bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing the Number of Rabbits in Eye and Skin Irritancy Tests
Authors: Dalbey W. , Rodriguez S. , Wilkins K. , Cope C.
Published: July 2017

Reduction in the number of rabbits used for acute testing of irritation in the eye and skin is a worthwhile goal, and some recent publications have supported such reduction from six to three animals. In anticipation of making such reductions in our laboratory, data from 185 eye and 179 skin irritation tests performed in-house were evaluated within the framework of several schemes of classification. Mean scores for irritation in all possible two, three, four, and five-rabbit subsets were compared to scores with all six rabbits. Parameters included mean weighted Draize scores (eye) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) primary irritation index (skin). Classification of irritants is often based on scales with two or more categories of relative severity (e.g., nonirritating, mild, moderate, severe). Therefore, irritation scores of each subset were grouped into two, three, four, or five categories of irritation. Overall agreement of rankings for the subsets was closer to rankings with six rabbits when fewer categories were used with greater numbers of animals in the subset. Mean agreement across all categories was >90% with three rabbits and four categories for both eye and skin irritation. However, agreement within a given category across subsets was best with nonirritants and least among irritants; eye irritants with mean weighted Draize scores of 16–35 had only ∼76% agreement with 3 rabbits/subset. Comparisons were also made between subsets of three rabbits and the original six rabbits using both the European Community (EC) system of mean values for eye irritation and the OSHA system based on the number of individuals with “positive” scores. Agreement was better with the EC system. To maintain accuracy within the framework of American guidelines, our laboratory will continue to use six rabbits for regulatory studies. Other investigators should carefully evaluate the effect on accuracy of results before reducing the numbers of animals used per acute study.
Mechanical performance of repaired sandwich panels: Experimental characterization and finite-element modelling
Authors: Ghazali Emna , Dano Marie-Laure , Gakwaya Augustin , Amyot Charles-Olivier
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the static performance of adhesively bonded repairs on sandwich panels made with carbon-epoxy composite skins and a Nomex core. First, the mechanical behaviour of pristine and repaired panels under tensile loading was studied. All tests were conducted under room temperature conditions. Then, finite-element analyses were performed to predict the behaviour of repaired panels. Two material models were developed for the adhesive joint: one was linear elastic and the second was elastic-plastic with a shear failure criterion. For the composite skins, an orthotropic linear elastic model was used. Numerical model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. It was found also that the strength recovery of the repaired structure increases with the decrease of the scarf angle.
Pincer Nail Deformity Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Majeski Candace , Ritchie Bruce , Giuffre Martin , Lauzon Gilles
Published: July 2017

Background:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with various systemic and cutaneous manifestations. Nail abnormalities, including onycholysis, red lunulae, pitting, and ridging, have been seen in patients with the disorder. To our knowledge, however, pincer nail deformity has yet to be reported coincident with the onset of SLE.

Objective:

We report a case of pincer nail deformity subsequent to the development of SLE and describe surgical treatment of the deformed nails. This is followed by a review of the literature.

Conclusion:

Acquired pincer nail is a dystrophy with numerous reported causative associations, including psoriasis, tumors of the nail apparatus, tinea ungium, ß-blocker usage, and now SLE. Pain from the resulting constriction can interfere greatly with daily activities and can be debilitating to the extent of requiring therapy.
Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Ting Patricia T. , Kasper Richard , Arlette John P.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (MBCC) is defined as primary cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that spreads to distant sites as histologically similar metastatic deposits of BCC. There are less than 300 reported cases of MBCC in the literature.

Methods:

This article examines two cases of MBCC and provides a literature review of risk factors inherent in epidemiology, patient demographics, and the clinicohistopathological characteristics of primary and metastatic BCC lesions.

Results:

MBCC is a rare complication of BCC with high morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with MBCC often begin with long-standing primary BCC lesions that are either large or recurrent after treatment. Cases of MBCC have a higher incidence of the more aggressive histologic patterns (morpheic, infiltrating, metatypical, and basosquamous). Perineural space invasion may be an indicator of aggressive disease. Metastases often involve regional lymph nodes, lungs, bone, and skin.

Conclusion:

These case reports and review provide important diagnostic and management considerations for primary BCC and MBCC. Early intervention with aggressive treatment measures may improve the prognosis and survival of MBCC patients.
Monitoring a Remote Phototherapy Unit via Telemedicine
Authors: Klotz Jennifer , Muir Linda , Cameron Crystal , Delaney Laura
Published: July 2017

Background:

The delivery of effective phototherapy to patients with psoriasis living in areas devoid of dermatologists is difficult. Telemedicine has proven useful in the delivery of health care in such locations.

Objective:

This evidence-based study sought to investigate the use of telemedicine in the monitoring of phototherapy of psoriasis patients located in a Nova Scotia region with no dermatologist.

Methods:

Psoriatic patients were reviewed six months before and after protocols and monitoring were instituted. First, charts of 23 patient treated with phototherapy were reviewed from the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow. Patients were either self-referred or referred by a family physician and occasionally a dermatologist. Treatments were not monitored by a specialist. Second, a group of 33 patients receiving treatment were supervised via telemedicine by a dermatologist 250 km away in Halifax.

Results:

During the study period, treatment time decreased from 140 to 37 days. In the monitored group, 40% more patients were clear of psoriasis at time of discharge. The number of patients with side effects decreased. The number of self-and family practice–referred patients dropped; the clinic became a referral center for dermatologists.

Conclusion:

Telemedicine provided an excellent way to monitor patients receiving phototherapy in an area without a dermatologist. Overall, patient care improved: More patients were treated effectively with better outcomes and fewer side effects.
Off-Label Dermatologic Uses of Anti-TNF-a Therapies
Authors: Alexis Andrew F. , Strober Bruce E.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an immunomodulatory role in a variety of systemic and dermatologic diseases. Currently, three anti-TNF-a drugs are available in North America— infliximab (approved in the U.S. for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, and psoriatic arthritis), etanercept (approved in the U.S. for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis), and adalimumab (approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis).

Objective:

To review the current literature supporting alternative (and currently off-label) dermatologic uses of TNF-a antagonists.

Methods:

A MEDLINE search (1966-March 2005) was conducted using the keywords “infliximab,” “etanercept,” “adalimumab,” “TNF inhibitors,” and “off-label” to identify published reports of off-label dermatologic uses of TNF-a inhibitors.

Results:

Anti-TNF-a therapies have been reported in the following dermatologic diseases: sarcoidosis, hidradenitis suppuritiva, cicatricial pemphigoid, Behçet's disease, pyoderma gangrenosum, multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, apthous stomatitis, Sneddon-Wilkinson disease, SAPHO syndrome, pityriasis rubra pilaris, eosinophilic fasciitis, Panniculitis, Crohn's disease, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma. The vast majority of these reports are in the form of individual case reports and small case series. Only two published randomized controlled trials involving the off-label use of a TNF inhibitor were found.

Conclusions:

A growing number of published reports suggest that anti-TNF-a therapies may be effective in the treatment of numerous inflammatory skin diseases outside their currently approved indications.
Clinical Efficacy of Efalizumab in Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: Results from Three Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trials: Part I
Authors: Pariser David M. , Gordon Kenneth B. , Papp Kim A. , Leonardi Craig L. , Kwon Paul , Compton Peter G. , Rundle Amy Chen , Walicke Patricia A. , Lebwohl Mark
Published: July 2017

Background:

Effective psoriasis therapies are needed for long-term symptom control. ObjectiveAssess efalizumab (Raptiva®) efficacy in a large cohort of psoriasis patients.

Methods:

Data from three Phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies were pooled. Patients ( n = 1,651) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis received 12 weeks of subcutaneous efalizumab 1 or 2 mg/kg/wk or placebo.

Remits:

All efficacy measures reached statistical significance within each of the individual studies ( p < 0.001) and overall. More efalizumab-treated patients achieved > 75% and ≥ 50% Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) improvement at week 12 than did placebo-treated patients (27.8% vs 3.8% [ p < 0.001] and 56.1% vs 14.6% [ p < 0.001], respectively). Significant PASI improvements occurred as early as week 2 (12.5% vs 7.9%, p =0.0001). Adverse events were generally mild to moderate.

Conclusion:

Efalizumab resulted in early and significant improvement for all efficacy endpoints and was well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
Friend or Foe? Regional Newspapers and the Power of Facebook
Authors: Hess Kristy , Bowd Kathryn
Published: July 2017

This article examines how some regional newspapers in Australia are engaging with the social media juggernaut Facebook, and looks at the effects of this on their relationships with audiences in a digital world. We highlight how terms such as friend' and ‘community’ mask complex power struggles taking place across these two media platforms. On the one hand, Facebook can facilitate public conversation and widen the options for journalists to access information; on the other, it has become a competitor as news outlets struggle to find a business model for online spaces. We suggest that newspapers and journalists are facing challenges in navigating the complexities of a platform that crosses public/private domains at a time when the nature of ‘private’ and ‘public’ is being contested. The article adopts a ‘pooled case comparison’ approach, drawing on data from two separate Australian studies that examine regional newspapers in a digital landscape. The research draws on interviews with journalists and editors in Australia across three states, and on focus groups and interviews with newspaper readers in Victoria.
The Australian's Media Supplement: A Lapdog, a Watchdog, an Attack Dog or All of the Above?
Authors: Dodd Andrew , Ricketson Matthew
Published: July 2017

The modern news media comprise powerful institutions that require the kind of scrutiny they direct towards other influential institutions. The 50th anniversary of The Australian offers a timely opportunity to examine how fairly and accurately the national daily newspaper has reported on its parent company's strengths and weaknesses, and those of its commercial rivals, as well as covering overall trends in the media industry. The article argues that when The Australian's Media section began in 1999, it substantially expanded for readers the available range of news and views about the media. However, the section never reached its advertising revenue targets and in recent years has lost much of the revenue it once had. Over the past decade, the section has become increasingly narrow-minded in the range of its coverage, tone and approach.
From Data to News: Weather Reporting, Telegraphy and the Press in Colonial Australia
Authors: Cryle Denis
Published: July 2017

This article examines the role of telegraphy and newspapers in the provision of weather news during the late nineteenth century. In order to trace the transformation from data to news, the discussion begins by documenting the formation of both technical and professional meteorological networks, at a time when government observers across the colonies began to compile joint reports for an expanding reading public. In this respect, its focus will be primarily on the use of the inter-colonial telegraph, and upon two influential observers operating in different Australian colonies: Charles Todd in South Australia and Clement Wragge in Queensland. In order to explore the development of colonial weather networks in the age of the telegraph, the article examines the protracted press and professional controversy that arose between these two media personalities, and maps the transformation of weather telegrams into news by late colonial newspapers.
Charles Brunsdon Fletcher, the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Van Heekeren Margaret
Published: July 2017

Based on the premise of journalism as a text resulting from intellectual endeavour, this article undertakes a sustained examination of the thought of author and newspaper editor Charles Brunsdon Fletcher (1859–1946) in relation to Asia and the Pacific. It examines three books and lead newspaper editorials published during Fletcher's time as editor of the Brisbane Courier (1898–1903) and the Sydney Morning Herald (1918–37). Fletcher argued that geographic proximity necessitated closer ties between Australia and her neighbours, while the White Australia policy had restricted Australia's potential for economic and population growth – particularly in the tropical north. Such views placed Fletcher among a small but articulate movement of the period, which encouraged greater understanding of Australia's regional neighbours. In identifying such sentiment in newspaper editorials, this research reveals greater diversity in opinion in Australian journalism on migration and race than was previously known.
Purchasing in the British NHS: does contracting mean explicit rationing?
Authors: Griffiths Lesley , Hughes David
Published: July 2017

Early commentators on the British NHS reforms argued that the new requirements for health authorities to carry out formal assessments of the health needs of their local populations and contract for clinical services, would force them to be clear about what they purchased and did not purchase. It was predicted that implicit rationing by doctors would give way to explicit rationing by health authorities. Apart from the rationing question per se, there were suggestions that contracts might be used to channel resources towards clinically effective treatments and exclude treatments that are of little benefit. This article draws on a qualitative study of the work of a health authority contracting team to suggest that the picture is more complex. We argue that, rather than occasioning a shift to explicit rationing, contracting has resulted in new forms of implicit rationing. In this connection we discuss: (a) the authorization of ‘extra-contractual referrals’– cases not covered by contracts; (b) health authority pressure on hospitals to limit activity where they seem likely to exceed contracted activity levels; and (c) the impact of the UK Government's Patient's Charter initiative, which sometimes diverts resources to achieve waiting times guarantees at the expense of other clinically urgent cases.
Induced Abortion: Trends in the Tendency to Repeat, Norway, 1972–1981
Authors: Skjeldestad Finn Egil , Bakketeig Leiv S.
Published: July 2017

Through the 1970s the number of women who experienced an induced abortion increased in Norway. Thus, the population at risk for a repeat abortion has increased. The frequency of repeat abortions has doubled from 1972 to 1981. However, the annual frequency of observed repeat abortion has been below what could be expected according to contraceptive failure rates. There is no evidence that the liberalized abortion legislation has led to the use of induced abortion as a method of birth control. In order to improve fertility surveillance and to elucidate the epidemiology of induced abortion, there is a need for more detailed and individually based national registration of induced abortions as well as spontaneous abortions.
Need for near Vision in Daily Work in Different Occupational Groups
Authors: Pärssinen O. , Saari K. M. , Kirjonen J.
Published: July 2017

To evaluate the need, characteristics and proportion of occupational accurate close work in different socio-economic groups we sent a questionnaire to all 26- and 46-year-old people in the Jyväskylä district. 1 503 (75%) of the 26-year-old subjects and 1 035 (78%) of the 46-year-old subjects returned the questionnaire. 71% of the 26-year-old subjects and 68% of the 46-year-old subjects reported that they need accurate near vision in their daily work. Accurate near vision was needed for reading and writing in 61% in the younger and 55% in the older age group, industrial quality control in 14% in the younger and in 26% in the older age group, Visual Display Unit work in 7% in both age groups, and other accurate close work in 19% in the younger and in 12% in the older age group. The results show that there is a need for accurate near vision in most occupations and indicate that the visual acuity and refraction of the employee requiring occupational accurate near vision should be examined when newly employed and when having problems with near work.
Corrigendum
Authors: Heberling Jon L.
Published: July 2017

Conviction Without Trial

Jon L. Heberling

We regret that the word “layman's” at p. 428, 7th line of the above article was wrongly printed as “lawman's”. We apologise for any misunderstanding caused by this error.
Rights Theories in the American Constitutional Tradition
Authors: Friedman James
Published: July 2017

After nearly two centuries of American constitutional law judges and scholars continue to disagree as to the nature and source of constitutional rights. Thus there is also disagreement as to the nature of the judicial task in constitutional cases.

In this paper I identify three basic approaches to constitutional rights: The textualist theory supposes that judges can resolve constitutional disputes by relying upon the text of the constitution. The traditionalist theory asserts that political and cultural traditions are the true sources of constitutional rights. And the rationalist theory of rights states that we must fashion our constitutional liberties from our own moral and political theories.

I argue that the textualist theory is untenable and that the traditionalist theory is ill-defined. The rationalist theory is coherent, but sheds no light upon the necessary choice of a particular moral or political theory.
Education policy, globalization, commercialization: An interview with Bob Lingard by David Hursh
Authors: Hursh David
Published: July 2017

In this interview with David Hursh, Bob Lingard comments on his current and/or recently completed research projects in respect to new modes of global governance in schooling and the complementarity between international large scale assessments and national testing. He also looks at a project that, in conjunction with school leaders, teachers, students, and community, developed an alternative mode of educational accountability to the currently dominant, simple, top-down, test-based mode. Here schools and their communities would be enabled to give an account of their multiple achievements of various kinds and draw on qualitative, as well as quantitative data. Another project has focused on the ways in which datafication in education opens up spaces for profit-motivated edu-businesses. Here data infrastructures are seen to actually structure schooling systems in particular ways and also work in networked governance across edtech companies and state actors. The final project considered is funded by a teacher union and documents the extent and nature of commercialisation of public schooling in Australia, what enables this, and teachers' and school leaders' attitudes to commercialisation.
The Characterisation of Echogenic Contrast Agents Used in Medical Ultrasound
Authors: Perkins AC , Hindle AJ
Published: July 2017

Echogenic contrast agents offer great potential for expanding the capabilities of diagnostic ultrasound. These agents have attracted interest from a wide range of academics and commercial manufacturers and are now emerging for routine clinical use. In addition to ensuring the safety of these materials, it is necessary to characterise their ultrasonic parameters. Measurements of ultrasonic backscatter, echo intensity, attenuation and velocity are all essential in order to increase the understanding of the physical mechanisms of echo contrast and perhaps more importantly to enable the development of new formulations with the most desirable properties. This review outlines the techniques for the ultrasonic characterisation of echo contrast media whilst making reference to their clinical potential.
Fetal Biometry in Obstetric Practice
Authors: Harrison Gill , Aitken Vickie
Published: July 2017

Fetal biometry plays an important role in every woman's antenatal care. As clinical decisions are based on these measurements it is imperative that standards are kept high and all departments use standardised charts. Thus minimising inaccurate diagnoses in fetal dating and growth estimation, which may have serious consequences for fetal well being.

Standardisation of fetal biometry was assessed by circulating a postal questionnaire to superintendent sonographers in 121 hospitals within the Thames regions.

The main aims were to determine whose charts were in use and the measurement techniques employed; to investigate the impact of more recently published charts; and to study other related issues.

A 49% response rate was achieved. Results demonstrated a lack of standardisation in the use of all charts for fetal biometry, with the exception of the crown rump length charts. A number of discrepancies were noted in the measurement techniques employed, when compared to the charts in use. These findings are discussed in relation to clinical practice.
Open release versus radiofrequency microtenotomy in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hamlin Katharine , Munro Christopher , Barker Scott L. , McKenna Sean , Kumar Kapil
Published: July 2017

Background

Optimal surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis remains uncertain. Recently, radiofrequency microtenotomy (RFMT) has been proposed as a suitable treatment. We compared RFMT with standard open release (OR) in this prospective randomized controlled trial.

Methods

In total, 41 patients with symptoms for at least 6 months were randomized into two groups: 23 patients had RFMT and 18 had OR. Two patients from RFMT withdrew. Each patient underwent Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score, grip strength and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores pre-operatively and at 6 weeks. Pain and DASH scores were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

Results

NRS pain scores improved by 4.8 points for RFMT and by 3.9 points for OR. There was a significant improvement in both groups from pre-operative scores, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at 1 year. Grip strength improved by 31% in the RFMT group compared to 38% in OR. There was no significant difference between the initial and 6 weeks scores or between treatments. At 1 year, DASH was 39.8 points for RFMT and 24.4 points for OR. There was a significant improvement in both groups from pre-operative scores, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at 1 year.

Conclusions

Both groups showed significant improvements and similar benefit to the patient. The results of the present study do not show any benefit of RFMT over the standard OR. As a result of the extra expense of RFMT, we therefore recommend that OR is offered as the standard surgical management.
Validity and responsiveness of the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function
Authors: Irie Keisuke , Iseki Hirokatsu , Okamoto Satomi , Nishimura Seiji , Kobe Akio , Kagechika Kenji
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Despite widespread use of the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function, we were unable to find studies to affirm the validity and responsiveness in patients with trauma and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the criterion validity and responsiveness of the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function, a tool which is widely used in Japan.

Methods

Thirty patients between the ages of 20 and 82 years with distal radius fracture (n = 10), and cervical spondylosis myelopathy (n = 20) were included in this study. Concurrent validity was tested by examining the correlation between Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function, the Purdue Pegboard Test, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. In addition, standardized response means were calculated to compare the responsiveness of the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function with Purdue Pegboard Test and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand.

Results

The correlation coefficient between Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function and Purdue Pegboard Test was 0.70, and the correlation between Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand was −0.55 (p < 0.05). Standardized response mean shows that the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (0.69) is more responsive than the Purdue Pegboard Test (0.53), and less responsive than Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (0.97).

Conclusions

The Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function demonstrates concurrent validity and responsiveness as a performance based assessment of dexterity in patients with distal radius fracture and cervical spondylosis. We conclude that the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function could be used as a measure of dexterity or clinical change after therapy intervention. The Purdue Pegboard Test may be used for patients with an occupation that requires integrated fine motor skills and bimanual activity, whereas the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function may be more suitable for patients who use a variety of unilateral grips such as pinch and span. The Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand can complement each other when measuring someone’s activity and participation level.
Congenital Hand Anomaly: General Considerations of Care and Management
Authors: Beresford Kate
Published: July 2017

The general considerations of overall care are examined in this article so that the contribution in the care team by the hand therapist is identified. An introduction to some understanding of the emotional response in the parents to the birth of a child with anomaly is presented, and based on this important first principle, some of the issues of care of the infant, support for the parents, possible conservative approaches, decision making, and the timing of surgery are briefly outlined. After considering the many issues involved in the general management of congenital anomaly, the second part of this article introduces the very specific classification system which exists to describe hand anomaly, and illustrates this by focusing in particularly on the classification for the thumb, with a basic outline of treatment for hypoplasia and aplasia of the thumb.
A Literature Review into the Psychological Effects of Traumatic Hand Injury and its Implications for Therapy
Authors: Moor Catherine
Published: July 2017

This article aims to review the literature, which surrounds the psychological effects of hand injury. It looks at the implications of injury for an individual's function and body image, and makes suggestions on how this influences therapy. The article concludes by considering some recent advances in hand surgery. It emphasises the increasing need for psychological and ethical issues to be addressed, as technology improves.
The Role of the Quality Assurance Co-Ordinator — A Teaching Hospital
Authors: Hall Jennifer
Published: July 2017

This paper outlines the processes involved in implementing a Quality Assurance programme at Lidcombe Hospital. It deals with the committee structure; the functions and responsibilities of these committees; the role of the Quality Assurance Co-ordinator; and implementation of the Quality Assurance programme. The major issues to be considered when initiating a Quality Assurance project are illustrated with a specific example of a study carried out on the usage of Amoxycillin.
Functional Office Design: A Medical Record Department Perspective
Authors: Holman Josephine
Published: July 2017

The term ‘ergonomics' embodies the relationship of people to their total work environment. In this paper, medical record administrators are encouraged to explore the potential of ergonomics in its widest sense and, when evaluating the design of medical record departments, to keep in mind that office design is fundamental to productivity and staff morale. Medical record adminstrators need to press for changes in office design which not only improve the morale and performance of employees but also enhance the image of the medical record department as a vital and integral part of patient services.
Paperless Medical Records
Authors: Michael Robin
Published: July 2017

Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) in South Australia has a storage problem. The space available for filing existing medical records is full, while the demand for additional storage continues its linear growth. The hospital plans to use this “crisis” as an opportunity to review the entire basis for the management of the medical record and pilot an optical disk system as a precursor to paperless medical records. There are many constraints to this objective, but many advantages if the scheme proves successful. Michael describes the events which precipitated this project and outlines the steps in FMC's planned progression to a paperless record. (AMRJ, 1989, 19(4), 149–154).
Marketing: A Professional Issue
Authors: Anderson Barbara
Published: July 2017

Based on a paper presented at the 15th Conference of the Health Information Management Association of Australia held in Melbourne, 19–22 October, 1993.
Improving Learning Outcomes in Higher Education — A Review of the Literature
Authors: Magennis Tina
Published: July 2017

This paper examines the literature regarding deep and surface approaches to learning. Quality of understanding and recall of information have been found to be enhanced by deep approaches to learning. In addition to improving academic performances, deep approaches to studying provide a framework of understandings that will assist students in the unfamiliar situations they will encounter as professionals after graduation. Methods of facilitating deep approaches to learning are identified and discussed.
Accredited Clinical Coder Examination 1996 Results
Authors: Mitchell Jennifer , Holmes Leanne
Published: July 2017

In September 1996, 148 candidates sat for the first Australian Clinical Coder (ACC) accreditation examination at 19 sites across Australia and New Zealand. This event was an important milestone for clinical coders in Australia.

Around one third of the candidates who sat for the exam gained accreditation. The results show that the candidates who were most likely to be successful in gaining accreditation: worked in public hospitals (of any size) or private hospitals with more than 150 beds spent 25 hours or more each week on coding or coding-related activities had been coding for three or more years. The greatest percentage of successful candidates had been coding for 10 or more years.
Validating a Statewide Data Collection: Differences in Information Technology Resources between Hospitals
Authors: Riley Merilyn , Griffin Odette
Published: July 2017

The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU) is a statewide data collection established to collect information on the health of mothers and their babies. A Perinatal Morbidity Statistics Form is required to be completed for every birth, then forwarded to the VPDCU. Many medical record departments are responsible for both forwarding the forms to the VPDCU and responding to queries on data accuracy. In 1996 we undertook to determine if we were receiving a perinatal form for every birth occurring at every hospital in the State with obstetric beds. Health information managers were requested to supply a listing of all babies born at their hospitals in 1995 — 129 hospitals responded.

Overall 62,759 births were validated. The VPDCU had received a perinatal form for 99.6 per cent of these births, with 251 missing forms. Reasons why the VPDCU had not received the forms were investigated.
Matching ICD-9-CM Codes to Clinical Indicators — Is it the Way to Go?
Authors: Portelli Rachel , Brosi Jenny , Collopy Brian
Published: July 2017

In early 1997, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Care Evaluation Program (CEP) collaborated with the National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) to determine the feasibility of matching ICD-9-CM codes with a selected number of clinical indicators developed by CEP. While the results of this activity were encouraging, CEP is hesitant in advocating the use of ICD-9-CM as the complete answer to the data collection ‘burden’ experienced by health care organisations collecting clinical indicator data.1 CEP is concerned that obtaining clinical indicator data through ICD-9-CM coding alone may limit clinician participation in quality activities, narrow the focus of performance monitoring to one department, potentially compromise the intent of the indicators, and encourage a culture of ‘near enough is good enough’. This paper examines the limitations of ICD-9-CM coding as the sole means of extracting clinical indicator data.
ICPC PLUS© for Community Health? A Feasibility Study
Authors: Britt Helena , Scahill Sharon , Miller Graeme
Published: July 2017

Background:

The development of information systems in community health is being led by the Community Health Information Management Enterprise, a multi state consortium of State Health Departments. To ensure reliable and valid data collection, client problems (issues) presented to community health providers and the activities they undertook will require coding and classification. The suitability of existing classification systems for issues and activities in the community health setting therefore warranted investigation.

Aims:

To assess the extent to which the extended version of the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC PLUS©) is a feasible tool with which to code issues and activities in community health settings.

Method:

62 providers representing 22 service groups recorded, in their own words, details about issues and activities at all client contacts for a period of two weeks. These were secondarily coded with ICPC PLUS© and subjective judgment made about the “goodness” of fit between the recorded term and the term available in ICPC PLUS©.

Results:

Of the 2146 issues recorded, 90.5% could be coded with ICPC PLUS©. Codes with a “good fit” were available for 71.2%. ICPC PLUS© had suitable codes for 67.5% of the 2470 recorded activities, but only half of these were a “good fit”. Some ICPC PLUS© terms required greater specificity and some of the terms recorded needed to be further defined before a code could be allocated.

Conclusion:

It is feasible to use ICPC PLUS© to classify issues with only minor additions and alterations. Activities could also be classified with ICPC PLUS© but far more development would be required.
University Entry Scores as a Predictor of Academic Performance in a Health Information Management Program
Authors: Magennis Tina , Mitchell Jennifer
Published: July 2017

The university entry scores for school leavers admitted to the first year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Health Information Management) degree at the University of Sydney in 1996 were examined to determine whether the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) was a good predictor of academic performance, as measured by grade point average (GPA). The study also examined Higher School Certificate (HSC) results in English and mathematics, and preference selection for the health information management (HIM) course to determine whether any of these had predictive validity.

The results showed that TER, HSC English and mathematics scores and preference for the course were all poor predictors of academic performance in the student's first year. Low TER was not associated with low GPA and low scores in English and mathematics were not associated with low GPA. There was no significant difference between the performance of those students who listed the HIM course as their first preference and those who did not.

These results suggest that there may be no need to establish a minimum entry level for admission to the HIM course, or for prerequisites in English and mathematics. It may be that multiple criteria are required to predict academic success in this course.
Babies and Bathwater: The Case for Evaluation in Maternity Services
Authors: Whelan Anna
Published: July 2017

Evaluation of publicly funded services is an issue of accountability but also of continuous improvement. In health care services, the users can be adversely affected by poor services and the financial, psychosocial and physical costs can be enormous. It is increasingly important that evaluation be targeted at decreasing health inequalities so that the widening gap between the wealthy and poor can be reduced.

The provision of maternity services in western countries has changed over the past few decades and is an excellent case study of the importance of evaluation and evidence-based research. This paper discusses the general context of changes to maternity services and briefly reports on a comparative study of low-risk women choosing birth centre or traditional labour ward care.
PEDro: A Database of Randomised Controlled Trials in Physiotherapy
Authors: Herbert Rob , Moseley Anne , Sherrington Cathie
Published: July 2017

PEDro is a database of clinical trials designed to assist the practice of evidence-based physiotherapy. When complete, it will contain bibliographic details, abstracts and quality assessment scores of all published randomised controlled trials in physiotherapy. Trials on the database will be rated on the basis of their methodological quality, so that users of the database can be guided to those trials which provide the most methodologically sound sources of evidence. The database has been made freely available on the world wide web, where it can be searched with a powerful and user-friendly search engine.
Using Sociological Theory to Defuse Anti-Arab/Muslim Nativism and Accelerate Social Integration
Authors: Cainkar Louise
Published: July 2017

For three days after the 9/11 attacks, hundreds of angry suburbanites gathered to surround and lay siege to the bounded neighborhood hosting the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Illinois. I concluded from a two and one-half year ethnographic study of the post-9/11 experience of Arab Muslims in metropolitan Chicago that the underlying sociological conditions giving rise to these post-9/11 events were racialized and nativist understandings held by a significant proportion of southwest suburban whites that positioned Arab and Muslim Americans as cultural threats to their communities. Armed with this knowledge, I designed a research project, outlined here, that included a social action component with the objective of expediting the social and civic integration of Arab and Muslim Americans in metropolitan Chicago.
Why is Public Sociology on Shaky Ground?
Authors: Klayman Douglas
Published: July 2017

Sociology has a long history of applying social theory and methods to the identification of the causes and consequences of social problems. Although several well-known sociologists have advocated for greater involvement in civic discourse, Public Sociology is often criticized for being unscientific. In this commentary article, the author defines Public Sociology as the production and application of theoretically grounded and empirically sound knowledge that facilitates social change. He concludes that Public Sociology is and has always been an important part of the discipline. By not embracing Public Sociology, along with Applied/Clinical, Policy, and Critical sociologies, the knowledge we produce will continue to be underutilized and irrelevant to those we seek to help.
Long-term Care Workers and Bureaucracy the Occupational Ritualization of Maltreatment in Nursing Homes and Recommended Policies
Authors: Ulsperger Jason S. , Knottnerus J. David
Published: July 2017

This article proposes that occupational rituals are an important part of social life for long-term care workers. Using 40 biographies, autobiographies, and research monographs to examine nursing homes, it reviews various symbolic themes expressed through daily work rituals in nursing homes. The themes involve concepts related to the culture of bureaucracy. This includes staff separation, rules, documentation, efficiency, and meetings. Using structural ritualization theory, we suggest that certain ritualized symbolic practices that express these themes influence the behaviors of nursing home employees shaping the thoughts and social interaction of nursing home staff members, creating occupational ritualization. Ritualized symbolic practices also contribute to the unintended maltreatment of residents. However, we believe alternative policies can generate work rituals with the potential to replace or offset the negative impacts of bureaucracy on maltreatment.
Employer Satisfaction with Program Completers: Challenges of Contact and Interpretation
Authors: Hougland James G.
Published: July 2017

Evaluations of educational programs' success often benefit from feedback supplied by the employers of students who have completed the program, but attempts to contact employers may be marred by coverage error. Moreover, the formulation of goals against which a program's success can be evaluated may be problematic. This paper explores an evaluation of an initiative to enhance instruction and capabilities regarding information technology in view of these problems. Experience with the project led to the conclusions that plans for a census or probability-based sampling sometimes must be revised in the course of an ongoing study and that official goals must be developed with caution. In view of such difficulties, designing studies in which errors are nonproblematic or can be measured with precision may represent an unattainable outcome. Even so, studies that can make constructive contributions to ongoing decision-making may still be viewed as qualified but meaningful successes.
One Missed Call: Measure of Cell Phone Usage in an RDD Telephone Survey
Authors: Johnson Jodien Matos , Krey Kathy
Published: July 2017

Telephone products such as answering machines, caller-ID services, and cell phones simplify modern-day life yet present an increasing challenge for survey researchers. In particular, contact and response rates have suffered due to changes in telephone usage patterns. To understand the effect that these technologies have on our research center, we examine cell phones, whose growing presence stands to greatly impact survey research. Through an RDD telephone survey, we examined cell phone usage, screening behavior of unknown numbers, reactions to survey research, and incentives, as well as potential cell phone behavior. Our study revealed a high prevalence of cell phone usage even among those who also own a landline telephone. We found that overall data quality is not impacted, as simple weighting techniques ensure that our collected data are representative. However, this dual telephone usage and the increasing future use of cell phones are still potential challenges to our research institution.
Is Another World Possible? The Contribution of Sociological Practice to Societal Change
Authors: Schuyler Kathryn Goldman
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the session at the 2007 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting that was the basis for this symposium. It provides an overview of the papers and finishes with a discussion of altruism, the context provided by the introductory paper, because of its potential importance in processes of societal change. I suggest attention to the 1,200 years of altruism training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as a component of future sociological thinking on this subject.
Developing a Public Sociology: From Lay Knowledge to Civic Intelligence in Health Impact Assessment
Authors: Elliott Eva , Williams Gareth
Published: July 2017

The theme of “Public Sociologies” at the 2004 American Sociological Association (ASA) conference reignited past debates about the direction of sociology, and its relationship to civil society and the public sphere. In his presidential address Michael Burawoy raised two key questions about sociological knowledge: knowledge for whom and knowledge for what? This provoked widespread discussion across sociological and policy communities. This paper reflects on some of these debates through a commissioned piece of social research: a “health impact assessment” undertaken in a former coal mining community in south Wales, UK. In this case study we argue that there are elements of professional, public, and policy sociologies, and we explore the relationships between these, and how they evolved. We go on to use this case study to explore wider debates in the social sciences about “new knowledge spaces” within which contentious public issues are discussed, and the implications of these pluralistic epistemological environments for different forms of expertise. In particular we refer to the debate on “lay knowledge” and “scientific expertise” and propose that a concept of “civic intelligence” provides a mechanism to resolve the tension between these.
Applying Workplace Models of Learning in Social Science Computer Labs
Authors: Bills David B.
Published: July 2017

Sociologists have made great strides in integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs) into their teaching but have paid less attention to the physical and social settings in which ICTs are often embedded. An increasingly important setting in many social science departments is the computer lab. I present four workplace-based models of learning as a scheme to optimize the learning that can occur in labs. Each of these models is built on a conception of post-industrial work as intensely social and interactive and of learning as “situated, distributed, and activity-based.” The models and the metaphors that these conceptions elicit are formal worker training (the lab as classroom), on-the-job training (the lab as shopfloor), apprenticeship (the lab as guild), and project-based learning (the lab as project setting). I argue for the application of these models in lab settings as a way to prepare students for the changing nature of post-industrial work.