bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using narrative text and coded data to develop hazard scenarios for occupational injury interventions
Authors: Lincoln A E , Sorock G S , Courtney T K , Wellman H M , Smith G S , Amoroso P J 
Published: August 2004

Objective:To determine whether narrative text in safety reports contains sufficient information regarding contributing factors and precipitating mechanisms to prioritize occupational back injury prevention strategies.Design, setting, subjects, and main outcome measures:Nine essential data elements were identified in narratives and coded sections of safety reports for each of 94 cases of back injuries to United States Army truck drivers reported to the United States Army Safety Center between 1987 and 1997. The essential elements of each case were used to reconstruct standardized event sequences. A taxonomy of the event sequences was then developed to identify common hazard scenarios and opportunities for primary interventions.Results:Coded data typically only identified five data elements (broad activity, task, event/exposure, nature of injury, and outcomes) while narratives provided additional elements (contributing factor, precipitating mechanism, primary source) essential for developing our taxonomy. Three hazard scenarios were associated with back injuries among Army truck drivers accounting for 83% of cases: struck by/against events during motor vehicle crashes; falls resulting from slips/trips or loss of balance; and overexertion from lifting activities.Conclusions:Coded data from safety investigations lacked sufficient information to thoroughly characterize the injury event. However, the combination of existing narrative text (similar to that collected by many injury surveillance systems) and coded data enabled us to develop a more complete taxonomy of injury event characteristics and identify common hazard scenarios. This study demonstrates that narrative text can provide the additional information on contributing factors and precipitating mechanisms needed to target prevention strategies.
Fire fighter fatalities 1998–2001: overview with an emphasis on structure related traumatic fatalities
Authors: Hodous T K , Pizatella T J , Braddee R , Castillo D N 
Published: August 2004

Objective:To review the causes of all fire fighter line-of-duty-deaths from 1998 through 2001, and present recommendations for preventing fatalities within the specific subgroup of structure related events.Methods:Fire fighter fatality data from the United States Fire Administration were reviewed and classified into three main categories of injury. Investigations conducted through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program provided the basis for the recommendations presented in this paper.Results:During the time period from 1998–2001, there were 410 line-of-duty deaths among fire fighters in the United States, excluding the 343 fire fighters who died at the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. The 410 fatalities included 191 medical (non-traumatic) deaths (47%), 75 motor vehicle related fatalities (18%), and 144 other traumatic fatalities (35%). The latter group included 68 fatalities that were associated with structures which commonly involved structural collapse, rapid fire progression, and trapped fire fighters.Conclusions:Structural fires pose particular hazards to fire fighters. Additional efforts must be directed to more effectively use what we have learned through the NIOSH investigations and recommendations from published experts in the safety community, consensus standards, and national fire safety organizations to reduce fire fighter fatalities during structural fire fighting.
An evaluation of a “best practices” musculoskeletal injury prevention program in nursing homes
Authors: Collins J W , Wolf L , Bell J , Evanoff B 
Published: August 2004

Objective:To conduct an intervention trial of a “best practices” musculoskeletal injury prevention program designed to safely lift physically dependent nursing home residents.Design:A pre-post intervention trial and cost benefit analysis at six nursing homes from January 1995 through December 2000. The intervention was established in January 1998 and injury rates, injury related costs and benefits, and severity are compared for 36 months pre-intervention and 36 months post-intervention.Participants:A dynamic cohort of all nursing staff (n = 1728) in six nursing homes during a six year study period.Intervention:“Best practices” musculoskeletal injury prevention program consisting of mechanical lifts and repositioning aids, a zero lift policy, and employee training on lift usage.Main outcome measures:Injury incidence rates, workers’ compensation costs, lost work day injury rates, restricted work day rates, and resident assaults on caregivers, annually from January 1995 through December 2000.Results:There was a significant reduction in resident handling injury incidence, workers’ compensation costs, and lost workday injuries after the intervention. Adjusted rate ratios were 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29 to 0.55) for workers’ compensation claims, 0.54 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.73) for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 200 logs, and 0.65 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.86) for first reports of employee injury. The initial investment of $158 556 for lifting equipment and worker training was recovered in less than three years based on post-intervention savings of $55 000 annually in workers’ compensation costs. The rate of post-intervention assaults on caregivers during resident transfers was down 72%, 50%, and 30% based on workers’ compensation, OSHA, and first reports of injury data, respectively.Conclusions:The “best practices” prevention program significantly reduced injuries for full time and part time nurses in all age groups, all lengths of experience in all study sites.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SCALAR MESONS: A STRANGE POLE EXPEDITION INTO CHARM AND BEAUTY TERRITORY
Authors: VAN BEVEREN EEF , RUPP GEORGE 
Published: August 2004

The classification of scalar and vector mesons is reviewed within the framework of the Resonance-Spectrum Expansion (RSE). This method allows a simple and straightforward description of non-exotic meson–meson scattering, incorporating the effects of quark confinement and OZI-allowed decay in a fully nonperturbative way. Results for resonances and bound states are compared to experiment, on the basis of computed pole positions and cross-sections. New predictions for open-charm and -bottom scalar mesons are presented.Concretely, observed vector states for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are reproduced, and others are predicted. In the light scalar sector, the now established two nonets, one below 1 GeV and one in the region 1.3–1.5 GeV, are easily described, through the appearance of extra poles in the S-matrix. The recently found [Formula: see text](2317) meson is accurately reproduced by the same mechanism, as a quasi-bound state in the coupled [Formula: see text] system.In S-wave Dπ and Bπ scattering, new resonances are foreseen close to threshold, i.e. a [Formula: see text] at 2.16±0.05 GeV some 250 MeV wide, and a [Formula: see text] at 5.47±0.05 GeV with a width of about 50 MeV. Additional predictions concern the existence of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] scalar mesons, stable with respect to OZI-allowed decay to BK and BD, respectively, namely at 5.61±0.05 GeV resp. 6.64±0.05 GeV.
Using an interview study of transport use by people who have had a stroke to inform rehabilitation
Authors: Logan P A , Dyas J , Gladman J RF 
Published: August 2004

Introduction: Many people who have had a stroke want to get out of their house more often. This study explored attitudes and barriers to the use of transport with the aim of informing rehabilitation. Method: Semi-structured interview study of 24 community-dwelling people who had had a stroke, purposively sampled to find people with a variety of recent experiences of transport. Interviews were taped and transcribed. Analysis was by constant comparative methodology, to develop emerging themes and concepts. Results: Interviewees wanted to travel for specific purposes but also for its own sake. Many could no longer use their car. This gave them less flexibility to travel and reduced their autonomy. Barriers to using alternative forms of transport were fear of injury or embarrassment from falling, an associated lack of confidence, inadequate information about transport services, perceptions about the cost of taxis and pavement vehicles (scooters) and environmental factors such as the weather. Those who could drive, or who lived with someone who did, gave the most positive descriptions of transport use. Those reliant on family or friends felt they could ask only for help getting to health-related appointments and those who used specialist transport services provided the most negative descriptions of transport. Conclusions: Many of the barriers to transport use after stroke may be amenable to intervention. An intervention package capable of re-enabling people to drive or be driven, to use a pavement scooter safely, to provide information about the alternatives and to encourage best use of public transport is worth developing.
What really matters: an inquiry into the relative importance of dimensions of informal caregiver burden
Authors: van Exel N JA , Brouwer W BF , van den Berg B , Koopmanschap M A , van den Bos G AM 
Published: August 2004

Objective: Prevailing measures of subjective caregiver burden either have no overall summary score or do not consider the relative importance caregivers attach to different dimensions of burden. Our aim was to assess which dimensions informal caregivers perceive as being important to their overall burden from care giving. Design: Cross-sectional. Subjects: Data were pooled from two Dutch samples of primary informal caregivers covering a wide range of chronic care-giving situations: caregivers for stroke survivors ( n = 196) and caregivers for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ( n = 131). Main measures: Subjective burden of care giving was assessed using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the Self-Rated Burden scale (SRB). Results: In the total sample four of the five dimensions of the CRA were found to contribute to the overall subjective burden experienced by informal caregivers. In the individual stroke and RA samples only two of the five dimensions emerged as relevant. SRB scores were significantly higher for caregivers of stroke patients, but no differences were found for the five dimensions of the CRA between the two samples. Conclusions: The dimensions of CRA are not equally important to the overall subjective burden of informal caregivers. To assess overall subjective burden, a measure based on a caregiver's own assessment of burden such as SRB needs to be used in addition to prevailing measures.
Communication during goal-setting in physiotherapy treatment sessions
Authors: Parry R H 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To analyse in detail therapists' and patients' communication practices during physiotherapy goal-setting in stroke rehabilitation settings. To deduce explanations for observed practices. To contribute to understanding of the communication challenges entailed in goal-setting. Design: A conversation analytic study of video-recorded treatment sessions. Setting: Physiotherapy ‘gyms’ in four UK hospitals. Subjects: The 74 recorded sessions involved 21 patients (52-86 years, 11 female) and 10 senior physiotherapists. Patients' disabilities varied; none were severely aphasic. Nine of the therapists were female, post qualification experience ranged from 3 to 23 years. Findings: Eight goal-setting episodes were identified. In all but one, therapists supplied the target problems or abilities for which goals were subsequently set. The case in which the patient was asked to propose problems prior to goal-setting is examined in detail. Various interactional difficulties and delays arose both in eliciting the patient's views and incorporating them into agreed goals. Strategies by which the therapist dealt with difficulties included repeated and constraining questions, negotiation, and amending proposed goals. Conclusions: Findings of this small, detailed study might help explain previous observations of infrequent goal-setting and failure to maximize patients' involvement therein. Goal-setting, particularly where patients' views are elicited and incorporated, involves skill and effort, and is influenced by powerful social constraints. Developing detailed knowledge of both practices and constraints may contribute to improving professional practice, guidance and education. The paper demonstrates the utility of detailed analysis of rehabilitation communication using conversation analytic methods.
Validity of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: a client-centred outcome measurement
Authors: Dedding Christine , Cardol Mieke , Eyssen Isaline CJM , Beelen Anita 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To study the convergent and divergent validity of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The occupational therapy departments of two university hospitals in Amsterdam. Subjects: One hundred and five consecutive outpatients. Outcome measures: The COPM is a measure of a client's self-perception of occupational performance in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure. Outcome measures of the COPM are: the client's most important problems in occupational performance and a total score for performance and a total score for satisfaction for these problems. Problems reported in the COPM were compared with the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP68), the Disability and Impact Profile (DIP) and an open-ended question. Results: Complete data were obtained for 99 clients. The identification of occupational performance problems with the COPM surpassed the items reported in the SIP68, the DIP and the open-ended question, which confirms the surplus value of the COPM. Divergent validity was further demonstrated by the low correlation coefficients between the total SIP68 scores and the COPM. Seventy-four per cent of the occupational performance problems reported in the COPM had a corresponding item in the DIP and 49% had a corresponding item in the SIP68. Convergent validity was supported by the fact that 63% of the corresponding problems in the DIP were reported to be a disruption of quality of life and 74% of the corresponding problems in the SIP68 were identified as a disability. Conclusion: The results of this study provide supportive evidence for the convergent and divergent validity of the COPM. The data support the assumption that the COPM provides information that cannot be obtained with current standardized instruments to measure health.
Sex-related differences of rehabilitation outcomes of spinal cord lesion patients
Authors: Scivoletto Giorgio , Morganti Barbara , Molinari Marco 
Published: August 2004

Objectives: To evaluate sex-related differences of spinal cord lesion patients. Patients: Two hundred and eighty-one patients were included with evaluation of: lesion to admission time, aetiology, lesion level, associated injury, medical complications and surgical intervention, length of stay, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment and motor scores. Main outcome measures: ASIA impairment grade and ASIA motor scores; Barthel Index, Rivermead Mobility Index and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury. Results: In the entire group female patients had a lower frequency of traumatic lesions, a lower frequency of complications at admission and a higher frequency of incomplete lesions (ASIA impairment C). In the matching cohorts comparison female patients showed the same neurological and functional recovery as male patients. Conclusion: Gender does not seems to influence spinal cord rehabilitation outcomes despite the fact that men and women showed significant epidemiological differences. Further studies are needed to evaluate some aspects such as long-term bladder management and complications.
Recovery of the upper limb post ischaemic stroke and the predictive value of the Orpington Prognostic Score
Authors: Meldrum Dara , Pittock Sean J , Hardiman Orla , Dhuill Caoimhe Ni , O'Regan Myra , Moroney Joan T 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To document upper limb recovery in stroke patients and investigate whether the Orpington Prognostic Score (OPS) performed within 48 hours of admission to hospital post ischaemic stroke was a predictor of upper limb function at six months and two years. Design: Inception cohort design. Setting: Teaching Hospital. Subjects: One hundred and fourteen patients hospitalized with acute ischaemic stroke were stratified into three groups based on their OPS within 48 hours of admission post stroke and underwent further assessments at two weeks, six months and two years after stroke onset. Main measures: Rivermead Arm Score (RAS), Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and grip strength (GS). Results: Patients with a good OPS and intermediate OPS showed significant recovery in all outcome measures for up to six months post stroke ( p < 0.05), while those with a poor OPS at 48 hours showed no significant improvement ( p < 0.05). The OPS score at 48 hours was the most highly correlated variable with upper limb outcome at six months (r = -0.728) and at two years (r = -0.712) compared with other variables such as age, class of stroke, sensation, grip strength and RAS. Conclusion: Stroke patients demonstrate differential upper limb recovery patterns which need to be taken in consideration when designing studies that investigate efficacy of rehabilitation, and the OPS is highly correlated with upper limb recovery at six months and two years.
Randomized clinical trial into the impact of rigid foot orthoses on balance parameters in excessively pronated feet
Authors: Rome K , Brown C L 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To evaluate the effect of rigid foot orthoses on balance parameters in participants with clinically diagnosed excessively pronated feet. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: University biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Thirty female and 20 male healthy participants (mean 23.89 ± 2.2 years old) with excessively pronated feet, according to a validated foot classification system were randomly assigned to either a control or intervention group. Interventions: Balance testing was performed using the Balance Performance Monitor with an over-the-counter rigid foot orthoses. Main outcome measures: Standing balance in the form of mean balance (measures the participants ability to stand with an even load), medial–lateral sway and anterior–posterior sway. All participants were measured while standing bipedally. Results: There was no significant mean difference in balance scores between the control and intervention group at baseline. After four weeks the results demonstrated no significant differences between mean) balance ( p > 0.05) and anterior–posterior sway ( p > 0.05). However, there was a reduction with the intervention group in medial–lateral sway ( p > 0.02). Conclusion: The use of foot orthoses in the current study may have improved postural control by stabilizing the rear foot and thus maintaining balance. By the same argument, the benefits of limiting excessive foot pronation may contribute to effective control of internal rotation of the tibia and thereby reduce counter-rotatory motion at the knee and lower leg and maintain balance.
Measures used to assess burden among caregivers of stroke patients: a review
Authors: Visser-Meily J M Anne , Post Marcel W M , Riphagen Ingrid I , Lindeman Eline 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To describe measures used to evaluate the burden of caregiving experienced by caregivers of stroke patients and their clinimetric properties. Design: A review of the literature was conducted to examine burden scales with regard to concept, feasibility, internal consistency, validity, reliability and responsiveness. Results: The literature search resulted in 45 measures of caregiver outcomes, including 16 different measures of caregiver burden. About half of the scales were used only once and were not further described. Nearly all instruments measure the various dimensions of burden (competency, negative feelings, social relations, participation problems, physical and mental health and economic aspects), but not in the same proportions. Most measures showed good internal consistency, and validity was demonstrated for all measures except one. However, not much is known about the reliability and responsiveness of these measures. Conclusions: No measure has proven superiority above others. Future research should focus on comparisons between existing instruments and on their reliability and responsiveness.
Fewer accidents and better maintenance with active wheelchair check-ups: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Hansen R , Tresse S , Gunnarsson R K 
Published: August 2004

Objective: To investigate whether active intervention using a compiled checklist for wheelchair check-ups increases user satisfaction and/or decreases accidents, near accidents and pressure sores. Design: A randomized controlled trial comparing active intervention versus standard intervention for prescribed, manually propelled wheelchairs. Setting: Patients within primary health care of Bora°s and Bollebygd municipalities, a mixed urban and rural population. Subjects: Users of manually propelled wheelchairs over 16 years of age. Interventions: The accident rate, extent of pressure sores, number and extent of repairs, reconditioning, adjustments as well as user satisfaction were measured initially and at one year. In the standard intervention, the user and carer were encouraged to initiate contact when necessary. In the active intervention, an occupational therapist performed a scheduled, thorough check-up of the wheelchair, following a compiled checklist for safety, comfort and positioning, manoeuvrability and transportation. Results: Of 253 registered wheelchair users, 216 were suitable and randomized. In the active intervention group, 99% (95% confidence interval 96 / 100%) of the inspected wheelchairs required maintenance. The incidence of accidents was unchanged in the standard intervention group, but decreased to ‘no accidents’ in the active intervention group (p / 0.03). User satisfaction was not affected by the active intervention. Conclusion: Most wheelchair users are unable to determine on their own when adjustments are needed. An active check-up on manually propelled wheelchairs seems to reduce accidents. More information is available at http://www.wheelchair.se