Trial Workshop Research Articles

Developing design principles for an e‐learning programme for SME managers to support accelerated learning at the workplace

PurposeThis paper reports on the development of a workplace‐based e‐learning programme for small and medium enterprise (SME) managers in five European countries. The course is designed to address the specific needs of SME managers who, it has been noted, represent a significant proportion of the EU workforce but often experience difficulty in finding time or resources to undertake relevant training. The aim of this paper is to present the design principles developed to underpin the programme. These principles were developed specifically to address the need for greater pedagogic structure in the design of e‐learning courses.Design/methodology/approachThe course design was informed by a literature review of e‐learning and management learning and by a set of focus groups conducted to identify the specific concerns of SMEs with regard to accelerating their learning in the workplace. The course structure was further refined through trial workshops in all five partner countries.FindingsThe paper presents a pedagogic framework and a structured set of design features, both of which were built into the course as a result of the research undertaken. It also provides reflections on the efficacy of the design process that resulted in the formation of the design principles, and also the prospects for e‐learning programmes in supporting accelerated learning in the workplace.Practical implicationsThe design process and reflections may usefully be extracted to inform other cross‐national or SME‐focused e‐learning programmes.Originality/valueThe paper draws on theory and research data to demonstrate the importance of thorough research in e‐learning course development.

ASCO Clinical Trials Workshop Provides Guidance for Community Practices

ASCO Clinical Trials Workshop Provides Guidance for Community Practices

ASCO Clinical Trials Workshop Provides Guidance for Community Practices

ASCO Clinical Trials Workshop Provides Guidance for Community Practices

Report of international clinical trials workshop on spinal cord injury February 20-21, 2004, Vancouver, Canada.

Report of International Clinical Trials Workshop on Spinal Cord Injury February 20–21, 2004, Vancouver, Canada

Comparison of young clinical investigators' accuracy and reproducibility when measuring pulmonary and skin surface nodules using a circumferential measurement versus a standard caliper measurement: American Association for Cancer Research/American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Trials Workshop.

The clinical investigator must understand that errors in measuring tumors can greatly affect such clinical-trial end points as tumor response. We performed a prospective, controlled study of tumor measurements that compared circumferential measurements made with a loop planimeter with linear measurements made with a standard caliper. Using a cross-over design, 76 clinical oncology fellows/junior oncology faculty members attending a Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology measured five pulmonary nodule phantoms that ranged in size from 1.76 to 13.21 cm(2) and five surface nodule phantoms with sizes ranging from 2.3 to 12.9 cm(2). To perform these measurements, they used both a loop planimeter and a caliper. Forty-two and 40 participants repeated measurements 3 days later on pulmonary and surface nodules. Accuracy, reproducibility, and time efficiency were evaluated. The linear caliper measurements overestimated pulmonary nodule and surface nodule size by a median of 37% and 23%, respectively. Circumferential loop planimeter measurements overestimated pulmonary nodule size and surface nodule size by a median of 8% and 17%, respectively. Interobserver reproducibility for the planimeter was greater than that for the caliper, as evidenced by thinner measurement interquartile ranges. Furthermore, intraobserver reproducibility was higher for the planimeter, with its variability being only 31.4% and 25.5% as large as that of the caliper when measuring the pulmonary and surface nodules, respectively. Circumferential measurements provide better accuracy, reproducibility, and speed in measuring both pulmonary and surface nodules than do perpendicular diameters.

患者による患者のための初めての臨床試験ワークショップの試み

患者による患者のための初めての臨床試験ワークショップの試み

Randomised trials of STD treatment for HIV prevention: report of an international workshop. HIV/STD Trials Workshop Group.

Three community trials of the impact of STD treatment interventions on HIV incidence in rural populations have been completed or are in progress in Uganda and Tanzania. Investigators from these...

Interface between Animal Models and Clinical Phase I Trials Workshop: Conference Summary

Interface between Animal Models and Clinical Phase I Trials Workshop: Conference Summary

AP-S trial workshops successful, 1988 workshop announced

The AP-S AdCom has organized workshops at the AP-S symposia in 1986 and 1987. These one-day meetings were set ausp non-tutorial discussion groups to create an opportunity for engineers experienced in the chosen topics to discuss recent work. T?h8e6 and ?87 workshops were considered experiments, to see if the concept of discussion groups (rather than tutorial paper presentations) would be useful and valuable to the participants. All available feedback has been positive, and it is the AdCom?s intent to continue the workshops as an annual feature of the symposia, along with the tutorial short courses

The planning of a clinical trials workshop.

The groundwork involved in the planning and running of a Clinical Trials Workshop using a computerized simulation exercise called 'Instant Experience' is described in detail. 2. Groups of six or seven students, each with an experienced tutor, are set the problem of designing a clinical trial protocol for a given drug. By using a computer programme, results can be generated for these designs according to pre-set rules laid down by the organizers. 3. The game itself acts as a vehicle for emphasizing the practical and theoretical problems associated with clinical trials. Further valuable information can be imparted during the group discussion periods when the trial design is being developed and during analysis of the results. 4. Limitations of this type of workshop include the need for students to have a working knowledge of clinical medicine and pharmacology, the competence of the tutors and organizers and the technical problems associated with computers and a comparatively rigid computer programme. 5. The value of this type of workshop lies in its ability to allow students to apply themselves to practical problems in clinical trials and to make mistakes with no harm to the patient.