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[Dentists and peer review: results of a descriptive study on perceived effects of peer review].

In the Netherlands over 20% of dentists participate in peer review groups. The peer review method is highly structured and consists of: setting standards for good dental care, measuring and evaluating performances against the standards and making improvements if necessary. An independent research institute (Nivel) investigated the perceived effects and advantages of and barriers to peer review. A postal questionnaire was sent tot 278 dentists who participate in peer review (response 60%). The results showed many effects of peer review. The most frequently reported effects were: more insight into the performances of colleagues, increased inter-professional contacts, a more critical attitude to performances, increased professional expertise and new inspiration and motivation. The respondents reported improvements in practice-organisation as well as in technical aspects of dental care. However, many dentists also mentioned some barriers to peer review. The method was evaluated as rather complex and it appeared to be difficult to reach consensus about standards for good dental care. In general, respondents perceived a positive balance between advantages and disadvantages of peer review, however many dentists were dissatisfied with the lack of financial compensation for participation in peer review.

Adult↗

Individual differences in stress reactions during a peer entry episode: effects of age, temperament, approach behavior, and self-perceived peer competence.

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a standardized peer entry paradigm would produce stress responses in 3- and 4-year-olds and how such stress responses would relate to temperament, observed approach to peers, and self-perceived peer competence. Physiological stress reactions were measured by activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. The 4-year-old group showed significantly less avoidance of the new peers and was rated higher on approach temperament. This older group also showed larger HPA stress responses to the new peer situation. Finally, discrepancy between self-reported peer competence and behavior in the peer entry situation was associated with larger stress responses on average. These findings support the notion that investment in a salient episode plays a role in determining the magnitude of HPA stress responses. The importance of examining discrepancies between self-perception and action in research on stress is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

What influences peer-led sex education in the classroom? A view from the peer educators.

This paper is the second of two presenting data gathered from peer educators in the RIPPLE study-a randomized controlled trial of peer-led sex education in English secondary schools. Peer educators were recruited from Year 12 students (aged 16/17 years) in 13 schools in two successive cohorts in 1997 and 1998. Following a standardized training programme they delivered sex education sessions to Year 9 students (aged 13/14 years). Through analysis of 18 focus group discussions and of post-programme questionnaire data (n = 301), this paper aims to identify the issues and processes considered by peer educators to be important in implementing a peer education programme, and to examine peer educators' views on the relationship between themselves and the Year 9 students. Methodological issues arising when collecting, analysing and presenting such data are discussed, and some recommendations are outlined for carrying out school-based peer education.

Adolescent↗

One-to-one or group-based peer support for breastfeeding? Women's perceptions of a breastfeeding peer coaching intervention.

BACKGROUND: Studies reporting one-to-one peer support interventions have been successful in some countries with high breastfeeding initiation rates, but less so in Great Britain, where low uptake of peer support has occurred. We conducted a peer coaching intervention study in rural Scotland that improved breastfeeding initiation and duration. This study reports qualitative data about participants' perceptions of the coaching intervention. The aim was to investigate why group-based peer support was more popular than one-to-one peer support. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected and analyzed from an initial focus group; 21 semi-structured interviews; and 31 coaching group observations and respondents (n = 105/192) in response to an open question about reasons for not choosing a personal coach in a survey of breastfeeding experiences. We developed a coding frame, identified themes, and constructed charts for analysis and interpretation of data. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that groups were more popular because they normalized breastfeeding in a social environment with refreshments, which improved participants' sense of well-being. Groups provided flexibility, a sense of control, and a diversity of visual images and experiences, which assisted women to make feeding-related decisions for themselves, and they offered a safe place to rehearse and perform breastfeeding in front of others, in a culture where breastfeeding is seldom seen in public. Women often felt initial anxiety when attending a group for the first time, and they expressed doubt that one set of "breastfeeding rules" would suit everyone. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers will voluntarily engage in an activity to support breastfeeding if there is a net interactional (verbal, visual, emotional and gustatory) gain and a minimum risk of a negative experience. One-to-one peer coaching was perceived as a greater risk to confidence and empowerment than group- based peer coaching.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Relationships among personal space boundaries, peer acceptance, and peer reputation in adolescents.

PROBLEM: Peer relationships are important to the health of adolescents who are at a developmental period of moving from parental influence to potentially dangerous peer influence. Interpersonal communication processes are logical antecedents of peer relationships. However, research in this area with adolescent populations is limited. METHODS: Exploratory descriptive study using observational technique to collect nonverbal and verbal communication data on adolescents (N = 28). Observer ratings of personal boundaries and peer acceptance were correlated with anonymous peer ratings of sociability/leadership, aggressiveness/disruptiveness, and sensitivity/isolation, with comparisons made between males and females. FINDINGS: Boundaries are related to peer acceptance and peer reputation and are interpreted differently in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides beginning evidence of the usefulness of Personal Space Boundary Theory in understanding adolescent behavior.

Adolescent↗

Peers, teachers and parents as assessors of the behavioural and emotional problems of twins and their adjustment: the Multidimensional Peer Nomination Inventory.

A multidimensional peer nomination inventory (MPNI; 30 items) and parallel versions--MPNI-Teacher and MPNI-Parental Rating Forms (37 items each)--were developed during a major new Finnish study of families with twins. The twins (477 girls and 467 boys) were 12 years old, representing subsets of three nationwide Finnish twin cohorts (b. 1983-1985). They were enrolled in 503 school classes, and the total number of children participating in peer nominations was 12,937. Three main factors were extracted from peer nominations and teacher and parental assessments. Intercorrelating sub-components were found, especially in parental assessments. Scales were formed, accordingly, for Behavioral Problems (including Hyperactivity-Impulsivity, Aggression, and Inattention), Emotional Problems (including Depression and Social Anxiety), and Adjustment (including Constructiveness, Compliance, and Social Activity). A framework for the development of the multidimensional inventory was a model of emotional and behavioural regulation. Peer nominations were most reliable, while parental assessments, although mostly satisfactory, were least reliable. Results provided evidence of concurrent validity of peer-referenced assessment, using teacher assessments as criteria; correlations between assessments of peers and parents were lower. The inventory has discriminative validity. Intra-pair correlations of monozygotic co-twins were higher than correlations of same-sex (SS) and opposite-sex (OS) dizygotic (DZ) co-twins for all scales across all three assessors, and peer nominations of both SS and OSDZ co-twins yielded correlations significantly greater than zero for all scales. All scales, except Depression and Social Anxiety, differentiated boys from girls.

Anxiety↗

A "cluster" based search scheme in peer-to-peer network.

This paper presents a "cluster" based search scheme in peer-to-peer network. The idea is based on the fact that data distribution in an information society has structured feature. We designed an algorithm to cluster peers that have similar interests. When receiving a query request, a peer will preferentially forward it to another peer which belongs to the same cluster and shares more similar interests. By this way search efficiency will be remarkably improved and at the same time good resilience against peer failure (the ability to withstand peer failure) is reserved.

Algorithms↗

Peer relationships in ADDH and normal children: a developmental analysis of peer and teacher ratings.

Peer and teacher perceptions of younger and older ADDH and normal children were compared. Peer nominations on the Pupil Evaluation Inventory revealed that ADDH children received more nominations on the Aggression factor and fewer on the Likability factor. ADDH boys received more nominations on the Withdrawal factor. Generally, older children received fewer nominations, but age did not interact with diagnosis; that is, younger and older ADDH children were perceived by peers as equally deviant. Discriminant analyses showed that peer ratings were useful in discriminating between ADDH and normal boys, but not between ADDH and normal girls. Teacher ratings of peer behavior suggested that older ADDH girls were perceived as less disturbed than younger girls. However, teacher ratings of boys revealed no age by diagnosis interactions. Low to moderate correlations were found between peer and teacher ratings of ADDH boys, and the pattern of relationship varied with age.

Age Factors↗

Peer-to-peer computing in health-promoting voluntary organizations: a system design analysis.

A large part of the health promotion in today's society is performed as peer-to-peer empowerment in voluntary organisations such as sports clubs, charities, and trade unions. In order to prevent work-related illness and long-term sickness absence, the aim of this study is to explore computer network services for empowerment of employees by peer-to-peer communication. The 'technique trade-off method was used for the analysis of the system design. A Critical Incident Technique questionnaire was distributed to a representative sample of trade union shop stewards (n = 386), and focus-group seminars were arranged where a preliminary set of requirements was discussed. Seven basic requirements were identified and matched to a set of 12 design issues for computer network services, allocating a subset of design issues to each requirement. The conclusion is that the systems design displays an inexpensive and potentially feasible method for peer-to-peer computing in voluntary health-promoting organisations.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Are road safety evaluation studies published in peer reviewed journals more valid than similar studies not published in peer reviewed journals?

The peer review system of scientific journals is commonly assumed to prevent seriously flawed research from getting published. This paper compares the quality of 44 road safety evaluation studies published in peer reviewed journals to the quality of 79 evaluation studies dealing with the same safety measures, but not published in peer reviewed journals, in terms of seven criteria of study validity. Studies were scored for validity in terms of (1) sampling technique, (2) total sample size, (3) mean sample size for each result, (4) specification of accident or injury severity, (5) study design, (6) number of confounding factors controlled and (7) number of moderator variables specified. Confounding factors are all factors that disturb the attribution of a causal relationship between the safety measure being evaluated and the observed changes in safety, moderator variables are all variables that influence the size of the effect of the safety measure. Very few statistically reliable differences in study validity were found between studies published in peer reviewed journals and studies not published in such journals. There was, at best, a weak tendency for studies published in peer reviewed journals to score higher for validity. An interaction was found between author affiliation and type of publication with respect to study validity. Studies published in peer reviewed journals by authors who were at a university scored highest for validity. For a number of reasons, this study must be regarded as exploratory and its results as indicative only. The study does, however, point to a line of research that might be worth pursuing in larger and more rigorous studies.

Automobile Driving↗

The relationship of the family social environment, peer influences, and peer relationships to altruistic orientation in Chinese children.

This study investigated the correlation between the family social environment, peer influences, and peer relationships to altruistic orientation in Chinese children. Results in the present study showed that (a) altruistic orientation measured by the Child Altruism Inventory (H. K. Ma & M. C. Leung, 1991) was directly associated with a positive family social environment, (b) altruistic orientation was directly associated with positive peer influences and was inversely associated with negative peer influences, and (c) altruistic orientation was directly associated with perceived prosocial behavior of one's best friend and inversely associated with perceived antisocial behavior of one's best friend. The findings suggested that a good family social environment, positive peer influences, and good peer relationships tended to increase altruistic orientation.

Altruism↗

Application of peer-to-peer networking to health care.

People with chronic illness or disability share similar information needs that are not routinely handled by a system designed for traditional health services. Recent historical initiatives to provide alternate information systems for sharing information or coordinating services have been highly centralized, were expensive to set up and were not sustainable. We propose a novel application of peer-to-peer networking to provide an infrastructure for information exchange and service coordination. The peer-to-peer model empowers the user (citizen with disabilities) with control over the type and extent of information about themselves that is communicated and to whom. Further, the peer-to-peer model leads to a decentralized resource that grows incrementally, supported by the users, and is potentially more sustainable.

Chronic Disease↗

Super-proximity routing in structured peer-to-peer overlay networks.

Peer-to-Peer systems are emerging as one of the most popular Internet applications. Structured Peer-to-Peer overlay networks use identifier based routing algorithms to allow robustness, load balancing, and distributed lookup needed in this environment. However, identifier based routing that is independent of Internet topology tends to be of low efficiency. Aimed at improving the routing efficiency, the super-proximity routing algorithms presented in this paper combine Internet topology and overlay routing table in choosing the next hop. Experimental results showed that the algorithms greatly improve the efficiency of Peer-to-Peer routing.

Algorithms↗

Interagency psychiatric consultation liaison nursing peer review and peer board: quality assurance and empowerment.

This article describes the implementation of an interagency peer review group and formal review board for psychiatric consultation liaison nurses (PCLN) practicing in affiliated institutions. Peer group members enhance their skill levels, assure quality standards of practice, and implement system changes through peer collaboration and member feedback. The model assures quality PCLN practice, fosters member resilience, creates a counterbalance for PCLN role isolation, and provides professional empowerment. The authors also disclose the peer group members' struggle and resolution to implement the mandated task of the annual performance review through the process of the PCLN formal peer review board.

Humans↗

Peer to peer sexual harassment in early adolescence: a developmental perspective.

The goal of this study was to examine sexual harassment in early adolescence. Available data indicate that peer to peer sexual harassment is prevalent in high school and is associated with psychosocial problems for both victims and perpetrators. For the present study, we adopted a developmental contextual model to examine the possibility that this behavior develops during the late elementary and middle school years and is linked to the biological and social changes that occur at this time. Youths from Grades 6-8 (N = 1,213) enrolled in seven elementary and middle schools in a large south-central Canadian city were asked to report on their sexual harassment behaviors with same- and cross-gender peers; their pubertal development, and the gender composition of their peer network. The results revealed that cross-gender harassment was distinct from same-gender harassment, increased in frequency from Grade 6 to Grade 8, and was linked to pubertal maturation and participation in mixed-gender peer groups. The implications of a developmental contextual model for understanding the emergence of this problematic behavior in adolescence are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Social communication interventions for preschoolers: targeting peer interactions during peer group entry and cooperative play.

Some preschoolers with language impairment approach and manage peer interactions less effectively than typically developing peers. This article discusses assessment and intervention strategies for targeting preschoolers' social communication skills during peer entry and cooperative play situations. Essential features of effective interventions include identification of appropriate social communication targets, addressing and facilitating children's use of these targets during small group sessions with peers, and supporting generalization of newly acquired social communication behaviors to children's peer interactions within the classroom setting.

Child, Preschool↗

A controlled study of peer relationships of children surviving brain tumors: teacher, peer, and self ratings.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the behavioral reputation and peer acceptance of children diagnosed and treated for brain tumors. METHOD: Twenty-eight children surviving brain tumors (8-18 years of age) were compared to 28 nonchronically ill, same classroom, same gender comparison peers (COMP). Peer, teacher, and self-report data were collected. RESULTS: Relative to COMP, children who had been diagnosed with brain tumors received fewer friendship nominations from clasmates and were described by peer, teacher, and self-report as socially isolated. Although they were no longer receiving therapy for their disease, peers perceived brain tumor survivors as being sick, more fatigued, and often absent from school. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that children surviving brain tumors are at risk for social difficulties even after treatment ends, although the specific cause(s) for this vulnerability were not investigated in the current study.

Absenteeism↗