A consensus process has been developed to assist the UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death in identifying questions to be addressed in its studies. The process utilises the knowledge and experience of a panel of experts via a facilitated brainstorming exercise and employs a robust voting system ...

OBJECTIVES: As part of the I SEE (Interactive Simulation Exercise for Emergencies) project, financially supported by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme 2000-2006 of the European Commission, a study was planned to assess the type of disaster and to establish the tasks to be included in an emergency exercise to be ...

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of a point of dispensing (POD) used in a mass dispensing exercise was evaluated. METHODS: Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC), in conjunction with the University of Washington, conducted a functional exercise of mass dispensing plans to test the effectiveness of a POD. Specifically, the organization and ...

The incidence of human errors in the field of medicine is high. Two strategies to increase patient safety are simulator training and crew resource management (CRM) seminars, psychological courses on human performance and error management. AIM: To establish a CRM course combining psychological training on human error with simulator training. ...

Management of victims in a 'dirty bomb' incident requires communication between the physicians directly involved and experts in radiation medicine. Telemedicine is an excellent tool to support doctors--who may not have specific training in radiation medicine--in handling radiation casualties. We have successfully used telemedicine in an exercise of the Federal ...

A thorough analysis of the question of whether we possess "free will" requires that we take into account the process of exercising that will: that is, the neural mechanisms of decision making. Much of what we know about these mechanisms indicates that decision making is greatly influenced by implicit processes ...

This article describes the current outlook for professional practice for graduates majoring in exercise science. A review of professional and experimental literature reveals that graduates of undergraduate programmes in exercise science are not as prepared as they should be in order to provide professional and comprehensive advice on exercise and ...

The aim of this work was to develop an experimental set-up and realistic paradigms to study the effect of delay on video flux transmission and surgical performance. Four exercises were performed by 15 surgeons with 5 different simulated transmission delays. Large standard deviation of the duration of an exercise was ...

Recent American Heart Association/American College of Sports Medicine (AHA/ACSM) guidelines advocate preparticipation screening, planning, and rehearsal for emergencies and automated external defibrillators in all health/fitness facilities. The authors evaluated adherence to these recommendations at 158 recreational service departments in major US universities (51% response rate for 313 institutions queried). Many ...

Within its occupational radiation protection programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiated and funded an international intercomparison exercise of personal dosemeters to determine the quantity personal dose equivalent in mixed neutron-photon radiation. The objectives of the intercomparison are to assess the capabilities of the dosimetry services in measuring the ...

The 2005 'Last Chance Bravo' bioterrorism exercise provided a forum for testing advanced technologies in a simulated disaster. The four-day exercise included a 2-day simulated pneumonic plague outbreak, with 50 participants from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, 20 participants from various hospital organizations and approximately 150 participants ...

Designing exercises to ensure NIMS compliance is a difficult task that can be rewarding if the exercises perform an educational function as well, by identifying problems, changing the emergency management plan to correct the problems, and educating employees on those changes. The author, an experienced disaster coordinator, also warns about ...

Several intercomparison exercises were organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the determination of operational quantities at the regional or interregional basis. In East Asia region, a third phase of the intercomparison finished in mid 2004. It was organised within the frame of the Regional Cooperation Agreement (RCA) ...

As part of the EU Fifth Framework Programme IDEAS project 'General Guidelines for the Evaluation of Incorporation Monitoring Data', and in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a new intercomparison exercise for the assessment of doses from intakes of radionuclides was organised. Several cases were selected, to cover a ...

Inanimate and virtual reality box training help in developing basic laparoscopic skills. The lack of tactile feedback and lack of reality may be a detriment when training with virtual reality trainers. This study examined the hypothesis that there is no difference in laparoscopic skills acquisition when virtual reality trainers are ...

Compared to population forecasts of other European countries, those made in the United Kingdom during the past 30 years had somewhat larger forecast errors for fertility and smaller errors for mortality. Migration forecasts in the UK were about as accurate as the European average. After controlling for various effects such ...

An Internet based intercomparison exercise on assessment of occupational exposure due to intakes of radionuclides has been performed to check the applicability of the 'General Guidelines for the Assessment of Internal Dose from Monitoring Data' developed by the IDEAS group. There were six intake cases presented on the Internet and ...

To evaluate the competency of second-year pharmacy students to compound capsules from a prescription 12 months after completing a compounding course. Students who completed the compounding course were given the same prescription they had been given 12 months earlier to compound metoprolol capsules. No warning of the second exercise was ...

BACKGROUND: The cause of increased schizophrenia rates among immigrants in Europe is unknown. This study explores psychotic features in persons aspiring and actively planning to emigrate, prior to their potential emigration. METHOD: Potential future emigrants and controls in Kampala (Uganda) were screened for delusional ideation and manic symptoms, using the ...

Successful outcomes of hip arthroscopy are most clearly dependent on selecting appropriate patients. The indications are numerous and continue to evolve. These indications are summarized in this report. The anatomic architecture of the hip region imposes unique challenges to performing this procedure. As a surgeon's experience evolves, so will his ...

This article explores the arguments surrounding the use of human enhancement technologies in sport, arguing for a reconceptualization of the doping debate. First, it develops an overview and critique of the legislative structures on enhancement. Subsequently, a conceptual framework for understanding the role of technological effects in sport is advanced. ...

In this article, we detail how to produce two inexpensive micromanipulators that offer high precision (approximately 25 microm) along a single axis of movement. The more expensive of the designs provides improved versatility along multiple axes. Both manipulators offer substantial savings over commercially available micromanipulators with comparable capabilities. Plans and ...

Although the management of resources is essential for realizing a computational grid, providing an efficient resource allocation mechanism is a complex undertaking. Since Grid providers and consumers may be independent bodies, negotiation among them is necessary. The contribution of this paper is showing that market-driven agents (MDAs) are appropriate tools ...

While there are several existing mechanisms and systems addressing the crucial and difficult issues of automated one-to-many negotiation, this paper develops a flexible one-to-many negotiation mechanism for software agents. Unlike the existing general one-to-many negotiation mechanism, in which an agent should wait until it has received proposals from all its ...

We appreciate the interesting comments and insight provided in response to our article. "The rate of heat storage mediates an anticipatory reduction in exercise intensity during cycling at a fixed rating of perceived exertion." (Tucker et al. 2006). We find the comments to be very insightful and in feel that ...

OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive validity (ability to correlate to real-life environment) and efficacy of a training programme for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), based on a structured and progressive pelvitrainer component with hands-on clinical training in the operating room (OR). METHODS: Prospective data on 500 LRP cases were analysed with ...

An osteopathic approach to the performing artist is a complete approach. It involves spending adequate time with the performing artist to obtain a complete history and evaluation. It requires attention to the performer's lifestyle, practice habits, exercise routine, nutrition, stress level, and coexisting medical problems. Because an injury to a ...

Molecular genetic analysis of families with haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders is now a common laboratory investigation. In contrast to phenotypic testing in which strict quality control is adhered to, in haemophilia molecular genetic testing there has been a lack of any external quality assurance schemes. In 1998 the ...

In France the status of the court expert has undergone a significant change with the adoption of statute no. 2004-130 of 11 February 2004 and its implementing regulations no. 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004. This article looks at the two most outstanding aspects of this change in status: (i) the ...

AIM: To determine the optimal refresher training interval for lay volunteer responders in the English National Defibrillator Programme who had previously undertaken a conventional 4-h initial class and a first refresher class at 6 months. METHODS: Subjects were randomised to receive either two additional refresher classes at intervals of 7 ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a training programme involving an assessment exercise performed on a laparoscopic trainer model leads to an improvement in the acquisition of laparoscopic skills in surgical trainees. Subjects were recruited from a cross-section of surgical trainees at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, ...

BACKGROUND: This project was designed to determine the growth of interpersonal skills during the first year of a surgical residency. METHODS: All categorical surgical residents were given a clinical skills examination of abdominal pain using standardized patients during their orientation (T1). The categorical residents were retested after 11 months (T2). ...

The use of primary research in the classroom enhances the critical thinking abilities of students. The present article describes a strategy for using the American Physiological Society classic paper "Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men" by Dr. Philip D. Gollnick and colleagues to ...

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) can play an important role in the understanding of ecological systems. Although TEK has complemented scientific and managerial programs in a variety of contexts, its formal incorporation into remote sensing exercises has to date been limited. Here, we show that the vegetation classifications of the Ache, ...

The classification of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) for epidemiology studies is confusing. The existing schemes such as American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) definitions and Lanham criteria produce overlapping and conflicting classifications, making it difficult to compare incidence figures. Aim: ...

This study addresses leadership in interprofessional collaboration in childcare services (residential care). The aim was to explore the managers' (n = 6) experiences and present their views on how they exercised leadership in the residential institutions as well as how they organized and facilitated collaboration with relevant professionals and service ...

The author focuses on some clinical implications of Bion's thought. He takes into particular consideration the great technical importance of Bion's concept of 'waking dream thought'. He also proposes some developments of Bion's thought. Psychoanalytic exercises like those suggested by Bion are presented along with clinical material in order to ...

Hospitals are required to improve the planning and evaluation of emergency management exercises under revised standard EC 4.20. You must use a formal observer to critique the exercises. Physicians and other staff should give input for the critique, and results must be shared with staff participants at all levels. Future ...

Good natural resource management is scarce in many remote tropical regions. Improved management requires better local consultation, but accessing and understanding the preferences and concerns of stakeholders can be difficult. Scoring, where items are numerically rated in relation to each other, is simple and seems applicable even in situations where ...

INTRODUCTION: The use of neuroendoscopy has increased in the past 20 years. Despite an increase in the number of indications for use, novel adjuncts and modifications to existing endoscopes remain all but nonexistent. We introduce a robotic virtual endoscope with applications for neurosurgery that could serve as a novel step ...

Recent changes in medical education have resulted in an increased focus on patient safety. It is vital that new doctors can recognize and manage acutely-ill patients, as well as work safely and effectively as a member of a multi-professional team. A ward simulation exercise has been developed to provide a ...

The origins of delusional beliefs have been a question of great interest for centuries. For many years, the widely held view was that there was a fundamental defect in reasoning in the patient that gave rise to the false belief. Much effort was directed at establishing the kind of defect ...

Basic and practical information related to equipment, methodology, exercise protocols, conduct of the test and quality control issues for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) will be addressed in this II part of the statement. CPET users have the responsibility for assuring that measurements remain accurate. CPT, especially when it features breath-by-breath ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an assessment exercise performed on a laparoscopic trainer model reliably reflects previous laparoscopic experience and can therefore be used to accurately assess laparoscopic skills in surgical trainees. Subjects were recruited from a cross-section of surgical trainees and students at the Great ...

The practice of screening potential users of reproductive services is of profound social and political significance. Access screening lacks a defensible rationale, is inconsistent with the principles of equality and self-determination, and violates individual and group human rights. Communities that strive to function in accord with those principles should not ...

OBJECTIVE: Pre-exercise stretching (PES) has been common practice prior to participation in athletic events. Despite evidence for lack of benefit, many coaches continue to routinely instruct and prescribe stretching. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices of high school coaches regarding PES. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Multiple high ...

We report the impact of a monthly educational exercise for residents that emphasized practical skills and equipment usage rather than knowledge of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocols. Residents were divided into groups of approximately four that rotated through three stations. Each station included several objectives, most of which related ...

The Naval Health Research Center conducted laboratory-based surveillance for febrile respiratory infections at the 2003 Cobra Gold Exercise in Thailand. Seventeen individuals met the case definition for febrile respiratory illness, and diagnostic specimens were obtained from 16. Laboratory testing identified influenza A for 44%; sequence analysis demonstrated that these were ...

BACKGROUND: There is increasing financial pressure to maximize clinical productivity for academic physicians. We examined whether clinical performance feedback alone could contribute to improving the clinical productivity of surgeons in an academic department of surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We implemented a clinical performance feedback program in January 2003. We then compared ...

The design and implementation of an assessment centre in the South Yorkshire and South Humberside deanery for selecting doctors into postgraduate training in paediatric medicine is described. Eleven competency domains were identified in the job analysis. An assessment centre comprising of four exercises was implemented to assess candidates. There were ...