Enabling appropriate personnel skill-mix for progressive realization of equitable access to assistive technology.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: This paper reviews the current capacity of personnel in enabling access to assistive technology (AT) as well as the systems and processes within which they work, and was reviewed, discussed, and refined during and following the Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit. FINDINGS: Key concepts addressed include a person-centred team approach; sustainability indicators to monitor, measure, and respond to needs for service design and delivery; education, research, and training for competent practice, using the six rehab-workforce challenges framework; and credentialing frameworks. We propose development of a competence framework and associated education and training programs, and development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel. CONCLUSIONS: There is a resolve to address the challenges faced by People globally to access assistive technology. Context specific needs assessment is required to understand the AT Personnel landscape, to shape and strengthen credentialing frameworks through competencies and certification, acknowledging both general and specific skill mix requirements. Implications for Rehabilitation Personnel in assistive technology (AT) provision should be trained using a person-centred team approach, which emphasizes appropriate skill-mix to address multiple needs within the community. Sustainability indicators should be used which allow personnel to monitor, measure and respond to needs for service design and delivery. A competence framework with associated education and training program, coupled with the development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel needs, will promote quality in AT personnel training globally.

Development and Validity of Western University's On-Road Assessment.

Although used across North America, many on-road studies do not explicitly document the content and metrics of on-road courses and accompanying assessments. This article discusses the development of the University of Western Ontario's on-road course, and elucidates the validity of its accompanying on-road assessment. We identified main components for developing an on-road course and used measurement theory to establish face, content, and initial construct validity. Five adult volunteer drivers and 30 drivers with multiple sclerosis participated in the study. The road course had face and content validity, representing 100% of roadway components determined through a content validity matrix and index. The known-groups method showed that debilitated drivers (vs. not debilitated), made more driving errors ( W = 463.50, p = .03), and failed the on-road course, indicating preliminary construct validity of the on-road assessment. This research guides and empirically supports a process for developing a road course and its assessment.

Interrater reliability of Western University's on-road assessment.

BACKGROUND: Little empirical support exists for interrater reliability between evaluators from different backgrounds when assessing on-road outcomes of drivers. PURPOSE: We quantified interrater reliability of on-road outcomes between a certified driving school instructor (DI) and an occupational therapist and certified driver rehabilitation specialist (CDRS). METHOD: Both raters used the Global Rating Score (GRS) with two levels (pass, fail), the GRS with four levels (pass, pass with recommendations, fail remediable, fail), and the priority error rating score (PERS; most frequently occurring on-road errors in priority order) to assess 35 drivers (age, M = 48.31 years, SD = 9.76 years; 40% male; 86% with multiple sclerosis). FINDINGS: The DI and occupational therapist CDRS had excellent agreement on the GRS with two levels (κ = .892, p < .0001), GRS with four levels (κ = .952, p < .0001), and the PERS (κ = .847-.902, p < .0001), indicating interrater reliability. IMPLICATIONS: This research contributes to empirical support for the on-road assessment.

Análisis sociodemográfico y espacial de la transmisión de la tuberculosis en la ciudad de Armenia (Colombia) / Sociodemographic and spatial transmission of tuberculosis in the city of Armenia (Colombia)

La tuberculosis es uno de los problemas que demanda atención prioritaria en el municipio de Armenia, capital del departamento del Quindío (Colombia). En este estudio, se encontró que la población afectada, generalmente pertenece al género masculino (razón hombre: mujer 2:1) y en edad económicamente productiva (25-54 años). La mayoría de enfermos son del régimen subsidiado (40%) o no asegurados (26%) y viven en condiciones socioeconómicas críticas. Se encontraron diferencias significativas de carga de enfermedad en las tasas entre comunas: en unas localidades fueron de 10 y en otras de 30 casos por 100.000 habitantes, indicando heterogeneidad de la situación en la ciudad. El análisis geoespacial permite caracterizar y precisar los escenarios donde se deben concentrar las acciones prioritarias del programa de control de la tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is an important public health problem that demands priority action in the city of Armenia (Colombia). In this study, we found that most cases of TB were males (ratio 2:1) and economically active population (25-54 years). TB patients had subvention health care (40%) or were uncovered by the national health insurance (26%), living in critical socioeconomic condi tions. Significant differences in the TB prevalence rate between town localities were found; in some zones were 10 and 30 cases per 100.000 inhabitants, indicating a heterogeneous situation. Spatial analysis might allow the definition and concentration of early actions in a region for the tuberculosis control.

Methodological basis for the optimization of a marine sea-urchin embryo test (SET) for the ecological assessment of coastal water quality.

The sea-urchin embryo test (SET) has been frequently used as a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective biological tool for marine monitoring worldwide, but the selection of a sensitive, objective, and automatically readable endpoint, a stricter quality control to guarantee optimum handling and biological material, and the identification of confounding factors that interfere with the response have hampered its widespread routine use. Size increase in a minimum of n=30 individuals per replicate, either normal larvae or earlier developmental stages, was preferred to observer-dependent, discontinuous responses as test endpoint. Control size increase after 48 h incubation at 20 degrees C must meet an acceptability criterion of 218 microm. In order to avoid false positives minimums of 32 per thousand salinity, 7 pH and 2mg/L oxygen, and a maximum of 40 microg/L NH(3) (NOEC) are required in the incubation media. For in situ testing size increase rates must be corrected on a degree-day basis using 12 degrees C as the developmental threshold.

Acceso al programa de hipertensión en el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud, 2008 / Acesso ao programa de hipertensão no sistema geral de seguridade social em saúde, 2008 / Access to the hypertension program in the general social welfare health system, 2008

Con esta investigación se evaluó el acceso de los usuarios con hipertensión arterial a las actividades de promoción y prevención del programa, para lo cual se realizó un estudio evaluativo, con una entrevista aplicada a una muestra de 403 hipertensos seleccionados aleatoriamente de las bases de datos de tres Empresas Promotoras de Salud (EPS), cuatro Empresas Promotoras de Salud del Régimen Subsidiado (EPSS) y la Secretaría de Salud, y a responsables de programas y profesionales de estas instituciones. Se realizó análisis univariado y multivariado que permitió la conformación de tres tipologías de pacientes. Se encontró que en Manizales los hipertensos se caracterizan por tener una edad promedio de 69,7 años, y ser el 55,6% del sexo masculino. El acceso al programa de hipertensión se caracteriza porque se tiene implementado el programa acorde con la guía con algunas diferencias entre instituciones, como existencia de clubes y estrategias de educación. Los hipertensos tienen garantizado el acceso potencial, evidenciándose una falencia en el suministro de medicamentos y en la oportunidad de la cita con el especialista, los pacientes asisten de manera oportuna a los controles, sin embargo la integralidad del programa se ve afectada por la inasistencia de la mayoría de éstos a las actividades grupales justificadas en razones como la oferta del programa, falta de tiempo y recursos económicos. La mayoría de los usuarios se encuentran satisfechos con la atención que reciben en los controles.

This paper presents the results of a research to evaluate the access of hypertensive users to the activities of the Promotion and Prevention Programs. This evaluative study was carried out through interviews applied to a population of 403 hypertensive patients selected at random out of three Health Promotion Entities (EPS by its initials in Spanish), four Institutions of Social Protection Health Promotion Centers (EPSS), the Health Secretary, and the people responsible for the programs and professionals from these institutions. Univariated and multivariate analyses were carried out, in order to construct three sets of patients. In Manizales, hypertensive patients have an average age of 69.7 years and 55.6% are male. Access to the hypertension program was characterized by the fact that the program is based on the norm, with some differences among institutions, such as the existence of clubs and educational strategies. Potential access to hypertensive patients is guaranteed, but the provision of medications and the opportunity to have appointments with specialists were found to be deficient. Hypertensive patients attend their individual check-ups, but their absence in group activities affects the integrality of the program. They justify their absence with lack of offers of the program, lack of time, and economic problems. Most users find the control session attention satisfactory.

Com esta pesquisa se avaliou o acesso dos usuários com hipertensão arterial às atividades de promoção e prevenção do programa, para o qual se realizou uma pesquisa evaluativo, com uma entrevista aplicada a uma amostra de 403 hipertensos selecionados aleatoriamente das bases de dados de três Empresas Promotoras de Saúde (EPS), quatro Empresas Promotoras de Saúde do Regime Subsidiado (EPSS) e a Secretaria de Saúde, e responsáveis de programas e profissionais destas instituições. Realizou-se análise uni-variado e multivariado que permitiu a conformação de três tipologias de pacientes. Encontrou-se que em Manizales os hipertensos se caracterizam por ter uma idade média de 69,7 anos, e ser o 55,6% do sexo masculino. O acesso ao programa de hipertensão se caracteriza por que se tem implementado o programa acorde com a guia com algumas diferenças entre instituições, como existência de clubes e estratégias de educação. Os hipertensos têm garantido o acesso potencial, evidenciando se uma falência no subministro de medicamentos e na oportunidade do encontro com o especialista, os pacientes assistem de maneira oportuna aos controles, sem embargo a integralidade do programa se vê afetado por a não assistência da maioria destes às atividades grupais justificadas em razões como a oferta do programa, falta de tempo e recursos econômicos. As maiorias dos usuários se encontram satisfeitos com a atenção que recebem nos controles.