Studies on academic recruitment processes have demonstrated that universities evaluate candidates for research positions using multiple criteria. However, most studies on preferences regarding ...evaluative criteria in recruitment processes focus on a single country, while cross-country studies are rare. Additionally, though studies have documented how fields evaluate candidates differently, those differences have not been deeply explored, thus creating a need for further inquiry. This paper aims to address this gap and investigates whether academics in two fields across five European countries prefer the same criteria to evaluate candidates for academic positions. The analysis is based on recent survey data drawn from academics in economics and physics in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. Our results show that the academic fields have different evaluative cultures and that researchers from different fields prefer specific criteria when assessing candidates. We also found that these field-specific preferences were to some extent mediated through national frameworks such as funding systems.
Recruitment is one of the main strategic tools for universities, which aim to hire the best possible candidates for their academic positions. However, not every institution can hire whom they ...perceive as the best. Our paper investigates what are perceived to be the most pressing hindrances to attracting the best researchers. We focus on national and disciplinary differences in researchers’ perceptions of barriers to recruiting the best scholars in their fields. We surveyed researchers in economics and physics in the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK and find that economists emphasize salary level and institutional prestige as the main barriers, while physicists underline competition from non-academic actors and career development opportunities. We further find differences by country. In Norway, limited institutional prestige is a key barrier to attracting the best researchers, while researchers in the UK highlight salary levels. Respondents at Dutch universities claim that they experience multiple, equally important barriers.
Objectives
To analyze discordant and false-negatives of double reading digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus digital mammography (DM) including reading times in the Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening ...Trial (OTST), and reclassify these in a retrospective reader study as missed, minimal sign, or true-negatives.
Methods
The prospective OTST comparing double reading DBT vs. DM had paired design with four parallel arms: DM, DM + computer aided detection, DBT + DM, and DBT + synthetic mammography. Eight radiologists interpreted images in batches using a 5-point scale. Reading time was automatically recorded. A retrospective reader study including four radiologists classified screen-detected cancers with at least one false-negative score and screening examinations of interval cancers as negative, non-specific minimal sign, significant minimal sign, and missed; the two latter groups are defined “actionable.” Statistics included chi-square, Fisher’s exact, McNemar’s, and Mann–Whitney
U
tests.
Results
Discordant rate (cancer missed by one reader) for screen-detected cancers was overall comparable (DBT (31% 71/227) and DM (30% 52/175),
p
= .81), significantly lower at DBT for spiculated cancers (DBT, 19% 20/106 vs. DM, 36% 38/106,
p
= .003), but high (28/49 = 57%,
p
= 0.001) for DBT-only detected spiculated cancers. Reading time and sensitivity varied among readers. False-negative DBT-only detected spiculated cancers had shorter reading time than true-negatives in 46% (13/28). Retrospective evaluation classified the following DBT exams “actionable”: three missed by both readers, 95% (39/41) of discordant cancers detected by both modes, all 30 discordant DBT-only cancers, 25% (13/51) of interval cancers.
Conclusions
Discordant rate was overall comparable for DBT and DM, significantly lower at DBT for spiculated cancers, but high for DBT-only detected spiculated lesions. Most false-negative screen-detected DBT were classified as “actionable.”
Clinical relevance statement
Retrospective evaluation of false-negative interpretations from the Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening Trial shows that most discordant and several interval cancers could have been detected at screening. This underlines the potential for modern AI-based reading aids and triage, as high-volume screening is a demanding task.
Key Points
• Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) screening is more sensitive and has higher specificity compared to digital mammography screening, but high-volume DBT screening is a demanding task which can result in high discordance rate among readers.
• Independent double reading DBT screening had overall comparable discordance rate as digital mammography, lower for spiculated masses seen on both modalities, and higher for small spiculated cancer seen only on DBT.
• Almost all discordant digital breast tomosynthesis-detected cancers (72 of 74) and 25% (13 of 51) of the interval cancers in the Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening Trial were retrospectively classified as actionable and could have been detected by the readers.
Background and purpose - Patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and revision THA are important information in the preoperative shared decision-making process. We ...present 1-year results on pain, function, and quality of life following primary and revision THA. Patients and methods - From 2010 to 2018, 3,559 primary THA and 406 revision THAs were included in our institutional quality registry. PROMs were registered preoperatively, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery, numeric rating scale (0-10) for pain during mobilization and at rest, healthrelated quality of life (EQ-5D), and a hip-specific physical function score (HOOS-PS). 2 anchor questions were asked 1 year after surgery concerning joint function and willingness to go through surgery again. Results - There were statistically significant improvements in all PROMs at the 3-month follow-up in both groups. All PROMs improved more in the primary group relative to the revision group. 1 year after surgery, pain during mobilization was reduced with a mean change of 5.1 (SD 2.6) for primary THA and 2.9 (SD 3.0) for revision THA. 93% of primary THA patients reported both better function 1 year after surgery and that they would have gone through surgery again, compared with 78% and 79% in the revision THA group. Interpretation - Primary THA patients reported better function and more pain relief than the revision THA group 1 year after surgery. Pain during mobilization shows the most marked improvement in both groups, which is important preoperative information for patients.
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is usually performed using 1 of 3 surgical approaches: direct lateral (DLA), posterior (PA), or anterior (AA). AA is different from DLA and PA owing to limited ...intraoperative visibility of the femoral canal. This could affect stem positioning and therefore migration. We aimed to perform an exploratory radiostereometric analysis (RSA) study with 3 groups for surgical approach assessing stem migration up to 5 years postoperatively.
61 patients with unilateral osteoarthritis of the hip were included. 21 patients were allocated to the DLA, 20 to the PA, and 20 to the AA group. All patients received an uncemented, collarless, double-tapered, fully hydroxyapatite-coated Profemur Gladiator stem. Migration was measured with model-based RSA. Baseline RSA was on day 1 postoperatively. The follow-ups were at day 8, at 5 weeks, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months after surgery. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze maximum total point motion (MTPM) migrations.
Group mean differences in MTPM were 0.4 mm (95% confidence interval CI -1.5 to 2.4) for DLA vs. PA, 1.1 mm (CI -1.0 to 3.3) for AA vs. DLA, and 1.6 mm (CI -0.8 to 3.9) for AA vs. PA, when adjusted for sex and age as covariates. 2 stems in the AA group had excessive early migration. For all stems the migrations occurred mainly within 5-week follow-up and then stabilized.
At 5-year follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in stem migration associated with the 3 surgical approaches used in this study.
Studies evaluating pain and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) related to type of revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) are sparse. Our aim was to compare pain, physical function, quality of ...life, and patient satisfaction among different types of aseptic rTHA at 1-year follow-up.
We performed a retrospective study from an institutional registry with 426 primary THAs scheduled for rTHA in a fast-track setting between 2012 and 2021. Revisions were grouped by 4 types of surgery: head and/or liner exchange, cup revision, stem revision, and cup and stem revision. Pain during mobilization and at rest (NRS 0-10), physical function (HOOS-PS and HHS) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) were registered preoperatively, at 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was surveyed at the 1-year follow-up by 2 questions related to hip function and willingness to undergo the same surgery.
With a response rate of 85%, all outcomes improved in the 4 groups but there were neither statistical nor clinical differences between types of rTHA at 1-year follow-up. NRS pain during mobilization improved overall by 2.7 (95% confidence interval 2.3-3.1) until 1-year follow-up, both being statistically significant and clinically relevant. The improvements were mainly seen at the 3-month follow-up, with minor progress observed at 1 year. About 80% reported improved hip function and willingness to undergo the surgery again at the 1-year follow-up.
Significant improvements in NRS pain and PROMS were found in all groups after rTHA, with no group differences at 1 year. This is relevant preoperative information for both clinicians and patients eligible for rTHA.
Outcomes following revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may depend on the indication for revision surgery. We compared pain, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and patient satisfaction ...among different indications for an aseptic TKA revision.
This was a retrospective study of prospective data from an institutional registry of 178 primary TKAs revised between 2012 and 2020. Patients were grouped by the main reason for their revision: loosening, malposition, instability, or stiffness. Pain during mobilization and at rest (NRS 0-10), physical function (KOOS-PS and KSS), and quality of life (EQ-5D) were surveyed preoperatively and at 2 months and 1 year postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was evaluated through questions related to knee function and their willingness to undergo the same surgery again at 1-year follow-up.
Pain and PROMs improved in all groups and did not differ statistically significantly between the 4 groups at 1-year follow-up, but equivalence for pain was not confirmed between groups. Overall, pain during mobilization improved by 2.4 (95% CI 1.9-3.0) at 1-year follow-up, which was both clinically and statistically significant. Improvements were seen within 2 months of surgery, with no further improvements seen 1 year postoperatively. Approximately 2/3 of patients reported that their knee function had improved and would undergo the same surgery again, at 1-year follow-up.
Statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in pain and PROMs were seen in all 4 revision groups 1 year after revision TKA. These results may assist clinicians and patients during preoperative counselling.
Due to an oversight by the Publisher during typesetting stage, there was an error in respect to the name of Siri B. Borlaug. The country “Norway” was mistakenly captured as part of the first name, ...hence the presentation “Norwary Siri B. Borlaug”. His name is now correctly presented here as well as in the original article.
Objectives
To retrospectively investigate early performance measures of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus standard digital mammography (DM) for consecutive screening rounds.
Methods
We ...included information about 35,736 women screened in BreastScreen Norway, 2008–2016, with at least two consecutive screening examinations. The pair of two consecutive screening examinations was the unit of analysis, and results from the subsequent examination were the measure of interest. Screening technique changed during the study period, resulting in four study groups: DM after DM, DBT after DM, DM after DBT, and DBT after DBT. We compared selected early performance measures between the study groups.
Results
Recall for DM after DM was 3.6% and lower for all other study groups (
p
< 0.001). The rate of screen-detected breast cancer was 4.6/1000 for DM after DM; for DBT after DM and DBT after DBT, it was 9.9/1000 and 8.3/1000, respectively (
p
< 0.001 relative to DM after DM), and for DM after DBT 4.3/1000. The rate of tubular carcinoma was higher for DBT after DBT or after DM compared with DM after DM (
p
< 0.01). The rate of histologic grade 1 tumors was higher for DBT after DM compared with DM after DM (
p
< 0.001). We did not observe any statistical difference in the interval cancer rates.
Conclusions
Lower recall and higher cancer detection rates for screening with DBT were sustainable over two consecutive screening rounds. Positive predictive values were higher for DBT than DM. There were no differences in the interval cancer rates between the study groups.
Key Points
• There is limited knowledge about early performance measures for screening with digital breast tomosynthesis beyond one screening round.
• A decline in recall rate and an incline in the rate of screen-detected breast cancer were observed for women screened with DBT compared with DM, irrespective of prior screening technique. The interval breast cancer rate did not differ statistically for women screened with DBT versus DM.
• Tumor characteristics tended to be prognostic favorable for DBT compared with DM with no differences in rates of more advanced cancers. The clinical significance of increased cancer detection and the potential for future mortality reduction remain unknown.
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) alleviates pain, but muscle strength and function is reduced for a long period postoperatively.
To investigate whether maximal strength training (MST) is more effective ...in improving muscle strength than standard rehabilitation (SR) after TKA.
A randomized, controlled study.
Community physical therapy centers and University hospital research department.
Forty-one adults <75 years with primary, unilateral osteoarthritis of the knee scheduled for TKA.
Participants were randomized to supervised MST of the lower extremities 3 times/week for 8 weeks and physiotherapy session1/week (N.=21) or to SR, including physiotherapy sessions/telephone contact 1/week and writing home exercise logs (N.=20). Maximal strength in leg press and knee extension, 6-minute walk test, patient-reported functional outcome score and pain were assessed preoperatively, 7 days, 10 weeks and 12 months postoperatively.
The MST group exceeded preoperative levels of muscle strength in leg press and knee extension by 37% and 43%, respectively at 10 weeks' follow-up, and the increase was higher than in the SR group (P≤0.001). Strength differences persisted up to 12-months follow-up. At 12 months, both groups recovered to normative levels in the 6-Minute Walk Test, with no statistically significantly difference between the groups.
Participants undergoing MST experienced superior increases in leg press and knee extension muscle strength compared with those managed with SR from 7-day to 10-week follow-up. The difference in muscle strength was maintained at 12-month follow-up. No differences in functional performance were found at any time-point.
Exercises after TKA should be performed with high intensity and target the operated leg specifically.
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