In the aftermath of medical error : Caring for patients, family, and the healthcare workers involved

Medical errors, in particular those resulting in harm, pose a serious situation for patients ("first victims") and the healthcare workers involved ("second victims") and can have long-lasting and distressing consequences. To prevent a second traumatization, appropriate and empathic interaction with all persons involved is essential besides error analysis. Patients share a nearly universal, broad preference for a complete disclosure of incidents, regardless of age, gender, or education. This includes the personal, timely and unambiguous disclosure of the adverse event, information relating to the event, its causes and consequences, and an apology and sincere expression of regret. While the majority of healthcare professionals generally support and honest and open disclosure of adverse events, they also face various barriers which impede the disclosure (e.g., fear of legal consequences). Despite its essential importance, disclosure of adverse events in practice occurs in ways that are rarely acceptable to patients and their families. The staff involved often experiences acute distress and an intense emotional response to the event, which may become chronic and increase the risk of depression, burnout and post-traumatic stress disorders. Communication with peers is vital for people to be able to cope constructively and protectively with harmful errors. Survey studies among healthcare workers show, however, that they often do not receive sufficient individual and institutional support. Healthcare organizations should prepare for medical errors and harmful events and implement a communication plan and a support system that covers the requirements and different needs of patients and the staff involved.

Quality assurance of simulated patient feedback in communication training for fourth-year medical students

Introduction In our program, simulated patients (SPs) give feedback to medical students in the course of communication skills training. To ensure effective training, quality control of the SPs’ feedback should be implemented. At other institutions, medical students evaluate the SPs’ feedback for quality control (Bouter et al., 2012). Thinking about implementing quality control for SPs’ feedback in our program, we wondered whether the evaluation by students would result in the same scores as evaluation by experts. Methods Consultations simulated by 4th-year medical students with SPs were video taped including the SP’s feedback to the students (n=85). At the end of the training sessions students rated the SPs’ performance using a rating instrument called Bernese Assessment for Role-play and Feedback (BARF) containing 11 items concerning feedback quality. Additionally the videos were evaluated by 3 trained experts using the BARF. Results The experts showed a high interrater agreement when rating identical feedbacks (ICCunjust=0.953). Comparing the rating of students and experts, high agreement was found with regard to the following items: 1. The SP invited the student to reflect on the consultation first, Amin (= minimal agreement) 97% 2. The SP asked the student what he/she liked about the consultation, Amin = 88%. 3. The SP started with positive feedback, Amin = 91%. 4. The SP was comparing the student with other students, Amin = 92%. In contrast the following items showed differences between the rating of experts and students: 1. The SP used precise situations for feedback, Amax (=maximal agreement) 55%, Students rated 67 of SPs’ feedbacks to be perfect with regard to this item (highest rating on a 5 point Likert scale), while only 29 feedbacks were rated this way by the experts. 2. The SP gave precise suggestions for improvement, Amax 75%, 62 of SPs’ feedbacks obtained the highest rating from students, while only 44 of SPs’ feedbacks achieved the highest rating in the view of the experts. 3. The SP speaks about his/her role in the third person, Amax 60%. Students rated 77 feedbacks with the highest score, while experts judged only 43 feedbacks this way. Conclusion Although evaluation by the students was in agreement with that of experts concerning some items, students rated the SPs’ feedback more often with the optimal score than experts did. Moreover it seems difficult for students to notice when SPs talk about the role in the first instead of the third person. Since precision and talking about the role in the third person are important quality criteria of feedback, this result should be taken into account when thinking about students’ evaluation of SPs’ feedback for quality control. Bouter, S., E. van Weel-Baumgarten, and S. Bolhuis. 2012. Construction and Validation of the Nijmegen Evaluation of the Simulated Patient (NESP): Assessing Simulated Patients’ Ability to Role-Play and Provide Feedback to Students. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges

CONMICOM – conflict mitigation in communities: LforS learning and simulation game

Three extended families live around a lake. One family are rice farmers, the second family are vegetable farmers, and the third are a family of livestock herders. All of them depend on the use of lake water for their production, and all of them need large quantities of water. All are dependent on the use of the lake water to secure their livelihood. In the game, the families are represented by their councils of elders. Each of the councils has to find means and ways to increase production in order to keep up with the growth of its family and their demands. This puts more and more pressure on the water resources, increasing the risk of overuse. Conflicts over water are about to emerge between the families. Each council of elders must try to pursue its families interests, while at the same time preventing excessive pressure on the water resources. Once a council of elders is no longer able to meet the needs of its family, it is excluded from the game. Will the parties cooperate or compete? To face the challenge of balancing economic well-being, sustainable resource management, and individual and collective interests, the three parties have a set of options for action at hand. These include power play to safeguard their own interests, communication and cooperation to negotiate with neighbours, and searching for alternatives to reduce pressure on existing water resources. During the game the players can experience how tensions may arise, increase and finally escalate. They realise what impact power play has and how alliances form, and the importance of trust-building measures, consensus and cooperation. From the insights gained, important conflict prevention and mitigation measures are derived in a debriefing session. The game is facilitated by a moderator, and lasts for 3-4 hours. Aim of the game: Each family pursues the objective of serving its own interests and securing its position through appropriate strategies and skilful negotiation, while at the same time optimising use of the water resources in a way that prevents their degradation. The end of the game is open. While the game may end by one or two families dropping out because they can no longer secure their subsistence, it is also possible that the three families succeed in creating a situation that allows them to meet their own needs as well as the requirements for sustainable water use in the long term. Learning objectives The game demonstrates how tension builds up, increases, and finally escalates; it shows how power positions work and alliances are formed; and it enables the players to experience the great significance of mutual agreement and cooperation. During the game and particularly during the debriefing and evaluation session it is important to link experiences made during the game to the players’ real-life experiences, and to discuss these links in the group. The resulting insights will provide a basis for deducing important conflict prevention and transformation measures.

Internet as a medium to seek partners among men who have sex with men

While there are reports of developing sexual relationships on the Internet (I) among MSM, there are few reports that have examined the process of developing sexual relationships on the I and comparing to that in real life (IRL). This study examines the process to provide insight into how MSM make decisions about courtship, engages in negotiations for sex, and choose sexual partners and examines the comparative sexual risks taken between I vs. IRL negotiation. This self-selected convenience sample at a national level (n=1001) of MSM recruited through the I, systematically explored the different steps, the process of courtship in a flow chart of I and IRL dating to portray the process of filtering, courtship and/or negotiation for sex. Risk behaviors in both environments are presented along with interactions that create predictable sequences or "scripts". These sequences constitute 'filtering' and 'sexual positioning'. Differences between I & IRL suggest discussion of HIV/STD status to have consistent differences for all variables except 'unprotected sex' meaning no condom use. There was more communication on the I in regards to self revealing information or variables relating to reducing risks which enable 'filtering' (including serosorting). Data indicate more steps in the I process, providing more complex, multiple steps to filter and position with regard not only to HIV/STD risk but also to negotiate position for complementary sexual interest. The study established a pattern of MSM's courtships or negotiation for sex and a pattern of acquisition, and more I negotiation. Data suggest negotiation opportunities which could lend to intervention to advise people how to negotiate safely. ^ Previous studies have reviewed MSM and drug use. This is a study to review the process of drug use associated with sexual behavior regarding the Internet (I) and in real life (IRL) using a self-selected, convenience sample of MSM (n=1001) recruited nation-wide through the Internet. Data on MSM and drugs illustrate the Internet being used as a tool to filter for drug use among MSM. MSM's drug use in both environments highlights the use of sexual performance drugs with an IRL pursuit of intimacy or negotiation for sex. IRL encounters were more likely to involve drug use (both recreational and sexual performance-enhancing) than Internet encounters. This may be due to more IRL meetings occurring at bars, clubs or parties where drug use is a norm. Compared with IRL, the Internet may provide a venue for persons who do not want to use drugs to select partners with similar attitudes. This suggests that filtering may be occurring as part of the internet negotiation. Data indicated that IRL persons get drunk/high before having sex in past 60 days significantly more often than Internet participants. Age did not alter the pattern of results. Thus drug filtering is really not recreational drug filtering or selecting for PNP, but appears to be situationally-based. Thus, it should perhaps be seen as another form of filtering to select drug-free partners, rather than using the Internet to specifically recruit and interact with other recreational drug users. ^

Revisiting health literacy and its impact on patient-physician communication

Objective. To review professional literature on health literacy and its impact on patient-physician communication, to describe significant literature on this issue, and to summarize implications of the findings from this literature. Design. Update of a review of literature. Data sources: MEDLINE. Review Methods. Articles dealing with the impact of health literacy on patient-physician communication were selected. The articles addressed at least one of four criteria on the subject: prevalence of the problem; effect of health literacy on patient-physician communication; association of health literacy to health outcomes; and interventions to enhance communication with patients exhibiting limited health literacy. Results. Approximately 623 articles were selected for review; 87 were fully reviewed and found to be relevant to the issue; and 25 articles were cited. Conclusion. Limited health literacy is extremely widespread throughout the U.S., particularly among specific populations. Providers must be aware that patients often process health care decision making differently from their own familiar procedures and that by taking the steps to make medical language and health information simpler and the time to confirm patient understanding, health outcomes of limited health literacy populations will improve. ^

The impact of communication and cultural diversity in utilizing dental services among Saudi Arabian students in U.S.A.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand the perceived effects of patient-dental staff communication and cultural diversity on the utilization of dental services in the U.S. by Saudi Arabian students who live in the U.S. and enrolled into the King Abdullah Scholarship program. Methods: The study design was an analytical cross-sectional study. Data for this study was obtained from the Saudi Dental Servicers Utilization Survey, a voluntary internet survey available online for one month through Facebook. Ordered logistic regression analyses and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to measure the relationships between patient-dental staff communication and cultural diversity on the utilization of dental services. Results: Eight hundred and forty-seven responses were analyzed for this study. Overall, the majority of Saudi students reported having excellent communication experience with dental providers in the U.S. More than 58% of respondents reported at least one regular dental visit last year. Factors that influenced the use of regular dental care were: dentist's explanation of treatment plan, response of dental staff to patient's needs, respectful and polite dental staff, dental staff kindness, availability of up-to-date equipment, and overall communication with dentist. However, the utilization of emergency dental care was not associated with any measurement of patient-dental provider communication. Overall future utilization of dental care is associated with all aspects of patient-dental staff communication measured in this survey. Furthermore, more utilization of regular dental care was related to respondent's perception of the importance of trustworthiness dental staff and the importance of a dentist's reputation was only marginally associated. Respondent's perception of dentist's reputation was associated with more use of emergency dental services. Respondents are more likely to anticipate using dental care in the future if they perceived trustworthiness dental staff, and the dentist's reputation as influencing factors to their usage of dental services. Conclusions: Patient-dental staff communication was partially associated with utilization of regular dental care, not associated with utilization of emergency dental care, and broadly associated with anticipated future utilization of dental care. In addition, trustworthy dental staff, and a dentist's reputation were considered to be strong influencing factors towards utilization of dental services.^

Comunidades y redes académicas en los ecosistemas de conocimiento

El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el significado del trabajo en red para las comunidades académicas. La actuación en red se presenta como una alternativa para el fortalecimiento de los campos de conocimiento ante la emergencia de la cultura digital y los embates de otros modos de producción de saberes que compiten con los propósitos de los colectivos universitarios. El trabajo en red al desarrollarse en entornos digitales cuenta con sistemas de soporte como nunca los hubo antes, pero los desafíos son muchos, tanto para quienes deban aprender a habitar estos entornos y utilizar sus herramientas, como para quienes deban desarrollar tecnologías que faciliten la comunicación con la disposición de herramientas dialógicas en el núcleo de los ecosistemas de conocimiento. Se ofrece una compilación de estrategias dialógicas y herramientas útiles para el trabajo colaborativo en grupos académicos, así como una aproximación al concepto de competencia cibercultural, como una capacidad que atraviesa la gestión de la información y del conocimiento desde una perspectiva comunicativa.

Comunidades y redes académicas en los ecosistemas de conocimiento

El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el significado del trabajo en red para las comunidades académicas. La actuación en red se presenta como una alternativa para el fortalecimiento de los campos de conocimiento ante la emergencia de la cultura digital y los embates de otros modos de producción de saberes que compiten con los propósitos de los colectivos universitarios. El trabajo en red al desarrollarse en entornos digitales cuenta con sistemas de soporte como nunca los hubo antes, pero los desafíos son muchos, tanto para quienes deban aprender a habitar estos entornos y utilizar sus herramientas, como para quienes deban desarrollar tecnologías que faciliten la comunicación con la disposición de herramientas dialógicas en el núcleo de los ecosistemas de conocimiento. Se ofrece una compilación de estrategias dialógicas y herramientas útiles para el trabajo colaborativo en grupos académicos, así como una aproximación al concepto de competencia cibercultural, como una capacidad que atraviesa la gestión de la información y del conocimiento desde una perspectiva comunicativa.

Comunidades y redes académicas en los ecosistemas de conocimiento

El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el significado del trabajo en red para las comunidades académicas. La actuación en red se presenta como una alternativa para el fortalecimiento de los campos de conocimiento ante la emergencia de la cultura digital y los embates de otros modos de producción de saberes que compiten con los propósitos de los colectivos universitarios. El trabajo en red al desarrollarse en entornos digitales cuenta con sistemas de soporte como nunca los hubo antes, pero los desafíos son muchos, tanto para quienes deban aprender a habitar estos entornos y utilizar sus herramientas, como para quienes deban desarrollar tecnologías que faciliten la comunicación con la disposición de herramientas dialógicas en el núcleo de los ecosistemas de conocimiento. Se ofrece una compilación de estrategias dialógicas y herramientas útiles para el trabajo colaborativo en grupos académicos, así como una aproximación al concepto de competencia cibercultural, como una capacidad que atraviesa la gestión de la información y del conocimiento desde una perspectiva comunicativa.

La videovigilancia : tecnologías actuales y aspectos sociopolíticos

En este Proyecto de fin de carrera titulado: LA VÍDEOVIGILANCIA: TECNOLOGÍAS ACTUALES Y ASPECTOS SOCIOPOLÍTICOS, tiene como objetivo hacer un estudio en los sistemas de Vídeovigilancia basado en cámaras-IP, con fines de seguridad, control o supervisión. Nos basaremos en exponer los sistemas Vídeovigilancia basados en cámara-IP actuales de ultima generación, cuya principal virtud de estos sistemas, es la comunicación con otros lugares, o espacios públicos como privados y poder visualizar tanto en vivo como en diferido lo que este pasando en ese lugar y en ese momento o haya pasado a través del protocolo de comunicación-IP. Se explicara desde el más básico al más complejo sistema de videovigilancia-IP, también explicaremos su puesta en practica mediante los múltiples interconexiones que estos conlleven. Llegando a este punto, se nos plantea las siguientes cuestiones que da origen a este PFC. Estos sistemas de Vídeovigilancia-IP, captan las imágenes por medio de las cámaras-IP, proporcionando su facilidad tanto de visionado/grabacion, como de control, ya que no es necesario estar presente e interactuando con otros sistemas digitales de diverso índole actuales, gracias al protocolo-IP. Estos sistemas-IP, tienen su puesta en práctica mediante las instalaciones requeridas ,estas podrán ser sencillas o muy complejas de todos los sistemas-IP. Debido al gran aumento masivo, las tecnologías actuales de diverso índole de cámaras-IP en materia de la vídeovigilancia en lugares públicos, y privados en nuestra sociedad actual, lo hace un medio particularmente invasivo y por ello resulta necesario tanto la concurrencia de condiciones que legitimen los tratamientos de datos de personas identificables, como la definición de los principios y garantías que deban aplicarse ya que estas, repercutirán sobre los derechos de las personas, lo que obligara a fijar ciertas garantías. Se nos plantea los casos en los que la captación y/o tratamiento de imágenes con fines de Vídeovigilancia que pertenezcan a personas identificadas o identificables, ha obligado a España, y según dispuesto por la Directiva 95/46/CE del Parlamento Europeo, a regularizar esta situación mediante la Ley Orgánica de Protección de Datos (LOPD) 15/1999 de 13 de diciembre, bajo los procedimientos del Estado español en materia sociopolítica, y dando vigor a esta ley, mediante la aprobación de la Instrucción 1/2006 de 8 de noviembre de 2006, cuyo máximo organismo es la Agencia española de Protección de Datos (AGPD). Una vez planteada la motivación y justificación del proyecto, se derivan unos objetivos a cumplir con la realización del mismo. Los objetivos del proyecto se pueden diferenciar en dos clases principalmente. Los objetivos principales y objetivos secundarios. Los objetivos principales de este PFC, nacen directamente de las necesidades planteadas originalmente en materia de Vídeovigilancia, tanto tecnológicamente basado en las cámaras-IP en la captación y/o tratamiento de imágenes, así como sociopolíticamente donde trataremos de describirlo mediante las indicaciones y criterios con casos prácticos y de cómo deben de aplicarse según la instrucción 1/2006 mediante la LOPD en materia de Vídeovigilancia, en cuanto a la protección de datos que puedan repercutir sobre el derecho de las personas. Por otra parte los objetivos secundarios, son la extensión del objetivo primario y son de orden cuantificador en este PFC, dando una explicación más exhaustiva del objetivo principal. ABSTRACT In this final year project, entitled: THE VIDEOSURVEILLANCE: CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES AND POLITICALSOCIALS ASPECTS, aims to make a study of video surveillance systems based on IP cameras, for security, control or supervision. We will rely on to expose the camera based video surveillance systems IP-current last generation, whose main virtue of these systems, is communication with other places, or public and private spaces and to view both live and time so this happening in that place and at that time or passed through-IP communication protocol. He explained from the most basic to the most complex-IP video surveillance system, also explain its implementation into practice through multiple interconnections that these entail. Arriving at this point, we face the following issues which gave rise to this PFC. These IP-video surveillance systems, captured images through IP-cameras, providing both ease of viewing / recording, as a control, since it is not necessary to be present and interacting with other digital systems such diverse today, thanks IP-protocol. These systems-IP, have their implementation through the facilities required, these can be simple or very complex all-IP video surveillance systems. Due to the large increase in mass, current technologies of different kinds of IP cameras for video surveillance in public places, and private in our society, it makes a particularly invasive and therefore attendance is necessary both conditions that legitimize data processing of identifiable people, as the definition of the principles and safeguards to be applied as these will impact on the rights of the people, which forced to set certain guarantees. We face those cases in which the uptake and / or image processing video surveillance purposes belonging to identified or identifiable, has forced Spain, and as required by Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament, to regularize this situation by the Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPD) 15/1999 of December 13, under the procedures of the Spanish State in sociopolitical, and giving effect to this Act, with the approval of the Instruction 1/2006 of 8 November 2006, the governing body is the Spanish Agency for Data Protection (AGPD). Once raised the motivation and justification for the project, resulting in meeting targets to achieve the same. Project objectives can be differentiated into two main classes, the main objectives and secondary objectives: The main objectives of this PFC, born directly from requirements originally raised for capturing both technologically imaging me and try to describe where sociopolitically, the details and criteria as case studies and should be applied according to the instruction 1 / 2006 by the LOPD on video surveillance system in terms of data protection that could impact on the right people. Moreover the secondary objectives are the extension of the primary and are of a quantifier in this PFC, giving a fuller explanation of the main objective.

Implementation of wireless communication based on Software Defined Radio

In current communication systems, there are many new challenges like various competitive standards, the scarcity of frequency resource, etc., especially the development of personal wireless communication systems result the new system update faster than ever before, the conventional hardware-based wireless communication system is difficult to adapt to this situation. The emergence of SDR enabled the third revolution of wireless communication which from hardware to software and build a flexible, reliable, upgradable, reusable, reconfigurable and low cost platform. The Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) products are commonly used with the GNU Radio software suite to create complex SDR systems. GNU Radio is a toolkit where digital signal processing blocks are written in C++, and connected to each other with Python. This makes it easy to develop more sophisticated signal processing systems, because many blocks already written by others and you can quickly put them together to create a complete system. Although the main function of GNU Radio is not be a simulator, but if there is no RF hardware components,it supports to researching the signal processing algorithm based on pre-stored and generated data by signal generator. This thesis introduced SDR platform from hardware (USRP) and software(GNU Radio), as well as some basic modulation techniques in wireless communication system. Based on the examples provided by GNU Radio, carried out some related experiments, for example GSM scanning and FM radio station receiving on USRP. And make a certain degree of improvement based on the experience of some investigators to observe OFDM spectrum and simulate real-time video transmission. GNU Radio combine with USRP hardware proved to be a valuable lab platform for implementing complex radio system prototypes in a short time. RESUMEN. Software Defined Radio (SDR) es una tecnología emergente que está creando un impacto revolucionario en la tecnología de radio convencional. Un buen ejemplo de radio software son los sistemas de código abierto llamados GNU Radio que emplean un kit de herramientas de desarrollo de software libre. En este trabajo se ha empleado un kit de desarrollo comercial (Ettus Research) que consiste en un módulo de procesado de señal y un hardaware sencillo. El módulo emplea un software de desarrollo basado en Linux sobre el que se pueden implementar aplicaciones de radio software muy variadas. El hardware de desarrollo consta de un microprocesador de propósito general, un dispositivo programable (FPGA) y un interfaz de radiofrecuencia que cubre de 50 a 2200MHz. Este hardware se conecta al PC por medio de un interfaz USB de 8Mb/s de velocidad. Sobre la plataforma de Ettus se pueden ejecutar aplicaciones GNU radio que utilizan principalmente lenguaje de programación Python para implementarse. Sin embargo, su módulo de procesado de señal está construido en C + + y emplea un microprocesador con aritmética de coma flotante. Por lo tanto, los desarrolladores pueden rápida y fácilmente construir aplicaciones en tiempo real sistemas de comunicación inalámbrica de alta capacidad. Aunque su función principal no es ser un simulador, si no puesto que hay componentes de hardware RF, Radio GNU sirve de apoyo a la investigación del algoritmo de procesado de señales basado en pre-almacenados y generados por los datos del generador de señal. En este trabajo fin de máster se ha evaluado la plataforma de hardware de DEG (USRP) y el software (GNU Radio). Para ello se han empleado algunas técnicas de modulación básicas en el sistema de comunicación inalámbrica. A partir de los ejemplos proporcionados por GNU Radio, hemos realizado algunos experimentos relacionados, por ejemplo, escaneado del espectro, demodulación de señales de FM empleando siempre el hardware de USRP. Una vez evaluadas aplicaciones sencillas se ha pasado a realizar un cierto grado de mejora y optimización de aplicaciones complejas descritas en la literatura. Se han empleado aplicaciones como la que consiste en la generación de un espectro de OFDM y la simulación y transmisión de señales de vídeo en tiempo real. Con estos resultados se está ahora en disposición de abordar la elaboración de aplicaciones complejas.

Diseño del curso para operador "Coeficientes inherentes de reactividad" a plataforma e-Learning

Las centrales nucleares necesitan de personal altamente especializado y formado. Es por ello por lo que el sector de la formación especializada en centrales nucleares necesita incorporar los últimos avances en métodos formativos. Existe una gran cantidad de cursos de formación presenciales y es necesario transformar dichos cursos para utilizarlos con las nuevas tecnologías de la información. Para ello se necesitan equipos multidisciplinares, en los que se incluyen ingenieros, que deben identificar los objetivos formativos, competencias, contenidos y el control de calidad del propio curso. En este proyecto se utilizan técnicas de ingeniería del conocimiento como eje metodológico para transformar un curso de formación presencial en formación on-line a través de tecnologías de la información. En la actualidad, las nuevas tecnologías de la información y comunicación están en constante evolución. De esta forma se han sumergido en el mundo transformando la visión que teníamos de éste para dar lugar a nuevas oportunidades. Es por ello que este proyecto busca la unión entre el e-learning y el mundo empresarial. El objetivo es el diseño, en plataforma e-learning, de un curso técnico que instruya a operadores de sala de control de una central nuclear. El trabajo realizado en este proyecto ha sido, además de transformar un curso presencial en on-line, en obtener una metodología para que otros cursos se puedan transformar. Para conseguir este cometido, debemos preocuparnos tanto por el contenido de los cursos como por su gestión. Por este motivo, el proyecto comienza con definiciones básicas de terminología propia de e-learning. Continúa con la generación de una metodología que aplique la gestión de conocimiento para transformar cualquier curso presencial a esta plataforma. Definida la metodología, se aplicará para el diseño del curso específico de Coeficientes Inherentes de Reactividad. Finaliza con un estudio económico que dé viabilidad al proyecto y con la creación de un modelo económico que estime el precio para cualquier curso futuro. Abstract Nuclear power plants need highly specialized and trained personnel. Thus, nuclear power plant Specialized Training Sector requires the incorporation of the latest advances in training methods. A large array of face-to-face training courses exist and it has become necessary to transform said courses in order to apply them with the new information systems available. For this, multidisciplinary equipment is needed where the engineering workforce must identify educational objectives, competences and abilities, contents and quality control of the different courses. In this project, knowledge engineering techniques are employed as the methodological axis in order to transform a face-to-face training course into on-line training through the use of new information technologies. Nowadays, new information and communication technologies are in constant evolution. They have introduced themselves into our world, transforming our previous vision of them, leading to new opportunities. For this reason, the present Project seeks to unite the use of e-learning and the Business and Corporate world. The main objective is the design, in an e-learning platform, of a technical course that will train nuclear power plant control-room operators. The work carried out in this Project has been, in addition to the transformation of a face-to-face course into an online one, the obtainment of a methodology to employ in the future transformation of other courses. In order to achieve this mission, our interest must focus on the content as well as on the management of the various courses. Hence, the Project starts with basic definitions of e-learning terminology. Next, a methodology that applies knowledge management for the transformation of any face-to-face course into e-learning has been generated. Once this methodology is defined, it has been applied for the design process of the Inherent Coefficients of Reactivity course. Finally, an economic study has been developed in order to determine the viability of the Project and an economic model has been created to estimate the price of any given course

Topic selection in industry experiments

This paper shares our experience with initial negotiation and topic elicitation process for conducting industry experiments in six software development organizations in Finland. The process involved interaction with company representatives in the form of both multiple group discussions and separate face-to-face meetings. Fitness criteria developed by researchers were applied to the list of generated topics to decide on a common topic. The challenges we faced include diversity of proposed topics, communication gaps, skepticism about research methods, initial disconnect between research and industry needs, and lack of prior work relationship. Lessons learned include having enough time to establish trust with partners, importance of leveraging the benefits of training and skill development that are inherent in the experimental approach, uniquely positioning the experimental approach within the landscape of other validation approaches more familiar to industrial partners, and introducing the fitness criteria early in the process.

O PERFIL DOS USUÁRIOS DA COMUNICAÇÃO MEDIADA POR COMPUTADOR UMA ABORDAGEM PSICOLÓGICA

A Comunicação Mediada por Computador (CMC) é entendida como o relacionamento interpessoal via Internet. Este modo de comunicação atinge usuários que visam interagir e conhecer pessoas sem o limite da distância. Atualmente está sendo objeto de estudos interdisciplinares que se interessam pelas influências da CMC no comportamento de seus usuários. Trata-se de um estudo caracterizado como exploratório baseado em dados coletados através de uma pesquisa bibliográfica. Seu objetivo é refletir sobre os efeitos gerados pela difusão da CMC sobre o perfil de seus usuários, além de apresentar as contribuições da Psicologia frente aos questionamentos provindos da utilização da CMC e discutir as ambivalências (ganhos e perdas) de seu uso no comportamento de seus usuários. Percebe-se que os internautas estão transformando a forma de interação social em um ambiente desprovido de limites espaço-temporais. Portanto, este trabalho estuda as novas formas de interação, e busca compreender esse novo homem, pois, se a tecnologia traz mudanças, o indivíduo muda junto com ela. Portanto, ao acompanhar todas essas transformações que têm influenciado o homem e suas novas formas de relacionamento, estão motivando o surgimento de novas formas de contribuição da Psicologia ao estudo da CMC.

O PERFIL DOS USUÁRIOS DA COMUNICAÇÃO MEDIADA POR COMPUTADOR UMA ABORDAGEM PSICOLÓGICA

A Comunicação Mediada por Computador (CMC) é entendida como o relacionamento interpessoal via Internet. Este modo de comunicação atinge usuários que visam interagir e conhecer pessoas sem o limite da distância. Atualmente está sendo objeto de estudos interdisciplinares que se interessam pelas influências da CMC no comportamento de seus usuários. Trata-se de um estudo caracterizado como exploratório baseado em dados coletados através de uma pesquisa bibliográfica. Seu objetivo é refletir sobre os efeitos gerados pela difusão da CMC sobre o perfil de seus usuários, além de apresentar as contribuições da Psicologia frente aos questionamentos provindos da utilização da CMC e discutir as ambivalências (ganhos e perdas) de seu uso no comportamento de seus usuários. Percebe-se que os internautas estão transformando a forma de interação social em um ambiente desprovido de limites espaço-temporais. Portanto, este trabalho estuda as novas formas de interação, e busca compreender esse novo homem, pois, se a tecnologia traz mudanças, o indivíduo muda junto com ela. Portanto, ao acompanhar todas essas transformações que têm influenciado o homem e suas novas formas de relacionamento, estão motivando o surgimento de novas formas de contribuição da Psicologia ao estudo da CMC.