Generational and occupational differences in human factors knowledge and awareness: a comparison study.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing healthcare sector litigation, accountability and governance has resulted in the identification of human factors (HF) as a common source of error. Both NHS and military doctors must have awareness of HF to enhance safety and productivity. There is limited published evidence examining knowledge of HF in these two healthcare professional groups. METHODS: Doctors of all grades and specialties across the NHS and 3 military groups including the Defence Deanery within the UK were invited to complete a 10-item web-based survey. Questions focused on training undertaken, HF knowledge and potential future training needs. RESULTS: The survey link was emailed to 250 military and 1400 NHS doctors, 191 military and 776 NHS responded (response rate: 76% and 55%, respectively). Military doctors above foundation trainees are more familiar with HF, have had more training and recognise a requirement for additional training. Military foundation trainees had similar responses to their NHS colleagues. Doctors who had not undertaken any HF training are less likely to appreciate its value, with almost 60% of senior NHS doctors reporting no training. Foundation trainees have more training in HF than their senior peers when military seniors are excluded and more frequently identified a need for further training. Junior doctors identified stress, fatigue, communication and leadership more frequently, with seniors identifying work environment and music in theatre correctly more often. CONCLUSION: Non-training grade doctors are less likely to seek HF training. Military doctors are more familiar with HF and have undertaken more training. Given the role of HF in communication, human error, potential litigation, stress, conflict and gross negligence manslaughter convictions, further education is vital.

Oestradiol modulation of cognition in adult female marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) provides many advantages over traditional rodent and macaque species as a model for human ageing and may be very useful for studying the effects of sex steroids on cognitive and brain ageing. We present the first study examining the effects of oestrogens on cognitive function in female marmosets. Adult monkeys (3-5 years of age) were trained to a specific learning criterion on a battery of cognitive tasks preoperatively (object discrimination, delayed response with increasing delays and detour reaching with opaque box) and were tested on different versions of these tasks (object reversals, delayed response with randomised delays and detour reaching with clear box) after ovariectomy and simultaneous implantation with 17ß-oestradiol (E2 ) (n = 6) or blank (n = 6) Silastic capsules. Acquisition of a delayed matching-to-position task with a 1-s delay was also administered after completion of these tests. E2 -treated monkeys were significantly impaired on the second reversal and showed an increase in perseverative responding from reversals 1-3. Their performance also tended to be worse than that of control monkeys on the delayed response task. Performance acquisition on the delayed matching-to-position tended to be better in E2 -treated relative to control monkeys, although the group difference did not reach statistical significance. No effect of treatment was detected for detour reaching or affiliative behaviours. Overall, the findings indicate that E2 compromises performance on prefrontally-mediated tasks. The suggestion that E2 may improve acquisition on tasks dependent on the hippocampus will require further validation. These results are discussed in the context of dopaminergic and serotonergic signalling. We conclude that the marmoset is a useful new primate model for examining the effects of oestrogens on cognitive function.

Neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristic changes in high school athletes: a plyometric versus basic resistance program.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristic deficits in female athletes, numerous injury prevention programs have been developed and have successfully reduced the number of knee ligament injuries. However, few have investigated the neuromuscular and biomechanical changes following these training programs. It is also largely unknown what type of program is better for improving the landing mechanics of female athletes. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of an 8 week plyometric and basic resistance training program on neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristics in female athletes. METHODS: Twenty seven high school female athletes participated either in a plyometric or a basic resistance training program. Knee and hip strength, landing mechanics, and muscle activity were recorded before and after the intervention programs. In the jump-landing task, subjects jumped as high as they could and landed on both feet. Electromyography (EMG) peak activation time and integrated EMG of thigh and hip muscles were recorded prior to (preactive) and subsequent to (reactive) foot contact. RESULTS: Both groups improved knee extensor isokinetic strength and increased initial and peak knee and hip flexion, and time to peak knee flexion during the task. The peak preactive EMG of the gluteus medius and integrated EMG for the gluteus medius during the preactive and reactive time periods were significantly greater for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Basic training alone induced favourable neuromuscular and biomechanical changes in high school female athletes. The plyometric program may further be utilised to improve muscular activation patterns.