•A knowledge assessment highlighted the main weaknesses of scientific beach management tools.•The beach indexes’ structure is dissociated from their theoretic discourse on complex systems.•A focus on ...beach user satisfaction prevails, minimizing other management objectives.•The analysis of beaches calls for an opening up and contextualization of scientific knowledge.
For the first time, this research addresses the assessment of the quality of knowledge embedded in beach quality indexes from a socioecological perspective. We took the most widespread beach quality indexes and identified, selected and assessed the most important existing assumptions. We scored the robustness of these assumptions, using an inclusive methodology (stakeholder meeting, four focus groups and an online questionnaire). The NUSAP criteria for assessing the value-ladenness of scientific studies (Influence of resource limitations, (Im)Plausibility, Choice space, Agreement among peers, Analysts’ subjectivity and Influence on global results) were contrasted and discussed. A final list of the 10 weakest assumptions was presented and discussed. Most of these assumptions are fairly robust, but attention should mainly focus on their influence on global outcomes and (im)plausibility, as the weakest scored criteria. The choice space scores revealed the possibility of including new alternatives to the assumptions, when necessary. Assumptions loaded with framing concepts are weaker than those linked to more concrete objectives. We detected dissociation between the discourse and the operational development of the indexes, in which the narratives prioritizing user satisfaction are predominant and scientific data analysis is often decontextualized. We therefore suggest that science should be opened up throughout the building process of indexes: from the identification of problems to the reporting of results and related uncertainties. The NUSAP method proved to be useful for identifying weak points in beach quality indexes.
The objective of an assessment in competence based-knowledge space theory (Cb-KST) is to infer the skills of an individual from her responses to a subset of problems. A major issue in this approach ...is the lack of a one-to-one correspondence between the competence states and performance states. The assessment is possible, but it cannotgo beyond an approximation. The problem becomes even more serious if Cb-KST is used for the assessment of learning, since changes caused at the competence level may not be represented by changes at the performance level. The consequence is that there could be no way for establishing whether learning has occurred or not. This impasse can be resolved for the class of conjunctive skill functions by pretending that the competence space induced by the skill function is well-graded. Under this condition an individual can make tangible progresses along the performance structure by learning one skill at a time, until full mastery is eventually reached. If the competence structure is a space satisfying certain compatibility conditions and the skill function satisfies a special property, called exclusiveness, then well-gradedness can be assured. A test of exclusiveness of a conjunctive skill function is described and exemplified.
•In CbKST the student’s skills are inferred from her responses to a set of items.•There is no one-to-one correspondence between competence and performance states.•There could be no way for establishing whether learning has occurred or not.•We establish conditions for resolving this impasse.
Human microbiota have a significant impact on the health of individuals, and reciprocally, lifestyle choices of individuals have an important effect on the diversity and composition of microbiota. ...Studies assessing microbiota knowledge among the public are lacking, although it is hypothesized that this knowledge can motivate healthier behavior. Hence, this study aimed to measure microbiota knowledge among university students, and the effect of this knowledge on behavioral beliefs. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students from various fields of study enrolled at the University of Jordan, using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: demographics, general knowledge of microbiota, and behavioral beliefs related to microbiota. Four hundred and two responses were collected from verified university students. Participants were divided into two groups depending on whether they took a formal microbiology course (45 h) or not. Results from those two groups were compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results showed that most participants, even those who did not take a formal microbiology course, displayed good knowledge of what microbiota is and how they can be influenced by personal and environmental factors. Participants who took a microbiology course had significantly higher microbiota knowledge scores and were more aware of the effect of antibiotics on microbiota. Participants' behavioral beliefs regarding their antibiotic use, but not their diet and lifestyle choices, were affected by their knowledge of microbiota. The study indicates that disseminating knowledge regarding microbiota and microbiology in general, can improve behaviors related to antibiotic use.
Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder, with dietary exclusion of gluten the only current treatment. A good knowledge of CD and gluten-free diet (GFD) is essential for those ...with CD to support effective self-management. Knowledge assessment with a validated tool helps evaluate understanding and knowledge gaps to better tailor educational resources. This study’s aim was to perform a systematic review to identify validated CD knowledge assessment tools. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed, and searches were carried out in five literature databases. Papers were reviewed for tool development and testing process and assessed against pre-defined criteria for feasibility, validity, and reliability. Results: Twenty-five papers were included in the final analysis. Studies were from 16 countries, with a range of target populations, study designs, and development processes. Eleven reported pilot testing, and five assessed readability. Content validity was assessed in ten papers and formal content validity testing in one. Many tools contained items affecting generalisability outside the region developed. Conclusions: For a CD knowledge assessment tool to be suitable for use, it needs to be well designed, tested, and generalisable. No papers identified satisfied all requirements, thus highlighting a need to develop an appropriate tool.
To evaluate nurses' knowledge on pressure injury (PI) prevention.
Four hundred six nurses in Turkey participated in this descriptive study between January and February 2020. Participants completed an ...information form and the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI). The PUPKAI contains 26 items across six themes: (1) development, (2) classification and observation, (3) risk assessment, (4) nutrition, (5) interventions to reduce the amount of pressure/rupture, and (6) interventions to reduce the duration of pressure/rupture.
The mean age of the nurses was 26.93 ± 6.72 years. The mean total PUPKAI score was 11.80 ± 3.28. Almost all participants (91.6%) had insufficient knowledge on PI prevention. Male nurses scored higher on themes 1 and 2 than female nurses (P = .046, P = .029, respectively). Nurses with a postgraduate degree scored higher in total and on themes 2, 3, 5, and 6 (P = .001, P = .006, P = .011, P = .044, P = .029, respectively), and nurses with more than 10 years of service scored higher in total and on themes 4, 5, and 6 (P = .001, P = .002, P = .001, P = .026, respectively).
The nurses who participated in this study do not have enough knowledge on PI prevention.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has recently gained worldwide recognition, as the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms has led to increased mortality and economic burden. This study aimed to ...assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of veterinarians towards rational antimicrobial prescribing and identify factors influencing use.
We interviewed veterinary doctors in Abuja, Nigeria using a 50-point questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp mobile application. The questionnaire inquired about their experiences, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards AMR and stewardship. We analyzed the data by calculating frequencies and proportions.
Of 220 registered veterinarians, 144 (65.5%) participated in the survey. Most (52.8%) were within the age group 30 - 39 years; males (72.2%), with a Master's degree (42.4%) and worked in public service (44.4%). Three-quarters (75.7%) had good knowledge of antimicrobials; 47.2% had received training on stewardship while 88.9% reported that they believed that overuse of antimicrobials was the major contributory factor towards AMR. Antimicrobial stewardship regulations are important in veterinary practice. Veterinarians were aware of the occurrence of resistant pathogens and agreed that restricting antimicrobial use in animal health care was necessary to reduce AMR.
Most respondents referred to the veterinary formulary (VF) when in doubt of the appropriate antimicrobial agent to administer. We recommend that the VF be updated following the WHO list of critically-important-antimicrobials (CIA) and veterinarians educated not to use these CIAs in the treatment of food animals.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries. This analytical cross-sectional study assessed knowledge, attitude ...towards breast cancer, and barriers to mammogram screening among 414 randomly selected female healthcare workers from multiple healthcare facilities in northern Saudi Arabia. Of the studied population, 48.6% had low knowledge, and 16.1% had a low attitude towards breast cancer risk factors and symptoms. The common barriers to mammogram screening were fear to discover cancer (57.2%) and apprehension regarding radiation exposure (57%). Logistic regression analysis found that lack of awareness regarding mammogram was significantly associated with age (p = 0.030) and healthcare workers category (ref: physicians: p = 0.016). In addition, we found a significant negative correlation between knowledge and barrier scores (Spearman’s rho: −0.315, p < 0.001). It is recommended to develop target-oriented educational programs for the healthcare workers, which would empower them to educate the community regarding the risk factors and the importance of mammogram screening. Furthermore, a prospective study is warranted in other regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to understand the region-specific training needs for the healthcare workers.
Abstract The American College of Cardiology In-Training Exam (ACC-ITE) is incorporated into most U.S. training programs, but its relationship to performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine ...Cardiovascular Disease (ABIM CVD) Certification Examination is unknown. ACC-ITE scores from third-year fellows from 2011 to 2014 (n = 1,918) were examined. Covariates for regression analyses included sex, age, medical school country, U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step, and ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination scores. A secondary analysis examined fellows (n = 511) who took the ACC-ITE in the first and third years. ACC-ITE scores were the strongest predictor of ABIM CVD scores (p < 0.0001), and the most significant predictor of passing (p < 0.0001). The change in ACC-ITE scores from first to third year was a strong predictor of the ABIM CVD score (p < 0.001). The ACC-ITE is strongly associated with performance on the ABIM CVD Certification Examination.
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