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Chan JL, Tsay S, Sambara S, Welch SB. Understanding the Use of Mobility Data in Disasters: Exploratory Qualitative Study of COVID-19 User Feedback. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e52257. [PMID: 39088256 PMCID: PMC11327621 DOI: 10.2196/52257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human mobility data have been used as a potential novel data source to guide policies and response planning during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The COVID-19 Mobility Data Network (CMDN) facilitated the use of human mobility data around the world. Both researchers and policy makers assumed that mobility data would provide insights to help policy makers and response planners. However, evidence that human mobility data were operationally useful and provided added value for public health response planners remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE This exploratory study focuses on advancing the understanding of the use of human mobility data during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study explored how researchers and practitioners around the world used these data in response planning and policy making, focusing on processing data and human factors enabling or hindering use of the data. METHODS Our project was based on phenomenology and used an inductive approach to thematic analysis. Transcripts were open-coded to create the codebook that was then applied by 2 team members who blind-coded all transcripts. Consensus coding was used for coding discrepancies. RESULTS Interviews were conducted with 45 individuals during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although some teams used mobility data for response planning, few were able to describe their uses in policy making, and there were no standardized ways that teams used mobility data. Mobility data played a larger role in providing situational awareness for government partners, helping to understand where people were moving in relation to the spread of COVID-19 variants and reactions to stay-at-home orders. Interviewees who felt they were more successful using mobility data often cited an individual who was able to answer general questions about mobility data; provide interactive feedback on results; and enable a 2-way communication exchange about data, meaning, value, and potential use. CONCLUSIONS Human mobility data were used as a novel data source in the COVID-19 pandemic by a network of academic researchers and practitioners using privacy-preserving and anonymized mobility data. This study reflects the processes in analyzing and communicating human mobility data, as well as how these data were used in response planning and how the data were intended for use in policy making. The study reveals several valuable use cases. Ultimately, the role of a data translator was crucial in understanding the complexities of this novel data source. With this role, teams were able to adapt workflows, visualizations, and reports to align with end users and decision makers while communicating this information meaningfully to address the goals of responders and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Lisa Chan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Sarah Tsay
- Department of Emergency Management, University of San Diego Health, San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - Sarah B Welch
- Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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Ding Y, Pulford J, Bates I. Practical actions for fostering cross-disciplinary global health research: lessons from a narrative literature review. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 5:bmjgh-2020-002293. [PMID: 32354784 PMCID: PMC7213812 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Global health research involves disciplines within and beyond the health sciences. A cross-disciplinary collaborative research approach enables an interchange of knowledge and experience and stimulates innovative responses to complex health challenges. However, there is little robust evidence to guide the design and implementation of cross-disciplinary research in global health, hampering effective collective action. This review synthesised evidence on practical actions for fostering cross-disciplinary research to provide guidance on the design and implementation of research in global health. Methods We searched five electronic databases using key words. The search included original research and research notes articles in English. We used a framework adapted from the socio-ecological model and thematic synthesis for data analysis. Results Thirty-six original research and 27 research notes articles were included in the review. These were predominantly from high-income countries and indicated that practical actions on fostering cross-disciplinary research are closely linked to leadership and teamwork which should be planned and implemented at research team and institutional levels. The publications also indicated that individual qualities such as being receptive to new ideas and funders’ power and influence have practical implications for conducting cross-disciplinary research. Practical actions that individuals, research team leaders, academic institutions and funders can undertake to foster cross-disciplinary research were identified. Conclusion Our review found evidence from high-income countries, not low-and-middle-income countries, about practices that can improve cross-disciplinary research in global health. Critical knowledge gaps exist around how leadership and teamwork processes can better integrate expertise from different disciplines to make cross-disciplinary research more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ding
- Centre for Capacity Research, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Justin Pulford
- Centre for Capacity Research, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Imelda Bates
- Centre for Capacity Research, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Raine R, Wallace I, Nic a’ Bháird C, Xanthopoulou P, Lanceley A, Clarke A, Prentice A, Ardron D, Harris M, Gibbs JSR, Ferlie E, King M, Blazeby JM, Michie S, Livingston G, Barber J. Improving the effectiveness of multidisciplinary team meetings for patients with chronic diseases: a prospective observational study. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2014. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMultidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings have been endorsed by the Department of Health as the core model for managing chronic diseases. However, the evidence for their effectiveness is mixed and the degree to which they have been absorbed into clinical practice varies widely across conditions and settings. We aimed to identify the key characteristics of chronic disease MDT meetings that are associated with decision implementation, a measure of effectiveness, and to derive a set of feasible modifications to MDT meetings to improve decision-making.MethodsWe undertook a mixed-methods prospective observational study of 12 MDTs in the London and North Thames area, covering cancer, heart failure, mental health and memory clinic teams. Data were collected by observation of 370 MDT meetings, completion of the Team Climate Inventory (TCI) by 161 MDT members, interviews with 53 MDT members and 20 patients, and review of 2654 patients’ medical records. We examined the influence of patient-related factors (disease, age, sex, deprivation indicator, whether or not their preferences and other clinical/health behaviours were mentioned) and MDT features (team climate and skill mix) on the implementation of MDT treatment plans. Interview and observation data were thematically analysed and integrated to explore possible explanations for the quantitative findings, and to identify areas of diverse beliefs and practice across MDT meetings. Based on these data, we used a modified formal consensus technique involving expert stakeholders to derive a set of indications of good practice for effective MDT meetings.ResultsThe adjusted odds of implementation were reduced by 25% for each additional professional group represented [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66 to 0.87], though there was some evidence of a differential effect by type of disease. Implementation was more likely in MDTs with clear goals and processes and a good team climate (adjusted odds of implementation increased by 7%; 95% CI 1% to 13% for a 0.1-unit increase in TCI score). Implementation varied by disease category (with the lowest adjusted odds of implementation in mental health teams) and by patient deprivation (adjusted odds of implementation for patients in the most compared with least deprived areas were 0.60, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.91). We ascertained 16 key themes within five domains where there was substantial diversity in beliefs and practices across MDT meetings. These related to the purpose, structure, processes and content of MDT meetings, as well as to the role of the patient. We identified 68 potential recommendations for improving the effectiveness of MDT meetings. Of these, 21 engendered both strong agreement (median ≥ 7) and low variation in the extent of agreement (mean absolute deviation from the median of < 1.11) among the expert consensus panel. These related to the purpose of the meetings (e.g. that agreeing treatment plans should take precedence over other objectives); meeting processes (e.g. that MDT decision implementation should be audited annually); content of the discussion (e.g. that information on comorbidities and past medical history should be routinely available); and the role of the patient (e.g. concerning the most appropriate time to discuss treatment options). Panellists from all specialties agreed that these recommendations were both desirable and feasible. We were unable to achieve consensus for 17 statements. In part, this was a result of disease-specific differences including the need to be prescriptive about MDT membership, with local flexibility deemed appropriate for heart failure and uniformity supported for cancer. In other cases, our data suggest that some processes (e.g. discussion of unrelated research topics) should be locally agreed, depending on the preferences of individual teams.ConclusionsSubstantial diversity exists in the purpose, structure, processes and content of MDT meetings. Greater multidisciplinarity is not necessarily associated with more effective decision-making and MDT decisions (as measured by decision implementation). Decisions were less likely to be implemented for patients living in more deprived areas. We identified 21 indications of good practice for improving the effectiveness of MDT meetings, which expert stakeholders from a range of chronic disease specialties agree are both desirable and feasible. These are important because MDT meetings are resource-intensive and they should deliver value to the NHS and patients. Priorities for future work include research to examine whether or not the 21 indications of good practice identified in this study will lead to better decision-making; for example, incorporating the indications into a modified MDT and experimentally evaluating its effectiveness in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Other areas for further research include exploring the value of multidisciplinarity in MDT meetings and the reasons for low implementation in community mental health teams. There is also scope to examine the underlying determinants of the inequalities demonstrated in this study, for example by exploring patient preferences in more depth. Finally, future work could examine the association between MDT decision implementation and improvements in patient outcomes.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind Raine
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Isla Wallace
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Penny Xanthopoulou
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Lanceley
- University College London Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alex Clarke
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - David Ardron
- North Trent Cancer Research Network, Consumer Research Panel, South Yorkshire Comprehensive Local Research Network, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - J Simon R Gibbs
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ewan Ferlie
- Department of Management, School of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s College, London, UK
| | - Michael King
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane M Blazeby
- School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol University, Bristol, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julie Barber
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK
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Gordon DR, Ames GM, Yen IH, Gillen M, Aust B, Rugulies R, Frank JW, Blanc PD. Integrating Qualitative Research into Occupational Health: A Case Study Among Hospital Workers. J Occup Environ Med 2005; 47:399-409. [PMID: 15824632 DOI: 10.1097/01.jom.0000158702.67246.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to better use qualitative approaches in occupational health research and integrate them with quantitative methods. METHODS We systematically reviewed, selected, and adapted qualitative research methods as part of a multisite study of the predictors and outcomes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among hospital workers in two large urban tertiary hospitals. RESULTS The methods selected included participant observation; informal, open-ended, and semistructured interviews with individuals or small groups; and archival study. The nature of the work and social life of the hospitals and the foci of the study all favored using more participant observation methods in the case study than initially anticipated. CONCLUSIONS Exploiting the full methodological spectrum of qualitative methods in occupational health is increasingly relevant. Although labor-intensive, these approaches may increase the yield of established quantitative approaches otherwise used in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah R Gordon
- Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Hall WA, Long B, Bermbach N, Jordan S, Patterson K. Qualitative teamwork issues and strategies: coordination through mutual adjustment. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2005; 15:394-410. [PMID: 15761107 DOI: 10.1177/1049732304272015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Multidisciplinary research teams that include faculty, students, and volunteers can be challenging and enriching for all participants. Although such teams are becoming commonplace, minimal guidance is available about strategies to enhance team effectiveness. In this article, the authors highlight strategies to guide qualitative teamwork through coordination of team members and tasks based on mutual adjustment. Using a grounded theory exemplar, they focus on issues of (a) building the team, (b) developing reflexivity and theoretical sensitivity, (c) tackling analytic and methodological procedures, and (d) developing dissemination guidelines. Sharing information, articulating project goals and elements, acknowledging variation in individual goals, and engaging in reciprocity and respectful collaboration are key elements of mutual adjustment. The authors summarize conclusions about the costs and benefits of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy A Hall
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Rugulies R, Braff J, Frank JW, Aust B, Gillen M, Yen IH, Bhatia R, Ames G, Gordon DR, Janowitz I, Oman D, Jacobs BP, Blanc P. The psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal disorders: design of a comprehensive interviewer-administered questionnaire. Am J Ind Med 2004; 45:428-39. [PMID: 15095425 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial working conditions are likely to contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), but a lack of standardized measurement tools reflects both the theoretical and methodological limitations of current research. METHODS An interdisciplinary team including biomedical, behavioral, and social science researchers used an iterative process to adapt existing instruments for an interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing psychosocial workplace exposure related to musculoskeletal disorders. RESULTS The resulting questionnaire included measures of psychosocial workplace factors based on two theoretical models (the demand-control-support and the effort-reward imbalance models), supplemented by the additional constructs of "emotional demands," and "experiences of discrimination." Other psychosocial and physical measures selected for questionnaire inclusion address physical workload, sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, social relations and life events, health behaviors, and physical and psychological health. CONCLUSION Using an interdisciplinary approach facilitated the development of a comprehensive questionnaire inclusive of key measures of psychosocial factors that may play a role in the complex mechanisms leading to WRMSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiner Rugulies
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
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Abstract
In the social and behavioral sciences there is a strong correlation alleged between alcohol abuse and ethnonational origins. Changes in drinking patterns and problem drinking among immigrants to the United States are often mistakenly attributed to acculturation, just as the etiology of alcohol abuse and alcoholism is often erroneously traced to the 'ethnic origins' of these men and women. In addition, and for the same reasons, researchers and practitioners may have thus unwittingly influenced the perceptions and understandings of this population with respect to the relationship between particular ethnic groups and alcohol consumption. This paper summarizes how the term acculturation has been employed recently in alcohol studies. Preliminary findings are reported from ethnographic fieldwork with Latin America-born men in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Gutmann
- Department of Anthropology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Barry CA, Britten N, Barber N, Bradley C, Stevenson F. Using reflexivity to optimize teamwork in qualitative research. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 1999; 9:26-44. [PMID: 10558357 DOI: 10.1177/104973299129121677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 374] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Reflexivity is often described as an individual activity. The authors propose that reflexivity employed as a team activity, through the sharing of reflexive writing (accounts of personal agendas, hidden assumptions, and theoretical definitions) and group discussions about arising issues, can improve the productivity and functioning of qualitative teams and the rigor and quality of the research. The authors review the literature on teamwork, highlighting benefits and pitfalls, and define and discuss the role for reflexivity. They describe their own team and detail how they work together on a project investigating doctor-patient communication about prescribing. The authors present two reflexive tools they have used and show through examples how they have influenced the effectiveness of their team in terms of process, quality, and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Ragland
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Trostle
- Five College Medical Anthropology Program, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
- Institute of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Sommerfeld
- Five College Medical Anthropology Program, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
- Institute of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Abstract
This article investigates the relationship between work team attitudes, drinking norms, and workplace drinking in a large assembly line factory in the Midwest. Respondents were asked whether significant persons at work (friends, team members, and supervisors) would approve or disapprove if they engaged in three types of work-related drinking (before work, at work, and at work to intoxication). Respondents were also asked whether they agreed or disagreed with several positive and negative statements about work teams–a new form of assembly line production introduced in the 1980s. Several items probing relations between union employees and supervisors were also included. Separate regression analyses were used to predict workplace drinking norms and workplace drinking. Using exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical regression, positive attitudes toward work teams significantly predicted less permissive drinking norms even when overall drinking and various background variables were controlled. In a second regression analysis, drinking norms significantly predicted workplace drinking. Additionally, it was revealed in the analysis that hourly African-Americans as a group were significantly more likely to have positive team attitudes and less permissive drinking norms than whites. The role of team-based work system in the primary prevention of workplace alcohol misuse is discussed.
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Abstract
Using direct observations and extensive field interviewing over a 4-year period, this paper examines practices and beliefs of shop stewards in their effects on drinking patterns and consequences. It also includes response frequencies from a random sample survey questionnaire (n = 984) that are consistent with the qualitative analysis of steward behavior. Several themes are extracted which position steward handling of alcohol-related cases as intervening between disciplinary measures of supervisors and consequences of work-related drinking of union employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- W P Delaney
- Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA 94704
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