Comparing parent-child interaction during wordless book reading, print book reading and imaginative play.

This study investigated differences in adult-child language interactions when parents and their three-to-four-year old children engage in wordless book reading, text-and-picture book reading and a small-world toy play activity. Twenty-two parents recorded themselves completing each activity at home with their child. Parent input was compared across contexts, focusing on interactive and conceptual domains: use of open prompts, expansions or extensions of children's utterances, and use of decontextualised (abstract) language.

Screening for Language Difficulties in Disadvantaged Populations on Entry to Early Years Education: Challenges and Opportunities.

Children aged 3-4 years ( = 876) were recruited from deprived areas in England, and a significant minority of the sample were second language learners. Oral language ability was assessed using child administered standardized measures, and parents reported on children's language. We adapted the Language Use Inventory [LUI; (1)] to capture carer's reports of the children's structural language in the language of instruction and their home language (where appropriate).

Measuring knowledge of multiple word meanings in children with English as a first and an additional language and the relationship to reading comprehension.

Polysemy, or the property of words having multiple meanings, is a prevalent feature of vocabulary. In this study we validated a new measure of polysemy knowledge for children with English as an additional language (EAL) and a first language (EL1) and examined the relationship between polysemy knowledge and age, language status, and reading comprehension. Participants were 112 British children aged 5 to 6 (n = 61) or 8 to 9 years (n = 51), 37% of whom had EAL (n = 41).

Initial protocol for a national evaluation of an area-based intervention programme (A Better Start) on early-life outcomes: a longitudinal cohort study with comparison (control) cohort samples.

Introduction: Pregnancy and the first few years of a child's life are important windows of opportunity in which to equalise life chances. A Better Start (ABS) is an area-based intervention being delivered in five areas of socioeconomic disadvantage across England. This protocol describes an evaluation of the impact and cost-effectiveness of ABS.

Developing participatory research in radiology: the use of a graffiti wall, cameras and a video box in a Scottish radiology department.

Background: Participatory research is increasingly advocated for use in health and health services research and has been defined as a 'process of producing new knowledge by systematic enquiry, with the collaboration of those being studied'. The underlying philosophy of participatory research is that those recruited to studies are acknowledged as experts who are 'empowered to truly participate and have their voices heard'. Research methods should enable children to express themselves.

The information needs of people attending for computed tomography (CT): what are they and how can they be met?

Objective: To establish patients' knowledge of CT, their views of information provided and explore the role of information in imaging.

Methods: A sample of 150 first-time outpatients attending for CT scanning at a Scottish hospital. The study had three phases: a questionnaire survey; structured interviews pre-scan and face-to-face interviews post-scan.

The use of patient-centered outcome measures in radiology: a systematic review.

Rationale And Objectives: To undertake a systematic review of literature on patient centred outcomes and explore the use of patient defined outcomes in radiology research.

Materials And Methods: i)

Data Sources: Published empirical studies in peer reviewed journals. ii)

Study Selection: Systematic search of English language radiology literature between 1990-2003, using four electronic databases, and reference lists of papers.

What do patients know about ultrasound, CT and MRI?

Objectives: To establish the level of patient knowledge of ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); to describe patient information-seeking behaviour before attendance; and to assess patients' understanding of the main aspects of scanning examinations.

Design: Survey of people attending for ultrasound, CT and MRI using a questionnaire, including 12 statements on simple aspects of procedures, to be indicated as true or false.

Setting: Radiology department of an acute teaching hospital NHS Trust in the north-east of Scotland.