Evaluation of strategies to ensure evidence-based, low-cost interventions reach those in need is critical. One approach is to measure the strength, or intensity, with which packages of interventions are delivered, in order to explore the association between implementation strength and public health gains. A recent systematic review suggested methodological guidance was needed. We described the approaches used in three examples of measures of implementation strength in evaluation. These addressed important public health topics with a substantial disease burden in low-and middle-income countries; they involved large-scale implementation; and featured evaluation designs without comparison areas. Strengths and weaknesses of the approaches were discussed. In the evaluation of Ethiopia's Health Extension Programme, implementation strength scoring for each kebele (ward) was based on aggregated data from interviews with mothers of children aged 12-23 months, reflecting their reports of contact with four elements of the programme. An evaluation of the Avahan HIV prevention programme in India used the cumulative amount of Avahan funding per HIV-infected person spent each year in each district. In these cases, a single measure was developed and the association with hypothesised programme outcomes presented. In the evaluation of the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria, several implementation strength measures were developed based on the duration of activity of the programme and the level of implementation of supporting interventions. Measuring the strength of programme implementation and assessing its association with outcomes is a promising approach to strengthen pragmatic impact evaluation. Five key aspects of developing an implementation strength measure are to: (a) develop a logic model; (b) identify aspects of implementation to be assessed; (c) design and implement data collection from a range of data sources; (d) decide whether and how to combine data into a single measure; and, (e) plan whether and how to use the measure(s) in outcome analysis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czw001 | DOI Listing |
Orphanet J Rare Dis
January 2025
Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Molecular Medicine, Center for Genomic Sciences in Medicine, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Únicas SJD Center, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.
Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are a heterogeneous group of complex and low-prevalence conditions in which the time to establish a definitive diagnosis is often too long. In addition, for most RDs, few to no treatments are available and it is often difficult to find a specialized care team.
Objectives: The project "acERca las enfermedades raras" (in English: "bringing RDs closer") is an initiative primary designed to generate a consensus by a multidisciplinary group of experts to detect the strengths and weaknesses in the public healthcare system concerning the comprehensive care of persons living with a RD (PLWRD) in the region of Catalonia, Spain, where a Network of Clinical Expert Units (Xarxa d'Unitats de Expertesa Clínica or XUEC) was created and is being implemented since 2015.
J Colloid Interface Sci
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon and Green Agriculture Chemistry in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address:
Meliorating the behavior deposition of lithium polysulfides (LiPS) is crucial for enhancing the electrochemical performance of sulfur cathodes, which could be implemented by the precise modulation on the catalytic host. Herein, heterostructure engineering is employed to tune up the catalytic capability of CeVO, by introducing CeO through a simple adjustment in the addition sequence of reactants. The formed CeVO/CeO heterostructure has been demonstrated to exhibit appropriate interaction strength with LiPS for accelerating the catalytic conversion process, as well as an engineered surface for inducing three dimensional (3D) LiS deposition, thereby endowing the corresponding sulfur cathodes with excellent electrochemical performance under harsh conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Movement Science, Institute of Sports Science, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
Over the last decades, resistance training (RT) has experienced a surge in popularity, and compelling evidence underpins its beneficial effects on health, well-being, and performance. However, sports and exercise research findings may translate poorly into practice. This study investigated the knowledge of Austrian gym-goers regarding common myths and truths in RT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChaos
January 2025
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Synaptic plasticity plays a fundamental role in neuronal dynamics, governing how connections between neurons evolve in response to experience. In this study, we extend a network model of θ-neuron oscillators to include a realistic form of adaptive plasticity. In place of the less tractable spike-timing-dependent plasticity, we employ recently validated phase-difference-dependent plasticity rules, which adjust coupling strengths based on the relative phases of θ-neuron oscillators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNervenarzt
January 2025
Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076, Tübingen, Deutschland.
Background: To date there has been no evaluation of further training and working conditions in medical specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy in Germany. In order to counteract the lack of young talent and ensure long-term care for patients, quality assurance is essential.
Aim Of The Work: The evaluation aims to identify strengths and weaknesses of the further training and to derive measures for improvement.
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