title: Landing Error Scoring System

authors: Hébert-Losier, Kim

abstract: Introduction: The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a 17-item clinical tool which identifies athletes at high risk of non-contact lower-extremity injuries. This work systematically reviews the literature using the LESS as main outcome to address the psychometric properties and influencing factors of LESS scores. Methods: Three electronic databases were searched in March 2018 using “Landing Error Scoring System”. All peer-reviewed English language articles using the LESS as main outcome were included (n = 38). Results: Overall LESS scores demonstrate good-to-excellent reliability, but concurrent validity of individual items against 3D motion capture is item dependent. The association between LESS scores and other screening tools is poor. The value of the LESS for predicting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incidence is unclear. Sex, previous ACL injury, and training program influence LESS scores. Discussion: Literature supports that the LESS is a reliable and generally valid screening tool for assessing movement patterns linked with injury risk with low financial, spatial, and temporal costs. However, further work is needed to improve its concurrent and predictive validity for non-contact lower-extremity injuries. Take home message: The LESS can be recommended to medical staff and coaches for monitoring movement abilities of athletes.

text: Landing Error Scoring System Introduction: The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a 17-item clinical tool which identifies athletes at high risk of non-contact lower-extremity injuries. This work systematically reviews the literature using the LESS as main outcome to address the psychometric properties and influencing factors of LESS scores. Methods: Three electronic databases were searched in March 2018 using “Landing Error Scoring System”. All peer-reviewed English language articles using the LESS as main outcome were included (n = 38). Results: Overall LESS scores demonstrate good-to-excellent reliability, but concurrent validity of individual items against 3D motion capture is item dependent. The association between LESS scores and other screening tools is poor. The value of the LESS for predicting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incidence is unclear. Sex, previous ACL injury, and training program influence LESS scores. Discussion: Literature supports that the LESS is a reliable and generally valid screening tool for assessing movement patterns linked with injury risk with low financial, spatial, and temporal costs. However, further work is needed to improve its concurrent and predictive validity for non-contact lower-extremity injuries. Take home message: The LESS can be recommended to medical staff and coaches for monitoring movement abilities of athletes.

year: 2018

title: Importance of understanding variable and transient energy demand in large multi-product industrial plants for process integration

authors: Walmsley, Michael R.W.

subjects: energy

abstract: There have been some news releases claiming that Professor Henle in Germany has found the chemical identity of UMF, and that in future chemical analysis will be used instead of assays of antibacterial activity to indicate the level of UMF in manuka honey. Both of these claims are misleading. Because the level of active substance in manuka honey is an unreliable indication of the level of antibacterial activity and can be very misleading, it is hard to see any commercial advantage for it to be used to indicate antibacterial activity other than if someone wanted to fool the consumer into thinking that the higher numbers are giving them a level of antibacterial activity that is far higher than they are really getting.

text: Importance of understanding variable and transient energy demand in large multi-product industrial plants for process integration There have been some news releases claiming that Professor Henle in Germany has found the chemical identity of UMF, and that in future chemical analysis will be used instead of assays of antibacterial activity to indicate the level of UMF in manuka honey. Both of these claims are misleading. Because the level of active substance in manuka honey is an unreliable indication of the level of antibacterial activity and can be very misleading, it is hard to see any commercial advantage for it to be used to indicate antibacterial activity other than if someone wanted to fool the consumer into thinking that the higher numbers are giving them a level of antibacterial activity that is far higher than they are really getting.

year: 2011

title: Exploring patient experiences and power dynamics in an acute general surgical ward: A mixed methods study exploring patient and staff
perceptions of the inpatient experience at Waikato Hospital

authors: Drake, Emma Rose

subjects: Nursing

abstract: Background: Alongside health outcomes, patient experiences are considered crucial in identifying the quality of a health care setting. General surgery comprise the largest range of pathologies and accounts for the highest number of patient discharges of any surgical specialty. As a way to address the power imbalance between healthcare staff and patients, patient-centred models of care are increasingly being adopted and implemented within hospitals including surgery. This study aims to investigate the current experiences of acutely admitted patients in a general surgical ward at Waikato Hospital, including opportunities for and challenges to improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the study examines relevant staff members perspectives of the inpatient experience and seeks to determine the efficacy of a proposed intervention focusing on empowering patients and their families.
Methods: The study was a mixed method design involving two phases. Phase I obtained qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six patients and twelve staff members. Themes which emerged from the qualitative data in phase I were used to inform the development of phase II, as well as to inform a proposed patient self- assessment intervention. Phase II obtained quantitative data through Likert scale response surveys provided to acute patients on, or near to, their day of discharge from the surgical ward over a two month period.
Results: A total of six patients and 12 healthcare staff (senior registered nurses, n=3; surgical registered nurse managers, n=2; surgical fellows, n=2; surgical registrar, n=1; dietitian, n=1; social worker, n=1; occupational therapist, n=1; and physiotherapist n=1) were involved in phase I. A total of 53 surveys were returned from patients in Phase II (63.1% response rate). Qualitative data from phase I was analysed using a general inductive approach. This revealed three themes including power and control concerns for patients, the hierarchy of the health care team and the surrounding stressors of the organisation and environment. Analysis of the quantitative data collected descriptive statistics and calculated chi-squares. Of note were the statistically significant differences particularly between patients of Māori ethnicity comparatively to non-Māori, and according to gender and reason in hospital. There were no statistically significant differences for patients according to age group.
Conclusion: This study identified both the experiences of patients and staff in an acute general surgical context. The study found that the proposed patient self- assessment intervention was not immediately recommended. This was due to the current recommendations from patients who identified their strong preference was for face-to-face communication with staff. It was also due to staff members identification of a perceived inability to consistently provide person-centred care which corresponded with the patient self-assessment data. Acute general surgical care needs of patients were perceived by staff as taking precedent and current workplace stressors, including staffing and skill mix deficits and perceived lack of staff wellbeing supports, were strong inhibitors for staff to provide their preferred capacity of patient-centred care.

text: Exploring patient experiences and power dynamics in an acute general surgical ward: A mixed methods study exploring patient and staff
perceptions of the inpatient experience at Waikato Hospital Background: Alongside health outcomes, patient experiences are considered crucial in identifying the quality of a health care setting. General surgery comprise the largest range of pathologies and accounts for the highest number of patient discharges of any surgical specialty. As a way to address the power imbalance between healthcare staff and patients, patient-centred models of care are increasingly being adopted and implemented within hospitals including surgery. This study aims to investigate the current experiences of acutely admitted patients in a general surgical ward at Waikato Hospital, including opportunities for and challenges to improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the study examines relevant staff members perspectives of the inpatient experience and seeks to determine the efficacy of a proposed intervention focusing on empowering patients and their families.
Methods: The study was a mixed method design involving two phases. Phase I obtained qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six patients and twelve staff members. Themes which emerged from the qualitative data in phase I were used to inform the development of phase II, as well as to inform a proposed patient self- assessment intervention. Phase II obtained quantitative data through Likert scale response surveys provided to acute patients on, or near to, their day of discharge from the surgical ward over a two month period.
Results: A total of six patients and 12 healthcare staff (senior registered nurses, n=3; surgical registered nurse managers, n=2; surgical fellows, n=2; surgical registrar, n=1; dietitian, n=1; social worker, n=1; occupational therapist, n=1; and physiotherapist n=1) were involved in phase I. A total of 53 surveys were returned from patients in Phase II (63.1% response rate). Qualitative data from phase I was analysed using a general inductive approach. This revealed three themes including power and control concerns for patients, the hierarchy of the health care team and the surrounding stressors of the organisation and environment. Analysis of the quantitative data collected descriptive statistics and calculated chi-squares. Of note were the statistically significant differences particularly between patients of Māori ethnicity comparatively to non-Māori, and according to gender and reason in hospital. There were no statistically significant differences for patients according to age group.
Conclusion: This study identified both the experiences of patients and staff in an acute general surgical context. The study found that the proposed patient self- assessment intervention was not immediately recommended. This was due to the current recommendations from patients who identified their strong preference was for face-to-face communication with staff. It was also due to staff members identification of a perceived inability to consistently provide person-centred care which corresponded with the patient self-assessment data. Acute general surgical care needs of patients were perceived by staff as taking precedent and current workplace stressors, including staffing and skill mix deficits and perceived lack of staff wellbeing supports, were strong inhibitors for staff to provide their preferred capacity of patient-centred care.

year: 2022