The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: International expert survey on functioning and disability of adults with hearing loss using the international classification of functioning,disability, and health (ICF)

Abstract

Objective: To identify relevant aspects of functioning, disability, and contextual factors for adults with hearing loss (HL) from hearing health professional perspective summarized using the ICF classification as reference tool. Design: Internet-based cross-sectional survey using open-ended questions. Responses were analysed using a simplified content analysis approach to link concept to ICF categories according to linking rules. Study sample: Hearing health professionals (experts) recruited through e-mail distribution lists of professional organizations and personal networks of ICF core set for hearing loss steering committee members. Stratified sampling according to profession and world region enhanced the international and professional representation. Results: Sixty-three experts constituted the stratified sample used in the analysis. A total of 1726 meaningful concepts were identified in this study, resulting in 209 distinctive ICF categories, with 106 mentioned by 5% or more of respondents. Most categories in the activities & participation component related to communication, while the most frequent environmental factors related to the physical environment such as hearing aids or noise. Mental functions, such as confidence or emotional functions were also frequently highlighted. Conclusions: More than half (53.3%) of the entire ICF classification categories were included in the expert survey results. This emphasizes the importance of a multidimensional tool, such as the ICF, for assessing persons with hearing loss.     

Identifying Work Setting Profile Factors From the Career Pathway Evaluation Program

Objectives. To describe the work factors associated with 28 different career areas as reported by pharmacists who responded to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals, 2012 Pharmacist Profile SurveyMethods. Data from the 1,119 completed survey instruments from the 2012 Pharmacist Profile Survey were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the underlying factors that best represented respondents’ work setting profiles.Results. Eleven underlying factors were identified for the respondents’ work setting profiles: patient care, application of clinical knowledge, innovation, stress, research, managerial responsibility, work schedule flexibility, job position flexibility, self-actualization, geographic location, and continuity of coworker relationships. Findings revealed variation for these underlying factors among career categories.Conclusion. Variation among pharmacist career types exists. The profiles constructed in this study describe the characteristics of various career paths and can be helpful for decisions regarding educational, experiential, residency, and certification training in pharmacist careers.     

The determinants of willingness to care for people living with HIV-AIDS: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia

Acceptance and willingness to care for people living with HIV-AIDS (PLHA) in society is still a concern. The purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of willingness to care for PLHA in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to process the secondary data from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey (IDHS) conducted in 2017. A total sample of 13,731 individuals was obtained by a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. The variables used were socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, education, wealth quintile, residence, employment status and earnings), knowledge about HIV-AIDS, information about HIV-AIDS and willingness to care for PLHA. Binary logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. According to the data from IDHS 2017, 71.84% of total respondents in Indonesia are willing to care for PLHA. Female respondents, individuals in all wealth quintiles and those who have more information are more likely to care for PLHA. Respondents aged 35–49 years old and currently working are less likely to care for PLHA. However, level of education, level of knowledge, residence and earnings are not related willingness to care for PLHA. The dissemination of correct and accurate information about HIV-AIDS can help the community and society understand this condition. Thus, community members can accept PLHA and become more willing to provide care. The government can determine further policies for the appropriate dissemination of information, maximally and in accordance with recommendations. Collaborations among the government, health workers and the community are needed.     

Survey of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists: Professional activities,job setting,satisfaction, and trends over time

The purpose of this survey was to describe the job setting, professional activities, and satisfaction of maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) subspecialists and to compare these with previous surveys. A questionnaire was mailed to members of the Society of Perinatal Obstetricians (SPO). The results were compared to a similar survey in 1986. Of 1,352 members, 58% responded. In comparison to 1986, there was an increase in percentage of women (25%); a decrease in university hospital-based faculty (55%); and an increase in community hospital-based salaried physicians (23%) and private practice (15%). The distribution of professional time changes with an increase in clinical care, a decrease in teaching and research. The annual number of procedures increased for ultrasound and genetics and decreased for gynecologic procedures. Since 1986, there have been significant changes among MFM subspecialists in job setting, allocation of professional time, and number and types of procedures. Job satisfaction remains high.     

从卫生服务供方意向调查的变迁看中医发展危机

为了进一步了解中医的发展状况，通过对2008年与2000年样本地区卫生服务供方的意向调查数据的比较，分析卫生服务供方对中医信仰的变迁。研究发现，卫生服务供方对中医信仰进一步降低，中医成为西医的简单补充。在这种情况下，如何把握中医特色，创新诊疗手段，总结推广中医特效治疗种类和范围，推广适宜技术等尤为重要，逐步提高卫生服务供方对于中医的支持和认可。     

The use of chemical occurrence data at European vs. national level in dietary exposure assessments: A methodological study

A typical EFSA approach to assess dietary exposure is to combine data from national consumption surveys with chemical occurrence data that have been pooled across the EU Member States (pooled approach). This approach was compared to the case where occurrence data were stratified by country and used for food categories where national data were abundant (semi-pooled approach), using cadmium as a case study. Some differences in estimated dietary exposure were observed between the pooled and semi-pooled approach. They were explained by differences, between the national and the European occurrence data, with respect to (1) contamination values and (2) sample proportions of food items classified in the food categories the assessment was based on. The latter aspect highlighted the sensitivity of the approach of directly aggregating monitoring data into food categories. Both the pooled and semi-pooled approach tended to be conservative relative to approaches used at national level. This appears to be attributed to differences in the way the available occurrence data is aggregated. Refinement of the studied methodologies would include a better separation of the food items with high concentration from those with low concentration.     

Quality assurance practices in Europe: a survey of molecular genetic testing laboratories

In the 2000s, a number of initiatives were taken internationally to improve quality in genetic testing services. To contribute to and update the limited literature available related to this topic, we surveyed 910 human molecular genetic testing laboratories, of which 291 (32%) from 29 European countries responded. The majority of laboratories were in the public sector (81%), affiliated with a university hospital (60%). Only a minority of laboratories was accredited (23%), and 26% was certified. A total of 22% of laboratories did not participate in external quality assessment (EQA) and 28% did not use reference materials (RMs). The main motivations given for accreditation were to improve laboratory profile (85%) and national recognition (84%). Nearly all respondents (95%) would prefer working in an accredited laboratory. In accredited laboratories, participation in EQA (P<0.0001), use of RMs (P=0.0014) and availability of continuous education (CE) on medical/scientific subjects (P=0.023), specific tasks (P=0.0018), and quality assurance (P<0.0001) were significantly higher than in non-accredited laboratories. Non-accredited laboratories expect higher restriction of development of new techniques (P=0.023) and improvement of work satisfaction (P=0.0002) than accredited laboratories. By using a quality implementation score (QIS), we showed that accredited laboratories (average score 92) comply better than certified laboratories (average score 69, P<0.001), and certified laboratories better than other laboratories (average score 44, P<0.001), with regard to the implementation of quality indicators. We conclude that quality practices vary widely in European genetic testing laboratories. This leads to a potentially dangerous situation in which the quality of genetic testing is not consistently assured.     

Emergence of gyrovirus 3 in commercial broiler chickens with transmissible viral proventriculitis

Gyrovirus 3 (GyV3) has been identified in faeces from children with acute gastroenteritis. However, whether GyV3 is prevalent in poultry has not been determined to date. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to isolate GyV3 from commercial broiler chickens with transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP ) in China. The complete genome of the virus shares 98.4% sequence identity with the FecGy strain that causes acute gastroenteritis in children. Epidemiological investigation from 2013 to 2017 revealed that the infection rate of GyV3 reached 12.5% (42/336) in commercial broiler chickens with TVP , indicating that the infection of GyV3 was ubiquitous in chickens. The emergence of GyV3 in commercial broiler chickens should be highly concerning for public health.