Development of a decision aid to inform patients' and families' renal replacement therapy selection decisions.

BACKGROUND: Few educational resources have been developed to inform patients' renal replacement therapy (RRT) selection decisions. Patients progressing toward end stage renal disease (ESRD) must decide among multiple treatment options with varying characteristics. Complex information about treatments must be adequately conveyed to patients with different educational backgrounds and informational needs. Decisions about treatment options also require family input, as families often participate in patients' treatment and support patients' decisions. We describe the development, design, and preliminary evaluation of an informational, evidence-based, and patient-and family-centered decision aid for patients with ESRD and varying levels of health literacy, health numeracy, and cognitive function. METHODS: We designed a decision aid comprising a complementary video and informational handbook. We based our development process on data previously obtained from qualitative focus groups and systematic literature reviews. We simultaneously developed the video and handbook in "stages." For the video, stages included (1) directed interviews with culturally appropriate patients and families and preliminary script development, (2) video production, and (3) screening the video with patients and their families. For the handbook, stages comprised (1) preliminary content design, (2) a mixed-methods pilot study among diverse patients to assess comprehension of handbook material, and (3) screening the handbook with patients and their families. RESULTS: The video and handbook both addressed potential benefits and trade-offs of treatment selections. The 50-minute video consisted of demographically diverse patients and their families describing their positive and negative experiences with selecting a treatment option. The video also incorporated health professionals' testimonials regarding various considerations that might influence patients' and families' treatment selections. The handbook was comprised of written words, pictures of patients and health care providers, and diagrams describing the findings and quality of scientific studies comparing treatments. The handbook text was written at a 4th to 6th grade reading level. Pilot study results demonstrated that a majority of patients could understand information presented in the handbook. Patient and families screening the nearly completed video and handbook reviewed the materials favorably. CONCLUSIONS: This rigorously designed decision aid may help patients and families make informed decisions about their treatment options for RRT that are well aligned with their values.

Provision of information and documentation on education in the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education. 'Provisión de información y documentación en educación en el Ministerio Federal de Educación de Austria'.

En un país pequeño como Austria es necesario recibir estímulo del exterior a nivel europeo respectivamente internacional para que los responsables vean lo útil que son las iniciativas nacionales en el campo de documentación educativa. Trabajar de manera comparativa en un contexto europeo ayuda a comprender mejor su propia posición y sirve de base para tomar decisiones y para desarrollar nuevos proyectos en el futuro. Ha crecido el interés en utilizar la información y documentación educativa durante las últimas décadas. Actualmente los ministros de educación ya no pueden seguir su trabajo sin recurrir a todos aquellos datos que han sido recopilados en los respectivos países y presentados a través de las redes europeas como EURYDICE, la red europea de información en educación (htttp://www.eurydice.org).

Geometrical study of the three-dimensional temperature–composition diagrams. An important aid to understand the behavior of the liquid–vapour equilibrium in ternary systems

In this work the usefulness of qualitatively studying and drawing three-dimensional temperature–composition diagrams for ternary systems is pointed out to understand and interpret the particular behavior of the liquid–vapour equilibrium of non-ideal ternary systems. Several examples have been used in order to highlight the interest and the possibilities of this tool, which should be an interesting support not only for lecturers, but also for researchers interested in experimental equilibrium data determination.

State Aid to Infrastructure: Do Competitively Selected Operators Obtain an Undue Advantage? Bruges European Economic Research Papers (BEER) 33/2015

Addressing high and volatile natural resource prices, uncertain supply prospects, reindustrialization attempts and environmental damages related to resource use, resource efficiency has evolved into a highly debated proposal among academia, policy makers, firms and international financial institutions (IFIs). In 2011, the European Union (EU) declared resource efficiency as one of its seven flagship initiatives in its Europe 2020 strategy. This paper contributes to the discussions by assessing its key initiative, the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (EC 2011 571), following two streams of evaluation. In a first step, resource efficiency is linked to two theoretical frameworks regarding sustainability, (i) the sustainability triangle (consisting of economic, social and ecological dimensions) and (ii) balanced sustainability (combining weak and strong sustainability). Subsequently, both sustainability frameworks are used to assess to which degree the Roadmap follows the concept of sustainability. It can be concluded that it partially respects the sustainability triangle as well as balanced sustainability, primarily lacking a social dimension. In a second step, following Steger and Bleischwitz (2009), the impact of resource efficiency on competitiveness as advocated in the Roadmap is empirically evaluated. Using an Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data model reveals no robust impact of resource efficiency on competiveness in the EU between 2004 and 2009 – a puzzling result. Further empirical research and enhanced data availability are needed to better understand the impacts of resource efficiency on competitiveness on the macroeconomic, microeconomic and industry level. In that regard, strengthening the methodologies of resource indicators seem essential. Last but certainly not least, political will is required to achieve the transition of the EU-economy into a resource efficient future.

Types of work performed using resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction federal highway funds : report to the chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Public Works and Transportation, U.S. House of Representatives /

"B-212809"--Prelim. p. [1].

Factbook, Bureau of Higher Education : summary of program information through fiscal year 1971 /

Cover title.

The Federal minority business development effort : an approach to increasing the effectiveness of minority business development /

"A policy position report prepared for the Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C."

Replies from executive departments and Federal agencies to inquiry regarding use of advisory committees (January 1, 1953-January 1, 1956).

Errata slip inserted in pt. 1.

Role of federal food assistance programs in strategies to reduce infant mortality [microform] : hearing before the Domestic Task Force of the Select Committee on Hunger, House of Representatives, One hundredth Congress, first session, hearing held in Washington, DC, April 29, 1987.

"Serial no. 100-7."

The policy of extending government aid to additional railroads to the Pacific by guaranteeing interest on their bonds : report of the majority of the Senate Committee on Pacific Railroad, February 19, 1869.

Cover title.

Phonograph records as an aid to learning in rural elementary schools; a handbook for teachers and supervisors,

"Suggested minimum bibliography for teachers and children": p. 159-160.

The nature and level of federal support for museums in fiscal years 1985 and 1986 : a federal study mandated by Congress and conducted by the Institute of Museum Services on behalf of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, submitted to Congress February 1988.

Cover title.

The Montgomery GI Bill : get up to $14,400 for college plus a whole lot more.

Mode of access: Internet.

Small business guide to federal R&D funding opportunities /

"March 1986."

Federal funds to state agencies : annual report to the Illinois General Assembly.

Description based on: May 1991.