Necesidades de información sobre medicamentos y salud pública en médicos de un hospital mexicano / Information needs about drugs and public health among doctors from a Mexican hospital

El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las necesidades de información sobre medicamentos y salud pública en los médicos de un hospital mexicano. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal mediante una encuesta validada por expertos y por estudio piloto a 112 médicos en el año 2016. Los participantes fueron seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio simple de un hospital público de segundo nivel en Nayarit, México. Las variables estudiadas fueron: necesidades de información, comportamiento informativo y el nivel de satisfacción. El 66,4 por ciento de los médicos necesitaban información relacionada con el tratamiento farmacológico de sus pacientes y el 63,3 por ciento de los médicos tuvo necesidades sobre datos poblacionales. Las revistas médicas fueron la vía preferida para obtener información (70,4 por ciento) y al mismo tiempo obtuvieron la puntuación más alta de satisfacción. El 89,5 por ciento no consultaba bases de datos o repositorios, y el motivo más común para no hacerlo fue por carecer de computadora e Internet en el lugar de trabajo (62,4 por ciento). El 76,8 por ciento consideró que sus necesidades de información estaban insatisfechas con los recursos y servicios proporcionados por el hospital. El estado actual de la gestión de la información de los médicos entrevistados pone en riesgo su actualización profesional, disminuye la posibilidad de prescribir tratamientos racionales y de tomar decisiones eficientes(AU)

The purpose of the study was to identify the information needs about drugs and public health among doctors from a Mexican hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was conducted in the year 2016 which was based on an expert validated survey and a pilot study of 112 doctors. Participants were selected by simple random sampling at a secondary hospital in Nayarit, Mexico. The variables analyzed were information needs, information behavior and satisfaction level. Of the doctors surveyed, 66.4 percent needed information related to the drug treatment of their patients, whereas 63.3 percent needed population data. Medical journals were the favorite source of information (70.4 percent) and obtained the highest satisfaction score. 89.5 percent of respondents did not consult any database or repository, and the most common reason was they did not have a computer with Internet access at the workplace (62.4 percent). 76.8 percent considered that their information needs were not satisfied by the resources and services available at the hospital. The current information management status of the doctors interviewed poses a risk to their professional updating, reducing the possibility of prescribing rational treatments and taking efficient decisions(AU)

Outreach marketing may be a successful strategy for NHS libraries.

This dissertation study investigates the ways that NHS libraries are currently marketing their services within their organisation and was submitted as part of the MA Library and Information Management at the University of Sheffield in 2019. This paper presents the findings from twelve semi-structured interviews carried out with NHS library managers in the East of England to identify the most and least successful methods, and in comparison with that which is currently in the general marketing literature. The study found that outreach marketing was the most effective and that librarians are currently conducting marketing to the best of their ability, but they lack time and funding to be able to make the most of their promotional campaigns. F.J.

Researchers' And Medical Student' Experience in Reference Management Software in a Low-Income Country.

INTRODUCTION: Although the use of Reference Management Software (RMS) is increasing in developed countries, they seem to be unknown and less used in low-income countries. AIM: To discover the major trends in the use of RMS among researchers and Ph.D. students in Tunisia, as a low-income country. METHODS: A hardcopy survey was filled out by researchers and Ph.D. students during an educational seminar at the faculty of medicine of Sfax in 2016 with the aim to collect qualitative data to determine the participants' knowledge and use of RMS. RESULTS: The survey collected 121 participants, among them, 53.7% know RMS. Mendeley proved to be the best-known software (41.5%), followed by Zotero (35.3%) and Endnote (23%). Training sessions in RMS were taken by 5% of participants. Among the 121 participants, 26.5%of them use RMS., Mendeley was the most used (46.9%), followed by EndNote (28.1%) and Zotero (25%). The most commonly popular feature in RMS is inserting citations (66.9%). Therefore, the analysis, of the reasons behind the choice of RMS proves that the software was used because it is convenient (38.4%),  most known (38.4%),  easy (30.7%), or suggested by colleagues (30.7%). The free and open-source software was preferred by 81% of the participants. g. However, 50.4% ignore the fact that Zotero is free. Several types and sources of captured citations were unknown by 53.8% and 59% of the rest of the participants. CONCLUSION: The results clearly show that the lack of awareness about RMS in Tunisia is due to the absence of a formal training. As a result, the need for such training is highly important for researchers to be able to benefit from the different advantages of RMS while conducting their academic medical education.

Cloud-based services for electronic civil registration and vital statistics systems.

This paper examines the hosting options for electronic civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, particularly the use of data centers versus cloud-based solutions. A data center is a facility that houses computer systems and associated hardware and software components, such as network and storage systems, power supplies, environment controls, and security devices. An alternative to using a data center is cloud-based hosting, which is a virtual data center hosted by a public cloud provider. The cloud is used on a pay-as-you-go basis and does not require purchasing and maintaining of hardware for data centers. It also provides more flexibility for continuous innovation in line with evolving information and communications technology.

[Notes on networks, the State, and public policies]. / Notas sobre redes, Estado e políticas públicas.

This article briefly presents and analyzes the use of social network analysis as a method for studying public policies. Widely disseminated since the 1970s, network analysis allows the study of policies with simultaneous consideration for the various stakeholders that influence policymaking. The pluralistic matrix of the policy networks literature and the difference with the premises of relational sociology hinder the use of the approach for cases like Brazil, marked by the multiplicity of state and civil society actors with various types of links, especially informal ones. These specificities can be solved by linking the categories developed recently as the relational fabric for the state and governance, as long as properly integrated into the analysis. The resulting conceptual framework is a powerful tool for understanding the influence of relational patterns on the production of public policies.

Esse artigo apresenta sucintamente e problematiza a utilização da análise de redes sociais como método para a investigação de políticas públicas. Amplamente disseminada a partir dos anos 1970, a análise de redes permite o estudo das políticas com a consideração simultânea dos vários atores que influenciam a produção de políticas. A matriz pluralista da literatura de policy networks, entretanto, a distancia das premissas da sociologia relacional e dificulta a utilização da perspectiva para casos como o brasileiro, marcado pela multiplicidade de atores estatais e societais conectados por diversos tipos de vínculo, com destaque para os informais. Essas particularidades podem ser solucionadas com a articulação de categorias desenvolvidas recentemente como tecido relacional do Estado e governança, desde que devidamente integradas à análise. O quadro conceitual resultante representa uma ferramenta poderosa para a compreensão da influência de padrões relacionais sobre a produção de políticas públicas.

Este artículo presenta sucintamente y problematiza la utilización del análisis de redes sociales como método para la investigación de políticas públicas. Ampliamente difundido a partir de los años 1970, el análisis de redes permite el estudio de políticas con la consideración simultánea de los varios actores que influencian la producción de políticas. La matriz pluralista de la literatura sobre policy networks, no obstante, la aleja de las premisas de la sociología relacional y dificulta su utilización para casos como el brasileño, marcado por la multiplicidad de actores estatales y societarios interrelacionados por diversos tipos de vínculos, destacando los informales. Estas particularidades se pueden solucionar con la coordinación de categorías desarrolladas recientemente como el tejido relacional del estado y su gobernanza, siempre que estén debidamente integrados en el análisis. El marco conceptual resultante representa una poderosa herramienta para la comprensión de la influencia de patrones relacionales en la generación de políticas públicas.

Demands for multidimensional information on the work environment: A methodological framework for regular studies.

BACKGROUND: Development of methodologies for making economic decisions on designing work environment studies is a theoretical challenge for researchers in occupational health sciences. There are well-defined tools available in the relevant literature for analysis of cost-efficiency associated with the assessment of an occupational exposure of interest. However, these analytical tools are not appropriate for holistic studies of the work environment as a multidimensional reality. OBJECTIVE: This article introduces an appropriate methodology for designing cross-sectional comprehensive studies of the work environment, in order to optimize the production of information on the psychosocial, ergonomic, and physical dimensions of the work environment in regular studies. METHODS: The employment of a translog cost-utility function is suggested as a suitable way to provide cost-minimized designs for regular studies which are aimed at providing or developing multidimensional information systems of the work environment. RESULTS: The translog cost-utility function is not subject to predetermined restrictions, but has a flexibility property allowing it to be transformed to any specification that is adaptable to the specific work environmental characteristics and research requirements. CONCLUSION: The translog cost-utility function is an appropriate econometric model for optimizing the production of multidimensional information on occupational exposures in regular cross-sectional workplace studies.

Notas sobre redes, Estado e políticas públicas / Notes on networks, the State, and public policies / Notas sobre redes, Estado y políticas públicas

Resumo: Esse artigo apresenta sucintamente e problematiza a utilização da análise de redes sociais como método para a investigação de políticas públicas. Amplamente disseminada a partir dos anos 1970, a análise de redes permite o estudo das políticas com a consideração simultânea dos vários atores que influenciam a produção de políticas. A matriz pluralista da literatura de policy networks, entretanto, a distancia das premissas da sociologia relacional e dificulta a utilização da perspectiva para casos como o brasileiro, marcado pela multiplicidade de atores estatais e societais conectados por diversos tipos de vínculo, com destaque para os informais. Essas particularidades podem ser solucionadas com a articulação de categorias desenvolvidas recentemente como tecido relacional do Estado e governança, desde que devidamente integradas à análise. O quadro conceitual resultante representa uma ferramenta poderosa para a compreensão da influência de padrões relacionais sobre a produção de políticas públicas.

Abstract: This article briefly presents and analyzes the use of social network analysis as a method for studying public policies. Widely disseminated since the 1970s, network analysis allows the study of policies with simultaneous consideration for the various stakeholders that influence policymaking. The pluralistic matrix of the policy networks literature and the difference with the premises of relational sociology hinder the use of the approach for cases like Brazil, marked by the multiplicity of state and civil society actors with various types of links, especially informal ones. These specificities can be solved by linking the categories developed recently as the relational fabric for the state and governance, as long as properly integrated into the analysis. The resulting conceptual framework is a powerful tool for understanding the influence of relational patterns on the production of public policies.

Resumen: Este artículo presenta sucintamente y problematiza la utilización del análisis de redes sociales como método para la investigación de políticas públicas. Ampliamente difundido a partir de los años 1970, el análisis de redes permite el estudio de políticas con la consideración simultánea de los varios actores que influencian la producción de políticas. La matriz pluralista de la literatura sobre policy networks, no obstante, la aleja de las premisas de la sociología relacional y dificulta su utilización para casos como el brasileño, marcado por la multiplicidad de actores estatales y societarios interrelacionados por diversos tipos de vínculos, destacando los informales. Estas particularidades se pueden solucionar con la coordinación de categorías desarrolladas recientemente como el tejido relacional del estado y su gobernanza, siempre que estén debidamente integrados en el análisis. El marco conceptual resultante representa una poderosa herramienta para la comprensión de la influencia de patrones relacionales en la generación de políticas públicas.

Incidence of Artifacts and Deviating Values in Research Data Obtained from an Anesthesia Information Management System in Children.

BACKGROUND: Vital parameter data collected in anesthesia information management systems are often used for clinical research. The validity of this type of research is dependent on the number of artifacts. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, the incidence of artifacts in anesthesia information management system data was investigated in children undergoing anesthesia for noncardiac procedures. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of artifacts among deviating and nondeviating values, among the anesthesia phases, and among different anesthetic techniques. RESULTS: We included 136 anesthetics representing 10,236 min of anesthesia time. The incidence of artifacts was 0.5% for heart rate (95% CI: 0.4 to 0.7%), 1.3% for oxygen saturation (1.1 to 1.5%), 7.5% for end-tidal carbon dioxide (6.9 to 8.0%), 5.0% for noninvasive blood pressure (4.0 to 6.0%), and 7.3% for invasive blood pressure (5.9 to 8.8%). The incidence of artifacts among deviating values was 3.1% for heart rate (2.1 to 4.4%), 10.8% for oxygen saturation (7.6 to 14.8%), 14.1% for end-tidal carbon dioxide (13.0 to 15.2%), 14.4% for noninvasive blood pressure (10.3 to 19.4%), and 38.4% for invasive blood pressure (30.3 to 47.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Not all values in anesthesia information management systems are valid. The incidence of artifacts stored in the present pediatric anesthesia practice was low for heart rate and oxygen saturation, whereas noninvasive and invasive blood pressure and end-tidal carbon dioxide had higher artifact incidences. Deviating values are more often artifacts than values in a normal range, and artifacts are associated with the phase of anesthesia and anesthetic technique. Development of (automatic) data validation systems or solutions to deal with artifacts in data is warranted.

A novel medical information management and decision model for uncertain demand optimization.

BACKGROUND: Accurately planning the procurement volume is an effective measure for controlling the medicine inventory cost. Due to uncertain demand it is difficult to make accurate decision on procurement volume. As to the biomedicine sensitive to time and season demand, the uncertain demand fitted by the fuzzy mathematics method is obviously better than general random distribution functions. OBJECTIVE: To establish a novel medical information management and decision model for uncertain demand optimization. METHODS: A novel optimal management and decision model under uncertain demand has been presented based on fuzzy mathematics and a new comprehensive improved particle swarm algorithm. RESULTS: The optimal management and decision model can effectively reduce the medicine inventory cost. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed improved particle swarm optimization is a simple and effective algorithm to improve the Fuzzy interference and hence effectively reduce the calculation complexity of the optimal management and decision model. Therefore the new model can be used for accurate decision on procurement volume under uncertain demand.

Uncovering key data points to improve OR profitability.

Using data analysis to target areas for performance improvement in the operating room (OR) involves: regularly monitoring key OR statistics, such as through use of a dashboard, determining the root causes of problems uncovered by the data analysis, making appropriate corrections and continuing to monitor performance.

Novel statistical tools for management of public databases facilitate community-wide replicability and control of false discovery.

Issues of publication bias, lack of replicability, and false discovery have long plagued the genetics community. Proper utilization of public and shared data resources presents an opportunity to ameliorate these problems. We present an approach to public database management that we term Quality Preserving Database (QPD). It enables perpetual use of the database for testing statistical hypotheses while controlling false discovery and avoiding publication bias on the one hand, and maintaining testing power on the other hand. We demonstrate it on a use case of a replication server for GWAS findings, underlining its practical utility. We argue that a shift to using QPD in managing current and future biological databases will significantly enhance the community's ability to make efficient and statistically sound use of the available data resources.

EpiBasket: how e-commerce tools can improve epidemiological preparedness.

BACKGROUND: Should an emerging infectious disease outbreak or an environmental disaster occur, the collection of epidemiological data must start as soon as possible after the event's onset. Questionnaires are usually built de novo for each event, resulting in substantially delayed epidemiological responses that are detrimental to the understanding and control of the event considered. Moreover, the public health and/or academic institution databases constructed with responses to different questionnaires are usually difficult to merge, impairing necessary collaborations. We aimed to show that e-commerce concepts and software tools can be readily adapted to enable rapid collection of data after an infectious disease outbreak or environmental disaster. Here, the 'customers' are the epidemiologists, who fill their shopping 'baskets' with standardised questions. METHODS: For each epidemiological field, a catalogue of questions is constituted by identifying the relevant variables based on a review of the published literature on similar circumstances. Each question is tagged with information on its source papers. Epidemiologists can then tailor their own questionnaires by choosing appropriate questions from this catalogue. The software immediately provides them with ready-to-use forms and online questionnaires. All databases constituted by the different EpiBasket users are interoperable, because the corresponding questionnaires are derived from the same corpus of questions. RESULTS: A proof-of-concept prototype was developed for Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) surveys, which is one of the fields of the epidemiological investigation frequently explored during, or after, an outbreak or environmental disaster. The catalogue of questions was initiated from a review of the KAP studies conducted during or after the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. CONCLUSION: Rapid collection of standardised data after an outbreak or environmental disaster can be facilitated by transposing the e-commerce paradigm to epidemiology, taking advantage of the powerful software tools already available.

[Weight of evidence (WOE) approach and its application in sediment quality assessment of coastal ecosystem: a review].

At present, chemical approaches are the main tools adopted to assess the contaminated sediments along China's coast. However, with the crucial progress of weight of evidence (WOE) approach in both logic and practice, this approach is getting available to be applied in the sediment quality assessment of our coastal ecosystem. By incorporating the levels of evidences such as sediment chemistry, toxicity and benthic community ecology, WOE forms an integrated approach to assess the potential adverse biological effects of environmental stressors mainly toxic substances by reconciling the information from multiple relevant lines of evidences and by weighing the data quality, study design, and other factors, being the sole means currently available to characterize the actual sediment quality and to reach an environmental decision. This paper reviewed the history of sediment quality assessment and the progress of WOE research in coastal sediment, summarized the variety of WOE definitions and interpretive techniques with reliability analysis, and discussed the limitations of WOE in theory and practice. Several improvement suggestions were proposed associated with the prospects of WOE research to advance the coastal sediment quality assessment in China.

Towards practical, high-capacity, low-maintenance information storage in synthesized DNA.

Digital production, transmission and storage have revolutionized how we access and use information but have also made archiving an increasingly complex task that requires active, continuing maintenance of digital media. This challenge has focused some interest on DNA as an attractive target for information storage because of its capacity for high-density information encoding, longevity under easily achieved conditions and proven track record as an information bearer. Previous DNA-based information storage approaches have encoded only trivial amounts of information or were not amenable to scaling-up, and used no robust error-correction and lacked examination of their cost-efficiency for large-scale information archival. Here we describe a scalable method that can reliably store more information than has been handled before. We encoded computer files totalling 739 kilobytes of hard-disk storage and with an estimated Shannon information of 5.2 × 10(6) bits into a DNA code, synthesized this DNA, sequenced it and reconstructed the original files with 100% accuracy. Theoretical analysis indicates that our DNA-based storage scheme could be scaled far beyond current global information volumes and offers a realistic technology for large-scale, long-term and infrequently accessed digital archiving. In fact, current trends in technological advances are reducing DNA synthesis costs at a pace that should make our scheme cost-effective for sub-50-year archiving within a decade.

Making advanced analytics work for you.

Senior leaders who write off the move toward big data as a lot of big talk are making, well, a big mistake. So argue McKinsey's Barton and Court, who worked with dozens of companies to figure out how to translate advanced analytics into nuts-and-bolts practices that affect daily operations on the front lines. The authors offer a useful guide for leaders and managers who want to take a deliberative approach to big data-but who also want to get started now. First, companies must identify the right data for their business, seek to acquire the information creatively from diverse sources, and secure the necessary IT support. Second, they need to build analytics models that are tightly focused on improving performance, making the models only as complex as business goals demand. Third, and most important, companies must transform their capabilities and culture so that the analytical results can be implemented from the C-suite to the front lines. That means developing simple tools that everyone in the organization can understand and teaching people why the data really matter. Embracing big data is as much about changing mind-sets as it is about crunching numbers. Executed with the right care and flexibility, this cultural shift could have payoffs that are, well, bigger than you expect.