Factors related to the performance of laypersons diagnosing pigmented skin cancer: an explorative study.

It is important but challenging for prospective health professionals to learn the visual distinction between potentially harmful and harmless skin lesions, such as malignant melanomas and benign nevi. Knowledge about factors related to diagnostic performance is sparse but a prerequisite for designing and evaluating evidence-based educational interventions. Hence, this study explored how the characteristics of 240 skin lesions, the number of classified lesions and the response times of 137 laypeople were related to performance in diagnosing pigmented skin cancer.

The effects of procedural and conceptual knowledge on visual learning.

Even though past research suggests that visual learning may benefit from conceptual knowledge, current interventions for medical image evaluation often focus on procedural knowledge, mainly by teaching classification algorithms. We compared the efficacy of pure procedural knowledge (three-point checklist for evaluating skin lesions) versus combined procedural plus conceptual knowledge (histological explanations for each of the three points). All students then trained their classification skills with a visual learning resource that included images of two types of pigmented skin lesions: benign nevi and malignant melanomas.

Validation of ambulatory monitoring devices to measure energy expenditure and heart rate in a military setting.

To investigate the validity of different devices and algorithms used in military organizations worldwide to assess physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and heart rate (HR) among soldiers.Device validation study..

An evaluation of measurement systems estimating gait speed during a loaded military march over graded terrain.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of three measurement systems estimating gait speed during a loaded military march over graded terrain. Systems developed by the Swiss and Netherlands Armed Forces and a commercial wrist-based device were evaluated in comparison to a Global Positioning System. The first part of the paper focuses on the development of the Dutch system, where speed is estimated from a chest worn accelerometer and body measurements.

Validity of sports watches when estimating energy expenditure during running.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of three different sport watches in estimating energy expenditure during aerobic and anaerobic running.

Methods: Twenty trained subjects ran at different intensities while wearing three commercial sport watches (Suunto Ambit2, Garmin Forerunner920XT, and Polar V800). Indirect calorimetry was used as the criterion measure for assessing energy expenditure.

The current state of physical activity and exercise programs in German-speaking, Swiss psychiatric hospitals: results from a brief online survey.

Background: Physical activity and exercise programs (PAEPs) are an important factor in increasing and maintaining physical and mental health. This holds particularly true for patients with psychiatric disorders undergoing treatment in a psychiatric hospital. To understand whether the benefits reported in the literature are mirrored in current treatment modalities, the aim of the present study was to assess the current state of PAEPs in psychiatric hospitals in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.