Search

Some respondents make careless responses due to the “satisficing,” which is an attempt to complete a questionnaire as quickly and easily as possible. To obtain results that reflect a fact, detecting satisficing and excluding the responses with satisficing from the analysis targets are required. One of the devised methods detects satisficing by adding questions that check violations of instructions and inconsistencies. However, this approach may cause respondents to lose their motivation and prompt them to satisficing. Additionally, a deep learning model that automatically answers these questions was reported. This threatens the reliability of the conventional method. To detect careless responses without inserting such screening questions, machine learning (ML) detection using data obtained from answer results was attempted in a previous study, with a detection rate of 55.6%, which is not sufficient from the viewpoint of practicality. Therefore, we hypothesized that a supervised ML model with a higher detection rate could be constructed by using on-screen answering behavior as features. However, (1) no existing questionnaire system can record on-screen answering behavior and (2) even if the answering behavior can be recorded, it is unclear which answering behavior features are associated with satisficing. We developed an answering behavior recording plug-in for LimeSurvey, an online questionnaire system used all over the world, and collected a large amount of data (from 5,692 people) in Japan. Then, a variety of features were examined and generated from answering behavior, and we constructed ML models to detect careless responses. We call this detection method the ML-ABS (ML-based answering behavior scale). Evaluation by cross-validation demonstrated that the detection rate for careless responses was 85.9%, which is much higher than the previous ML method. Among the various features we proposed, we found that reselecting the Likert scale and scrolling particularly contributed to the detection of careless responses.

Ensuring access to water is one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Water demand management, which has emerged as an important approach to secure water supply, should be underpinned by a good understanding of how the public perceive their use of water. In this study, we investigated public perceptions of physical and virtual water in China through online surveys using the multi-level regression models (two-level models). Based on 3262 responses, we found that overall, participants underestimated water uses and differences between water uses (daily potable water of an adult, shower, toilet flushing, etc.). Most participants did not possess the knowledge of virtual water embedded in their daily consumed products. Individuals showed rather different perceptions in water use, which were affected by gender, age, education, resource and environmental attitude, water saving behaviors, water price and residential water source. In combination with previous findings in the United States, we concluded that despite different natural water endowment and socio-economic and cultural conditions, underestimation of water use is commonly shared by Chinese and Americans. This highlights a need of strengthening public knowledge of water use. The results are useful in informing policies to enhance the public's awareness of water use towards improved water demand management.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992 and has followed these women, their partners (Generation 0; G0) and offspring (Generation 1; G1) ever since. The study reacted rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying online questionnaires in March and May 2020. Home-based antibody tests and a further questionnaire were sent to 5220 participants during a two-week period of October 2020. 4.2% (n=201) of participants reported a positive antibody test (3.2% G0s [n=81]; 5.6% G1s [n=120]). 43 reported an invalid test, 7 did not complete and 3 did not report their result. Participants uploaded a photo of their test to enable validation: all positive tests, those where the participant could not interpret the result and a 5% random sample were manually checked against photos. We report 92% agreement (kappa=0.853). Positive tests were compared to additional COVID-19 status information: 58 (1.2%) participants reported a previous positive test, 73 (1.5%) reported that COVID-19 was suspected by a doctor, but not tested and 980 (20.4%) believed they had COVID-19 due to their own suspicions. Of those reporting a positive result on our antibody test, 55 reported that they did not think they had had COVID-19. Results from antibody testing and questionnaire data will be complemented by health record linkage and results of other biological testing– uniting Pillar testing data with home testing and self-report. Data have been released as an update to the original datasets released in July 2020. It comprises: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses to all three questionnaires with key sociodemographic factors and 2) as individual participant-specific release files enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study. This data note describes the antibody testing, associated questionnaire and the data obtained from it.

Background Plantar heel pain (PHP) accounts for 11–15% of foot symptoms requiring professional care in adults. Recovery is variable, with no robust prognostic guides for sufferers, clinicians or researchers. Therefore, we aimed to determine the validity, reliability and feasibility of questionnaire, clinical and biomechanical measures selected to generate a prognostic model in a subsequent cohort study. Methods Thirty-six people (19 females & 17 males; 20–63 years) were recruited with equal numbers in each of three groups: people with PHP (PwPHP), other foot pain (PwOP) and healthy (H) controls. Eighteen people performed a questionnaire battery twice in a randomised order to determine online and face-to-face agreement. The remaining 18 completed the online questionnaire once, plus clinical measurements including strength and range of motion, mid-foot mobility, palpation and ultrasound assessment of plantar fascia. Nine of the same people underwent biomechanical assessment in the form of a graded loaded challenge augmenting walking with added external weight and amended step length on two occasions. Outcome measures were (1) feasibility of the data collection procedure, measurement time and other feedback; (2) establishing equivalence to usual procedures for the questionnaire battery; known-group validity for clinical and imaging measures; and initial validation and reliability of biomechanical measures. Results There were no systematic differences between online and face-to-face administration of questionnaires (p-values all > .05) nor an administration order effect (d = − 0.31–0.25). Questionnaire reliability was good or excellent (ICC2,1_absolute)(ICC 0.86–0.99), except for two subscales. Full completion of the survey took 29 ± 14 min. Clinically, PwPHP had significantly less ankle-dorsiflexion and hip internal-rotation compared to healthy controls [mean (±SD) for PwPHP-PwOP-H = 14°(±6)-18°(±8)-28°(±10); 43°(±4)- 45°(±9)-57°(±12) respectively; p for both]. Plantar fascia thickness was significantly higher in PwPHP (3.6(0.4) mm vs 2.9(0.4) mm, p = .01) than the other groups. The graded loading challenge demonstrated progressively increasing ground reaction forces. Conclusion Online questionnaire administration was valid therefore facilitating large cohort recruitment and being relevant to remote service evaluation and research. The physical and ultrasound examination revealed the expected differences between groups, while the graded loaded challenge progressively increases load and warrants future research. Clinician and researchers can be confident about these methodological approaches and the cohort study, from which useful clinical tools should result, is feasible. Level of evidence IV

Introduction: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic produced by SARS2-Cov virus, olfactory alterations have been observed at a greater frequency than in other coronavirus epidemics. While olfactory alterations may be observed in patients with rhinovirus, influenza virus, or parainfluenza virus infection, they are typically explained by nasal obstruction with mucus or direct epithelial damage; in the case of SARS-CoV-2, olfactory alterations may present without nasal congestion with mucus. We performed a study of patients presenting olfactory/gustatory alterations in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon. Material and Methods: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study of the clinical characteristics of olfactory/gustatory alterations using a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire. Results: A total of 909 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and olfactory/gustatory alterations responded to the questionnaire in the 4-day data collection period; 824 cases (90.65%) reported simultaneous olfactory and gustatory involvement. Patients' responses to the questionnaire revealed ageusia (581, 64.1% of respondents), hypogeusia (256, 28.2%), dysgeusia (22, 2.4%), anosmia (752 82.8%), hyposmia (142, 15.6%), and dysosmia (8, 0.9%). Fifty-four percent (489) did not report concomitant nasal congestion or mucus. Conclusion: Olfactory alterations are frequent in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and is only associated with nasal congestion in half of the cases.

Background The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become an international pandemic. So far, little is known about the role of an internet approach in COVID-19 participatory surveillance. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate whether an online survey can provide population-level information for observing prevalence trends during the early phase of an outbreak and identifying potential risk factors of COVID-19 infection. Methods A 10-item online questionnaire was developed according to medical guidelines and relevant publications. It was distributed between January 24 and February 17, 2020. The characteristics of respondents and temporal changes of various questionnaire-derived indicators were analyzed. Results A total of 18,161 questionnaires were returned, including 6.45% (n=1171) from Wuhan City. Geographical distributions of the respondents were consistent with the population per province (R2=0.61, P Conclusions This study shows the usefulness of an online questionnaire for the surveillance of outbreaks like COVID-19 by providing information about trends of the disease and aiding the identification of potential risk factors.

The objective: development and validation of a questionnaire for diagnosis, detailing and population assessment of clinical and laboratory symptoms and assessing the quality of life of patients with recurrent UTI RUTIQ (Reccurent Urinary Tract Infection Questionnaire). Materials and methods. To assess the sensitivity of the questionnaire to changes, depending on the severity of clinical changes and the total score, the questionnaires were divided into two groups. Based on the results of testing, the first group included patients with an initially high score of the questionnaire and, accordingly, more pronounced clinical manifestations. The second group included patients with a relapse of the urinary tract infection, indicating moderate changes in the physical and psychoemotional state, with moderate clinical manifestations of the disease. Patients received standard therapy and 10 days after the initial questionnaire completed the questionnaire again. A survey of the validation of the RUTIQ questionnaire was completed by 49 respondents. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 77 years, the average age was 37.2 ± 3.7 years. The average duration of the disease is 6.1 ± 1.1 years. Results. The results of this study confirm the high psychometric properties of the domains of the questionnaire, their accessibility and informativeness, questions and answers to patients are clear and understandable. Positive and reliable correlations between the obtained test results and comparator questionnaires, UTISA and SF-36, satisfactory sensitivity to changes suggest that RUTIQ domains can statistically reliably reflect the course of the disease, social functioning and changes in the quality of life related to health. The conclusion. The application of the questionnaire allows to significantly optimize the primary and repeated diagnostic tactics in patients of the target group, to study in detail the features of the history of the disease, the details of the medical history, the details of the nature of the transferred therapeutic and diagnostic activities with a high level of reliability.

Surgical castration of piglets without pain relief is still common practice in many countries. Possible alternatives for surgical castration are application of pain relief or anaesthesia or production of boars (entire males) and immunocastrates. Each of these alternatives faces advantages and disadvantages which may result in different citizen attitudes and consumers acceptability. Understanding which practice is acceptable to whom and why may further stimulate implementation. Consumer (n = 3251) and stakeholder (n = 1027) attitudes towards surgical castration without pain relief, surgical castration with anaesthesia, immunocastration, and production of boars were surveyed from April to June 2020 via an online questionnaire in 16 countries (&gt, 175 respondents per country). Surgical castration without pain relief was separated from each of the alternatives due to animal welfare and showed the lowest acceptability (32%). Within the alternatives, a further partitioning between the alternatives was based on perceived quality and food safety, with an acceptance of 85% for applying anaesthesia, 71% for immunocastration, and 49% for boar production. Differences depending on professional involvement and familiarity with agriculture could be observed, mainly for the acceptance of surgical castration without anaesthesia, immunocastration, and boars. Castration with anaesthesia was highly accepted by all types of respondents.

Background: Gender inequalities have been identified as important derailment factors for health workforce and health system sustainability. Literature holds responsible a list of gendered barriers faced by female health workforce. However, there is a gap in the evidence based research on women leaders' own perceptions of barriers to leading positions advancement. This study aims to explore leadership barriers perceived by women healthcare leaders within country's context; research focused on Greece due to country's poor performance on gender equality index and current economic turbulence. Study supplements survey data and provides orientation for further gender sensitive research in health workforce development through country's specificity lens to better inform education and policy makers.Methods: The best-worst object case survey method was used, applying an online questionnaire designed in Qualtrics. The online questionnaire was sent to 30 purposively invited participants. Respondents were asked to tick the most and the least important barriers to women's leadership in provided choice scenarios. Descriptive data analysis was used to understand and interpret the results.Results: Women leaders perceived stereotypes, work/life balance, lack of equal career advancement, lack of confidence, gender gap and gender bias to be the barriers with the greatest relative importance in constraining opportunities for pursuing leading positions in Greek healthcare setting. Twenty more barriers were identified and ranked lower in relative importance. The results are considered exploratory and not to obtain population based outcomes.Conclusion: This exploratory study reports the perceived barriers of women leaders in pursuing leading positions within Greek healthcare context. The findings point mainly to organizational and socio-cultural related barriers potentially aggravated by country's unfortunate current economic turbulence. Further extensive research is required to establish grounded conclusions and better inform education and policy makers in developing gender sensitive strategies to sustainable health workforce development.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992 and has followed these women, their partners (Generation 0; G0) and their offspring (Generation 1; G1) ever since. The study has reacted rapidly and repeatedly to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, deploying online questionnaires throughout the pandemic. In November/December 2020, a fourth questionnaire was deployed asking about physical and mental health, lifestyle and behaviours, employment and finances. G0 participants were offered an online questionnaire between 17th November 2020 and 7th February 2021, while G1 participants were offered both online and paper questionnaires between 1st December 2020 and 19th March 2021. Of 15,844 invitations, 8,643 (55%) participants returned the questionnaire (3,101 original mothers [mean age 58.6 years], 1,172 original fathers/partners [mean age 61.5 years] and 4,370 offspring [mean age 28.4 years]). Of these 8,643 participants, 2,012 (23%) had not returned a previous COVID-19 questionnaire, while 3,575 (41%) had returned all three previous questionnaires. In this questionnaire, 300 participants (3.5%) reported a previous positive COVID-19 test, 110 (1.3%) had been told by a doctor they likely had COVID-19, and 759 (8.8%) suspected that they had had COVID-19. Based on self-reported symptoms, between October 2020 and February 2021 359 participants (4.2%) were predicted COVID-19 cases. COVID data is being complemented with linkage to health records and Public Health England pillar testing results as they become available. Data has been released as an update to the previous COVID-19 datasets. It comprises: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses to both questionnaires with key sociodemographic factors; and 2) as a composite release coordinating data from the existing resource, thus enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study. This data note describes the fourth questionnaire and the data obtained from it.

Objectives Cohort studies must collect data from their participants as economically as possible, while maintaining response rates. This randomized controlled trial investigated whether offering a choice of online or paper questionnaires resulted in improved response rates compared with offering online first. Study Design and Setting Eligible participants were young people in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study (born April 1, 1991, to December 31, 1992, in the Avon area). After exclusions, 8,795 participants were randomized. The “online first” group were invited to complete the questionnaire online. The “choice” group were also sent a paper questionnaire and offered a choice of completion method. The trial was embedded within routine data collection. The main outcome measure was the number of questionnaires returned. Data on costs were also collected. Results Those in the “online first” arm of the trial were less likely to return a questionnaire [adjusted odds ratio: 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82, 0.99]. The “choice” arm was more expensive (mean difference per participant £0.71; 95% CI: £0.65, £0.76). It cost an extra £47 to have one extra person to complete the questionnaire in the “choice” arm. Conclusion Offering a choice of completion methods (paper or online) for questionnaires in ALSPAC increased response rates but was more expensive than offering online first.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992. The resource provides an informative and efficient setting for collecting data on the current coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In early March 2020, a questionnaire was developed in collaboration with other longitudinal population studies to ensure cross-cohort comparability. It targeted retrospective and current COVID-19 infection information (exposure assessment, symptom tracking and reported clinical outcomes) and the impact of both disease and mitigating measures implemented to manage the COVID-19 crisis more broadly. Data were collected on symptoms of COVID-19 and seasonal flu, travel prior to the pandemic, mental health and social, behavioural and lifestyle factors. The online questionnaire was deployed across parent (G0) and offspring (G1) generations between 9th April and 15th May 2020. 6807 participants completed the questionnaire (2706 original mothers, 1014 original fathers/partners, 2973 offspring (mean age ~28 years) and 114 offspring partners). Eight (0.01%) participants (4 G0 and 4 G1) reported a positive test for COVID-19, 77 (1.13%; 28 G0 and 49 G1) reported that they had been told by a doctor they likely had COVID-19 and 865 (12.7%; 426 G0 and 439 G1) suspected that they have had COVID-19. Using algorithmically defined cases, we estimate that the predicted proportion of COVID-19 cases ranged from 1.03% - 4.19% depending on timing during the period of reporting (October 2019-March 2020). Data from this first questionnaire will be complemented with at least two more follow-up questionnaires, linkage to health records and results of biological testing as they become available. Data has been released as: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses with key sociodemographic factors and 2) as a composite release coordinating data from the existing resource, thus enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study.

Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of cyberbullying and cybervictimization in different countries, using the same procedure and the same measures, are of relevance in understanding differences in results that are not due to methodological factors. The current study was conducted in 8 European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Spain), involving a total of 4,847 students, using an online anonymous questionnaire (the Tabby online questionnaire). The results were analyzed by comparing differences between countries and between genders. Cyberbullying and cybervictimization were most prevalent in Bulgaria and Hungary and least prevalent in Spain. Boys committed more cyberbullying than girls in all countries, but there were no overall gender differences in cybervictimization. However, girls were more often cybervictims in four countries and boys were more often cybervictims in the other four countries. The results are discussed with regard to the importance of cross-national studies of cyberbullying and cybervictimization and the use of online data collection in order to reduce methodological bias.

Context: Component-based software engineering (CBSE) is a common approach to develop and evolve contemporary software systems. When evolving a system based on components, make-or-buy decisions are frequent, i.e., whether to develop components internally or to acquire them from external sources. In CBSE, several different sourcing options are available: (1) developing software in-house, (2) outsourcing development, (3) buying commercial-off-the-shelf software, and (4) integrating open source software components. Objective: Unfortunately, there is little available research on how organizations select component sourcing options (CSO) in industry practice. In this work, we seek to contribute empirical evidence to CSO selection. Method: We conduct a cross-domain survey on CSO selection in industry, implemented as an online questionnaire. Results: Based on 188 responses, we find that most organizations consider multiple CSOs during software evolution, and that the CSO decisions in industry are dominated by expert judgment. When choosing between candidate components, functional suitability acts as an initial filter, then reliability is the most important quality. Conclusion: We stress that future solution-oriented work on decision support has to account for the dominance of expert judgment in industry. Moreover, we identify considerable variation in CSO decision processes in industry. Finally, we encourage software development organizations to reflect on their decision processes when choosing whether to make or buy components, and we recommend using our survey for a first benchmarking. © 2019

Exposures to toxic metals such as mercury have been suggested to be risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Human intake of mercury commonly occurs via consumption of seafood or from mercury-containing amalgam dental restorations (‘mercury fillings’). We therefore compared mercury exposures from these sources in 401 ALS and 452 non-ALS respondents, using an internationally-available online questionnaire that asked respondents how often they ate seafood and what their favourite types of seafoods were. Respondents were also asked to record numbers of current or former mercury fillings. ALS and non-ALS respondents did not differ in their frequency of seafood consumption or in monthly mercury intake from favourite seafoods. Both groups had similar numbers of current, as well as former, mercury fillings. In conclusion, this study found no evidence that mercury exposure from eating seafood, or from mercury dental fillings, was associated with the risk of developing ALS. Therefore, if mercury does play a role in the pathogenesis of ALS, other sources of exposure to mercury in the environment or workplace need to be considered. Alternatively, a susceptibility to mercury toxicity in ALS, such as genetic or epigenetic variations, multiple toxic metal interactions, or selenium deficiency, may be present.

Terveydenhuollon sähköisten palveluiden määrä on lisääntynyt merkittävästi. Potilaiden odotetaan osallistuvan aktiivisemmin hoitoonsa, mutta erityisesti kroonisesti sairaat käyttävät sähköisiä palveluita terveitä harvemmin. Kansainvälisten tutkimusten mukaan hoitohenkilökunnan motivointi ja tuki vaikuttavat merkittävästi potilaiden halukkuuteen ja kyvykkyyteen käyttää terveydenhuollon sähköisiä palveluita. Tässä artikkelissa raportoidaan tuloksia verkkokyselystä, jossa tutkittiin, millaista tukea ja ohjausta kroonisesti sairaat potilaat saavat ja toisaalta toivovat hoitohenkilökunnalta terveydenhuollon sähköisten palveluiden käyttöön. Kyselyssä potilaita pyydettiin arvioimaan, miten hoitohenkilökunta on ohjannut heitä sähköisten palveluiden käyttöön kertomalla palveluista, kannustamalla käyttämään niitä ja neuvomalla niiden käyttöä. Lisäksi kyselyllä selvitettiin, millaisia sähköisiä palveluja potilaat haluavat tulevaisuudessa käyttää. Kyselyyn vastasi 397 sydän-, diabetes- ja syöpäpotilasta. Suurin osa kyselyyn vastanneista potilaista oli käyttänyt vähintään yhtä terveydenhuollon sähköistä palvelua (92 %) ja eniten näitä palveluja käytettiin tiedon etsimiseen. Palvelujen käyttö perustui suurimmaksi osaksi potilaiden omaan aloitteeseen ja hoitohenkilökunnan rooli potilaiden motivoinnissa ja ohjauksessa jäi pieneksi. Alle puolet vastaajista (47 %) raportoi hoitohenkilökunnan kertoneen heille terveydenhuollon sähköisistä palveluista. Palvelujen käyttöön hoitohenkilökunta oli kannustanut noin kolmannesta (30 %) tai opastanut vielä harvempaa (21 %). Alle kolmannes vastaajista koki, ettei tarvitse apua tai tukea terveydenhuollon sähköisten palvelujen käyttöön, mutta monet toivoivat hoitohenkilökunnalta aktiivisempaa otetta palveluista tiedottamisessa sekä palveluiden käytön neuvomisessa ja kannustamisessa. Tulevaisuudessa potilaat ovat halukkaita käyttämään erityisesti käytännöllistä sähköistä ajanvarausta sekä uusia, helppoja yhteydenpitokanavia hoitohenkilökunnan kanssa. Tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella pelkkä terveydenhuollon sähköisten palvelujen määrän lisääminen ei riitä, vaan aktiivisetkin potilaat tarvitsevat enemmän tietoa palveluista ja tukea niiden käyttöön., The number of eHealth services supporting patients’ self-care and self-management is increasing. Patients are expected to participate more actively in their care, but nevertheless chronically ill patients use eHealth services less frequently than healthy citizens. The healthcare personnel’s motivation and guidance could increase willingness and capability of patients to use eHealth services. This article reports a study, which investigates what kind of support patients receive and how patients wish the healthcare personnel to support them in using eHealth services as well as what kind of eHealth services patients want to use in future. The study was conducted in Finland. A total of 397 patients representing three patient organizations for chronic illnesses (heart disease, diabetes or cancer) answered to the online questionnaire. Most of the respondents had used at least one eHealth service (92%) and the most common purpose was to seek information. eHealth services were mostly used on the patients’ own initiative. Only less than half of the patients (47%) had received information about eHealth services from the healthcare personnel. Even less participants had been encouraged (30%) or advised (21%) how to use these services by the healthcare personnel. The study shows that patients wish for a more active manner from the healthcare personnel in informing about the availability of eHealth services as well as providing guidance and encouragement in using the services. The wishes about future eHealth services were rather modest. Respondents wished for a more versatile digital booking of medical appointments and novel, easy-to-use communication channels with the personnel. The results suggest that it is not only sufficient to increase the number of eHealth services, but also the active patients need more information about eHealth services as well as guidance in their use.

The relevance of Requirements Engineering (RE) research to practitioners is a prerequisite for problem-driven research in the area and key for a long-term dissemination of research results to everyday practice. To better understand how industry practitioners perceive the practical relevance of RE research, we have initiated the RE-Pract project, an international collaboration conducting an empirical study. This project opts for a replication of previous work done in two different domains and relies on survey research. To this end, we have designed a survey to be sent to several hundred industry practitioners at various companies around the world and ask them to rate their perceived practical relevance of the research described in a sample of 418 RE papers published between 2010 and 2015 at the RE, ICSE, FSE, ESEC/FSE, ESEM and REFSQ conferences. In this paper, we summarise our research protocol and present the current status of our study and the planned future steps., Accepted for the 25th International Requirements Engineering Conference, 2017

In this paper, we report the experimentation of QUESt, a Web-based tool designed to disseminate case-based knowledge in communities of experts, in the domain of medical training. To this aim, QUESt allowed the teachers of a specialization medical school to create virtual patients in the form of interactive online questionnaires and have students interact with these in a clinical contest. We discuss the results to argue that virtual patients and similar tools can foster the discussion and dissemination of case-oriented medical knowledge if used in lightly gamified initiatives, where participation is more important than winning.

Aims In this study we evaluated indicators of the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form (CHQ-CF). We compared the results in a subgroup of adolescents who completed the standard paper version of the CHQ-CF with the results in another subgroup of adolescents who completed an internet version, i.e., an online, web-based CHQ-CF questionnaire. Methods Under supervision at school, 1,071 adolescents were randomized to complete the CHQ-CF and items on chronic conditions by a paper questionnaire or by an internet administered questionnaire. Results The participation rate was 87%; age range 13–7 years. The internet administration resulted in fewer missing answers. All but one multi-item scale showed internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0.70). All scales clearly discriminated between adolescents with no, a few, or many self-reported chronic conditions. The paper administration resulted in statistically significant, higher scores on 4 of 10 CHQ-CF scales compared with the internet administration (P < 0.05), but Cohen’s effect sizes d were ≤0.21. Mode of administration interacted significantly with age (P < 0.05) on four CHQ-CF scales, but Cohen’s effect sizes for these differences were also ≤0.21. Conclusion This study supports the feasibility, internal consistency reliability of the scales, and construct validity of the CHQ-CF administered by either a paper questionnaire or online questionnaire. Given Cohen’s suggested guidelines for the interpretation of effect sizes, i.e., 0.20–.50 indicates a small effect, differences in CHQ-CF scale scores between paper and internet administration can be considered as negligible or small.

“Mechanics” and “Fluids” are familiar concepts for any newly-registered engineering student. However, when combined into the term “Fluid Mechanics”, students are thrust into the great unknown. The present article demonstrates the process of adaptation employed by the Fluid Mechanics course in the undergraduate engineering program, along with the teaching methodology, teaching materials and results obtained, evaluating the final objective in terms of student satsfaction and level of learning.

Objectives This study aimed to identify national dental education research (DER) priorities for the next 3–5 years and to identify barriers and enablers to DER. Setting Scotland. Participants In this two-stage online questionnaire study, we collected data with multiple dental professions (eg, dentistry, dental nursing and dental hygiene) and stakeholder groups (eg, learners, clinicians, educators, managers, researchers and academics). Eighty-five participants completed the Stage 1 qualitative questionnaire and 649 participants the Stage 2 quantitative questionnaire. Results Eight themes were identified at Stage 1. Of the 24 DER priorities identified, the top three were: role of assessments in identifying competence; undergraduate curriculum prepares for practice and promoting teamwork. Following exploratory factor analysis, the 24 items loaded onto four factors: teamwork and professionalism, measuring and enhancing performance, dental workforce issues and curriculum integration and innovation. Barriers and enablers existed at multiple levels: individual, interpersonal, institutional structures and cultures and technology. Conclusions This priority setting exercise provides a necessary first step to developing a national DER strategy capturing multiple perspectives. Promoting DER requires improved resourcing alongside efforts to overcome peer stigma and lack of valuing and motivation.

In order to obtain an accreditation, the university management must implement a quality assurance system and be able to document that quality policy and procedures are followed and acted upon as appropriate. One element in this system is monitoring students’ satisfaction. In this paper, we describe a method of acquiring the necessary information to enable school managers to efficiently summarize a substantial amount of information to detect issues of concern. The collection of information is performed in a systematic and consistent manner. It allows rapid feedback to students and staff, and is an integrated component of the quality assurance system. As successive evaluations are completed, school performance can be monitored, facilitating the development of strategies for continuous quality improvement. Finally, the context in which the evaluation is implemented as well as benefits and drawbacks are discussed.

Purpose: To describe preferences and to quantify the amount of agreement among orthopaedic surgeons regarding treatment options for four clinical scenarios of knee pathologies. Methods: A web-based survey was developed to investigate the attitudes of members of an international association of surgeons specialised in sports traumatology and knee surgery European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy. Results: The response rate was 40 % (412 questionnaires). An inter-rater agreement score (the Normalised Chi-square based Agreement Nomogram, NX2A) was calculated for each question. For scenario 1, 56-year-old male, degenerative medial compartment on both the femoral and tibial side, the surgical approach was preferred to the conservative approach (p < 0. 001). Biological procedures were not considered appropriate, and in this respect, the respondents achieved a moderate degree of agreement (NX2A = 0. 68). For scenario 2, 35-year-old male, early knee medial arthritis, the surgical treatment was preferred to conservative treatment (p < 0. 001). The traditional closed-wedge tibial osteotomy was not regarded as an appropriate treatment with an excellent degree of agreement among surgeons (NX2A = 0. 76). For scenario 3, 46-year-old male, ACL lesion, there was an almost disagreement, as respondents showed no preference between a surgical and conservative approach (NX2A = 0. 005). Among surgical treatments, an almost perfect agreement with regard to the appropriateness of arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction with a semitendinosus/gracilis graft was reached by the surgeons (NX2A = 0. 8). For scenario 4, 69-year-old male, diffuse knee arthritis (all the compartments), an almost perfect agreement in favour of a total knee prosthesis was obtained for the management of this scenario (NX2A = 0. 85). Conclusions: Web-based survey can help orthopaedic surgeons discuss and propose indications for clinical practice in the management of some of the most common joint diseases. Level of evidence: Cross-sectional survey, Level V

The paper reports a case study where a relatively lightweight technology in the form of a Web-based questionnaire was used to support members of a real community of professionals in externalizing and sharing their good practices and achieving a better awareness of and agreement on topics of common interest. We focused on an important medical association that counts more 1000 doctors all around the world as its members. In particular, we report how this association used the occasion of the on-line survey enabled by our technology to increase the awareness of its members about the actual heterogeneity of preferences existing in their daily clinical practice, and to trigger discussion toward a better consensus on best practices, appropriate indications, and treatments of choice for their profession and practice. We also report the result of a post-hoc evaluation of the Web-based technology employed, and draw some implications for the better design of this kind of tool in order to collect and share collective knowledge in specific professional domains.

Foi realizada uma pesquisa com o objetivo de caracterizar os princípios organizadores da representação social de jovens e adultos não-idosos sobre envelhecimento. Houve participação de 469 indivíduos, que foram convidados a responder um instrumento que lhes pedia a evocação de 7 a 10 palavras sobre envelhecimento, por meio de mensagens divulgadas em comunidades de internet. Por meio de análises de correspondências com o programa Spad, foi identificado um princípio geral opondo perdas e ganhos, típico da representação sobre envelhecimento, e também os contrastes entre os grupos de diferentes faixas etárias, permitindo caracterizar a mudança do pensamento acerca de envelhecimento com o passar da idade. Discute-se também a necessidade de caracterizações estruturais mais precisas sobre a representação do envelhecimento. A study was carried out with the goal of describing the organizing principles related to the social representation of young and non-elderly adult people about aging. A number of 469 individuals participated. They were invited to answer an instrument which asked them for 7 to 10 word evocations on aging, by means of messages spread through internet communities. Through correspondence analyses executed with the aid of the Spad software, a general principle opposing losses and gains was identified, which is typical of the representation on aging, and there were also contrasts among the groups of different age ranges, allowing for a description of the change in thought concerning aging with the passing of years. The need of more precise structural characterizations about the social representation on aging is also discussed.

Requirements engineering is a discipline with numerous challenges to overcome. One of these challenges is the implementation of requirements reuse approaches. Although several theoretical proposals exist, little is known about the practices that are currently adopted in industry. Our goal is to contribute to the investigation of the state of the practice in the reuse of requirements, eliciting current practices from practitioners, and their opinions whenever appropriate. Besides reuse in general, we focus on requirement patterns as a particular strategy to reuse. We conducted an exploratory survey based on an online questionnaire. We received 71 responses from requirements engineers with industrial experience in the field, which were analyzed in order to derive observations. Although we found that a high majority of respondents declared some level of reuse in their projects (in particular, non-functional requirements were identified as the most similar and recurrent among projects), it is true that only a minority of them declared such reuse as a regular practice. Larger IT organizations and IT organizations with well-established software processes and methods present higher levels of reuse. Ignorance of reuse techniques and processes is the main reason preventing wider adoption. From the different existing reuse techniques, the simplest ones based on textual copy and subsequent tailoring of former requirements are the most adopted techniques. However, participants who apply reuse more often tend to use more elaborate techniques. Opinions of respondents about the use of requirement patterns show that they can be expected to mitigate problems related to the quality of the resulting requirements, such as lack of uniformity, inconsistency, or ambiguity. The main reasons behind the lack of adoption of requirement patterns by practitioners (in spite of the increasing research approaches proposed in the community) are related to the lack of a well-defined reuse method and involvement of requirement engineers. The results of our paper are interesting for practitioners since we highlight relevant observations from the survey participants' experiences when deciding to implement requirements reuse practices. We also suggest future lines of research based on the needs pointed out in the results.