Karsten Jensen

Impact of human factors on clinical protocol performance: a proposed assessment framework and case examples

Background: Hyperglycemia is prevalent in critical care and tight control can save lives. Current ad-hoc clinical protocols require significant clinical effort and can often produce highly variable results. Thus, tight control remains elusive as there is not enough understanding of the relationship between control performance and protocol design, particularly with regard to how a given protocol is implemented. Methods: This article examines the role of human factors and how individuals relate to technological protocols in clinical settings. The study consists of an overall brief review that is used to create a first graphical representation of the impact of human factors in clinical medical protocol implementations. This initial framework is examined in the context of two similar, but different, case studies—the specialized relative insulin and nutrition tables glycemic control protocol and the TREAT system for antibiotic selection. Results: A graphical framework relating the human factors impact on medical protocol implementation is created. This framework describes the primary impacts on performance as resulting from clinical burden and protocol transparency. Their primary effect is on compliance with the protocol, which directly affects performance and outcome, particularly in long-term studies versus short pilot studies. Summary: Compliance is a key element in obtaining the best clinical outcome that a given protocol can provide. The issues that most affect compliance are quite often unrelated to the patient or treatment, but are a function of the protocol design and its ability to integrate (by its design) into a given clinical setting. A framework for examining these issues in design and in post-hoc assessment is therefore proposed and examined in two brief case studies.

The predictive value of the foot posture index on dynamic function

Keenan et al [1] identified the six-item version of the Foot Posture Index (FPI) as a valid, simple and clinically useful tool. The model combines measures of the standing foot posture in multiple planes and anatomical segments. It provides an alternative to existing static clinical measures when dynamic measures are not feasible. Redmond et al. [2] found the model able to predict 41% of the variation in the complex rotation of the ankle joint, representing inversion/eversion, during midstance of walking. To our knowledge no studies have been published on the relationship between the FPI and the movement of the midfoot during walking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of FPI classification as a predictor for dynamic midfoot kinematics during walking.

GPS Measurement of Inaccessible Detail Points

Abstract It is not possible directly to measure all detail points with GPS. The article describes three ways of determining inaccessible points. The methods are based on a number of reference points surveyed with GPS and possible supplementary tape measurements. The article describes the precision of the methods and gives examples of expedient and inexpedient uses of the methods.

Generic causal probabilistic networks: A solution to a problem of transferability in medical decision support

Causal probabilistic networks provide a natural framework for representation of medical knowledge, allowing clinical experts to encode assumptions about causal dependencies between stochastic variables. Application in medical decision support has produced promising results. However, model features and parameters may vary geo- or demographically. Therefore methods are needed that allow for easy adjustment of the model to a change in conditions. We present a method to represent causal probabilistic networks generically that maximizes the transferability of a models relevance and completeness, when moved from one environment to another, and illustrate application of the method with an example from a medical decision support system.

Analysis of Traditional Historical Clothing: Automated Production of a Two-Dimensional Pattern

A recurrent problem for scholars who investigate traditional and historical clothing is the measuring of items of clothing and subsequent pattern construction. The challenge is to produce exact data without damaging the item. The main focus of this paper is to present a new procedure for establishing a three-dimensional model and the corresponding two-dimensional pattern for items of skin clothing that are not flat. The new method is non-destructive, and also accurate and fast. Furthermore, this paper presents an overview of the more traditional methods of pattern documentation and measurement. Their weaknesses and strengths are also assessed.

ANALYSIS OF TRADITIONAL HISTORICAL CLOTHING: AUTOMATED PRODUCTION OF A TWO-DIMENSIONAL PATTERN*: Analysis of traditional historical clothing

A recurrent problem for scholars who investigate traditional and historical clothing is the measuring of items of clothing and subsequent pattern construction. The challenge is to produce exact data without damaging the item. The main focus of this paper is to present a new procedure for establishing a three-dimensional model and the corresponding two-dimensional pattern for items of skin clothing that are not flat. The new method is non-destructive, and also accurate and fast. Furthermore, this paper presents an overview of the more traditional methods of pattern documentation and measurement. Their weaknesses and strengths are also assessed.

Analysis of Traditional Historical Clothing

A recurrent problem for scholars who investigate traditional and historical clothing is the measuring of items of clothing and subsequent pattern construction. The challenge is to produce exact data without damaging the item. The main focus of this paper is to present a new procedure for establishing a three-dimensional model and the corresponding two-dimensional pattern for items of skin clothing that are not flat. The new method is non-destructive, and also accurate and fast. Furthermore, this paper presents an overview of the more traditional methods of pattern documentation and measurement. Their weaknesses and strengths are also assessed.