Competência profissional do enfermeiro na unidade de trauma / Professional competence of nurses in the trauma unit

Objetivo: Analizar la competencia profesional del personal de enfermería en la unidad de trauma. Metodología: Investigación cuantitativa, descriptiva y transversal, que fue desarrollada con 47 profesionales de enfermería. Este grupo se desempeñaba en cuatro sectores de riesgo de la unidad de trauma de un hospital público en el noreste de Brasil. Se aplicó un cuestionario validado sobre la competencia profesional del personal de enfermería en emergencias, compuesto por módulos y dominios, entre ellos variables sociodemográficas, formación profesional, caso ficticio y autoevaluación de las acciones diarias correspondientes a la realidad laboral. La recolección de datos se realizó de julio a septiembre de 2019. Para el análisis de datos, se utilizó estadística descriptiva, el software SPSS y la prueba de chi-cuadrado. Para verificar la significancia, se adoptó un valor de p<0.05. Resultados: Se observó que la mayoría de personas participantes eran del sexo femenino, especialistas y tenían más de una relación laboral. En cuanto a los dominios ''relaciones de trabajo'' y ''práctica profesional'', las personas participantes se autoevaluaron como ''muy competentes'' o ''extremadamente competentes'' en todas las acciones que retratan la realidad de trabajo en que están insertas. En el dominio ''excelencia profesional'', la acción ''participa periódicamente en simulación realista en emergencias'' fue la única evaluada como ''poco competente''. En el caso ficticio, en las tres declaraciones, más de la mitad de las personas participantes calificó el comportamiento de la persona profesional en enfermería como ''extremadamente competente'', ''muy competente'' o ''competente''. Conclusión: La mayoría de profesionales en enfermería no juzgaron correctamente las acciones realizadas por la persona enfermera en el caso ficticio, aunque se autoevaluaron como competentes en las acciones que realizan diariamente. Por lo tanto, el estudio plantea la necesidad de que el servicio invierta en educación permanente vinculada al compromiso profesional para garantizar una atención de alta calidad.

Objetivo: Analisar a competência profissional do enfermeiro na unidade de trauma. Metodologia: Pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva e transversal, desenvolvida com 47 enfermeiros que atuavam em quatro setores da unidade de trauma do hospital público no nordeste brasileiro. Aplicou-se questionário validado sobre a competência profissional do enfermeiro em emergências composto por variáveis sociodemográficas, de formação profissional, um caso fictício e autoavaliação das ações diárias correspondente à realidade do trabalho. A coleta de dados foi realizada nos meses de julho a setembro de 2019. Para análise dos dados, utilizou estatísticas descritivas, o software SPSS e teste do qui-quadrado, para verificar significância adotou-se valor de p<0,05. Resultados: Observou-se que a maioria dos enfermeiros eram do sexo feminino, especialistas e possuíam mais de um vínculo empregatício. Referente aos domínios ''Relações de Trabalho'' e ''Prática Profissional'', os enfermeiros se autoavaliaram como ''muito competente'' ou ''extremamente competente'' em todas as ações que retratam a realidade de trabalho na qual estavam inseridos. No domínio ''Excelência profissional'' a ação ''Participa de simulação realística em emergências periodicamente'' foi a única avaliada como ''pouco competente''. No caso fictício, nas três afirmativas, mais da metade dos enfermeiros julgaram como ''extremamente competente'', ''muito competente'' ou ''competente'' a conduta do enfermeiro no caso. Conclusão: A maioria dos enfermeiros não julgaram corretamente as ações realizadas pelo enfermeiro no caso fictício, mesmo se autoavaliando como competentes nas ações que desempenham diariamente. Sendo assim, o estudo levanta a necessidade do serviço de investir em educação permanente atrelado ao empenho profissional para garantir cuidados de alta qualidade.

Aim: To analyze the professional competence of nurses in trauma units. Methods: This was a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study developed with 47 nurses who work in four areas of the trauma unit of a public hospital in the Northeast of Brazil. A validated Likert Scale questionnaire was applied to evaluate the professional competence of nurses during emergencies; this scale included sociodemographic variables, professional training, a fictitious case, and a self-assessment of daily activities related to the reality of work. The data collection was carried out from July to September 2019. To analyze the data, the researchers employed descriptive statistics or the SPSS software and a qui-square test to verify the significance using a p value of <0.05. Results: It was observed that the majority of the nurses were female specialists who had more than one employment relationship. Regarding the domains ''Work Relations'' and ''Professional Practice'', the nurses assessed themselves as ''highly competent'' or ''extremely competent'' in all the actions that portray the reality of work in which they are immersed. In the ''Professional Excellence'' domain, the action ''periodically participates in realistic simulation in emergencies'' was the only one evaluated as ''little competent''. In the fictitious case, across all three statements, more than half of the nurses rated the nurse's behavior in the case as ''extremely competent'', ''very competent'', or ''competent''. Conclusion: Most of the nurses do not correctly judge the actions performed by the nurse in a fictitious case, even when they self-assess themselves as competent in the actions they perform daily. The study also raises the need for the service to invest in permanent professional training endeavor to guarantee competent labor and high-quality care.

Does formal mentoring impact safety performance? A study on Chinese high-speed rail operators.

The importance of mentoring as a developmental resource in organizational settings is well documented. However, the mechanism underlying the association between formal mentoring and safety performance is not well defined. Based on the self-expansion theory, this study examines the relationship between formal mentoring and individual safety performance in the high-speed railway operation. We postulate that formal mentoring enhances individual safety performance through the sequential mediation of self-expansion and self-efficacy. We also argue that the relationship between formal mentoring and individuals' self-expansion is weaker when individuals possess high power distance orientation. Using paired data from 421 protégés and 102 mentors operating high-speed railways of China, we tested the proposed model. This study contributes to the understanding of formal mentoring by; i. establishing that formal mentoring positively relates to protégés' safety performance, ii. empirically validating the sequential mechanisms by which formal mentoring promotes positive outcomes for the organization and the employees, and iii. revealing the moderating effect of power distance orientation on the relationship between formal mentoring and self-expansion. The findings of this research provide practical implications for managers to understand the positive effects of formal mentoring and make rational use of it in safety-critical organizations.

Prevalence, Indirect Costs, and Risk Factors for Work Disability in Patients with Crohn's Disease at a Tertiary Care Center in Rio de Janeiro.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) can lead to work disability with social and economic impacts worldwide. In Brazil, where its prevalence is increasing, we assessed the indirect costs, prevalence, and risk factors for work disability in the state of Rio de Janeiro and in a tertiary care referral center of the state. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the database of the Single System of Social Security Benefits Information, with a cross-check for aid pension and disability retirement. A subanalysis was performed with CD patients followed up at the tertiary care referral center using a prospective CD database, including clinical variables assessed as possible risk factors for work disability. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2018, the estimated prevalence of CD was 26.05 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the associated work disability was 16.6%, with indirect costs of US$ 8,562,195.86. Permanent disability occurred more frequently in those aged 40 to 49 years. In the referral center, the prevalence of work disability was 16.7%, with a mean interval of 3 years between diagnosis and the first benefit. Risk factors for absence from work were predominantly abdominal surgery, anovaginal fistulas, disease duration, and the A2 profile of the Montreal classification. CONCLUSIONS: In Rio de Janeiro, work disability affects one-sixth of CD patients, and risk factors are associated with disease duration and complications. In the context of increasing prevalence, as this disability compromises young patients after a relatively short period of disease, the socioeconomic burden of CD is expected to increase in the future.

Impaired Quality of Working Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND: Work-related aspects are important determinants of health for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. AIMS: We aimed to describe quality of working life (QWL) in IBD patients and to assess variables that are associated with QWL. METHODS: Employed IBD patients of two tertiary and two secondary referral hospitals were included. QWL (range 0-100) was measured using the Quality of Working Life Questionnaire (QWLQ). Work productivity (WP), fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, respectively. Active disease was defined as a score > 4 for the patient-reported Harvey-Bradshaw index in Crohn's disease (CD) or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index in ulcerative colitis patients. RESULTS: In total, 510 IBD patients were included (59% female, 53% CD, mean age 43 (SD 12) years). The mean QWLQ score was 78 (SD 11). The lowest subscore (54 (SD 26)) was observed for "problems due to the health situation": 63% reported fatigue-related problems at work, 48% agreed being hampered at work, 46% had limited confidence in their body, and 48% felt insecure about the future due to their health situation. Intermediate/strong associations were found between QWL and fatigue (r = - 0.543, p < 0.001), HRQL (r = 0.527, p < 0.001), WP loss (r = - 0.453, p < 0.001) and disease activity (r = - 0.331, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of impaired QWL in hierarchical regression analyses were fatigue (B = - 0.204, p < 0.001), WP loss (B = - 0.070, p < 0.001), and impaired HRQL (B = 0.248, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IBD-related problems at work negatively influence QWL. Fatigue, reduced HRQL, and WP loss were independent predictors of impaired QWL in IBD.

Nursing Student Medication Administration Performance: A Longitudinal Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Nurses must be adequately prepared for safe medication administration. PURPOSE: The specific aims of the study were to compare first- and final-semester nursing students' medication administration performance, describe graduating nursing student performance, assess the long-term effect of an Individual Simulation-Based Experience (ISBE), and determine if nursing assistant experience impacted performance. METHODS: The study was a longitudinal, descriptive, experimental, 2-group pretest-posttest design. The Medication Administration Safety Assessment Tool was used to assess nursing student (n = 68) medication administration performance at 3 points in time: after learning the skill, after participation in an ISBE or traditional practice session, and prior to graduation. RESULTS: Only one-third of senior nursing students accurately demonstrated medication administration. There was no significant difference between first- and last-semester performance. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest nursing students are not prepared for safe medication administration upon graduation. The reality of practice opportunities to perform this skill throughout a nursing program should be examined.

Development and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Political Skill Inventory A Measurement Invariance Test / Desarrollo y validación de la versión española del Inventario de habilidades Políticas: una prueba de invarianz de medición

BACKGROUND: The Political Skills Inventory (PSI) is a measurement tool for assessing four dimensions associated with political skills: social astuteness, interpersonal influence, networking ability and apparent sincerity (Ferris, 2005). METHOD: In the present study, multi-sample and multi-method, we developed and analyzed the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the (PSI), by performing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Additionally, a longitudinal reliability test and a sex factorial invariance test were performed. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha and omega indices revealed satisfactory reliability and exploratory factor analyses extracted the four original factors as reported in other studies (N = 309). Confirmatory factorial analyses confirmed that the four-factor solution presented the best fit to our data (N = 248). CONCLUSIONS: We add new evidence for time and sex invariance of the measure, showing that the PSI can be considered a stable and valid measure over time and across sex

INTRODUCCIÓN: El inventario de habilidades políticas (PSI, siglas en inglés) es una medida para calibrar cuatro dimensiones relacionadas con es-te constructo: la astucia social, la capacidad de influencia interpersonal, la habilidad para establecer contactos y la sinceridad aparente (Ferris, David-son & Perrewé, 2005). MÉTODO: En el presente estudio, multi-muestra y multimétodo, sendos análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio se han llevado a cabo sobre dos muestras, una primera compuesta por trabajadores de varios ramos (recogido en tres etapas, con una edad media comprendida entre 43.66 y 44.70 años, DT = 9.42 - 10.22, y un porcentaje de mujeres entre 57.3 - 58.4%) y una segunda por trabajadores del sector salud (Mage = 35.56, SD = 7.23; 80.6% women), para desarrollar y testar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del PSI. Adicionalmente, se llevó a cabo una prueba de fiabilidad longitudinal y un análisis de invarianza relativo al género. RESULTADOS: Los índices alpha de Cronbach (cuyos valores oscilaron entre 0.83-0.90 en nuestros datos, y entre 0.73-0.87 en la versión original) y omega (0.85 para el total de la escala) revelaron un grado de fiabilidad satisfactoria. El análisis factorial exploratorio extrajo los cuatro factores de la versión original, tal y como ya ha sido reportado en otros estudios (N = 309). El análisis factorial confirmatorio confirmó que el ajuste de dicha estructura fue el mejor frente a los datos (N = 248). CONCLUSIONES: Con este estudio se añade evidencia al estudio de la invarianza de género y la estabilidad temporal de esta medida, mostrando que la versión española del PSI puede ser considerada una medida estable y válida a través del tiempo y relativa al género

Performance management in primary healthcare: Nurses' experiences.

BACKGROUND: The use of the performance management (PM) system is highly contested by public servants in South Africa, although its value as essential to the appraisal and management of staff is undeniable. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions and experiences of the PM system at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in relation to the current health system's reforms. METHOD: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was utilised. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview tool was used to collect data from 18 nurses in four sub-districts of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district in the North West province. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. RESULTS: The findings of this study confirmed that PM is implemented to some extent. However, various loopholes in its implementation threaten the accuracy and transparency of the system and leave it vulnerable to perceived organisational injustice and unfairness, with the objectivity of the system questioned. The limitations of the current PM system revealed by this study include (1) the lack of alignment with current health system reforms towards comprehensive and integrated care that demands person-centred care; (2) the system's usefulness for career progression, performance improvement and rewarding exceptional performance. CONCLUSION: Performance management is inadequately applied in PHC facilities at district level and needs to be realigned to include the appraisal of key attributes required for the current health system's reforms towards comprehensive and integrated care, including the provision of person-centred care, which is central for responding adequately to South Africa's changing disease profile towards multi-morbidity.

Improving nurses' organizational commitment by participating in their performance appraisal process.

AIMS: To promote the nurses' organizational commitment by their participation in the improvement of the performance appraisal process. BACKGROUND: Organizational commitment is one of the factors that secures safe and high-quality care of patients. It also enhances motivation among nurses, which affected by various factors such as performance appraisal. METHOD: A participatory action research study was undertaken (March 2015 to February 2018) with 39 intensive critical care nurses and nurse managers in Social Security Hospital in Iran, using a complete enumeration sampling method. The data were collected using organizational commitment and job satisfaction questionnaires, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and Delphi technique. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged including inappropriate performance appraisal system, inefficient instruments and unskilled evaluators. There were significant differences between organizational commitment and job satisfaction with performance appraisal process before and after the change in appraisal process. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' involvement in revising and improving the process of their performance appraisal leads to higher commitment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Maintaining a committed nursing workforce is vital for high-quality health care. Nurse Managers can improve the process of nurses' appraisal to make more motivation among them and prevent some problems such as job dissatisfaction.

Hospitalists staffing levels and hospital performance.

OBJECTIVE (OR STUDY QUESTION): To examine the association between hospitalists staffing levels and contract type with CMS Total Performance Score (TPS). DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Total performance scores were obtained from CMS, hospital-level data from the 2015 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database, and unemployment rates from the Area Resource Health File. STUDY DESIGN: We used cluster analysis to classify hospitals based on the distribution of various hospitalist contracts, and we used regression analysis to examine the association between TPS and hospitalist staffing levels and contract distributions. Hospital-level predictors included hospitalists staffing levels, RN staffing levels, and Magnet status. Market-level variables were unemployment rates and competition. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Higher staffing levels of employed hospitalists or hospitalists with a group contract are associated with higher TPS (with coefficient estimates of 0.85 and 0.83, respectively, and the same standard error of 0.22). Higher staffing levels of hospitalists under individual contract are negatively associated with TPS (with coefficient estimate of -0.43 and standard error of 0.21). Based on the regression analysis using hospital clusters as independent variables, hospitals with individual contracts or without hospitalists providing care had significantly worse TPS compared to hospitals that predominantly employ hospitalists (with coefficient estimate of -1.80 and standard error of 0.61). Magnet status, RN staffing levels, and small and medium size were positively associated with TPS. Medicare share of inpatient days, teaching status, AMCs, and for-profit and public nonfederal ownership were negatively associated with TPS. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate hospitalist staffing level is important for hospitals to achieve better performance. Hospitals need to consider the mix of arrangements or contracts that they have with hospitalists.

Tactical and technical performance analysis of the male 65 kg category at the brazilian shotokan karate championship / Análise do desempenho técnico-tático durante o campeonato brasileiro de karatê shotokan

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to identify the most used techniques by medalists and defeated athletes during the Brazilian Shotokan Karate Championship of 2017. Eleven fights involving thirteen athletes (28.5±3.7yrs.) who competed in the category "up to 65 Kg 1st KYU" were investigated. Analysis were conducted by six specialists through the observation and register technique using the tactical and technical spreadsheet Scout Karate. The Anova test was used to compare actions and techniques mostly used. The Chi-square test for independent samples was used to verify the existence of significant differences among the techniques used by the winning and defeated athletes (p<0.05). Results show that the most frequent attack during fights was the "Mawashi geri", 26.3±1.5 times, followed by "Gyaku zuki" with 19.5±2.0 times (p<0.01). The most visualized tactical action during combats was the attack with 47.5±5.5 times (p<0.01). "Mawashi geri" was the mostly used attack (p=0.01) performed by winners (71.4%) when compared with the defeated athletes (28.6%). The results indicate that the "Mawashi geri" attack was the most assertive decision used in the category "up to 65 Kg 1st KYU".

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar as técnicas mais utilizadas por medalhistas e atletas derrotados durante o Campeonato Brasileiro de Karatê Shotokan de 2017. Onze lutas envolvendo treze atletas com 28.5 ± 3.7 anos que disputaram a categoria 1º. KYU até 65 kg foram investigados. A análise foi realizada por seis especialistas por meio da observação e registro de técnicas utilizando planilha tática e técnica de Scout de Karatê. O teste Anova foi utilizado para comparar as ações e técnicas mais utilizadas. O teste do qui-quadrado para amostras independentes foi utilizado para verificar a existência de diferenças significativas entre as técnicas utilizadas pelos atletas vencedores e derrotados (p<0.05). Os resultados mostram que o ataque mais frequente durante as lutas foi "Mawashi geri", 26.3 ± 1.5 vezes, seguido de "Gyaku zuki" com 19.5 ± 2.0 vezes (p<0.01). A ação tática mais visualizada durante os combates foi o ataque com 47.5 ± 5.5 vezes (p<0.01). "Mawashi geri" foi o ataque mais usado (p=0.01) pelos vencedores 71.4% quando comparado com os atletas derrotados 28.6%. Em conclusão o ataque "Mawashi geri" foi a decisão mais assertiva usada na categoria até 65 Kg.

Individual crafting, collaborative crafting, and job satisfaction: the mediator role of engagement / Job crafting y satisfacción laboral: el papel mediador del engagement

Most theories of job crafting understand the term to refer to an individual activity, and only a few studies have focused on collaborative job crafting. The present study has two aims. First, to adapt and validate a Spanish version of the Individual and Collaborative Crafting Scale. Second, to test a simple mediation model of engagement on the relationship between individual and collaborative crafting and job satisfaction. The sample consisted of 301 people. The data were analyzed using the Smart PLS statistical program, version 3.2.6., using the partial least squares (PLS) path modeling method. The results reveal that the Spanish language version of the Individual and Collaborative Crafting Scale is both valid and reliable. Moreover, engagement was found to fully mediate the relationship between job crafting and job satisfaction, with the hypothesized model explaining 78.4% of the variance observed in job satisfaction

La mayor parte de las teorías de job crafting han estudiado el término como una actividad individual. Pocas investigaciones se han centrado en el crafting colaborativo. El presente estudio tiene dos objetivos. Se pretende adaptar y validar la versión española de la escala de crafting individual y colaborativo. Además, se pretende poner a prueba un modelo de mediación simple del engagement sobre la relación entre el crafting individual y colaborativo y la satisfacción laboral. La muestra está formada por 301 personas. El análisis de datos se llevó a cabo con el programa Smart PLS v. 3.2.6. usando mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS). Los resultados muestran que la escala de crafting individual y colaborativo en castellano es válida y fiable. Además, existe una mediación completa del engagement en la relación job crafting-satisfacción. El modelo hipotetizado explica un 78.4% de la varianza de la satisfacción laboral

Competence-based performance evaluation in hospital nurses. / Avaliação de desempenho por competências em enfermeiros hospitalares.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the frequencies attributed to the professional competences of hospital nurses, discussing the ones that obtained higher and lower frequencies. METHOD: descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study with 45 nurses of a hospital of high complexity in the interior of São Paulo state. The study used the Competences Evaluation Questionnaire, translated and validated in Brazil, composed of 27 items in five domains: professionalism, communication, management, nursing process and problem solving. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: it was found that 80% of the participants were female and 20% were male. The age ranged between 25 and 63 years, with an average of 40.02 years, and the average length of professional experience was 13.39 years. The competences "Communication with the hospital's administrative staff" and "Participation in scientific research and / or application of results" had the lowest frequencies, while "Commitment to punctuality and workload" and "Commitment to the ethical principles of the profession" were evaluated with the highest frequencies. CONCLUSION: evaluating the performance by competences becomes essential for managers and training centers, since it contributes to the identification of gaps in knowledge, skills and attitudes of professionals, by promoting the elaboration and implementation of strategies for their development.

Investigating Gender Differences in Faculty Evaluations by Trainees in a Gender-Balanced General Surgery Program.

PURPOSE: Women account for 21% of faculty positions in general surgery. In fields with lower female representation, female faculty receive lower evaluation scores by trainees compared to male faculty. At 42%, the female faculty representation in our general surgery department doubles the national average. We sought to determine if variations in faculty evaluations would be observed in a more gender-balanced general surgery program. METHODS: Two years of faculty teaching evaluations by residents in a general surgery residency program were collected from the MedHub system. Total 3277 resident evaluations of 26 faculty members (11 female, 15 male) were analyzed. Seven areas (scored 1-7, with 1 = needs improvement and 7 = outstanding) were examined. Chi-square test was used to compare the percentage of male and female faculty members who scored a 6 or 7 in each category, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of gender with the evaluation score, while adjusting for the number of encounters between the trainee and the faculty member. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between male and female faculty in the "overall" evaluation score, nor in the "practice-based learning" and the "interpersonal and communication skills" categories. Female faculty had statistically significantly higher scores in "patient care", "professionalism," and "systems-based care" categories, whereas male faculty had higher evaluations in the "medical knowledge" category. CONCLUSION: In a general surgery residency program with a relatively gender-balanced faculty, there was no gender difference in the "overall" evaluation of faculty by residents. However, there were gender differences in specific domains. These findings suggest that gender balance in teaching faculty may help eliminate previously observed teaching evaluation bias in the traditionally male dominated fields.

Evaluating the effect of a strength and conditioning program to improve paramedic candidates' physical readiness for duty.

BACKGROUND: The Ottawa Paramedic Physical Ability Test (OPPAT™) is a physical employment standard for the paramedic sector. If a candidate is unsuccessful in meeting the OPPAT™ performance standard they should be provided with an appropriate accommodation, such as a strength and conditioning program, to improve performance. OBJECTIVE: Develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-week strength and conditioning program on improving OPPAT™ performance and associated fitness measures in paramedic candidates. METHODS: A 4-week strength and conditioning program was developed to focus on strength and power improvements. Based on initial OPPAT™ performance, participants were divided into high and low performing groups; only the low performing group received the training intervention. OPPAT™ completion times and relevant fitness measures were compared pre- to post- intervention and between groups. RESULTS: Over the 4-weeks, peak lower body power and grip strength did not significantly improve in the intervention group, however OPPAT™ performance improved by 10%. The control group had significantly lower OPPAT™ completion times both pre- and post-intervention (19% and 11% lower respectively), as well as greater grip strength and peak lower body power. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a targeted strength and conditioning program successfully improved OPPAT™ performance in low performing candidates.

Comparing levels of fitness of police Officers between two United States law enforcement agencies.

BACKGROUND: The general physical task demands of law enforcement may suggest that police Officers are of similar fitness levels across cities, states and countries. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether fitness levels of police Officers from two different United States (U.S.) Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) are similar. METHODS: Retrospective data were analysed from two LEAs (LEA1 n = 79 and LEA2 n = 319). The data for Officers included: age, mass, 1-minute push-up repetitions, 1-minute sit-up repetitions, vertical jump height, 2.4 km run time (LEA 1) and 20-meter Multi-Stage Fitness Test results (LEA 2). Independent samples t-tests were used to compare anthropometric and fitness data between LEA with significance set at 0.05. RESULTS: Officers from LEA1 weighed significantly less and performed significantly better than Officers from LEA2 on all fitness measures. When comparing male Officers alone, there was no statistical difference in age and mass; nonetheless, Officers from LEA1 significantly outperformed Officers from LEA2 on all fitness measures. CONCLUSION: While similarities / differences in job tasks performed between these two LEA are not known, the results from this study suggest differences in fitness between these two different U.S. LEA. Fitness standards and training protocols need to be developed and contextualized to each LEA's specific population and needs.

A database of predictor test sex bias for development of military physical employment standards.

BACKGROUND: Hesitation to employ females for physically demanding jobs is often due to sex related physical abilities. A physical employment standard (PES) identifies individuals who are physically capable for work. OBJECTIVE: A database containing 300 + sources of physical performance tests (PFTs) will inform potential sex bias for PES development. METHODS: Weighted means and probability density curves illustrate the percentage overlap between male and female performance on PFT data from the armed forces of 11 countries and the open literature. Where female training data were available, the change in percentage overlap illustrates the potential for reduction in sex-related differences. RESULTS: PFTs demonstrating the extremes of sex disparity were bench press (11 sources) and sit-ups (14 sources) with 9% and 93% overlap in performance, respectively. Training for bench press; pull ups; VO2max; and upright pull improved female performance by 12%, 22%, 35%, and 23% respectively. This translated into narrowing the gap between male and female mean performance by 1%, 4%, 5%, and 10% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of PFT to predict performance is essential; however, PFTs with more overlap will facilitate development of PES with reduced sex bias. PFTs with the greatest potential for improvement in females are identified here.

Examining wildland fire fighter candidate pass rates over five years post-implementation on a newly-developed physical employment standard1.

BACKGROUND: To assess the post-implementation impact of the Canadian Type 1 Wildland Fire Fighter (WFF) Fitness Test Circuit (WFX-FIT), a retrospective descriptive analysis of anonymized aggregate data collected between 2012-2016 was conducted. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to examine the pass rates of Type 1 WFF in each fire jurisdiction and on the standard for exchanging Type 1 WFF between agencies, the interagency exchange standard, by age group and sex and to propose what other information could be of value in assessing the effectiveness of implementing a physical employment standard. METHODS: Frequencies and pass rate percentages were compared by sex and age groups (<40 years, ≥40 years). RESULTS: Between 2012-2016, pass rates for all participants on the jurisdictional and interagency exchange performance standards improved from 93.2% to 95.6% and 79.1% to 87.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that since the WFX-FIT was implemented, there has been an increase in the number of exchange-eligible Type 1 WFF for suppression of wildfires in Canada.

Nurse anesthetists' preferences for anesthesiologists' participation in patient care at a large teaching hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) can evaluate anesthesiologists with whom they work clinically using a psychometrically reliable and valid scale. Use of such a scale to evaluate performance depends on knowing thresholds for minimum and ideal anesthesiologist performance. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: One large teaching hospital. MEASUREMENTS: 379 CRNA evaluations of anesthesiologists' performance, and associated thresholds for minimum and ideal scores, performed over 15 weeks. MAIN RESULTS: The anesthesiologists' performance score was less than the CRNA's minimum score for the evaluation (i.e., too little anesthesiologist participation in patient care) for 25% (95) of the CRNA evaluations. The score was greater than the CRNA's ideal score for the evaluation (i.e., excessive participation in patient care) for 28% (106) of evaluations. Anesthesiologists' performance was assessed as not meeting expectations 53% of the time. Even if every anesthesiologist performed consistently at the same level, ≥50% of CRNAs would have been dissatisfied (187), not significantly different from observed (P = 0.34). Consistent results were found when the unit of analysis was individual CRNA. Among the 22 CRNAs who provided ≥10 evaluations, the median level of anesthesiologist performance was either less than the individual CRNA's mean minimum acceptable performance (8/22) or greater than their mean ideal performance (9/22), with overall dissatisfaction, 77%. Among the CRNA-anesthesiologist pairs working together, most did so less than once per month (76%, 1242/1635). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center study at a large teaching hospital, broad heterogeneity among CRNAs in their expectations for anesthesiologist collaborative practice was found. Anesthesiologists adjusting their behavior based on individual CRNA preferences was impractical because specific CRNA-anesthesiologist pairs work together infrequently. Future studies should examine consistency among organizations and whether changes in expectations, and perhaps less dissatisfaction, can be achieved by communication of results for CRNA preferences for anesthesiologists' participation in patient care and discussing shared expectations among the CRNAs and anesthesiologists.

To Rate or Not to Rate? Autonomic Response and Psychological Well-being of Employees During Performance Review.

Organizational research started including neurosciences exploring pivotal phenomena and promoting organizational well-being. Leadership was investigated by assessing psychophysiological responses during performance review characterized by narrative or quantitative assessments and their effects on employees' well-being. As is known, rating could be perceived as threatening for employees' ranking and status perception, leading to avoidant behaviors. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: Here, manager-employee dyads were assigned to 2 conditions: in the nonrate scenario, managers were asked to describe the employee's performance; in the rate one, they had to provide a quantitative rating. Skin conductance level and response and heart rate indices were continuously recorded. FINDINGS: Dyads in nonrate condition showed higher arousal-related responses (skin conductance level and skin conductance response), perhaps highlighting an increased engagement triggered by a rewarding exchange. Conversely, in rate condition, employees showed higher heart rate, usually related to negative and stressful conditions, and avoidant behaviors. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Results are discussed for their possible applications to employees' well-being.

Measuring researcher independence using bibliometric data: A proposal for a new performance indicator.

Bibliometric indicators are increasingly used to evaluate individual scientists-as is exemplified by the popularity of the many other publication and citation-based indicators used in evaluation. These indicators, however, cover at best some of the quality dimensions relevant for assessing a researcher: productivity and impact. At the same time, research quality has more dimensions than productivity and impact alone. As current bibliometric indicators are not covering various important quality dimensions, we here contribute to developing better indicators for those quality dimensions not yet addressed. One of the quality dimensions lacking valid indicators is an individual researcher's independence. We propose indicators to measure different aspects of independence: two assessing whether a researcher has developed an own collaboration network and two others assessing the level of thematic independence. Taken together they form an independence indicator. We illustrate how these indicators distinguish between researchers that are equally productive and have a considerable impact. The independence indicator is a step forward in evaluating individual scholarly quality.