Refine
Year of publication
- 2015 (36) (remove)
Document Type
- Article (peer reviewed) (13)
- Conference Proceeding (12)
- Contribution to a Periodical (5)
- Other (5)
- Part of a Book (1)
Language
- English (36) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- no (36)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (36)
Keywords
- Employee competence utilization (4)
- Trust (4)
- Case Study (3)
- social participation (3)
- Contractures (2)
- Fault trees (2)
- Holzbau (2)
- Rehabilitation (2)
- Schallmesstechnik (2)
- Activities of daily living (1)
- Adaption models (1)
- Aged (1)
- Anthracene derivates (1)
- Assisted active cycling (1)
- Automotive Engineering (1)
- Bioökonomie (1)
- Blocking (1)
- Business Excellence (BE) (1)
- Cluster Region (1)
- Coils (1)
- Context reactivation (1)
- Creativity (1)
- Cyber-physical Systems (1)
- DRAM retention solder simulation (1)
- Daily life (1)
- Delivery of Healthcare (1)
- Dizziness (1)
- Double-leaf timber-frame wall (1)
- Failure propagation (1)
- Functional electrical stimulation (1)
- Gallium nitride (1)
- Geriatric assessment (1)
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) / CO2 network analysis; Network carbon footprint; Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG); Distribution network analysis; Logistics service provider (LSP); Distribution logistics (1)
- Health care terminology (1)
- Helium nanodroplets (1)
- Hemiparesis (1)
- ICF (1)
- Inductors (1)
- Inhibition (1)
- Innovation (1)
- Integrated model-based safety analysis (1)
- Interdisciplinary Communication (1)
- Isolated Molecules (1)
- Layered architecture (1)
- Logic gates (1)
- Lupus erythematous (1)
- Microelectronics (1)
- Multi-centre study (1)
- Occupational therapy (1)
- Organizational learning (1)
- Outcome measures (1)
- Patient perspective (1)
- Photovoltaik (1)
- Port dependency traces (1)
- Power (1)
- Power amplifiers (1)
- Power generation (1)
- Quality of life (1)
- Randomized controlled pilot study (1)
- Retrieval (1)
- Rheuma (1)
- Ruling relations (1)
- Safety (1)
- Safety-critical systems (1)
- Social capital (1)
- Software safety (1)
- Speech Recognition (1)
- Standardization (1)
- Standpoint (1)
- Strategic Management (1)
- Structure-borne sound propagation (1)
- Superfluid helium nanodroplets (1)
- Systematic Review (1)
- Vertigo (1)
- Voltage measurement (1)
- Working memory capacity (1)
- activities of daily living (1)
- analytic network process (1)
- automatic summarization (1)
- cognitive aging (1)
- complex interventions (1)
- corporate sustainability (1)
- cross-sectional studies (1)
- disabled persons (1)
- distribution centre selection (1)
- distribution network; road freight transportation; traffic congestion; road traffic; navigation service data (1)
- episodic memory (1)
- inhibition (1)
- joint contracture (1)
- older people (1)
- outcome assessment (1)
- participation (1)
- process analysis method (1)
- productivity (1)
- raw material supply (1)
- retrieval, context reactivation (1)
- sound transmission (1)
- speaker identification (1)
- sustainable supply chain management (1)
In this paper, we propose a combined methodology for the selection of distribution centres (DCs) by integrating and balancing economic, environmental and social sustainability aspects. The analytic network process (ANP) permits to systematically evaluate possible DCs on the basis of a situation-specific decision structure. A systematic development of the decision networks, which is one of the core challenges using the ANP, is supported by the process analysis method which we extend for that purpose. The validity and soundness of the proposed framework are demonstrated by means of a case study. The case study results reveal that omitting aspects of sustainability can lead to unfortunate results.
There are growing concerns in the food industry about how supply chains can be managed in a more sustainable way. When distribution activities are outsourced to a logistics service provider (LSP), shippers need to evaluate the LSPs they may (potentially) engage in order to ensure that supply chain sustainability goals are met. In this paper, we present a methodology for LSP evaluation and focus on the ecological dimension of sustainability. We examine how the network carbon footprint of a real-world distribution system is affected by the LSP network that is chosen to forward goods from production facilities to customers. To do this, we analyze the shipment data of an existing Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturer. A quantitative distribution network model is set up to study the network carbon footprint of 125 scenarios. Real-world shipments are forwarded via five generic, idealized types of LSP networks. In total, 625 network carbon footprints, specified by three distribution logistics variables and the structure of the LSP network, have been calculated. The results show that LSP structures practicing a geographically decentralized consolidation of shipments are most efficient in reducing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, the effects of changing the manufacturer's and the LSP's strategies for deciding on the tonnage to be forwarded via the LSP network or moved by direct transports are quantified. Finally, we estimate the GHG effect of improving the capacity utilization of the vehicles that move the products.
This research studies effects that the average increase in travel times due to road traffic congestion has on characteristics of an existing distribution network. It presents the most detailed estimate of ‘on-the-road’ effects on distribution network characteristics up to now, from the network modelling perspective and from the processed data point of view. A concrete network model allowing for the representation of all relevant transportation flows is presented. The processed traffic information relies on navigation service data. The use of such data allows the requirements that arise for the traffic analysis of a whole distribution network to be met. It is shown that this data source may considerably contribute in forthcoming research. The effects of traffic congestion are quantified to get insights into the extent to which regular traffic congestion affects distribution network characteristics and to understand the mitigating effect when the number of distribution centres is increased.
Recent work with young adults has shown that, depending on study context access, selective memory retrieval can both impair and improve recall of other memories (Bäuml & Samenieh, 2010). Here, we investigated the 2 opposing effects of selective retrieval in older age. In Experiment 1, we examined 64 younger (20–35 years) and 64 older participants (above 60 years), and manipulated study context access using list-method directed forgetting. Whereas both age groups showed a detrimental effect of selective retrieval on to-be-remembered items, only younger but not older adults showed a beneficial effect on to-be-forgotten items. In Experiment 2, we examined 112 participants from a relatively wide age range (40–85 years), and manipulated study context access by varying the retention interval between study and test. Overall, a detrimental effect of selective retrieval arose when the retention interval was relatively short, but a beneficial effect when the retention interval was prolonged. Critically, the size of the beneficial but not the detrimental effect of retrieval decreased with age and this age-related decline was mediated by individuals’ working memory capacity, as measured by the complex operation span task. Together, the results suggest an age-related dissociation in retrieval dynamics, indicating an earlier decline of the beneficial than the detrimental effect of selective retrieval with older age. (APA PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Selective retrieval of some studied items can both impair and improve recall of the other items. This study examined the role of working memory capacity (WMC) for the two effects of memory retrieval. Participants studied an item list consisting of predefined target and nontarget items. After study of the list, half of the participants performed an imagination task supposed to induce a change in mental context, whereas the other half performed a counting task which does not induce such context change. Following presentation of a second list, memory for the original list's target items was tested, either with or without preceding retrieval of the list's nontarget items. Consistent with previous work, preceding nontarget retrieval impaired target recall in the absence of the context change, but improved target recall in its presence. In particular, there was a positive relationship between WMC and the beneficial, but not the detrimental effect of memory retrieval. On the basis of the view that the beneficial effect of memory retrieval reflects context-reactivation processes, the results indicate that individuals with higher WMC are better able to capitalise on retrieval-induced context reactivation than individuals with lower WMC.
Recent development of GaN power transistors with blocking voltages up to 650V enables novel power electronics applications with outstanding performance in high-frequency operation. This paper demonstrates a class E power amplifier with 13.56MHz switching frequency for inductively coupled DC power supplies. Continuous wave output power up to 200W is achieved with 95% Power Added Efficiency (PAE).
A method for integrated model-based safety analysis includes integrating a safety analysis model into a system development model of a safety-critical system. The system development model includes model components. The safety analysis model models a failure logic separately for each of the model components. The method includes representing dependencies among the model components with a design structure matrix. The design structure matrix represents each of the model components with a row and a column and shows dependencies between model components with corresponding entries. The method also includes sequencing the design structure matrix, and identifying at least one dependency loop and loop components in the sequenced design structure matrix. The loop components are part of the at least one dependency loop.
Electronic spectra of organic molecules doped into superfluid helium nanodroplets show characteristic features induced by the helium environment. Besides a solvent induced shift of the electronic transition frequency, in many cases, a spectral fine structure can be resolved for electronic and vibronic transitions which goes beyond the expected feature of a zero phonon line accompanied by a phonon wing as known from matrix isolation spectroscopy. The spectral shape of the zero phonon line and the helium induced phonon wing depends strongly on the dopant species. Phonon wings, for example, are reported ranging from single or multiple sharp transitions to broad (Δν > 100 cm−1) diffuse signals.
Despite the large number of example spectra in the literature, a quantitative understanding of the helium induced fine structure of the zero phonon line and the phonon wing is missing. Our approach is a systematic investigation of related molecular compounds, which may help to shed light on this key feature of microsolvation in superfluid helium droplets. This paper is part of a comparative study of the helium induced fine structure observed in electronic spectra of anthracene derivatives with particular emphasis on a spectrally sharp multiplet splitting at the electronic origin. In addition to previously discussed species, 9-cyanoanthracene and 9-chloroanthracene will be presented in this study for the first time.
We show experimentally that field-free one-dimensional (1D) alignment of 1,4-diiodobenzene molecules embedded in helium nanodroplets, induced by a single, linearly polarized 200-fs laser pulse, can be significantly enhanced by using two or four optimally synchronized laser pulses. The strongest degree of 1D alignment is obtained with four pulses and gives ⟨cos2θ⟩>0.60. Besides the immediate implications for molecular frame studies, our results pave the way for more general manipulation of rotational motion of molecules in He droplets.
In today’s business practice, but also in academic research the aspect of trust has gained remarkable importance. The usage of resources is still often pictured on a short perspective. Especially the usage of human resources must be sustainable, based on long term balance of interests and supported by procedures and systems that anchor the anabolic balance of interest between company and employee (Moldaschl,2008). Within the management of competencies, culture and values, the "social capital" in terms of an "asset of mutual trust" plays and important role. If the "homo reciprocans" feels to be treated fair his own willingness to cooperate increases (Falk, 2002). Furthermore "Trust in human relations is a binding framework under insecurity and allows decisions and actions that would not be possible based on pure rational information and consideration" (Strasser/ Voswinkel, 1997).
The question behind the research paper at hand is: "Is a culture of trust leading to higher employee competence utilization?" This is of relevance as "it is human capability and commitment that distinguishes successful organizations from the rest" (Storay, J. 2007), which is explicitly valid in times of skilled worker shortage. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a research approach to test the correlation between Trust and Employee Competence Utilization (ECU) ‐ embedded in a Business Excellence (BE) setting. Based on a short insight in the theoretical foundation of the basic model behind the empirical study and the subsequent operationalization of the variables the basic empirical methodology is described. With this the paper shows the process of focussing and bounding from the general theoretical relation of Trust and ECU to a specific research question and it’s correlating stepwise empirical approach.
The paper at hand gives detailed insights in the logic of planning of the empirical test methods as well as the development of the derived interview lines and questionnaires. The findings of this paper broaden the research focus towards the complexity of the two variables, trust and ECU, but simultaneously introduce and suggest an empirical approach to lighten the possibilities of measuring both variables. First empirical results underline the concrete tangible approach towards a focussed structural equation model. As a next step the empirical results will be analyzed in detail and finally pictured in a validated Structural Equation Model.
The purpose of this paper is to show how trust as an organizational value contributes to employee competence utilization in the case of innovation capability. Thus, it is the objective of this paper to analyze the positive impacts, but also potential limits of trust in business management. The research paper uses two different quantitative empirical studies drawn from German and Austrian midsized companies to empirically test this interrelation.
As a result, the paper determines particular aspects of trust such as accountability, shared norms and the ability to take responsibility to be interrelated with the usage of employee competences and underlines a positive connection between product innovation performance and trust. However, the trust concept needs enriching elements to be balanced towards a feeling of mutual reliance and support creativity instead; inclusions of bridging social capital, elements of distrust and a pioneering spirit are to be mentioned here.
Being of a particular character "trust" eludes a purely strategic approach as it has to be balanced with the special needs of a fragile human resource. Still trust is a resource of strategic relevance since it establishes security, reduces complexity and opens potentials being bigger than simply the reduction of "cost of control". These characteristics are of special interest for management, as competent action is always bound to problem-solving-abilities under circumstances of insecurity. Further to this there are numerous situations where control is not applicable and where we simply don’t have full knowledge. Also trust is particular as it bypasses financial efforts and grows through usage; an investment of high amortization though that deserves closer attention of management especially valid in times of skilled worker shortage and with respect to organizational learning as a valuable competitive advantage.
The purpose of this paper is to develop direct and indirect measurable on the impact of trust on employee competence utilization and its subsequent realization in a strategic scorecard approach. This is based on a new integrative model in the organizational context applicable for strategicmanagement. With this the objective of the paper is to answer the question if culture of trust is an adequate instrument for strategic management. The empirical evaluation of the model is based on a survey directed to employees of selected companies in a pragmatic mixed methods application. The selected view considers the trust level of employees with regard to management as another individual and the organization itself; personal and institutional trust mechanisms are affected.Thus the employee evaluates its management.
As a result, the empirical study suggests that it is possible to specify frameworks for the establishment of trust, and that its impact on competence utilization is moreover significant. However the concept of trust creates challenging requirements on managers. Based on the assumption that employees basically think and act in the sense of the company, benevolence and goodwill must be involved to avoid an opportunistic approach. Further to this accountability, shared norms and freedom to take responsibility need to be proven by behavior.
The allowance of constructive seriously taken criticism, problem solving attitude, the acceptance of decisions are further key points for trust supporting frameworks that have to be accepted and shown through behavior.
The consideration of company resources is initially oriented towards the question of whether the actual resources are adequate to achieve the defined goals. But with respect to human resources it is not only essential to choose the right employees but also to realize the potential of existing competencies.
Therefore it cannot simply be a monetary goal but also an immaterial cultural target to provide an atmosphere that allows the abilities of its organization to unfold. The assumption is made that a culture of trust is the adequate instrument to support employee competence utilization; an aspect being of special interest for strategic management.
Based on a new integrative model on the impact of trust on employee competence utilization a survey was directed to employees of selected medium sized organizations with between 49 and 999 employees. For the empirical study a pragmatic mixed methods approach was applied. The purpose of this paper is to test the basic hypothesis whether trust actually has an impact on employee competence utilization was tested with the use of correlation analysis and SmartPLS v. 3.2.3 in various ways. Therefore findings are based on the modelling and testing of trust relations and competence utilization.
As a result it can be summarized, that deliberate and elaborate concepts of social capital approaches, with a particular emphasis on trust, provide fundamental impact on and feedback through improved and increased employee performance.
Safety assurance is a major challenge in the design of today's complex embedded systems and future Cyber-physical systems. Especially changes in a system's architectural design invalidate former safety analyses and require an adaptation of related safety analysis models in order to restore consistency. In this work, we present an approach for automatically generating mappings between failure ports in compositional safety analysis models. This way, automatic and system-wide safety analyses are enabled that can be easily repeated after making modifications to the system's architecture. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach using a case study from the automotive domain.
Safety assurance is a major challenge in the design of complex embedded and Cyber-physical Systems. Especially, changes and adoptions during the design or run-time of an embedded system invalidate former safety analyses and require an adaptation of the system's safety analysis models. In this paper, we present a methodology to fill up empty safety analysis artifacts in component fault trees using so-called inner port dependency traces to describe failure propagation. Thus, enabling a imprecise but rapid safety analysis of an entire system at early development stages or during system run-time for the automated certification of Cyber-physical Systems. We evaluate our approach using case study from the automotive domain.
Identifying drawbacks or insufficiencies in terms of safety is important also in early development stages of safety critical systems. In industry, development artefacts such as components or units, are often reused from existing artefacts to save time and costs. When development artefacts are reused, their existing safety analysis models are an important input for an early safety assessment for the new system, since they already provide a valid model. Component fault trees support such reuse strategies by a compositional horizontal approach. But current development strategies do not only divide systems horizontally, e.g., By encapsulating different functionality into separate components and hierarchies of components, but also vertically, e.g. Into software and hardware architecture layers. Current safety analysis methodologies, such as component fault trees, do not support such vertical layers. Therefore, we present here a methodology that is able to divide safety analysis models into different layers of a systems architecture. We use so called Architecture Layer Failure Dependencies to enable component fault trees on different layers of an architecture. These dependencies are then used to generate safety evidence for the entire system and over all different architecture layers. A case study applies the approach to hardware and software layers.
With the increasing mechanization of buildings, it is necessary to be able to predict both the structure-borne sound power input from building machinery and the subsequent propagation of structure-borne sound in the building. This paper considers lightweight constructions and describes the results of an experimental study in the laboratory on a T-junction that was constructed from a timber joist floor and two double leaf timber-frame walls. The focus in this paper is on the vibrational behaviour of one of the timber-frame walls. To assess the vibration pattern and the propagation of structure-borne sound, the surface velocity levels were measured on a grid on both leaves of the wall with point force excitation on one side. This grid allowed calculation of structural intensity vectors. The influence of elements such as the timber studs and tongue and grooved joints between the boards were apparent in different frequency regions. Experimental modal analysis was carried out using measurements on both leaves of the wall, giving information about the coupling in different frequency regions. The results give insight into how such a timber-frame wall could be modelled using statistical energy analysis.
Measured transmission functions from structure-borne sound sources in a timber-frame construction
(2015)
The aim of prEN 15657-2 is to provide engineering methods to estimate the structure-borne sound power input from machinery in situations where the source mobility matches or is lower than the receiver mobility. This situation often affects lightweight constructions such as timber-frame buildings. To estimate the sound pressure level in a room that is adjacent or distant from the room containing the source, the installed structure-borne sound power has to be propagated across at least one junction in the timber-frame construction. However, at present there are no generic, validated calculation models due to the complexity and the large variety of timber-frame constructions. A simplified approach to investigate and compare the structure-borne sound transmission is to treat the framed construction as a black box and only consider one parameter, a transmission function which is the ratio of the sound pressure level in the receiving room to the injected structure-borne sound power level. To get information about the variation of this transmission function in different timber-frame constructions, measurements were made in both the laboratory and the field. Experimental results are presented showing the variation due to different building configurations and the effect of the excitation position on the transmission function.
Remeeting is a tool that helps you get more out of in-person
meetings. Calendar integration and a special email address allow
users to email agenda items prior to a certain meeting. A
discrete notification at the time of the meeting reminds the user
to start the recording. During the meeting, the user focuses on the conversation, or can add notes and photos if desired. After the meeting, every participant gets notified by an automated email that lists the participants along with automatically extracted keywords, notes and photos. This stimulates collaboration, and keeps follow-up contributions at a central place: Just reply to add further notes to the meeting. The resulting meeting “document” can be shared with others and reviewed using a web app that acts as a visual index to the meeting. This makes Remeeting the perfect tool for regular group meetings, standups and interviews, where people typically track progress and follow up on. Remeeting is leveraging, promoting and contributing to open source projects including kaldi and docker.
Institutional ethnographers and occupational scientists share a common interest in studying what people do in their daily lives. Institutional ethnographers start inquiry at the standpoint of people as they are situated in the actualities of everyday life and then turn their gaze from the individual to the social. We aim to outline in this paper some key tenets of institutional ethnography to argue its relevance for studying human occupation. More specifically, we posit that institutional ethnography provides a promising social theory and method to further understandings of the situated nature of human occupation.
A DDR2 DRAM test setup is developed and implemented on the Griffin III ATE test system from HILEVEL Technologies. The test system provides a raw platform for performing various mixed signal and digital tests. In order to configure patterns easily in a vector format, a software platform is developed to manage test patterns according to the user's analysis needs. As examples, retention test patterns with disabled self-refresh are applied to 2 Gbit DDR2 SDRAM of two different DRAM vendors. The devices are characterized in respect to their intrinsic leakage and data retention behavior under the influence of stress conditions such as temperature or access algorithm. The tests are automated and test data is logged for an off-line data analysis. Data is recorded before and after solder simulation steps in order to observe a retention time degradation.
Background: Joint contractures are common problems in frail older people in nursing homes. Irrespective of the exact extent of older individuals in geriatric care settings living with joint contractures, they appear to be a relevant problem. Also, the new emphasis on the syndrome of joint contractures, e. g. by the German statutory long term care insurance, led to an increase in assessment and documentation efforts and preventive interventions in clinical care.
However, more attention should be paid to the actual situation of older individuals in nursing homes with prevalent joint contractures, particularly their experience of related activity limitations and participation restrictions.
Thus, the aim of this study is 1) to develop a tailored intervention to improve functioning, and especially participation and quality of life in older residents with joint contractures in nursing homes and 2) to test the feasibility of the intervention accompanied by a rigorous process evaluation.
Methods: The complex intervention, which will be developed in this project follows the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework and integrates the perspectives of all potentially relevant user groups, from the affected individuals to clinicians and researchers. The development process will comprise a systematic literature review, reanalysis of existing data and the integration of the knowledge of the affected individuals and experts.
The developed intervention including a comprehensive process evaluation will be pilot tested with residents with joint contractures in three nursing homes.
Discussion: The projected study will provide a tailored intervention to improve functioning, participation and quality of life in older residents with joint contractures in nursing homes. With this focus, the intervention will support patient relevant outcomes. The pilot study including process evaluation will offer a first opportunity to indicate the size of the intervention’s effect and prepare further studies.
Introduction
Joint contractures are characterized as impairment of the physiological movement of joints due to deformity, disuse or pain and have major impact especially for older individuals in geriatric care. Some measures for the assessment of the impact of joint contractures exist. However, there is no consensus on which aspects should constantly be measured. Our objective was to develop a standard-set based on the ICF for describing functioning and disability in older individuals with joint contractures in geriatric care settings, giving special emphasis to activities and participation.
Methods
The ICF-based standard set was developed in a formal decision-making and consensus process and based on an adapted version of the protocol to develop ICF Core Sets. These are sets of categories from the ICF, serving as standards for the assessment, communication and reporting of functioning and health for clinical studies, clinical encounters and multi-professional comprehensive assessment and management.
Results
Twenty-three experts from Germany and Switzerland selected 105 categories of the ICF component Activities and Participation for the ICF-based standard set. The largest number of categories was selected from the chapter Mobility (50 categories, 47.6%).
Conclusions
The standard set for older individuals with joint contractures provides health professionals with a standard for describing patients’ activity limitations and participation restrictions. The standard set also provides a common basis for the development of patient-centered measures and intervention programs. The preliminary version of the ICF-based standard set will be tested in subsequent studies with regard to its psychometric properties.
The occupational therapy community has been receptive to the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) published in 2001. Building upon results of a survey (2008–2009) and subsequent workshop (2010) conducted by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists on the use and utility of the ICF for occupational therapists, this paper addresses some of the opportunities and challenges to strengthening the use of the ICF in occupational therapy practice. Attaining further clarity on the relationship of occupational therapy concepts and the ICF and developing crosswalk tables to exemplify linkages between occupational therapy terminology and the ICF will strengthen utility of the ICF for occupational therapy. Enhanced clarity about the concepts within occupational therapy that correspond to the ICF will ultimately assist other professions and disciplines in their understanding about occupational therapy and occupational therapists’ roles in health and related systems.
Objective: To explore patients’ and health professionals’ views of outpatient rehabilitation services for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 3 different rheumatology sites across Europe.
Methods: A qualitative multi-method study was conducted with patients and health professionals in Vienna (Austria), Gothenburg (Sweden) and Leeds (UK). Data collection was carried out during focus groups with patients and health professionals. Patients’ hospital records were integrated into the analysis. Data were analysed for site and findings were compared across sites.
Results: A total of 20 patients and 20 health professionals participated in 12 focus groups. Although the 3 sites were all publicly funded university clinics, there were differences between sites regarding the structure and content of rehabilitation services. The themes that emerged in the focus groups were: referrals; continuity in rehabilitation; information provided to patients; patients’ organizations; documentation and communication amongst health professionals; interface between primary and specialist care; and prescription practices. Most themes were addressed at all 3 sites, but there were variations in the specifics within themes.
Conclusion: Integration of patients’ and health professionals’ views on how rehabilitation services are coordinated and how (parts of) processes are set up elsewhere provide valuable information for the further optimization of rehabilitation services.
Objective:
Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are relevant in rheumatology. Variable accessibility and validity of commonly used PROs are obstacles to homogeneity in evidence synthesis. The objective of this project was to provide a comprehensive library of “validated PROs”.
Methods:
A launch meeting with rheumatologists, PROs methodological experts, and patients, was held to define the library’s aims and scope, and basic requirements. To feed the library we performed systematic reviews on selected diseases and domains. Relevant information on PROs was collected using standardised data collection forms based on the COSMIN checklist.
Results:
The EULAR Outcomes Measures Library (OML), whose aims are to provide and to advise on PROs on a user-friendly manner albeit based on scientific grounds, has been launched and made accessible to all. PROs currently included cover any domain and, are generic or specifically target to the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, low back pain, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, osteoporosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Up to 236 instruments (106 generic and 130 specific) have been identified, evaluated, and included. The systematic review for SLE, which yielded 10 specific instruments, is presented here as an example.
The OML website includes, for each PRO, information on the construct being measured and the extent of validation, recommendations for use, and available versions; it also contains a glossary on common validation terms.
Conclusion:
The OML is an in progress library led by rheumatologists, related professionals and patients, that will help to better understand and apply PROs in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to assess the objectivity, cross-cultural validity, and convergent validity of the Vestibular Activities and Participation (VAP) questionnaire among four countries, Germany, United States, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Study Design and Setting
This was a cross-sectional study conducted in four specialized outpatient dizziness clinics in Germany, United States, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Results
A total of 453 participants were included in the study. The Rasch analysis revealed two separate subscales. Subscale 1 items included focusing attention, lying down, standing, bending, lifting and carrying objects, and sports. Subscale 2 items included walking long distances, climbing, running, moving around within buildings other than home, using transportation, and driving. The Pearson product–moment correlation between the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the summary score of the VAP subscale 1 was 0.66 and was 0.64 for subscale 2.
Conclusion
Owing to its shortness and intercultural adaptability, the new two-scale version of the VAP questionnaire lends itself to clinical practice and research across countries to estimate the effect of vertigo and dizziness on activity limitation and participation restrictions. Psychometrically sound summary scores can be calculated. More extended versions of the VAP can be used for comprehensive clinical assessment where summary scores are not needed or a more detailed documentation is warranted.