Posts Tagged ‘surveillance’
Surveillance Systems Are Successful In Tracking Swine Flu
Concerns about the effectiveness of flu surveillance systems during the early phase of the swine flu pandemic were misplaced, according to research published on bmj.com today. An analysis of samples from members of the public who called NHS Direct with cold or flu-like symptoms during June 2009 closely matched local transmission rates in six regions of England.
Tighter Surveillance Of Swine Flu In Pigs Needed Worldwide Says CDC
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that there is a “global need for more systemic surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs”, during a press briefing where they explained the findings of a recent study on the genetic and antigenetic properties of the new 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus.
Rasch scaling procedures for informing development of a valid Fetal Surveillance Education Program multiple-choice assessment
Background:It is widely recognised that deficiencies in fetal surveillance practice continue to contribute significantly to the burden of adverse outcomes. This has prompted the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and an associated Fetal Surveillance Education Program to deliver the associated learning. This article describes initial steps in the validation of a corresponding multiple-choice assessment of the relevant educational outcomes through a combination of item response modelling and expert judgement.Methods:The Rasch item response model was employed for item and test analysis and to empirically derive the substantive interpretation of the assessment variable. This interpretation was then compared to the hierarchy of competencies specified a priori by a team of eight subject-matter experts. Classical Test Theory analyses were also conducted.Results:A high level of agreement between the hypothesised and derived variable provided evidence of construct validity. Item and test indices from Rasch analysis and Classical Test Theory analysis suggested that the current test form was of moderate quality. However, the analyses made clear the required steps for establishing a valid assessment of sufficient psychometric quality. These steps included: increasing the number of items from 40 to 50 in the first instance, reviewing ineffective items, targeting new items to specific content and difficulty gaps, and formalising the assessment blueprint in light of empirical information relating item structure to item difficulty.Conclusions:The application of the Rasch model for criterion-referenced assessment validation with an expert stakeholder group is herein described. Recommendations for subsequent item and test construction are also outlined in this article.
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