PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Technical working group”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

The prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus infection: technical report from the New Zealand GBS Consensus Working Party.

AIMS: Early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading infectious cause of disease in newborn babies. Since intrapartum antibiotics interrupt vertical GBS transmission, this is now a largely preventable public health problem. An important first step is to develop (then implement) nationally, agreed prevention policies. METHODS: Representatives from the New Zealand College of Midwives, the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, the New Zealand Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, and the Homebirth Association met to review evidence that will assist in the formulation of GBS prevention policies that are most suitable for New Zealand. RESULTS: The Technical Working Group noted that (i) no strategy will prevent all cases of early-onset GBS infection, (ii) intrapartum antibiotics are associated with rare, but serious, adverse effects, (iii) concerns remain over developing antibiotic resistance, (iv) an economic analysis is required to help inform policy, (iv) reliable bedside diagnostic tests for GBS in early labour are not yet available and (iv) the most important determinant of effectiveness will be compliance with a single national prevention policy. CONCLUSIONS: As an interim measure a GBS risk-based prevention strategy is recommended. This exposes the least numbers of women and their babies to antibiotics, while virtually preventing all deaths from GBS sepsis. Continuing education of health professionals and pregnant women, auditing protocol compliance, tracking adverse events amongst pregnant women, and national surveillance of neonatal sepsis and mortality rates and antibiotic resistance are necessary for the strategy's success.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed1997

Integrated management of childhood illness by outpatient health workers: technical basis and overview. The WHO Working Group on Guidelines for Integrated Management of the Sick Child.

This article describes the technical basis for the guidelines for the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), which are presented in the WHO/UNICEF training course on IMCI for outpatient health workers at first-level health facilities in developing countries. These guidelines include the most important case management and preventive interventions against the leading causes of childhood mortality--pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and malnutrition. The training course enables health workers who use the guidelines to make correct decisions in the management of sick children. The guidelines have been refined through research studies and field-testing in the Gambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and United Republic of Tanzania, as well as studies on clinical signs in the detection of anaemia and malnutrition. These studies, and two others from Uganda and Bangladesh, are presented in this Supplement to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2005

Why it is hard to support group work in distributed healthcare organizations: empirical knowledge of the social-technical gap.

We used a participatory design process to understand and to support the group work of cancer clinical trial protocol design within a distributed organization, the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). We also designed a collaborative writing system to facilitate its protocol reviewing and revising processes over the Internet. After a series of iterative prototyping and formative evaluations over the past two years, we identified a social-technical gap in our group work support research at SWOG. This gap consists of technical challenges, expanding user needs, conflicting user needs from different roles, insufficient incentive for using groupware technology by certain members, subtle organizational nuances, and the changing organizational structure. This paper describes our longitudinal evaluations results and elaborates on the social-technical gap. We think this gap may generalize to other healthcare group work settings.

Attitude to Computers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient referral patterns in Namibia: identification of potential to improve the efficiency of the health care system.

In order to assess how the hospital referral system in Namibia was operating, a cross-sectional survey of patients attending three intermediate hospitals and the national hospital was conducted over a 4-week period. The survey was planned by a Ministry of Health and Social Services' working group, with technical support provided by a donor funded health programme. Together with complementary qualitative data, obtained through focus group discussions with the community, the survey generated information on the extent to which the referral system was being bypassed, the types of bypassing and related factors. These included reasons for non-compliance with referral to the intermediate hospitals, perceived barriers to their utilization and community preparedness to use these hospitals after upgrading. The results were used to inform decisions about the classification of the three hospitals and identification of their catchment areas. The results were also shown to be useful for assessing the likely impact of different strategies for reducing bypassing. In Namibia these impacts were expected to be limited, due to the influence of distance and low population densities. Information on the extent and types of bypassing taking place across districts is essential for assessing opportunities to improve the functioning of a pyramidal referral system, which supports a cost-effective primary health care strategy.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed2005

[A description on the Chinese national nutrition and health survey in 2002].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the status of nutrition and health related indices in the Chinese population. METHODS: A stratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The survey was done in 2002, including data gathered from questionnaires, interviews, physical examinations, measurement of biochemical indices, and dietary investigation. RESULTS: Cereals accounted for 48.5% of all the sources of energy in urban and 61.4% in rural populations. Daily mean percentages of calories for total fat were 35.0% in urban and 27.5% in rural areas. The prevalence rates of stunting and underweight were 14.3% and 7.8% respectively in young children under 5-year-old. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 9.3% in Chinese children aged 3-12 years old. The total prevalence of anemia was 15.2% in general population of all ages. The prevalence of anemia in young adults was significantly higher in women than in men. The total prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 17.6% and 5.6%, respectively. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesteremia, hypertriglyceridemia, or low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol were 18.8%, 2.6%, 2.9%, 11.9%, 7.4% respectively in Chinese adults aged 18 and over. The rates of awareness, treatment, and under control among hypertensives were 30.2%, 24.7%, and 25.0%, respectively. Significant regional and age differences were revealed in the dietary habit and the prevalence of various diseases. The prevalence of diseases associated with malnutrition were higher in rural than in urban areas. In contrast, the prevalence of conditions associated with overconsumption and inappropriate dietary patterns were higher in urban than in rural populations. CONCLUSION: Chinese people were currently suffering from both problems on nutrition related issues and burdens of diseases which were characterized in nutrient deficiencies and overconsumption, malnutrition and noncommunicable conditions associated with overconsumption and inappropriate diet. The difference of nutrition and health status between rural and urban people was also seen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Relationship between physical activity and metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was conducted in 132 sampling 218,920 residents, aged 44.3 +/- 15.3 (15 - 96), in the 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of the mainland China according to the program of the National Nutrition and Health Survey. Questionnaire survey, interview, physical examination, measurement of biochemical indices, and dietary investigation were done. Information of physical activity and measurement of fasting glucose and/or glucose 2 hours after meal, blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were obtained in 50,494 participants. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Chinese Medical Association's definition. The intensity of physical activity was divided into 3 categories according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of US/American College of Sports Medicine criteria. RESULTS: 50,495 subjects, 23,932 males (47.4%) and 26,562 females (52.6%), were diagnosed as with MS. The MS incidence of those with high intensity of physical activity was lower by 60% in comparison with those with low intensity of physical activity (odds ratio 0.60, 95% CI: 0.362 - 0.443) adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and alcohol intake. The risk of MS in those with moderate intensity of physical activity of 151 - 300 minutes/week was slightly decreased compared to those with moderate intensity of physical activity of 90 - 150 minutes/week, (odds ratio 0.935, 95% CI: 0.685 - 1.277), however, the risk of MS in those with the moderate intensity of physical activity over 300 minutes/week increased slightly (OR = 1.269, 95% CI: 0.923 - 1.745). The risk of MS in those with low-level physical activity of 301 - 420 minutes/week was lower by 35% in comparison with those with the low-level physical activity of 90 - 150 minutes/week (95% CI: 0.451 - 0.933), however, the risk of MS in those with the low-level physical activity over 420 minutes/week was 0.871, not significantly different from that of the subjects with the low-level physical activity of other intensity (odd ratio = 0.871, 95% CI: 0.643 - 1.181). The risk of MS of those with the vigorous physical activity odds rations for having MS of vigorous activity over 150 minutes/week was 0.757, lower by 25% in comparison with those with the vigorous physical activity of 10 - 60 minutes/week (95% CI: 0.603 - 0.951), adjusted for sex, age, smoking, alcohol intake and BMI. CONCLUSION: MS risk can be decreased by low level physical activity of 300 - 420 minutes/week, moderate physical activity of 90 - 300 minutes/week and vigorous physical activity of over 150 minutes/week.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A new metabolic simulator system for routine cardiopulmonary exercise test equipment: technical specifications and validation. ECSC Working Group on Standardization Stress Test Methods.

Modern stress-test instruments require non-steady-state calibration (i.e., during exercise) instead of calibration at rest (i.e., before use) in stable conditions. The purpose of the present study was to describe a new specific computer-controlled check system for stress-test instruments, which operates on the basis of physiological respiratory equations. It can produce rapid and automatic modifications of metabolic data, allowing breath-to-breath simulation. When connected to the stress-test equipment to be controlled, it makes it possible to identify discrepancies between preset and measured values. Systematic comparative measurements were performed using as reference two mass spectrometer-controlled analysers and a high-precision flow meter. Accuracy, trend and reproducibility in continuously changing conditions were very satisfactory.

Calibration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The work of I-INCE Technical Study Group 2 on noise labels for consumer and industrial products.

In 1999 a new I-INCE Technical Study Group TSG 2 was formed on "Noise labels for consumer and industrial products". This was intended to survey current methods for labelling and otherwise characterizing the noise emissions of consumer and industrial products. Note that labelling can mean more than just a physical label - it might be details in a Technical Manual. The measurement methods used by testing authorities were to be included in the survey. The methodologies were to be compared, and an assessment made of their relative effectiveness. The study of noise labelling is part of an educational program to advise on how, and in what form such labelling should be implemented. There has been active participation in the TSG from UK, USA, Japan, Norway, Turkey, Belgium and Brazil, with email exchange of information and 3 meetings, at Internoise 2000 in Nice, 2001 in Den Haag and 2002 in Dearborn, USA. More recently the survey questionnaire has been sent to all the 46 Member Societies of I-INCE. This paper explains the survey and summarises current results.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2005

ACCF/ASNC appropriateness criteria for single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI): a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Quality Strategic Directions Committee Appropriateness Criteria Working Group and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology endorsed by the American Heart Association.

Under the auspices of the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), an appropriateness review was conducted for radionuclide cardiovascular imaging (RNI), specifically gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI). The review assessed the risks and benefits of the imaging test for several indications or clinical scenarios and scored them based on a scale of 1 to 9, where the upper range (7 to 9) implies that the test is generally acceptable and is a reasonable approach, and the lower range (1 to 3) implies that the test is generally not acceptable and is not a reasonable approach. The mid range (4 to 6) implies that the test may be generally acceptable and may be a reasonable approach for the indication. The indications for this review were primarily drawn from existing clinical practice guidelines and modified based on discussion by the ACCF Appropriateness Criteria Working Group and the Technical Panel members who rated the indications. The method for this review was based on the RAND/UCLA approach for evaluating appropriateness, which blends scientific evidence and practice experience. A modified Delphi technique was used to obtain first- and second-round ratings of 52 clinical indications. The ratings were done by a Technical Panel with diverse membership, including nuclear cardiologists, referring physicians (including an echocardiographer), health services researchers, and a payer (chief medical officer). These results are expected to have a significant impact on physician decision making and performance, reimbursement policy, and future research directions. Periodic assessment and updating of criteria will be undertaken as needed.

Coronary Circulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A kibbutz group].

Kibbouts-group: three therapeutic or growth factors together: manual work, community life and group technics (group dynamic, Gestalt, psychodrama, bio-energetic) during two weeks. The work of growing and therapy is becoming more concrete and facilitated by the absence of difference between members and leader who share the work and the community life. Important and rapid changes are frequent: a particular attention is given to the "unmedicalisation" of symptoms (fatigue) and to the "unpsychiatrisation" of conflicts. A sample and authentical life style, together with a high degree of communication, favor the desinhibition of attitudes, the clarification of conflicts and the reenforcement of the personality.

Belgium↗
PubMed2006

Improving compatibility between blood packs and transfusion sets.

Significant variation between manufacturers exists in the force required to insert transfusion set spikes (closure-piercing device) into blood pack ports. This potential source of difficulty can impact directly on patient and staff safety (delayed transfusion, contamination of blood components, wastage, blood spillage and staff injury) and is not predicted or prevented by conformance of these medical devices to relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. A quantitative, objective measurement of insertion force is described together with an assessment of factors affecting compatibility between the port and spike. Several advantageous and disadvantageous design features are identified and are being addressed through ISO Technical Committee 76 Work Group 1.

Blood Transfusion↗