adaptive plans. Using 3 mm robustness for patients who did not require an adaptive plan, 91% to 100% of patients had QA CTs within robustness, while 55% to 60% of patients with an adaptive plan had QA CTs within robustness for the axilla, internal mammary nodes, and supraclavicular nodes. Five millimeter setup uncertainty did not significantly improve this. ConclusionsWe recommend using daily cone beam CT because of the large variation in daily setup with 3 mm setup uncertainty in robustness analysis. If daily cone beam CT imaging is not available, then larger setup uncertainty should be used. Two QA CTs should be conducted during treatment if the patient has expanders or implants; otherwise, one QA CT is sufficient.

МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЕ ВЫСШЕЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ: ПРОБЛЕМЫ КАЧЕСТВА И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ

Currently, characterized by unprecedented anti-Russian sanctions restrictions, issues of functioning of all spheres of human activity are acute. The sphere of higher education was no exception. The agenda of economic and educational forums increasingly includes issues of ensuring the quality of higher education in the context of globalization processes, discussing the prospects for the implementation of international educational programs, analyzing the current state of international student mobility and ways to expand it to cover new areas of education, compliance of higher education with global humanistic values. In the context of globalization processes, quality issues in the field of higher education are of particular importance due to a group of factors, including: the massization of higher education, the development of cross-border education and the expansion of its opportunities due to the new forms and technologies of education, the popularization and expansion of the availability of international educational programs, the strengthening of competition of educational organizations for foreign applicants as sources of funding, etc. The effect of these factors in the international educational space, on the one hand, requires compliance with uniform standards, which include European standards and recommendations for quality assurance of higher education in the European Space (ESG–QA), on the other – may lead to a decrease in educational standards, including under the influence of external factors of the so-called insurmountable strength. We are talking about the impact of COVID-19 and the escalating geopolitical situation on the stability of international partnerships and the preservation of the principles formalized in a series of global documents on quality assurance of higher education, and the enduring universal values.

School Quality Assurance Recommendations and Teacher Efficacy in Public Secondary Schools in Ilemela Municipality, Tanzania

Quality education depends on quality teachers. Teachers with high efficacy can easily facilitate the teaching and learning process. This study examined the contribution of school quality assurance recommendations on teacher efficacy in public secondary schools in Ilemela Municipality. The study was guided by two specific objectives: to identify the contribution of school quality assurance recommendations on teacher efficacy and to highlight the challenges facing secondary school teachers in implementing recommendations given by school quality assurance officers. The study employed a mixed approach and a convergent parallel research design. The sample involved 100 respondents, including five heads of public secondary schools, 91 secondary school teachers, the Ward Education Officers, the Municipal Secondary Education officer, the Municipal Director, and the Zonal School Quality Assurance officers. Data was collected through questionnaires and an interview guide. Earlier, a pilot study was conducted to check the validity and reliability of the research instruments. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, while descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. A synthesis of the findings indicated that school quality assurance recommendations contribute much to teacher efficacy. This was done through the sessions conducted during the school visit, where teachers were guided, advised, and instructed to improve their efficacy. Moreover, the study found that lack of motivation to teachers with regard to their rights and inadequacies in requisite skills for School Quality Assurance Officers affected the implementation of the recommendation given. The study concludes that school quality assurance recommendations are vital to the growth of teacher efficacy. Thus, educational stakeholders are encouraged to advise teachers to implement the school quality assurance recommendations.

MIRSIG position paper: the use of image registration and fusion algorithms in radiotherapy

The report of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group No. 132 published in 2017 reviewed rigid image registration and deformable image registration (DIR) approaches and solutions to provide recommendations for quality assurance and quality control of clinical image registration and fusion techniques in radiotherapy. However, that report did not include the use of DIR for advanced applications such as dose warping or warping of other matrices of interest. Considering that DIR warping tools are now readily available, discussions were hosted by the Medical Image Registration Special Interest Group (MIRSIG) of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists & Engineers in Medicine in 2018 to form a consensus on best practice guidelines. This position statement authored by MIRSIG endorses the recommendations of the report of AAPM task group 132 and expands on the best practice advice from the ‘Deforming to Best Practice’ MIRSIG publication to provide guidelines on the use of DIR for advanced applications.

Fatigue of welded tubular K‐joints made up of circular hollow sections

AbstractThis article deals with the fatigue behaviour of thick‐walled welded K‐joints made up of circular hollow sections (CHS). Two important aspects of the investigations were the extension of the application range to large CHS and the development of practice‐oriented recommendations for fabrication and quality assurance for weld shape and weld quality. For this purpose, fatigue tests were conducted on large CHS joints and on single K‐joints with specified weld irregularities. These studies were accompanied by systematic ultrasonic tests using the phased‐array technique, which were also used for the development of an inspection method for these complex weld geometries. Based on the results achieved by these experimental studies and additional numerical and statistical investigations, a proposal for a German design guideline (DASt‐Richtlinie 029) was finally elaborated to promote the practical implementation of trusses made up of CHS with thick‐walled chords and also to take a first step towards standardization.

STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH IN THE SYSTEM OF QUALITY ASSURANCE OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE PROFESSIONALS

In the current conditions of development of higher education in Ukraine the question of realization of the idea of student-centeredness as a necessary component of the system of quality assurance of professional training of future specialists is actualized. The article considers the peculiarities of the student-centered approach as a system-forming principle of the organization of the educational environment of a higher education institution in the conditions of modern educational realities. The main ideas of student-centeredness as an approach to the organization of the educational process in accordance with its components, defined by the Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education» are analyzed and systematized. Procedures for implementing a student-centered approach in accordance with the requirements of Standards and Recommendations for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area are considered. A contextual analysis of student-centeredness as a characteristic feature of higher education is carried out, on the basis of which the social (civilizational), philosophical, social, psychological, pedagogical, managerial and personal aspects of this phenomenon are distinguished. The need to create an educational environment focused on meeting the needs and interests of higher education students has been identified. The role of the idea of student-centeredness in designing the educational environment of a higher education institution is revealed. It was found that the student-centered educational environment is a set of interrelated diverse conditions for the realization of educational needs and interests of students, which includes a system of intellectual and communicative, organizational, educational, informational, technological, material and technical resources. It is emphasized that the implementation of student-centered approach outlines ways to design the educational environment of a modern university, focused on continuous development and self-improvement of future professionals, which is a necessary condition for ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukraine.
 Keywords: student-centeredness, student-centered approach, educational process, educational environment, professional training, quality of higher education.

ВИМІРЮВАННЯ ЯКОСТІ ОСВІТНЬОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ УНІВЕРСИТЕТІВ: УКРАЇНСЬКИЙ ДОСВІД

This article analyzes the experience of Ukrainian higher education institutions in measuring the quality of educational activities in the context of quality assurance. Based on the study, it is established that in developing regulatory provisions for quality assurance, higher education institutions are guided by regulations of Ukraine (Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education", "On Education") and other documents (Standards and recommendations for quality assurance in European Higher Education Area, ESG 2015, European Association for the Quality Assurance of Higher Education (ENQA), European University Association (EUA), European Association for Higher Education (EURASHE), international rankings indicators). Criteria for accreditation, framework procedures and rating assessment criteria are used to measure the quality of educational activities in Ukrainian higher education institutions. It is determined that the use of ranking is not a popular component of the group of criteria for assessing the quality of higher education, although this indicator provides an opportunity to classify according to various criteria and is more indicative for determining the competitiveness of higher education. After all, the prospects of using rankings as a criterion for measuring the quality of educational activities is the possibility of ranking higher education institutions by competitive quality, analysis of the functioning of higher education institutions, which provides opportunities to improve the quality of educational services.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ЕВРОПЕЙСКИХ СТАНДАРТОВ ВНЕШНЕГО ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ КАЧЕСТВА ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ В СТРУКТУРНОМ КОНТЕКСТЕ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ КАЗАХСКОЙ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОЙ АКАДЕМИИ ХОРЕОГРАФИИ)

The article describes the context of external quality assessment of education in which the accreditation procedure of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, which is a multi-leveled educational institution, was conducted. An attempt was made to describe the structural application of widely known standards and recommendations for quality assurance in higher education (ESG) in assessing the quality of the multi-leveled educational process

Rapid creation of child telemental health services during COVID-19 to promote continued care for underserved children and families.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the rapid transformation of child mental health services from mostly in-person to fully remote delivery at an urban safety-net hospital. No-show rates substantially declined when implementing video visits, and the volume of service delivery was unchanged compared to prepandemic in-person visits. In addition, no-show rates for telehealth sessions did not increase over time. Recommendations for telehealth quality assurance and improvement to best respond to children and families with existing mental health needs and limited resources during disasters and in their aftermath are suggested. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the value of a risk-management quality-assurance model to support delivery of quality higher education in the conflict-affected northwest of Syria

Universities worldwide are adopting quality-assurance programmes to improve the quality of their services, however, the value of Western quality-management models developed for stable contexts, in conflict-affected contexts is questionable. This study sought to review the quality management strategies, policies and practices of two higher education institutions (HEIs) in the non-regime conflict-affected northwest of Syria (NWS), selected as representative of the emerging HE sector in the area since 2015, and to explore the potential benefits of a risk-management approach to quality assurance, a model that places context at its heart to help mitigate identified risks that might undermine delivery of quality HE. A mixed-method approach, was adopted, combining an analysis of the two HEIs administrative documents, with fourteen semi-structured interviews with senior administrative and teaching staff, and a survey of 120 of their 2019/20 graduates. Findings indicated that a risk-management approach would allow HEIs in NWS to develop strategies, policies and practices that would better respond to their conflict-affected realities, and the need for a more transparent and democratic management approach to decision-making and management/staff/student relations and communication. A set of risk-management quality assurance recommendations are offered for consideration by all Syrian HEIs in NWS, to allow the development of management policies, strategies and practices that mitigate risks to delivery of quality HE services. Equally important is to acknowledge the resilience and adaptability of the two study universities, and their commitment to sustaining access to HE for local and displaced communities, despite ongoing insecurity and deteriorating economic and social conditions .

Recommendations on the practice of calibration, dosimetry, and quality assurance for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery: Report of AAPM Task Group 178.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) formed Task Group 178 (TG-178) to perform the following tasks: review in-phantom and in-air calibration protocols for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSR), suggest a dose rate calibration protocol that can be successfully utilized with all gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSR) devices, and update quality assurance (QA) protocols in TG-42 (AAPM Report 54, 1995) for static GSR devices. The TG-178 report recommends a GSR dose rate calibration formalism and provides tabulated data to implement it for ionization chambers commonly used in GSR dosimetry. The report also describes routine mechanical, dosimetric, and safety checks for GSR devices, and provides treatment process quality assurance recommendations. Sample worksheets, checklists, and practical suggestions regarding some QA procedures are given in appendices. The overall goal of the report is to make recommendations that help standardize GSR physics practices and promote the safe implementation of GSR technologies.

Automation in radiotherapy treatment planning: Examples of use in clinical practice and future trends for a complete automated workflow

Modern radiotherapy treatment planning is a complex and time-consuming process that requires the skills of experienced users to obtain quality plans. Since the early 2000s, the automation of this planning process has become an important research topic in radiotherapy. Today, the first commercial automated treatment planning solutions are available and implemented in a growing number of clinical radiotherapy departments. It should be noted that these various commercial solutions are based on very different methods, implying a daily practice that varies from one center to another. It is likely that this change in planning practices is still in its infancy. Indeed, the rise of artificial intelligence methods, based in particular on deep learning, has recently revived research interest in this subject. The numerous articles currently being published announce a lasting and profound transformation of radiotherapy planning practices in the years to come. From this perspective, an evolution of initial training for clinical teams and the drafting of new quality assurance recommendations is desirable.

Recommendation for validation and quality assurance of non-invasive prenatal testing for foetal blood groups and implications for IVD risk classification according to EU regulations.

Non-invasive assays for predicting foetal blood group status in pregnancy serve as valuable clinical tools in the management of pregnancies at risk of detrimental consequences due to blood group antigen incompatibility. To secure clinical applicability, assays for non-invasive prenatal testing of foetal blood groups need to follow strict rules for validation and quality assurance. Here, we present a multi-national position paper with specific recommendations for validation and quality assurance for such assays and discuss their risk classification according to EU regulations. We reviewed the literature covering validation for in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) assays in general and for non-invasive foetal RHD genotyping in particular. Recommendations were based on the result of discussions between co-authors. In relation to Annex VIII of the In-Vitro-Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation 2017/746 of the European Parliament and the Council, assays for non-invasive prenatal testing of foetal blood groups are risk class D devices. In our opinion, screening for targeted anti-D prophylaxis for non-immunized RhD negative women should be placed under risk class C. To ensure high quality of non-invasive foetal blood group assays within and beyond the European Union, we present specific recommendations for validation and quality assurance in terms of analytical detection limit, range and linearity, precision, robustness, pre-analytics and use of controls in routine testing. With respect to immunized women, different requirements for validation and IVD risk classification are discussed. These recommendations should be followed to ensure appropriate assay performance and applicability for clinical use of both commercial and in-house assays.