Rapid assessment procedures in injury control

Injuries are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The burden caused by injuries is even greater among the poorer nations and is projected to increase. Very often the lack of technical and financial resources, as well as the urgency of the problem, preclude applying sophisticated surveillance and research methods for generating relevant information to develop effective interventions. In these settings, it is necessary to consider more rapid and less costly methods in applying the public health approach to the problem of injury prevention and control. Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP), developed within the fields of epidemiology, anthropology and health administration, can provide valid information in a manner that is quicker, simpler, and less costly than standard data collection methods. RAP have been applied widely and successfully to infectious and chronic disease issues, but have not been used extensively, if at all, as tools in injury control. This paper describes Rapid Assessment Procedures that (1) are useful for understanding the scope of the problem and for identifying potential risk factors, (2) can assist practitioners in determining intervention priorities, (3) can provide in-depth knowledge about a specific injury-related problem, and (4) can be used in surveillance systems to monitor outcomes. Finally, the paper describes some of the caveats in using RAP.     

Parents' perceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards child safety: a study in 14 European countries

Injury is the leading cause of death for children 0- 19 years of age in Europe, accounting for 3.1 deaths per 10 000 children per year. The youngest children of the ages 0-4 years require the most protection in this age group, with 2.5 injury-related deaths per 10 000 children in Europe annually. As parents are the primary caregivers of children, it is necessary to learn more about parents' perceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards child safety. This study presents the findings of a 14-country study in Europe on this theme. A quantitative survey of parents of children aged 5 years or under was performed in 14 EU member states in order to enable better targeting of prevention efforts aimed at educating parents. The total sample size was 2088. The results show that 95% of parents reported that they personally take measures to avoid accidental injury to their children. Their top concern with regard to safety of their children was children being hit by a car. The most common response, when asked why some parents find it difficult to protect their children from accidental injury, was not being able to watch their children constantly. Lack of awareness or knowledge about the causes of accidents was the second response. Two-thirds of parents would like to see more help from the government to prevent childhood injuries. Three-quarters of parents agreed that child injuries can be avoided. It was concluded that parents want to be better informed about the causes of child accidents and about actions they and society can take to reduce injury-related risks to children.     

The use of advance order data in demand forecasting

This paper uses advance order data and historical demand data from a manufacturing shop and from a service operation to develop and test a forecasting methodology for predicting customer demand over a forecast horizon. The proposed methodology uses simple linear regression to model the relationship between a total demand ratio and a partial demand ratio. Comparison of the proposed model to a standard regression approach and a commonly used multiplicative model showed that the proposed model exhibited the greatest forecast accuracy.     

How should we collect data on the nursing workforce?

R esearchers who study the nursing workforce use data about nurses and data about nursing jobs. Diifferent approaches - sample surveys and relicensure surveys - used to collect data on RNs, and the benefits and weaknesses of these approaches, are reviewed. Predicting the future supply of nurses is more complex than estimating the current supply, as factors that affect future supply must be considered. Simple forecasts can be created with relatively few variables, which could be collected through relicensure surveys. However, more detailed assessments of potential retirement patterns, changing family norms regarding childcare and household work, and movements into higher education require the rich data more often found in sample surveys.     

Forecasting crude oil spot price using OECD petroleum inventory levels

This paper presents a short-term monthly forecasting model of West Texas Intermediate crude oil spot price using OECD petroleum inventory levels. Theoretically, petroleum inventory levels are a measure of the balance, or imbalance, between petroleum production and demand, and thus provide a good market barometer of crude oil price change. Based on an understanding of petroleum market fundamentals and observed market behavior during the post-Gulf War period, the model was developed with the objectives of being both simple and practical, with required data readily available. As a result, the model is useful to industry and government decision-makers in forecasting price and investigating the impacts of changes on price, should inventories, production, imports, or demand change. This work is partially sponsored by the Office of Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Department of Energy, USA, and was presented at the International Atlantic Economic Conference, Athens, Greece, March 2001.     

Superior Construction Inc.: An assessment of risks and controls as part of a post-acquisition engagement

Superior Construction Inc. (SCI) is a fictitious Toronto-based, publicly traded construction company that operates in the civil infrastructure and buildings markets. For this case, you will assume the role of a senior internal auditor at SCI, who has been given the responsibility to lead a post-acquisition due diligence review of a recently acquired privately held construction company, Building Excellence Inc. (BEI). You are provided with background on the acquisition, as well as information that your internal audit team has gathered during the post-acquisition review. With this background information, you are asked to perform a risk assessment of the newly acquired company and recommend controls to mitigate identified risks. In addition, you will assess SCI’s pre-acquisition review and evaluate the BEI purchase decision. This case requires you to draw upon your knowledge of risks and controls and to develop an understanding of the political issues that internal auditors face.     

The work values and job involvement of Post-80s employees in the hospitality and tourism industry: empirical evidence from Macau

The purpose of this research was to examine the work values (WV) and the job involvement (JI) of the younger workforce in a Chinese society. Specifically, the study explores the case of Macau, which has transformed from a sleepy enclave to a gambling mecca. The findings from 384 full-time Chinese employees revealed four WV factors considered important to them. The Post-80s value the social environment and freedom. WV are significantly positively correlated with JI and vary significantly across demographic variables. Intrinsic WV have prediction power towards JI. The lack of research on the younger generation particularly in this popular tourism destination contribute to a better understanding and management of the workforce. It also highlights that traditional Chinese managerial practice might not be able to cope with the new expectations and work habits of the younger workers.