Technical Staff Research Articles

Additional court player: possibilities for tactical variations and their implications for the handball training process

Handball game passed by normative changes in 2016, and some influenced the use of the additional court player (ACP), both related to organizational, strategic, tactical, and technical issues. This study aimed to analyze, from the speeches of Brazilian handball coaches, the influence of ACP on handball training process after 2016. Seven coaches were interviewed, who have already been classified among the top four clubs in the Brazilian national men and women leagues and/or who participated in the technical staff of the Brazilian national teams (men and/or women). Data were thematically analyzed. The 2016 normative change raised new handball tactical landscapes, as the coaches developed changings on offensive and defensive actions using and playing against ACP.

The implementation of the CDS-quiz, a novel educational method, in augmenting the knowledge and competence of pharmaceutical technical personnel

Background: Pharmaceutical personnel are crucial to therapy implementation within healthcare facilities. The predicament lies in optimising the role of pharmaceutical technical staff within clinical pharmacy services, acting as a support system for pharmacists. The impediment to achieving higher satisfaction is attributable to pharmaceutical personnel's inadequate knowledge and skills. Therefore, a need arises for an efficient educational method to enhance their knowledge and proficiency. Objective: To examine the implementation of the CDS-Quiz for enhancing patient knowledge and satisfaction. Method: Over 90 day-research was conducted employing ceramah-, discussion-, and skill-quiz (CDS-Quiz). The respondents consisted of ten PTPs in healthcare facilities. The assessment of patient contentment was undertaken before and following the intervention. Result: After implementing the CDS-Quiz, there was a statistically significant enhancement in PTPs’ knowledge and proficiency (p < 0.001). These include a substantial upswing in patient contentment levels concerning reliability (68.8% to 89.6%), responsiveness (71.1% to 88.8%), and empathy (81.2% to 92.6%) in the provision of pharmaceutical services within the healthcare facility. There was also an increase in assurance (88.2% to 95.5%) and tangible (86% to 91.7%). Conclusion: The CDS-Quiz method proved the enhancement of the knowledge and skills of PTPs in healthcare services and can be applied to maximise pharmaceutical services.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing home professionals: results of the RESICOVID project

ObjectivesThe situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental, physical, and social health of nursing home staff. The operations and protocols of long-term care facilities had to be adapted to a new, unforeseen, and unknown situation in which a devastating and highly contagious disease was causing large numbers of deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care, technical, coordinating-supervisory, and managerial staff working in nursing homes.MethodsCorrelation analysis and between-group comparisons were carried out to study the relationship between burnout scores, emotional balance, and organic and behavioral symptoms.ResultsThe results indicate high levels of burnout and psychological exhaustion. Management professionals displayed higher levels of organic and behavioral symptoms than other professional categories in the same care settings. Despite this negative symptomatology, most professionals showed a positive emotional balance.ConclusionThe need to develop intervention programs to improve the mental, physical, and occupational health of the staff in nursing homes, considering the needs of different professional categories, is emphasized.

Determination of the Knowledge Level of the Technical Staff about Arbitration

Türkiye has become one of the world's leading countries in the construction sector in the international arena. Today, the use of FIDIC and similar standard contracts is increasing in Turkish contractor companies. In parallel with this situation, it also becomes more common to prefer arbitration in the settlement of disputes in the international construction sector. In the literature, there is no actual publication about the knowledge level of technical staff on arbitration. By taking this deficiency into consideration, the purpose of this study is to measure the awareness of the groups working in the construction sector about the possibility of applying to arbitration as a result of the disputes that they encounter, by measuring the arbitration knowledge level of the technical staff. Accordingly, an empirical field work was conducted with a total of 100 (one hundred) technical staff working in the public and private sector transportation projects in Istanbul. The data collection tool that was used in the research is a questionnaire developed by the researchers and consisting of 25 questions. In the survey analysis, the data were analyzed with the SPSS 28 package program. In the study, a reliability test was conducted for each statement and the Mann-Whitney U test was used. As a result of the analysis, it has been determined that 84.4% of the participants do not follow up the actual developments in the field of arbitration in the world and in Türkiye, and do not have sufficient knowledge about arbitration. However, it has been determined that the arbitration knowledge level of the participants, who follow up the actual developments in the world and in Türkiye and have sufficient knowledge about arbitration, is high. In addition, it has been determined that 93.8% of the participants would like to participate an information training to be held on arbitration. To increase awareness about arbitration, it is necessary to introduce undergraduate-level arbitration courses for technical staff in engineering and architecture faculties at universities, and to organize periodic in-service training programs by the arbitration centers in our country.

The Usefulness of the Telegram App in Learning English as a Foreign Language: Teachers and Students Voices

The study attempted to investigate the effectiveness of the Telegram application (app) in learning English as a foreign language for undergraduate EFL learners. The study looked at how Telegram app constraints EFL learners experience when utilizing Telegram in learning a foreign language. This research, using a descriptive-diagnostic research approach, used a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to collect the data from 40 students and 20 teachers at Najran University which were chosen through a stratified sampling technique. The results revealed that both teachers and students think that Telegram can highly improve learning English as a foreign language. The results also showed the participant (student, teacher) played a role in varying the study sample's responses in favor of teachers. The findings of the interview show that many students struggle to learn the English language through Telegram due to constraints like device compatibility, health issues, lack of motivation, loneliness, distraction, and difficulty in uploading and downloading files, often unable to receive feedback or academic assistance due to technical staff and training issues. The results of this study have implications for teaching and learning English that can motivate both instructors and students to use social media-based tools.

Historical trends and current experiences of anatomical body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools

BackgroundBody donation is integral to anatomy education, but procurement can be ethically fraught. While voluntary donation is preferred, the use of unclaimed bodies, although considered unethical, is a primary means for body procurement in some countries. This mixed methods study examined historical trends and anatomy technical staff perspectives on body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools. Methodology and main findingsIn Phase 1, 194 cadaver paper records from January 1984 to January 2021 were reviewed. Unclaimed bodies accounted for 67% while 33% (all white Zimbabweans) were voluntarily donated. Most cadavers were black Africans (62.4%) followed by white Zimbabweans (34.0%). Race was not indicated in seven (3.6%) records. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven technicians responsible for sourcing cadavers at the two institutions. Data were thematically analysed resulting in the development of eight themes, arranged into three domains. Cadaver procurement themes related to (1) cadaver source, (2) adherence to procurement guidelines, (3) screening for suitability, and (4) cultural and religious beliefs. Cadaver embalmment focused on (5) embalming practices, and (6) hospital mortuary-based embalming. Finally, (7) disposal processes and (8) resource constraints were found to influence cadaver disposal practices. ConclusionsContrary to best practice, there is continued reliance on the use of unclaimed bodies to support anatomy education in the two Zimbabwean medical schools. Improving the ethical sourcing of bodies requires increased efforts to educate all Zimbabweans, especially the black majority, about the role and importance of voluntary body donation in medical education. Additionally, well-structured, and well-resourced body donation programs could enhance ethical procurement.

How automated machines influence employment in manufacturing enterprises?

This paper theoretically analyzes and empirically examines the impact and mechanisms of automated machines on employment in manufacturing enterprises, drawing on task-based model and using micro data from listed Chinese manufacturing enterprises between 2012 and 2019. Our findings reveal that: (1) Automated machines in manufacturing enterprises leads to a substitution effect on the total labor force, with a substitution effect on low-skilled labor and a creation effect on high-skilled labor in terms of employment structure. (2) Further analysis indicates that automated machines primarily have a positive effect on R&D and technical staff, a non-significant effect on sales staff, and a negative impact on production, administrative, and financial staff. (3) The primary influencing mechanisms of automated machines on employment in manufacturing firms are productivity effects and output scale effects, based on the mediation effect model. (4) Considering the industry linkage effect, we employ the input-output method and the Input-Output Table and find that automated machines for upstream (downstream) manufacturing enterprises will result in a substitution effect on employment for downstream (upstream) enterprises. The novelties and research contributions are as follows: (1) we conduct a structural decomposition of total employment, and further decompose employment positions into production, R&D, sales, finance, and administration. (2) We try to investigate the industry linkage effect about the impact of automated machines on the employment of upstream and downstream enterprises. (3) We use data from listed manufacturing companies, and the data of existing research are about provincial and industry-level data.

Effect of Goal Setting on Psychological State and Swimming Performance in Competitive Swimming

The aim of this study was to study the effect of setting a personal goal to achieve on psychological parameters (cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence) and on the chronometric performance of 50m butterfly in young swimmers. aged between 12 and 13 years old during the 2019/2020 sports season. The population was divided into three groups, the first group1 (G1) underwent competition preparation without a set goal (method1), the second group2 (G2) was oriented towards a vague goal “Do your best” (method2) , whereas, the third group was asked to respond to a difficult-to-achieve goal according to a goal-setting interval (GBI) (method3). The results indicate that method 1 and method 3 increased the level of cognitive and somatic anxiety in swimmers in these two groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the self-confidence score was low in group 1 compared to the other two groups. Our results also show that chronometric performance was improved (p < 0.05) better by method 3 than by method 2, while performance remained unchanged in group 1. The difficult goal setting by IFB improved the chronometric performance, but at the same time increased the values of cognitive and somatic anxiety, for this reason the mental trainers and the technical staff were invited to develop associated mental preparation models to this method of goal setting to help swimmers psychologically.

30th Volume and 35th Birthday Celebration from the former Editor-in-Chief (2007-2010) of the European Journal of Therapeutics!

Dear Colleagues, I would like to share this editorial not as the current Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Therapeutics (Eur J Ther), formerly Gaziantep Medical Journal (Gaziantep Med J), but as the former Editor-in-Chief between 2007 and 2010. It is a great pleasure and pride to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Eur J Ther. In 2007, when I was appointed as the Dean of Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, unfortunately, the journal, the last issue of which was published in 2001, was in a five-year pause. In 1990, despite limited means, the journal had started its publication life [1], and it was a significant shortcoming not to be published. This scientific spark, launched in 1990, should not have been extinguished. Among the several projects we carried out during my tenure as a Dean, the one that made me the happiest was the resumption of the journal's publication. A dedicated team worked wholeheartedly for this journal despite many impossibilities. And, at the end of a serious process of five years, the journal was reborn from its ashes like a phoenix in 2007! At that time, many index applications of our journal, especially the ULAKBIM TR Index, were approved. Similarly, we increased the number of issues in a year from two to three during this period [2]. In 2010, I handed over the journal's editor-in-chief with great pleasure. Perhaps what made me the happiest in my academic career was my period as Editor-in-Chief between 2007 and 2010 and the journal's progress. It is also a source of happiness and pride that I am now contributing again as Editor-in-Chief in the thirty-fifth year of the journal. I would like to express my gratitude to all authors, editors, referees and technical staff who have contributed to the journal in this thirty-five-year period. With the hope that there will be many more beautiful years to celebrate, Yours sincerely,

Evaluating the impact of a pharmacy technician training program within a college of pharmacy.

Ensuring pharmacy technicians are adequately trained and prepared to enter the workforce is an important first step in addressing technician staff shortages. How pharmacy technician learners perceive their experiences after completion of a training program remains unknown. This study evaluated participant outcomes and self-efficacy ratings for common technician competencies after completion of a pharmacy technician training program. Between December 2021 and March 2023, we distributed a survey to participants who successfully completed the program approximately 3 months after their estimated completion date. The survey assessed 6 domains: enrollment and academic progression, utilization of educational resources, self-perceived proficiency on core competencies of a pharmacy technician, employment information, program recommendations, and student demographics. Thirty-six participants completed the survey, corresponding to a 60% response rate. Participants were attracted to the pharmacy technician program due to its affiliation with a college of pharmacy, online format, and affordability. Half of respondents were actively employed as pharmacy technicians, and the self-reported certification exam passage rate slightly exceeded national averages (78% vs 70% to 71%). Participants' self-efficacy ratings for pharmacy technician competencies were high (mean rating of 4.12 out of 5). Overwhelmingly, 97% of participants agreed that the program prepared them well for becoming a pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician training program housed within a college of pharmacy presents one potential solution in addressing pharmacy technician workforce shortages. Participants positively viewed their training experience, with high self-efficacy ratings for pharmacy technician competencies. Moreover, national certification exam results were slightly better than national averages.

Identification of obstacles in the environmental licensing process of thermoelectric power plants of the state of amazonas using the theory of restrictions, through the Current Reality Tree (ARA)

Environmental licensing seeks to promote sustainable development in the implementation of thermoelectric power plants, which have been characterized as causing environmental degradation. This process has been criticized, especially regarding the delay in the issuance of documents. For this reason, this research sought to study the causes that result in several problems in the environmental licensing process of the UTEs of Amazonas. To this end, the tool of the Theory of Constraints known as the Tree of Current Reality (ARA) was applied, together with interviews with the environmental technicians of the agency responsible for licensing and with the environmental consultants of the companies, aiming to identify root causes of the situation. It was verified the lack of mastery of the consultants of the companies regarding the specific subjects and procedures for licensing the activity, the areas chosen for the implementation of the plants and the lack of manpower. Based on this, it is proposed a pre-training of the consultants related to the licensing of the UTEs, the logistical planning of the companies aligned with the complexities of the Amazon territory, hiring of technical staff. This study contributes to the affirmation of the effectiveness of the ARA and to its application in other licensing processes of UTE's in other locations, since no studies were found that apply the ARA in the analysis of the licensing of Thermoelectric Power Plants, collaborating to improve the performance of this very important instrument that is the environmental licensing.

Effluent treatment plants for activities with high pollutant-degradation potential: an analysis of compliance with legal requirements

Sewage treatment plants (STPs), despite being fundamental for controlling environmental pollution, are also potential causes of environmental impact, therefore requiring an efficient self-monitoring plan to verify compliance with legal conditions. In this context, this research investigated the situation of Sewage Treatment Stations of enterprises that develop activities with high polluting degrading potential, located in Juazeiro do Norte – CE, in relation to compliance with legal guidelines. To guide this analysis, conditions were considered in resolutions from the Ceará State Environmental Council and municipal laws and decrees that deal with the matter under consideration. At the Municipal Environmental Authority of Juazeiro do Norte (AMAJU), data were collected from licensed enterprises that carried out high PPD activities, from the treatment technologies for effluents generated in each activity, from the STPs self-monitoring programs, and the types and locations of bodies receivers and the operating condition and physical flow of the AMAJU monitoring sector. The processing of data relating to the delivery of self-monitoring reports was carried out using percentages of 50 and 75%. From the analysis of the results, 48 ​​enterprises were identified that carried out high PPD activities, of which 4 were located in areas that had restrictions on this type of use. It was also verified that there was an important battery of public water supply wells surrounded by such projects. It was found that there are 70 high PPD projects that are under the jurisdiction of AMAJU and that the quality of liquid effluents from their STPs is, under specific conditions, in compliance with the release standards established by COEMA Resolution Nº 02/2017. However, it was found that the majority of the enterprises surveyed were non-compliant regarding the quantity and frequency of sending self-monitoring reports to AMAJU. These weaknesses were attributed to the reduced technical staff of the environmental agency and the absence of its minimum infrastructure for the development of the actions necessary for the implementation of an efficient environmental monitoring system. To contribute to the improvement of this system, it was suggested to strengthen AMAJU's technical, financial and institutional support, in addition to establishing a distinction in relation to the requirements regarding the frequency of analyzes and the periodicity of delivery of liquid effluent self-monitoring reports, for enterprises. with different types and classes.

HEALTHCARE PRACTICES AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AMONG PARENTS OF PUPILS ATTENDING FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) STAFF SCHOOL AKOKA, LAGOS.

The study examined healthcare practices and Digital Technologies among parents of pupils attending Federal College of Education (Technical) Staff School Akoka, Lagos. Four (4) research questions were raised and answered to guide the conduct of the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research study of which population of the study comprised parents of pupils attending FCE (T) staff school Akoka, Lagos numbering five hundred (500). The sample comprised of two hundred (200) parents constituting forty percent (40%) of the population. Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of pupils in the different classes to take the questionnaire home to their parents. It was concluded that healthcare practices and Digital Technologies among parents of pupils attending Federal College of Education (Technical) Staff School Akoka, Lagos is significant. It was also concluded that the parents shun all form of untrusted healthcare practices such as traditional medicine among others. Recommendations made among others is that Digital Technologies in health care practices should be made accessible to all and sundry.

Mediating role of green culture and green commitment in implementing employee ecological behaviour

PurposeThe present work investigated the effect of corporate social responsibility and top management support on employee ecological behaviour (EEB) with the mediating role of green culture and green commitment. Social identity theory (SIT) was used to describe the association between green culture, green commitment and EEB. Further, a conceptual model that summarises the interaction between perceived corporate social responsibility, top management support, green commitment, green culture and the adoption of ecological behaviour was developed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for a quantitative design using convenience sampling by collecting the data through a structured questionnaire gathered from 308 academics working in five Malaysian higher education institutions.FindingsCorporate social responsibility and top management support positively influence green culture and commitment. Moreover, green commitment positively influenced EEB and fully mediated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and EEB and between top management support and EEB.Research limitations/implicationsThe academic staff of universities was the target population of this research. Nevertheless, universities have a diverse population with complex activities that can affect the implementation of a sustainable workplace within the campus. Future research should also examine non-academic staff, including administrative, technical and operational staff, due to different employees' perceptions.Originality/valueAs far as the authors know, this is the first study to assign the mediator role to green culture in a relationship between top management support and EEB amongst academic staff in the Malaysian context. Future research should consider other intervening variables that influence adopting ecological behaviour.

Abstract TP112: Clinical Consequences of Tenecteplase Substitution for Alteplase at a Large Hub-Spoke Care Model

Introduction: Tenecteplase (TNK) is becoming the preferred thrombolytic for acute brain ischemia. We report a system-wide transition using intentional change management of a hub-spoke delivery model annually providing about 300 intravenous thrombolytic administrations to 3000 stroke alerts from alteplase to TNK. Methods: By 2021, evidence supported transition to TNK from alteplase to treat acute ischemic stroke at 0.25mg/kg (maximum 25mg). We began by gathering opinions from key stakeholders regarding TNK’s clinical merit to gauge support. We subsequently educated constituents including nursing, pharmacy, technical and clinical staff. A six-month lead-in, six-month introductory, and one-year transition period began in April 2021 using an intentional change method. Median door-to-needle (DTN), door-to-puncture (DTP), thrombolytic utilization and symptomatic hemorrhage rates were recorded at five primary (P) and a comprehensive stroke center (C). Results: During lead-in to TNK, DTN were 60(P), 26(C) minutes with 10%(P), 19%(C) utilization. DTP was 73 minutes. Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 0.0%(P), 4.9%(C) of alteplase-treated patients. During TNK’s 6-month introductory period DTN were 60(P), 20(C) minutes with 10%(P), 19%(C) utilization. DTP was 71 minutes. Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 0.0%(P), 4.9%(C) of TNK patients. During the subsequent one-year transition period, DTN was 53(P) and 23(C) minutes with 8%(P),16%(C) utilization. DTP was 78 minutes. Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 1.5%(P) and 3.0%(C). Conclusions: Hub-spoke delivery systems can safely transition to TNK using intentional process change reducing DTN and hemorrhagic complications with stable utilization. Substitution may not reduce DTP if thrombolytic administration is not the rate-limiting step. Intentional process change provides smooth transition when stakeholder education precedes, and pathway adherence follows implementation.

Managing CBRN mass casualty incidents at hospitals-Find a simple solution for a complex problem: A pilot study.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents are a major challenge for emergency medical services and the involved hospitals, especially if decontamination needs to be performed nearby or even within the hospital campus. The University Hospital Wuerzburg has developed a comprehensive and alternative CBRN response plan. The focus of this study was to proof the practicability of the concept, the duration of the decontamination process, and the temperature management. The entire decontamination area can be deployed 24/7 by the hospitals technical staff. Fire and rescue services are responsible for the decontamination process itself. This study was designed as full-scale exercise with 30 participants. The decontamination area was ready for operation within 30 minutes. The decontamination of the four simulated patients took 5.5 ± 0.6 minutes (mean ± SD). At the end of the decontamination process, the temperature of the undressed upper body of the training patients was 27.25 ± 1°C (81.05 ± 2°F) (mean ± SD) and the water in the shower was about 35°C (95°F). The presented concept is comprehensive and simple for a best possible care during CBRN incidents at hospitals. It ensures wet decontamination by Special Forces, while the technical requirements are created by the hospital.

Managing Technical Staff in a Modern Organization for Successful Business

An obstacle to the introduction of advanced technologies is the shortage of technology specialists. At this time, it is possible to slow down the economic growth of enterprises, as well as to reduce the competitiveness of companies. The reasons for the shortage of qualified personnel are: 1. High rate of introduction of advanced information technologies 2. Rapid growth of e-business 3. Lack of training programs The issue of increasing the effectiveness of personnel management in order to rationally use existing labor resources is very relevant. By stopping the hiring of new employees, managers try to retain technical staff. Issues of labor resource management are still insufficiently studied despite the existence of a serious theoretical and experimental basis. One of the objective reasons that hinders the development of research in this field is the lack of appropriate tools. Modern information technology is the basis that allows a person to expand the researcher's abilities when analyzing the problem under consideration. Managers' requirements for technical staff are determined by: a. Knowledge and experience of working in the existing specialty b. Knowledge of the sales market c. Clarification in the production technologies of a foreign country d. Using them at work There are many categories and within each category there are many different areas, both technical and creative. Engineering and technical personnel can be trained in various directions, such as mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemical technology, biotechnology, automation, construction, architecture, electrical and radio engineering, food technology, consumer goods research, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, automation, energy, assistance in the adoption of transport process technologies, Thermal energy and heating engineering, personnel training for radio-electronic systems, aircraft engine designers, future fashion designers and other fields. Today young people believe that technical professions are not as prestigious as, for example, a web designer or a photographer. Keywords: technical staff, personnel management, successful business, modern organization.

Creative Economy: Essence and Problems of Development

The article presents the authors’ opinion on the essence of creative economy on the content; Scientific and technical progress and post-industrial are clarified its features in the conditions of society; The main directions and trends of its development - progress and resource - are defined; The directions for the formation of adequate features of the creative economy are substantiated in the management system. It is noted that the creative industry is one of the factors of sustainable development and that contributes to the transition to an innovative economy. The essence of the creative industry and the economic characteristics of the creative sector are analyzed. It is noted that there were some fundamental changes at the end of the last century. Globalization and the new economy (knowledge economy) - created new guidelines for the creation and development of the highly economic so-called "creative economy". The basis for the development of the creative economy became the creative potential of a person. Currently, it is quite difficult to accurately assess the effectiveness and adequacy of the measures taken. The fact that the creative industry needs support is undeniable. The role of the state in ensuring the potential success of creative industries is crucial, as the state plays an important role in all key factors related to the development of the industry, such as the level of education, economic diversification, infrastructure, etc. On the basis of our research, we can point out that in the 21st century, a creative human resource should become an important factor in the development of the economy, which has creative thinking in all areas of the public economy and the ability to make and implement economic decisions. Creativity will eventually be the main potential and tool in the economy with traditional ways of thinking and management together. The leaders of socio-economic and scientific-technical progress will be only those companies that master the science of creative management of socio-economic development. Only these enterprise companies, organizations will effectively develop at the stage of the creative economy and will be able to move to mechanisms and tools of creative management of socio-economic development. It is clear that in the first stage of the innovative economy, employers will pay a lot of attention to engineering and technical staff, specialists who will have high professional knowledge, skills, competencies, high intelligence and creativity of thinking, ambition and "aggression". Keywords: creative economy, trend of progress and regression, non-standard administrative decisions, socio-economic relations Unity system, innovative activity, creative management.

Assessment of the Performance of Lactate Dehydrogenase-Based Rapid Diagnostic Test for Malaria in Djibouti in 2022–2023

Until 2020, Djiboutian health authorities relied on histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to establish the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum. The rapid spread of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 and -3 (pfhrp2/3) gene-deleted parasite strains in Djibouti has led the authorities to switch from HRP2-based RDTs to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based RDTs targeting the plasmodial lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) specific for P. falciparum and P. vivax (RapiGEN BIOCREDIT Malaria Ag Pf/Pv pLDH/pLDH) in 2021. This study was conducted with the primary objective of evaluating the diagnostic performance of this alternative RDT. Operational constraints related, in particular, to the implementation of this RDT during the COVID-19 pandemic were also considered. The performance of BIOCREDIT Malaria Ag Pf/Pv (pLDH/pLDH) RDT was also compared to our previously published data on the performance of two HRP2-based RDTs deployed in Djibouti in 2018–2020. The diagnosis of 350 febrile patients with suspected malaria in Djibouti city was established using two batches of RapiGEN BIOCREDIT Malaria Ag Pf/Pv (pLDH/pLDH) RDT over a two-year period (2022 and 2023) and confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of P. falciparum were 88.2% and 100%, respectively. For P. vivax, the sensitivity was 86.7% and the specificity was 100%. Re-training and closer supervision of the technicians between 2022 and 2023 have led to an increased sensitivity to detect P. falciparum (69.8% in 2022 versus 88.2% in 2023; p < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis highlighted a better performance in the diagnosis of P. falciparum with pLDH-based RDTs compared with previous HRP2-based RDTs. In Djibouti, where pfhrp2-deleted strains are rapidly gaining ground, LDH-based RDTs seem to be more suitable for diagnosing P. falciparum than HRP2-based RDTs. Awareness-raising and training for technical staff have also been beneficial.

How optimal trust–dependence nexus facilitates relational behavior in contractor–subcontractor collaboration: a configurational analysis

PurposeAlthough trust is generally taken as a fundamental factor in influencing relational behavior in contractor–subcontractor collaboration, the determination of an optimal level of trust is still lacking. Trust with an optimal tipping point that matches dependence best is considered the optimal trust to improve relational behavior between general contractors and subcontractors. To fill the knowledge gap, this study explores how combinations of trust and dependence trigger relational behavior between general contractors and subcontractors through a configurational approach.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were administered to 228 middle management and technical staff members of the general contractor. The data were analyzed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and the inductive analytic method allowed researchers to explore configurations of different dimensions and levels of dependence and trust.FindingsNecessity analysis results indicated that neither dependence nor trust was a necessary condition for facilitating relational behavior. Through sufficiency analysis, four configurations of optimal trust matched with dependence were identified in contractor–subcontractor collaboration. Even if contractors rely only on subcontractors for resources, the optimal trust between contractors and subcontractors should include both institution- and cognition-based trust. In the event that contractor–subcontractor collaboration involves relational dependence, both affect- and cognition-based trust are necessary for the optimal trust.Originality/valueThis study enhances existing research by delving deeper into a nuanced understanding of optimal trust in dependence scenarios, and enriches project governance theory by uncovering the internal transmission of relational governance. Practically, this study offers general contractors guidance on how to establish optimal trust strategies based on the dual dependence level with subcontractors, which can facilitate subcontractors' relational behavior, and ultimately improve contractor–subcontractor collaboration performance.