[Conceptualizing and Measuring the Quality of Adaptive Learning Support in Kindergarten Using Mathematical Board Games. A Study in Germany and Switzerland]

Good adaptive support by educational professionals is crucial for pre-school children's mathematical learning. Thus there is a need for appropriate instruments to evaluate the quality of the planning, implementation, and reflection process for mathematical learning opportunities in kindergarten. Existing instruments tend to focus on micro-adaptive learning support (MI-ALS), which considers the interaction between the professionals and the children. The quality of macro-adaptive learning support (MA-ALS), the teachers' planning of and reflection on learning opportunities, has yet to be comprehensively investigated. MA-ALS is important for the acquisition of subject-related (mathematical) competence, an aspect of kindergarten education that is gaining in importance in the pre-school curricula of many countries.The quality of mathematical learning support in kindergarten is conceptualized by differentiating between the quality of MA-ALS and MI-ALS. MI-ALS is also divided into general support (group management, emotional warmth) and subject-related support (learning stimulation, subject-specific language). A rating tool for analyzing the quality of mathematical learning support is presented and its psychometric quality is assessed. The tool is then used to analyze the teaching quality in two guided play situations (recorded) and two interviews each with 145 education professionals in Germany and Switzerland. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirms the validity of the distinction between group management, emotional warmth and subject-related support. The relationship between the level of MI-ALS and MA-ALS, the training of the teachers (academic vs non-academic), and the educational context (Germany vs Switzerland) is examined. The results corroborate the importance of including planning and reflection as a dimension of learning support quality.

Beliefs and behaviours of radiographers and other health professionals concerning radiation protection safety in a high-volume Greek public hospital. Development of a new measuring instrument

INTRODUCTION

The use of fluoroscopy-assisted surgical procedures has been increasing recently. The extensive use of fluoroscopy, combined with the lack of knowledge about radiation risks among operating room (OR) personnel (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and radiographers), may lead to misconceptions. The perceptions and beliefs of any health professional concerning radiation protection safety (RPS) may affect their behaviour during surgery, leading to negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to construct a new, original, reliable, and valid instrument to record the beliefs, perceptions, and behaviours of health professionals during surgery, which reflects the established culture of RPS.

METHODS

A questionnaire was designed, consisting of 95 questions grouped into six coherent sections. The study was performed at a Greek public hospital with a high workload in terms of fluoroscopically guided surgical operations.

RESULTS

It was distributed among 136 people, and 132 completed questionnaires were collected (response rate 97%). Exploratory factor analysis was performed separately for each scale studied and Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis was also performed. The reliability of the greater part of the new measurement tool ranged from very good to acceptable.

CONCLUSION

The questionnaire developed in this study is a valid and reliable option for recording health professionals' perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours concerning the RPS culture.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study helps clinical radiographers to understand a possible knowledge gap about RPS and locates the specific fields that the OR personnel misunderstand. It also can support and establish local learning organisations with regular targeted staff training for health professionals, thereby leading to a generally improved RPS culture.

Measuring stages of health in all policies on a local level: the applicability of a maturity model

OBJECTIVES

Many local governments are trying to establish health in all polices (HiAP), but no sensitive tool is available to measure HiAP growth processes. This study explores the applicability of a general maturity model to classify stages of HiAP and to characterize its manifestations and conditions.

METHODS

Based on other maturity models we have developed a maturity model for HiAP (MM-HiAP), which consists of six maturity levels and 14 corresponding key characteristics. This model was applied to assess HiAP growth processes within 16 municipalities in the Netherlands. We used municipal policies on health inequalities as a case. Empirical data was gathered based on document analysis, a questionnaire and interviews.

RESULTS

Using this model we were able to classify HiAP growth processes by several characteristics, such as the recognition of the importance of HiAP (Stage I; four municipalities), HiAP described in policy documents and collaboration with sectors present (Stage II; seven municipalities), concrete collaboration agreements and structural consultations forms (Stage III; four municipalities), and a broad, shared vision on HiAP (Stage IV; two municipalities). Examples of necessary conditions were sufficient support and resources.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that it is possible to apply a maturity model to classify stages of HiAP in municipalities. Use of the MM-HiAP as a formal measuring instrument depends on further operationalization and validation.