Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

About: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is a education organization based out in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Health care & Population. The organization has 937 authors who have published 1113 publications receiving 27447 citations.

Quantitative automated circumpapillary microvascular density measurements: a new angioOCT-based methodology.

Abstract: To develop a new methodology to detect glaucoma damage based on circumpapillary microvascular density (cpmVD) as measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (angioOCT). AngioOCT scans from a random eye of 40 healthy subjects (aged 63 ± 14 years) and 82 glaucoma patients (aged 66 ± 9 years with an average visual field loss of −7.8 ± 6.5 dB) were used to develop a new angioOCT evaluation methodology. Optic disc-centred 3 × 3 mm images were collected (Angioplex®, Zeiss Cirrus 5000 HD-OCT). An annular area with an inner radius of 1.16 mm and outer radius of 1.44 mm was chosen as the region of interest (ROI), with cpmVD calculated through lower envelope modulation avoiding the influence of the major retinal vessels. Additionally, the cpmVD and the microvascular density (mVD), stratified by sectors, were compared with the respective retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness. A significantly lower cpmVD was observed in the glaucoma group, for all visual field sectors (p 0.05). The presented open-source methodology provides a robust quantitative analysis of the 360˚ mVD. It shows that cpmVD, and mVD sectors measured by angioOCT, can be used in everyday glaucoma practice.

Driven by Ambitions: The Nurse Practitioner's Role Transition in Dutch Hospital Care.

Abstract: It could be challenging for nurses to develop new roles under the umbrella term advanced practice nursing, such as the nurse practitioner (NP) role. Advanced nurses are expected to have more comprehensive insights of the complexity of healthcare situations than nurses working at a lower level, which means they have to redefine themselves in their healthcare contexts (Bryant-Lukosius, DiCenso, Browne, & Pinelli, 2004). NPs are qualified to diagnose and treat a variety of health problems, activities that are perceived to belong to the doctor's repertoire of skills. Therefore, the professional boundaries of nursing and medicine are challenged, which can be stressful for new NPs. Brown and Olshansky (1997) described the first years of practice of primary care NP graduates as a process, in which a crisis in confidence and competence associated with taking on a new position may lead to anxiety. Kelly and Mathews (2001) and Heitz, Steiner, and Burman (2004) described similar findings for NPs working in hospitals and for family NPs, respectively. Taking on a new role can be seen as a transition with profound changes in role relationships, expectations, and abilities. According to Meleis (2010), a transition like this does not simply equal a change, but is rather a process to incorporate changes in or disruptions of one's life. To do this well, it is important to know what may influence this process and its outcomes.BackgroundIn the Netherlands, the NP role has existed since 2000. Master's in advanced nursing practice programs especially designed for NPs are organized as 2-year work- study programs. The students work as NPs in training for 32 hr per week in their clinical work settings, and attend class 1 day per week. In medical courses they are trained in physical examination, medical diagnosis, and treatment planning. Moreover, courses are offered on leadership, patient education, coordinating clinical pathways, guidance, and coaching. These courses provide the tools to deepen their understanding of clinical, professional, and policy issues, allowing them to move beyond their present bachelor's degree level and to cope with the demands of complex patient care. In research courses they learn how to read and understand scientific research, and to design and conduct practice-oriented research. All programs are concluded with a master's thesis on a clinical topic related to NP practice (Verpleegkundige Beroepenstructuur en OpleidingsContinuum [Structure of the Nursing Profession and Education] 2008). The professional master's degree entitles NPs to use the protected title "nurse specialist." In 2011, they gained direct legal authority to perform medical procedures within their areas of expertise (e.g., emergency care, rheumatology, diabetes care, etc.).As soon as the NP role was initiated in the Netherlands, a fierce debate started on whether deployment of NPs could solve healthcare and workforce problems (Ter Maten-Speksnijder, Grypdonck, Pool, Meurs, & Staa, 2014). In the debate's efficiency discourse, the arguments in favor of a formal transfer of medical tasks to nurses included the expected shortage of physicians, increased healthcare spending, and the need for coordinated care. The debate's professional discourse, however, focused on the desirability of combining comprehensive nursing care with medical care. Although most physicians were found willing to delegate tasks to NPs, and the government urged physicians and NPs to realize the formal transfer of tasks (KNMG Koninklijk Nederlands Medisch Genootschap [Royal Dutch Medical Association], V&VN: Verpleegkundigen & Verzorgenden Nederland [Dutch Nurses' Association], NAPA: Nederlandse Associatie Physician Assistents [the Netherlands Association of Physician Assistants], Dutch Professional Healthcare Organizations, 2012), the physicians wished to retain final responsibility for medical care. Nurse leaders, on the other hand, found it important to strengthen the core values and practices of nursing (i. …

Eight grand challenges for value sensitive design from the 2016 Lorentz workshop

Abstract: In this article, we report on eight grand challenges for value sensitive design, which were developed at a one-week workshop, Value Sensitive Design: Charting the Next Decade, Lorentz Center, Leiden, The Netherlands, November 14–18, 2016. A grand challenge is a substantial problem, opportunity, or question that motives sustained research and design activity. The eight grand challenges are: (1) Accounting for Power, (2) Evaluating Value Sensitive Design, (3) Framing and Prioritizing Values, (4) Professional and Industry Appropriation, (5) Tech policy, (6) Values and Human Emotions, (7) Value Sensitive Design and Intelligent Algorithms, and (8) Value Tensions. Each grand challenge consists of a discussion of its importance and a set of tractable key questions.