An induction programme for Bologna first-year bachelor’s degree students in Spain

Introduction. The current study describes the planning process and aims of the university reforms in Spain and suggests an innovative proposal, namely the design and evaluation of a week-long induction programme for first-year bachelor‟s degree students at the University of Lleida (Spain), organised within the European higher education framework. The purpose of this induction programme is to help new students adapt to university life. Method. A total of 102 students and ten lecturers were involved in the study. These participants responded questionnaires and interviews. We contrasted all the results in order to obtain some results that were useful to evaluate the induction programmee which the University introduced in the first four degrees. Results. Findings of the study revealed that participants gave very positive feedback regarding the programme, and the results also highlighted areas which could be improved. Conclusion. The new proposals clearly require a higher level of staff participation to make them work, highlighting the need for appropriate training of university staff and improving coordination with appropriate systems.

Is blood still thicker than water? A life-course perspective on the transformation of family and friends' roles in personal networks

This thesis addresses the issue of the moving boundaries between family and friends' roles in personal networks, adopting a life-course perspective and using Switzerland as a case study. In a period of major changes in personal life happening in contemporary Western societies, understanding the organization of personal networks intertwined with the unfolding of individual life courses is of prime importance in facing new challenges with regard to social integration. The data stem from a representative national survey carried out in 2011 named Family tiMes, including 803 individuals born either in 1950-1955 or in 1970-1975. An innovative research design was adopted, combing cross-sectional ego-centered network data and retrospective longitudinal life-course data. The results show continuing boundaries between family and friends' roles and that family keeps a prominent role in personal networks despite the notable importance of friendship ties. One relationship stands out above all, that with the partner, followed quite a few steps behind by those with children. Regarding life courses, de-standardization tendencies were found in family formation and also a persistent gendering of occupational trajectories. Two kinds of life trajectories are particularly intertwined with personal networks, co-residence and partnership trajectories, both related to the unfolding of family life. In particular, transition to parenthood functions as a turning point in individuals' lives, deeply transforming their sociability. Finally, a twofold pluralization process was identified, affecting simultaneously the organization of personal networks and the unfolding of individual life courses. This thesis contributes to the literature on the sociology of family and personal life, and to fruitful interlinkage between the network approach and the life-course perspective.

Dissatisfaction of hospital patients, their relatives, and friends: Analysis of accounts collected in a complaints center.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze complaints of patients, their relatives, and friends who consulted a complaints center based (Espace Patients & Proches (EPP)) in a hospital so as to better understand the reasons that motivated them and their underlying expectations. METHODS: This study was based on the analysis of written accounts of the 253 situations that occurred during the first year of operation of the EPP. The accounts were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive, thematic analytic approach. RESULTS: We identified 372 different types of complaints and 28 main analytic themes. Five clustered themes emerged from the analysis of the interconnections among the core themes: (1) interpersonal relationship (N=160-the number of accounts including a complaint related to this general theme); (2) technical aspects of care (N=106); (3) health-care institution (N=69); (4) billing and insurance; (5) access to information (N=13). CONCLUSION: The main reason for patients, their relatives, and friends going to EPP was related to the quality of the interpersonal relationship with health-care professionals. Such complaints were markedly more frequent than those concerning technical aspects of care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These results raise important questions concerning changing patient expectations as well as how hospitals integrate complaints into the process of quality health care.

Age and adverse drug reactions from psychopharmacological treatment: data from the AMSP drug surveillance programme in Switzerland.

QUESTION UNDER STUDY: The frequency of severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from psychotropic drugs was investigated in hospitalised psychiatric patients in relation to their age. Specifically, the incidence of ADRs in patients up to 60 years was compared to that of patients older than 60 years. METHODS: Prescription rates of psychotropic drugs and reports of severe ADRs were collected in psychiatric hospitals in Switzerland between 2001 and 2010. The data stem from the drug surveillance programme AMSP. RESULTS: A total of 699 patients exhibited severe ADRs: 517 out of 28,282 patients up to 60 years (1.8%); 182 out of 11,446 elderly patients (1.6%, ns). Logistic regression analyses showed a significantly negative relationship between the incidence of ADRs and patients' age in general and in particular for weight gain, extrapyramidal motor system (EPMS) symptoms, increased liver enzymes and galactorrhoea. A significantly negative relationship was observed for age and the dosages of olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, valproic acid and lamotrigine. When comparing age groups, frequency of ADRs was lower in general for antipsychotic drugs and anticonvulsants, in particular for valproic acid in the elderly. Weight gain was found to be lower in the elderly for antipsychotic drugs, in particular for olanzapine. For the group of mood-stabilising anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, lamotrigine and valproic acid) the elderly exhibited a lower incidence of reported allergic skin reactions. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that for psychiatric inpatients the incidence of common severe ADRs (e.g., weight gain or EPMS symptoms) arising from psychotropic medication decreases with the age of patients.

Programme cantonal diabète dans le canton de Vaud indicateurs pour le suivi et le baromètre : rapport final

Le Programme cantonal Diabète souhaite collecter des indicateurs afin d'objectiver son suivi et produire un Baromètre Diabète Vaud qui serait publié et distribué périodiquement à un public large. Ce rapport présente les indicateurs suggérés par l'IUMSP, mandaté afin d'établir une liste raisonnée d'indicateurs sur le diabète pour le canton de Vaud. La sélection d'indicateurs s'est faite d'après plusieurs critères, parmi lesquels la disponibilité des indicateurs actuelle et à long terme, ainsi que leur pertinence avérée par la littérature. Ce rapport décrit les résultats pour les indicateurs sélectionnés, ainsi que les informations nécessaires à leur compréhension : source, fréquence de mise à disposition, méthode de calcul, limites, références éventuelles. Parmi les indicateurs décrits dans ce rapport, certains sont proposés comme spécialement pertinents à inclure dans le futur Baromètre Diabète Vaud. Aussi, une suggestion de présentation de ces indicateurs (fiches descriptives) est articulée pour ce dernier.

European Study Programme for Advanced Networking Technologies

In this article authors present main objectives and progress of the EU ERASMUS CD project: European Study Programme for Advanced Networking Technologies (ESPANT)

Evaluation de la phase d'installation du programme cantonal de développement des soins palliatifs : activités des équipes mobiles de soins palliatifs (EMSP), analyse annuelle du 1er janvier au 31 décembre 2005

[Table des matières] Introduction - Méthode - Résultats : 1. Caractéristiques générales des demandes adressées aux EMSP, 2. Profil des patients concernés par les demandes, 3. Origine de la demande, 4. Nature des demandes adressées aux EMSP, 5. Activités des EMSP en lien avec les demandes - Discussion - Conclusion - Annexes

Programme cantonal vaudois de dépistage du cancer colorectal: information et décision partagée [Shared decision making in the colorectal cancer screening program in the canton of Vaud].

Le programme cantonal vaudois de dépistage du cancer colorectal vise à faciliter ce dépistage pour la population de 50 à 69 ans. Les deux modalités retenues sont la recherche immunologique de sang dans les selles (FIT) et la coloscopie. La décision de réaliser un test de dépistage et la modalité de dépistage s'appuient sur une consultation individuelle avec un médecin de famille. L'assurance de base prend en charge le remboursement. Le programme vaudois permet l'exemption de la franchise pour la consultation médicale d'information et les deux modalités de dépistage, ainsi que pour la coloscopie de confirmation en cas de test FIT positif. La quote-part de 10 % reste à charge des participants. Des outils de communication ont été développés pour faciliter un entretien de décision partagée dans le cadre d'une consultation médicale. The colorectal cancer screening program of the canton of Vaud aims to facilitate screening for this cancer for the population aged 50 to 69 years old. The two screening modalities offered are fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and colonoscopy. The decision to undergo screening and the screening modality is based on an individual medical encounter with a primary care physician. Both screening modalities are reimbursed through basic health coverage in Switzerland. The participation to the screening program allows the exemption of the deductible for the medical encounter and the chosen screening modality. A copay of 10% is maintained for all costs. Communication tools were developed on the basis of recommendations in the literature to facilitate shared decision-making in a medical encounter.