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- Stenfors, Cecilia U. D., et al.
(författare)
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Positive Effects of Nature on Cognitive Performance Across Multiple Experiments : Test Order but Not Affect Modulates the Cognitive Effects
- 2019
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-1078. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interactions with natural environments and nature-related stimuli have been found to be beneficial to cognitive performance, in particular on executive cognitive tasks with high demands on directed attention processes. However, results vary across different studies. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effects of nature vs. urban environments on cognitive performance across all of our published and new/unpublished studies testing the effects of different interactions with nature vs. urban/built control environments, on an executive-functioning test with high demands on directed attention-the backwards digit span (BDS) task. Specific aims in this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of nature vs. urban environment interactions on BDS across different exposure types (e.g., real-world vs. artificial environments/stimuli); (2) disentangle the effects of testing order (i.e., effects caused by the order in which experimental conditions are administered) from the effects of the environment interactions, and (3) test the (mediating) role of affective changes on BDS performance. To this end, data from 13 experiments are presented, and pooled data-analyses are performed. Results from the pooled data-analyses (N = 528 participants) showed significant time-by-environment interactions with beneficial effects of nature compared to urban environments on BDS performance. There were also clear interactions with the order in which environment conditions were tested. Specifically, there were practice effects across environment conditions in first sessions. Importantly, after parceling out initial practice effects, the positive effects of nature compared to urban interactions on BDS performance were magnified. Changes in positive or negative affect did not mediate the beneficial effects of nature on BDS performance. These results are discussed in relation to the findings of other studies identified in the literature. Uncontrolled and confounding order effects (i.e., effects due to the order of experimental conditions, rather than the treatment conditions) may explain some of the inconsistent findings across studies the literature on nature effects on cognitive performance. In all, these results highlight the robustness of the effects of natural environments on cognition, particularly when confounding order effects have been considered, and provide a more nuanced account of when a nature intervention will be most effective.
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| 3. |
- Knopp, KL, et al.
(författare)
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Experimental design and reporting standards for improving the internal validity of pre-clinical studies in the field of pain: Consensus of the IMI-Europain consortium
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian journal of pain. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1877-8879 .- 1877-8860. ; 7:1, s. 58-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and aimsPain is a subjective experience, and as such, pre-clinical models of human pain are highly simplified representations of clinical features. These models are nevertheless critical for the delivery of novel analgesics for human pain, providing pharmacodynamic measurements of activity and, where possible, on-target confirmation of that activity. It has, however, been suggested that at least 50% of all pre-clinical data, independent of discipline, cannot be replicated. Additionally, the paucity of “negative” data in the public domain indicates a publication bias, and significantly impacts the interpretation of failed attempts to replicate published findings. Evidence suggests that systematic biases in experimental design and conduct and insufficiencies in reporting play significant roles in poor reproducibility across pre-clinical studies. It then follows that recommendations on how to improve these factors are warranted.MethodsMembers of Europain, a pain research consortium funded by the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), developed internal recommendations on how to improve the reliability of pre-clinical studies between laboratories. This guidance is focused on two aspects: experimental design and conduct, and study reporting.ResultsMinimum requirements for experimental design and conduct were agreed upon across the dimensions of animal characteristics, sample size calculations, inclusion and exclusion criteria, random allocation to groups, allocation concealment, and blinded assessment of outcome. Building upon the Animals in Research: Reportingin vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines, reporting standards were developed for pre-clinical studies of pain. These include specific recommendations for reporting on ethical issues, experimental design and conduct, and data analysis and interpretation. Key principles such as sample size calculation, a priori definition of a primary efficacy measure, randomization, allocation concealments, and blinding are discussed. In addition, considerations of how stress and normal rodent physiology impact outcome of analgesic drug studies are considered. Flow diagrams are standard requirements in all clinical trials, and flow diagrams for preclinical trials, which describe number of animals included/excluded, and reasons for exclusion are proposed. Creation of a trial registry for pre-clinical studies focused on drug development in order to estimate possible publication bias is discussed.ConclusionsMore systematic research is needed to analyze how inadequate internal validity and/or experimental bias may impact reproducibility across pre-clinical pain studies. Addressing the potential threats to internal validity and the sources of experimental biases, as well as increasing the transparency in reporting, are likely to improve preclinical research broadly by ensuring relevant progress is made in advancing the knowledge of chronic pain pathophysiology and identifying novel analgesics.ImplicationsWe are now disseminating these Europain processes for discussion in the wider pain research community. Any benefit from these guidelines will be dependent on acceptance and disciplined implementation across pre-clinical laboratories, funding agencies and journal editors, but it is anticipated that these guidelines will be a first step towards improving scientific rigor across the field of pre-clinical pain research.
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| 4. |
- Lornudd, C., et al.
(författare)
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A champagne tower of influence : An interview study of how corporate boards enact occupational health and safety
- 2021
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Ingår i: Safety Science. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0925-7535 .- 1879-1042. ; 143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The board of directors is responsible for governing organizations, including firms’ occupational health and safety (OHS). However, empirical research addressing how boards of directors enact OHS responsibility is scarce. In this study, we explored how boards of directors describe how their board acts to take responsibility for OHS. A secondary aim was to analyze whether those actions represent governance according to the agency theory and/or the stewardship theory. The empirical material consisted of 34 interviews with board members and chief executive officers in large private companies from four industries: trade, construction, manufacturing, and health/social care. Using Boardman and Lyon's framework for OHS governance, we conducted a hybrid thematic analysis. The findings deepen and broaden the current understanding of the role that the board of directors may play in OHS governance in private companies. The boards’ actions for taking responsibility for OHS both represent governance in line with the agency theory and stewardship theory. However, the boards’ actions also underpin a behavioral view of corporate OHS governance. This suggests an influence on the organization that starts with actions in the boardroom and, like champagne in a glass tower, trickles down from the executive directors to other layers of the organization.
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| 6. |
- MacKinnon, RJ, et al.
(författare)
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Self-motivated learning with gamification improves infant CPR performance, a randomised controlled trial
- 2015
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Ingår i: BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning. - : BMJ. - 2056-6697. ; 1:3, s. 71-76
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effective paediatric basic life support improves survival and outcomes. Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training involves 4-yearly courses plus annual updates. Skills degrade by 3–6 months. No method has been described to motivate frequent and persistent CPR practice. To achieve this, we explored the use of competition and a leaderboard, as a gamification technique, on a CPR training feedback device, to increase CPR usage and performance.ObjectiveTo assess whether self-motivated CPR training with integrated CPR feedback improves quality of infant CPR over time, in comparison to no refresher CPR training.DesignRandomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effect of self-motivated manikin-based learning on infant CPR skills over time.SettingA UK tertiary children's hospital.Participants171 healthcare professionals randomly assigned to self-motivated CPR training (n=90) or no refresher CPR training (n=81) and followed for 26 weeks.InterventionThe intervention comprised 24 h a day access to a CPR training feedback device and anonymous leaderboard. The CPR training feedback device calculated a compression score based on rate, depth, hand position and release and a ventilation score derived from rate and volume.Main outcome measureThe outcome measure was Infant CPR technical skill performance score as defined by the mean of the cardiac compressions and ventilations scores, provided by the CPR training feedback device software. The primary analysis considered change in score from baseline to 6 months.ResultsOverall, the control group showed little change in their scores (median 0, IQR −7.00–5.00) from baseline to 6 months, while the intervention group had a slight median increase of 0.50, IQR 0.00–33.50. The two groups were highly significantly different in their changes (p<0.001).ConclusionsA significant effect on CPR performance was demonstrated by access to self-motivated refresher CPR training, a competitive leaderboard and a CPR training feedback device.
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