Using Estimates of the Output Productivity Ratio (SDp) to Improve the Accuracy and Managerial Acceptance of Utility Analysis Estimates

This study compared nursing supervisors' percentile estimates (15th, 50th, and 85th) of staff nurse performance made in terms of dollar value and two alternative metrics—output (number of patients cared for) and staffing (number of nurses required to staff a unit). Of the three estimation procedures, nursing supervisors were most confident in the accuracy of their output-based estimates and least confident in the accuracy of their dollar value-based estimates. Estimates of the standard deviation of performance as a percentage of mean performance (SDp) ranged from 19% for the staffing-based estimate to 29% for the output-based estimate. Contrary to expectations, dollar value-based SDp estimates were only minimally correlated with staffing- and output-based SDp estimates. I conclude that allowing supervisors to make percentile estimates in terms of familiar metrics has potential value for improving the accuracy and managerial acceptability of utility analysis.     

农村中医药人才的培养机制探讨

目前农村中医药人员的人员状况和从业素质令人担忧,主要存在人数减少、人员学识低下、临床能力不足等问题。发展中医药事业,重点是加强中医药人才的教育,培养出一批农村中医药人才骨干队伍,从而满足农村基层对中医药卫生医疗保健的需要。     

基于三角互动模型评判人员选拔的有效性

分析了评判人员选拔的有效性存在的误区,指出评判人员选拔的有效性不应局限于评判素质测评的有效性,还应该全面地评判工作分析、人员管理、绩效评估等环节的有效性。提出了评判人员选拔有效性的三角互动模型,并指出这一模型所揭示的提高人员选拔有效性的途径。     

对改善农村医疗卫生人才队伍现状的思考

农村卫生技术人才匮乏给农村卫生事业发展带来了严峻的挑战,导致这一现状的缘由应从多层面进行分析。作为医学领域新思想、新知识、新技术的创造者和发源地以及医学人才培养摇篮的高等医学院校在改变这种格局中担负着重大的使命。探讨如何以客户意识作为教育及办学价值取向,从而为改善农村卫生队伍现状开拓了思路。     

Towards a new way of healing: experienced counsellors’ perceived influences of ch’i-related experiences on counselling practice in Taiwan

This narrative study explored how the experienced counsellors utilised the idea and practice of ch’i during counselling sessions. The data were co-constructed between the researcher and 12 senior counsellors with substantial ch’i-related experiences using a semi-structured in-depth interview method and were analysed employing a narrative analysis approach. The core themes emerging from the study were (a) an embodiment, which included two sub-themes: ch’i as a way of expressing health and illness and ch’i-related exercise lived out as an embodiment, and (b) ch’i as a way of understanding. The findings pointed to ‘a new way of healing’, which involves perceiving, containing and conveying ch’i and requires counsellors to empty themselves, and remain in a state of non-action and wholeness.     

Empirically distinguishing interpersonal styles within romantic relationships: What is helpful or harmful when having a goal for your romantic partner?

IntroductionRelationship research rooted in self-determination theory often focuses on autonomy support. However, rarely is this interpersonal style considered alongside other facets of relational behaviours such as directive support and control.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to distinguish the three styles by providing a tool that can simultaneously assess them.MethodA total sample of 710 French Canadians involved in a romantic relationship was used for factor extraction and test of dimensionality as well as reliability. Predictive validity was tested using multiple linear regressions with six outcomes: well-being, relationship quality, closeness, goal progress, cooperation and conflicts.ResultsResults suggested three distinct interpersonal styles, each of which showing a different pattern of prediction with the outcomes. Overall, autonomy support was associated with positive outcomes, whereas control was associated with negative outcomes. As for directive support, the global pattern was between the two others.ConclusionThe present research offers a scale which simultaneously assesses and distinguishes the autonomy-supportive, directive-supportive and controlling styles in a romantic relationship context using three items each. By examining the associations between these three interpersonal styles and various outcomes four months later, this study sheds light on helpful and harmful behaviours in relation to the goals people have for their romantic partner.     

The Performance of the AUDIT-C and the Examination of Risks Associated With Postdeployment Alcohol Misuse in Air Force Medical Service Personnel

This study assessed the performance of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) in diagnosing a postdeployment alcohol disorder in a cohort of Air Force Medical Services personnel (N = 13,353). The prevalence of alcohol disorders in this population of previously deployed military healthcare personnel was 1.26% based on medical record data. Assessing the AUDIT-C as a screening tool, the following characteristics were found: sensitivity was 23.81%, specificity was 91.48%, positive predictive value was 3.44%, and negative predictive value was 98.95%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 2.80 and 0.83, respectively. Classification accuracy of the AUDIT-C was improved by accounting for officer status and female gender. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.69 for the multivariable model, indicating poor to fair classification accuracy. However, this model was significantly improved over the univariate model. Thus, taking rank and gender into account when conducting screening may improve the utility of the AUDIT-C.     

Multitasking as a Predictor of Pilot Performance: Validity Beyond Serial Single-Task Assessments

Although multitasking has been identified as an important competency for many jobs, standardized preemployment tests of multitasking are uncommon, and their validity beyond separate single-task assessments is unclear. To address this gap, this study compared the validity of a preemployment multitasking assessment (with math, memorization, and monitoring tasks presented concurrently) to an assessment in which the same constituent tasks were assessed separately. Among military pilot applicants, concurrent multitasking predicted both flying and academic performance, whereas serial single-task scores and their combination predicted only academic performance. Larger multitasking decrements (i.e., operationalized as the difference between single-task and multiple-task performance of the same constituent tasks) were associated with poorer flying performance. Results suggest the potential utility of multitasking assessments in selection for military jobs requiring competing, concurrent task demands.     

The Performance of the PHQ-2 and the Examination of Risks Associated With Postdeployment Depression in Air Force Medical Service Personnel

This study assessed the performance of the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) in identifying postdeployment depressive disorders in a cohort of Air Force Medical Services personnel (N = 18,398). The prevalence of depressive disorders in the cohort was 9.00% based on medical record data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.56, indicating very poor classification accuracy. Sensitivity was 15.53%, specificity was 95.57%, positive predictive value was 25.75%, and negative predictive value was 91.97%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.51 and 0.88, respectively. Several risk factors associated with postdeployment depressive disorders were identified that could potentially improve screening in this population.     

无领导小组讨论的多侧面Rasch模型应用*

采用项目反应理论(IRT)的多侧面Rasch模型(MFRM),分析评价中心技术中无领导小组讨论(LGD)的测评结果,探讨被试能力水平、评委评分宽严度、评分内部一致性、维度难度和评定等级等问题,进而讨论各种偏差。通过 MFRM 分析人事测评结果,可深入了解被试能力的真实差异、甑别维度难度、探查测评误差源,从而完善测评试题编制、评估或诊断评委合格性、提高测评维度与测评目的匹配性,为拓展项目反应理论在人事测评中的应用提供独特视角。