Staff Assessment Research Articles

Long-acting injectable antiretrovirals for HIV treatment in the ICONA cohort: physicians' and nurses' points of view.

Implementation level of long-acting injectable agents cabotegravir/rilpivirine (LAI CAB/RPV) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment in Italy is still not known. The aim of this study is to identify the status of implementation of LAI CAB-RPV and its barriers. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among infectious diseases (ID) physicians and nurses belonging to the ICONA network in Italy. Three validate 4-items measures were used: Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM) and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Out of 61 ICONA centres, 38 (62%) completed the survey: 57.9% were academic centres, 42.1% were hospital-based. In total, 104 respondents were ID physicians (57.4%), 77 were nurses (42.5%); 4.5% of all PWH followed at the 38 centres started LAI CAB/RPV at time of study. Centres taking care of >1000 PWH reported 95% application of procedures for LA implementation, higher than other centres (P = 0.009). Mean score of AIM was (16.0, standard deviation, SD, 3.3), of IAM (16.0, SD 3.0) and FIM (16.0, SD 2.9). A linear correlation was found between AIM and the number of people with HIV who started LAI CAB/RPV (25-50 versus <25, coefficient of correlation [b] 2.57, 95%CI 0.91-4.60, P = 0.004), academic versus hospital-based centres (b -1.59, 95%CI -2.76-0.110044, P = 0.007) and the absence of preliminary systematic assessment of staff (b -1.98, 95%CI -3.31-0.65, P = 0.004). Implementation barriers were not significantly different according to the number of PWH/centre. LAI CAB/RPV implementation was low, with a great variability according to centre size. Tailored and centre-specific interventions to address barriers and to optimize the LA treatment implementation should be designed.

Development and implementation of evidence-based, nurse-leading early warning model and healthcare quality improvement project for transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: a mixed-methods, before-and-after study

ObjectiveThe early identification and diagnosis of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) are essential yet difficult in patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To develop an evidence-based, nurse-leading early warning model for TA-TMA, and implement the healthcare quality review and improvement project.MethodsThis study was a mixed-methods, before-and-after study. The early warning model was developed based on quality evidence from literature search. The healthcare quality review and improvement project mainly included baseline investigation of nurse, improvement action and effectiveness evaluation. The awareness and knowledge of early parameter of TA-TMA among nurses and the prognosis of patients underwent HSCT were compared before and after the improvement.ResultsA total of 1 guideline, 1 evidence synthesis, 4 expert consensuses, 10 literature reviews, 2 diagnostic studies, and 9 case series were included in the best evidence. The early warning model including warning period, high-risk characteristics and early manifestation of TA-TMA was developed. The improvement action, including staff training and assessment, suspected TA-TMA identification and patient education, was implemented. The awareness and knowledge rate of early parameter of TA-TMA among nurses significantly improved after improvement action (100% vs. 26.7%, P < 0.001). The incidence of TA-TMA was similar among patients underwent HSCT before and after improvement action (2.8% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.643), while no fall event occurred after improvement action (0 vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe evidence-based early warning model and healthcare quality improvement project could enhance the awareness and knowledge of TA-TMA among healthcare providers and might improve the prognosis of patients diagnosed with TA-TMA.

Exploring the Relationship of Declarative Tactical Knowledge With Participation, Football Competence, and Potentiality in a Professional Club (Real Sociedad).

We compared the declarative tactical knowledge (DTK) of 196 male and female players (16.9 ± 2.4years) belonging to the academy of a Spanish professional football club with their participation (minutes played), football competence (coaching staff assessment), and future potential (technical direction prediction). The DTK had no correlation with the minutes played (%) by the participants during the 2021-22 season (r = -.162, p = .045). Student's t test for independent samples compared the football competence of the participants with high DTK (n = 74) and low DTK (n = 76), proving a small impact (p = .021, d = 0.39) in favor of the first group. Although the high-DTK group showed a better average of potentiality, the technical direction identified more potential players for the first team in the low-DTK group. In conclusion, no solid evidence was found to justify that participants with higher DTK in each team were those who played more minutes and showed greater football competence and potentiality.

Restorative Quality Assessment of Academic - An Islamic Motivation for Circular Nation-Building

A circular nation-building initiative emphasising zero-dysfunctionality is an urgent step to restore national education. The nose-diving performance in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA 2022, is a wake-up call to power up the people manning the education sector. The study analysed and identified the alarming situations signalling the urgent need for rectification based on the empirical data acquired over 30 years. The analysis points to evidence of fake claims of performance in academia as the main hub of human resource development and the primary factor that shadows the loopholes of education quality. Springboarding from there, the study recommends steps for the betterment of the sector. Qualitative assessment of academic staff via restorative assessment (RES-Q) measure assimilating the functional from the dysfunctional academics is the identified first step. Functionality, in this regard, is defined by the functions aligned to the fulfilment of national needs. Local universities' declining popularity prompted RES-Q map construction for root cause-to-solution to uplift the education sector. Detailing educator assessment needs leads to RES-Q inquisitive analysis to detect and fix issues without derailing from the national strategic alignment (NSA). Deploying RES-Q today should empower educators and in turn, revive learners’ interests in tertiary education. Through the corrected cycle of critical mass, the reshuffling of academics based on their dominant strengths must be pursued. The talent appropriation strategy is commensurate with the gratefulness in Islamic morality that simultaneously forbids the waste of resources.

Validation of the Emergency Department Work Index in a Pediatric Freestanding Community Emergency Department.

The Emergency Department Work Index (EDWIN) is a validated overcrowding score shown to correlate well with staff assessment of adult emergency department (ED) overcrowding and the potential need for diversion. It derives from the number of staffed ED beds, attending physicians on duty, patients within each triage category, and admitted patients. To date, no study has validated EDWIN in a pediatric community ED setting. We aim to determine if EDWIN correlates with established overcrowding measures and provider perception of overcrowding within a freestanding, community-based pediatric ED. In this prospective observational study at a freestanding, community-based pediatric ED, EDWIN was calculated hourly over 8 weeks throughout the year. EDWIN was compared with other objective and previously established ED metrics of overcrowding, including rates of patients who left without being seen (LWBS), average time from arrival to ED room, average length of stay (LOS), ED occupancy rates, and number of patients in the waiting room. Furthermore, EDWIN was compared with provider perception of overcrowding by surveying providers 6 times a day during the study period using novel, real-time, longitudinal, electronic health record-based survey distribution methodology. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to characterize the associations between EDWIN vs provider perception and EDWIN vs ED metrics. ANOVA and Tukey HSD were used to compare means of ED metrics of overcrowding across EDWIN severity categories. Five hundred eleven provider perception survey responses were collected from July 2022 through January 2023. EDWIN directly correlated with all measures of overcrowding, including provider perception of crowdedness (rho = 0.67), LWBS rates (rho = 0.44), average time from arrival to ED room (rho = 0.74), average LOS (rho = 0.70), ED occupancy rates (rho = 0.68), and number of patients in the waiting room (rho = 0.65). All findings were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that EDWIN is an accurate tool to measure overcrowding in a freestanding, community-based pediatric ED.

A needs assessment of Extension staff to implement inclusive programming for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities

This study is a needs assessment of Extension staff in the state of Iowa to implement inclusive programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Electronic surveys were completed by Extension staff on their attitudes and beliefs toward people with IDD, inclusive programming, and training needs. Results showed that Extension staff had positive views, but that staff reporting personal experience with people with IDD had more positive attitudes and beliefs (p &lt;.05). The greatest training need was instructional techniques. The study highlights the importance of direct experience in addition to knowledge-based workshops for training Extension staff to implement inclusive programming.

Examining the Integration of a GPS-based Staff Performance Monitoring and Assessment System within Academic Settings

Research evidence of manipulations of appraisal systems of various institutions in Nigeria abound, and little is known about the application of a Geographical positioning system (GPS) enabled system in this context. To cover this gap, this study investigates the integration of a real-time staff performance monitoring and assessment system with GPS technology, within academic settings. With the increasing emphasis on quality education and efficient resource utilization, academic institutions are exploring innovative approaches to monitor staff performance and student outcomes. The integration of real-time performance systems offers a promising avenue to achieve these goals by providing timely feedback, fostering accountability, and facilitating data-driven decision-making processes. This study outlines the key components of such a system, including its technological infrastructure, data collection methods, and performance evaluation metrics. Additionally, it explores the potential benefits and challenges associated with its adoption, considering factors such as staff engagement, privacy concerns, and institutional culture. Through a comprehensive examination of existing literature and case studies, this research aims to provide valuable insights and recommendations for academic institutions seeking to leverage real-time staff performance monitoring for institutional enhancement and educational excellence. While this study highlights the significance of stakeholder collaboration and continuous improvement mechanisms in ensuring the successful integration and sustained effectiveness of the monitoring system, it introduces a nuanced novel GPS technology and highlights some design implications which will guide future human-computer interaction researchers.

PErspective and current status of Radiotherapy Service in IRan (PERSIR)-1 study: assessment of current external beam radiotherapy facilities, staff and techniques compared to the international guidelines

Background and purposeRadiotherapy (RT) is an essential treatment modality against cancer and becoming even more in demand due to the anticipated increase in cancer incidence. Due to the rapid development of RT technologies amid financial challenges, we aimed to assess the available RT facilities and the issues with achieving health equity based on current equipment compared to the previous reports from Iran.Materials and methodsA survey arranged by the Iran Cancer Institute's Radiation Oncology Research Center (RORC) was sent to all of the country's radiotherapy centers in 2022. Four components were retrieved: the reimbursement type, equipment, human resources, and patient load. To calculate the radiotherapy utilization rate (RUR), the Lancet Commission was used. The findings were compared with the previous national data.ResultsSeventy-six active radiotherapy centers with 123 Linear accelerators (LINACs) were identified. The centers have been directed in three ways. 10 (20 LINACs), 36 (50 LINACs), and 30 centers (53 LINACs) were charity-, private-, and public-based, respectively. Four provinces had no centers. There was no active intraoperative radiotherapy machine despite its availability in 4 centers. One orthovoltage X-ray machine was active and 14 brachytherapy devices were treating patients. There were 344, 252, and 419 active radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapy technologists, respectively. The ratio of LINAC and radiation oncologists to one million populations was 1.68 and 4.10, respectively. Since 2017, 35±5 radiation oncology residents have been trained each year.ConclusionThere has been a notable growth in RT facilities since the previous reports and Iran's situation is currently acceptable among LMICs. However, there is an urgent need to improve the distribution of the RT infrastructure and provide more facilities that can deliver advanced techniques.

Internationalization of higher education in times of crisis: from globalist tendencies to the search for national priorities

Introduction. Global socio-political crises of our time, which limit the traditional forms of international cooperation for Russian universities, actualize the problem of searching for the most effective models of internationalization of higher education. At present, the nationally-oriented model corresponds to the goals and conditions of the organization of international activities in higher education to the greatest extent. The aim of the article is to identify the possibilities of implementation of the nationally-oriented model of internationalization of higher education in the assessment of scientific and pedagogical staff. Materials and methods. The study is based on general scientific methods, the principle of additionality of approaches of Russian and foreign researchers. Two-hundred thirty pedagogical profile teachers of Novgorod State University (Russian Federation) took part in the survey. Google Forms service was used to collect statistical information. Data collection was carried out from September 2022 to June 2023. Results of the study. The majority of survey participants who had experience of international cooperation believe that internationalization is important for the development of teacher education. This view is shared by more than half of the respondents who had no international experience. The use of foreign educational practices is considered useful by 32% of respondents. The same number of teachers use educational technologies borrowed from abroad and adapted to the specific realities of the university. The majority of respondents would like to continue international cooperation. Social motives (58%), pragmatic motives (52%), and cognitive motives (75%) dominate among the respondents. A total of 11% of respondents believe that internationalization is harmful to Russian teacher education because it has a pro-Western influence on young people. A significant number of teachers (33%) support the rejection of the Bologna system, as it is, in their opinion, alien to Russian pedagogical traditions. Conclusions. The obtained data suggest that various programs of scientific and educational cooperation with universities of friendly countries are currently in demand and will be able to replace European directions of international activities. The results of the study have shown that at present there is a transition from globalist approaches to internationalization of higher education to models focused on national priorities in Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, like in other Russian universities.

Combination of Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and Simplified Pivot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA-S) in Determining the Best Staff

Problems in selecting the best staff often involve complex challenges such as difficulty finding candidates with good performance. The problems faced in the selection of the best are only based on the assessment of discipline and productivity of performance carried out by the staff, so the assessment process does not use aspects of criteria that are considered important in selecting the best staff. This study aims to determine the best staff based on predetermined criteria and in determining the selection of the best staff using the Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) decision model while in determining the weight of criteria using the Simplified Pivot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA-S) model so that the weight of the resulting criteria is not based on assumptions from decision makers. The results of the best staff assessment ranking using the Gray Relational Analysis method and the Simplified Pivot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment weighting method obtained the results, namely for Rank 1 obtained by Denis Irawan with a final Gray Relational Analysis value of 0.243014. The results of data processing in the TRITAM Model test for the best staff selection application were adjusted to the conclusion of the overall results of the TRITAM Model criteria for technology acceptance, the results were good at 82.56%.

Evaluation of emergency drills effectiveness by center of disease prevention and control staff in Heilongjiang Province, China: an empirical study using the logistic-ISM model.

Emergency drills are critical practices that can improve the preparedness for crisis situations. This study aims to comprehend the evaluation of emergency drill effectiveness by the staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Heilongjiang Province, China. It identifies potential factors that could influence the personnel's appraisal of outcomes throughout the emergency drill procedure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among public health professionals from various CDCs in Heilongjiang, a northeastern Chinese province. The binary logistic regression analysis identified the factors associated with the CDC staff's assessment of emergency drill efficacy, while the Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) elucidated the hierarchical structure among the influencing factors. 53.3% (95% CI = 50.6-55.4) of participants perceived the emergency drills' effectiveness as low. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the following adverse factors associated with the emergency drills increased the risk of a lower evaluation: lack of equipment and poor facilities (OR = 2.324, 95% CI = 1.884-2.867), poor training quality (OR = 1.765, 95% CI = 1.445-2.115), low leadership focus (OR = 1.585, 95% CI = 1.275-1.971), insufficient training frequency (OR = 1.539, 95% CI = 1.258-1.882), low skill in designing emergency drill plans (OR = 1.494, 95% CI = 1.180-1.890), lack of funding (OR = 1.407, 95% CI = 1.111-1.781), and poor coordination between departments (OR = 1.335, 95% CI = 1.085-1.641). The ISM revealed the hierarchical relationship of the influential factors, which were classified into three levels: Surface, Middle and Bottom. The Surface Level factors were training frequency, training quality, leaders' focus, and inter-departmental coordination. The Middle Level factors were equipment availability and skill in designing emergency drill plans. The Bottom Level factor was funding guarantee. This survey revealed that over half of the CDC staff rated the effectiveness of public health emergency drills as low. The Logistic-ISM Model results indicated that the evaluation of drill effectiveness was negatively influenced by insufficient facility and equipment support, financial constraints, lack of departmental coordination, and inadequate leadership attention. Among these factors, funding guarantee was the most fundamental one. Therefore, this calls for strategic decisions to increase funding for equipment, leadership training support, and effective emergency coordination.

Nurses' attitudes towards factors determining the safety of patients treated in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study.

The goal of health care systems is to ensure high quality of medical services provided, including patient safety. The intensive care unit (ICU) is an environment conducive to the occurrence of adverse events and medical errors because of the complexity of the care provided, the severity of the conditions of patients treated in these units and work often performed under stressful conditions. Assessment of attitudes of nurses working in ICUs towards patient safety. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in a group of 214 nurses employed in ICUs in hospitals located in the southern part of Poland. The study used the Polish version of the Attitudes towards safety: (SAQ-SF PL) questionnaire and an original questionnaire consisting of questions on socio-demographic and professional data. The overall SAQ score for the whole group was 61.89, 57.29 for adult ICU nurses and 68.20 for children's ICU. The surveyed nurses in general obtained the highest average results in terms of teamwork climate (TC)-66.92, while the lowest scores were given to the management-hospital management (PM)-45.08 and working conditions (WC)-57.56. job satisfaction (JS) positively correlated with the assessment of the TC, the assessment of the safety climate (SC), the assessment of the management staff (Head of Department) (PM), the assessment of the management staff (hospital management) (PM) and the assessment of work conditions (WC). A statistically significant, negative correlation was found between the assessment of JS and the assessment of stress recognition (SR) (r = -.20; p < .01). In the surveyed ICU branches, there is a low SC, and it is related, among others, to the perception of WC and the role of the management staff. The level of JS among nursing staff mainly depends on the SC, the TC, WC and the support of the management staff. The results of the research presented here provide valuable assistance in identifying areas related to patient safety in ICUs. Managers' awareness of the importance of coping with occupational stress, WC or effective teamwork can help to improve staff attitudes and attitudes towards patient safety. When shaping a safe culture in a health care organization, it is important to remember that ensuring safe patient care is not only about programmes, standards or procedures, but safety is primarily about human resources-the staff involved in the treatment process-doctors, nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists. High awareness of safety at work, cooperation in an interdisciplinary team, assessment of safety culture at work and analysis and drawing conclusions may result in a real increase in quality and safety, and the patient will feel safer in 'XX' hospitals.

Electronic Partner Notification for Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Qualitative Assessment of Patient, Clinical Staff, and State Field Epidemiologist Perspectives.

In Massachusetts (MA), partner notification is routinely offered for new HIV and infectious syphilis cases, but there are no formal partner notification services for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Electronic partner notification (ePN), which allows patients to anonymously notify their partners of sexually transmitted infection exposure, could fill this gap. We evaluated the acceptability of and ideal characteristics for a statewide ePN service in MA. We performed semistructured interviews with patients at a Boston area sexual health clinic and conducted focus groups with clinicians and Massachusetts Department of Public Health Field Epidemiologists (FEs). We developed a codebook and thematically analyzed interview and focus group data; 25% of interviews were double coded. We identified six main themes from our data: (1) partner notification is a relational process and (2) partner notification is situation dependent. There are three pairs of challenges and core values for an effective ePN system: (3) stigmatization versus inclusivity, (4) trust versus mistrust, and (5) privacy versus helpful information sharing. Therefore, (6) a statewide ePN platform must be customizable at each possible step. Although ePN was acceptable across all three groups, the likelihood of individual use was grounded in a patient's sociocultural context, interpersonal relationships, trust in the platform and health authorities, desire to avoid stigmatization, and privacy needs. These factors are best accommodated by a platform that adapts to users' preferences and needs. ePN presents an opportunity to link partners at risk for gonorrhea or chlamydia to clinical care that is complementary to the more labor-intensive FE role.

Help Us Support Healing (HUSH): A Preliminary Assessment of Staff’s Estimates of Acoustic Noise in their Level 4 NICU

Help Us Support Healing (HUSH): A Preliminary Assessment of Staff’s Estimates of Acoustic Noise in their Level 4 NICU

Health damage assessment of commuters and staff in the metro system based on field monitoring-A case study of Nanjing.

The metro has emerged as a major mode of transportation. A significant number of commuters and staff in the metro system are exposed to air pollutants because of its shielded environment, and substantial health damage requires quantitative assessment. Previous studies have focused on comparing the health impacts among different transportation modes, overlooking the specific population characteristics and pollutant distribution in metro systems. To make improvements, this study implements field monitoring of the metro's air environment utilizing specialized instruments and develops a health damage assessment model. The model quantifies health damage of two main groups (commuters and staff) in metro systems at three different areas (station halls, platforms, and metro cabins) due to particulate matter 10 and benzene series pollution. A case study of Nanjing Metro Line 3 was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Health damage at different metro stations was analyzed, and the health damage of commuters and staff was assessed and compared. This study contributes to enhancing research on health damage in the metro systems by providing a reference for mitigation measures and guiding health subsidy policies.

EMPOWERING STAFF TO MANAGE MEALTIME DIFFICULTIES AMONG RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract People in advanced stages of dementia may experience mealtimes difficulties and depend on others for feeding. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an educational intervention on mealtime difficulties of people with dementia, in a sample of 16 direct care workers and 9 people with dementia and was conducted in a nursing home. The sessions provided information about dementia, mealtime difficulties, and training on strategies and techniques. Feasibility was assessed through screening, eligibility, consent, retention, completion, and intervention adherence rates; and acceptability through a satisfaction questionnaire. The staff assessment included: burnout, job satisfaction, and knowledge about dementia and mealtime difficulties. In people with dementia, eating and feeding problems, and food intake were assessed. The main findings show that all feasibility rates, except for screening (89%), were excellent (100%). Direct care workers appreciated the intervention and perceived educational and practical benefits, although they reported needing more time to provide better assistance. Burnout levels did not change (mean 58.9 versus 58.6), but job satisfaction showed a positive trend (mean 71 versus 74.5) at the end of the intervention. Knowledge increased 37.5% compared to baseline. EdFED’s score presented slight improvement, while the oral intake of people with dementia increased after the intervention (91.1% versus 98.1%). The intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. However, the educational intervention content needs improvement, and further studies with robust designs and larger samples are needed to better understand its effects on both direct care workers and people with dementia.

Designing a Fall Prediction Model for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Using Readily Available Data

ObjectiveTo create a fall risk assessment tool for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) using available data and compare its predictive accuracy with that of the Morse Fall Scale (MFS). DesignWe conducted a secondary analysis from a retrospective cohort study. Using a nomogram that displayed the contributions of QI codes associated with falls in a multivariable logistic regression model, we created a novel fall risk assessment, the Inpatient Rehabilitation Fall Scale (IRF Scale). To compare the predictive accuracy of the IRF Scale and MFS, we used receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. SettingWe included data from 4 IRFs owned and operated by Intermountain Health. ParticipantsData came from the medical records of 1699 patients. All participants were over the age of 14 and were admitted and discharged from 1 of the 4 sites between January 1 and December 31, 2020. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s)We assigned point values on the IRF Scale based on the adjusted associations of QI codes with falls. Using ROC curve analysis, we discovered an optimal cutoff score, sensitivity, specificity, and overall AUC of the IRF Scale and MFS. ResultsROC curve analysis revealed the optimal IRF Scale cutoff score of 22.4 yielded a sensitivity of 0.74 and a specificity of 0.63. With an AUC of 0.72, the IRF Scale demonstrated acceptable accuracy at identifying patients who fell in our retrospective cohort. ConclusionsBecause the IRF Scale uses readily available data, it minimizes staff assessment and outperforms the MFS at identifying patients who previously fell. Prospective research is needed to investigate if it can adequately identify in advance which patients will fall during their IRF stay.

Radiation exposure assessment of nuclear medicine staff administering [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE with active and passive dosimetry

BackgroundThe use of lutetium-177 (177Lu)-based radiopharmaceuticals in peptide receptor nuclear therapy is increasing, but so is the number of nuclear medicine workers exposed to higher levels of radiation. In recent years, [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE has begun to be widely used for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. However, there are few studies evaluating the occupational radiation exposure during its administration, and there are still some challenges that can result in higher doses to the staff, such as a lack of trained personnel or fully standardised procedures. In response, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of occupational doses to the staff involved in the administration of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE.ResultsA total of 32 administrations of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE (7.4 GBq/session) carried out by a physician and a nurse, were studied. In total, two physicians and four nurses were independently monitored with cumulative (passive) and/or real-time (active) dosemeters. Extremity, eye lens and whole-body doses were evaluated in terms of the dosimetric quantities Hp(0.07), Hp(3) and Hp(10), respectively. It was obtained that lead aprons reduced dose rates and whole-body doses by 71% and 69% for the physicians, respectively, and by 56% and 68% for the nurses. On average, normalised Hp(10) values of 0.65 ± 0.18 µSv/GBq were obtained with active dosimetry, which is generally consistent with passive dosemeters. For physicians, the median of the maximum normalised Hp(0.07) values was 41.5 µSv/GBq on the non-dominant hand and 45.2 µSv/GBq on the dominant hand. For nurses 15.4 µSv/GBq on the non-dominant and 13.9 µSv/GBq on the dominant hand. The ratio or correction factor between the maximum dose measured on the hand and the dose measured on the base of the middle/ring finger of the non-dominant hand resulted in a factor of 5/6 for the physicians and 3/4 for the nurses. Finally, maximum normalised Hp(3) doses resulted in 2.02 µSv/GBq for physicians and 1.76 µSv/GBq for nurses.ConclusionsIf appropriate safety measures are taken, the administration of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE is a safe procedure for workers. However, regular monitoring is recommended to ensure that the annual dose limits are not exceeded.

ASSESSMENT, SELECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION STAFF ON THE BASIS OF PROFESSIONAL RELIABILITY

The relevance of the article is stipulated by the need for targeted training of social sphere managers in personnel management, since at present social organizations lack qualified managerial staff, i.e. social managers. The article aims at, on the one hand, substantiating the expediency of assessment, selection and development of social organization staff on the basis of a single universal characteristic – employees’ professional reliability, and, on the other hand, defining social managers’ professional competencies, which are necessary for the effective performance of their labor function related to staff management in general, as well as to staff assessment, selection and development, in particular. The research was conducted using the methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, and systematization, which enabled identifying a social manager’s professional competencies of necessary for the procedure for diagnosing the professional reliability of personnel of social organizations, which serves as a criterion for their assessment, selection, and development. The article highlights that the multidimensional nature of activities in the social sphere necessitates the analysis of candidates for a position according to many different criteria, which, in turn, complicates the diagnostic procedure, analysis of its results and making an unambiguous decision. It is substantiated that professional reliability is a universal characteristic which allows not only to make an unambiguous decision, but also to unify the very procedure of staff selection. A social organization employee’s professional reliability is considered to be a special state based on his or her natural properties, which represents a stable in time, perfect in the ways of action and effective in the results of performing the tasks of professional activity. The rationale is based on the argument that reliability, along with quality and productivity, is a component of the effectiveness of professional activity and is manifested in maintaining high efficiency of this activity regardless the conditions of its course. Based on the analysis of the Professional Standard "Social Manager", the article characterizes a social manager’s professional competencies in terms of assessment, selection and development of social organization staff. The analysis has led to the conclusion that the training of future social managers with due regard for the relevant professional standard ensures simultaneous formation of their ability to: conduct a procedure for staff diagnosing for professional reliability according to the described methodology; make an unambiguous decision on a candidate’s suitability for a vacant position in a social organization; employees’ further development depending on the state of their professional reliability.

A systematic review of prevalence of pain in nursing home residents with dementia

BackgroundThe prevalence of dementia in nursing home (NH) residents is high, and pain is a troublesome symptom for them. Several studies since 2010 have focused on pain in NH residents with dementia, but there is a lack of systematic reviews on the prevalence of pain in NH residents with dementia.AimTo systematically review observational studies published from 2010 to 2023 on how pain is assessed and prevalence of pain found in NH residents with dementia.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, AgeLine, and Cochrane databases for studies published from January 2010 to August 2023. Studies were included if they were observational studies with a quantitative design where self-report, staff assessment, and/or chart review were used to define the prevalence of pain in samples or subsamples of NH residents with dementia.ResultsOf 184 studies considered, 25 were included. The studies assessed pain as daily, present, clinically relevant, chronic, intermittent, persistent pain and/or if pain affected quality of life. The prevalence of pain was high in most studies of NH residents with dementia independent of whether pain was reported as presence of pain or clinically relevant pain, but the prevalence varied from 8.6% to 79.6%. This prevalence was quite stable across the NH stay, but higher towards the end of life (up to 80.4%). Study designs and methodologies differed considerably. About half relied on an observational assessment inventory.ConclusionThe number of studies focusing on pain in NH residents with dementia was restricted and methodologies differed considerably. Relatively few studies used an observational assessment inventory. In view of the fact that residents with dementia may have difficulties communicating pain, clinicians should pay attention to pain in these residents, systematically and reliably uncover pain by use of observational inventories, and subsequently treat pain to secure high quality care.