6 List of Original Publications 8 Abbreviations 9

BACKGROUND Few studies document differences in patient satisfaction with physicians in the elderly (> or = 65 years) and compare it to non-elderly (<65 years) patients. METHODS A cross-sectional survey study on a convenience sample of 20,901 patients rated their recent visit to a physician through a web-based survey. Survey included validated questions based on aspects of physician care pract...

Ski jumps are frequently applied as spillways of high dams. The resulting jet impact location on the plunge pool surface is often distant from the dam toe so that the latter is protected from scouring. Furthermore, the jet disintegrates and disperses prior to its impact, thereby reducing the specific energy addition to the plunge pool. The present research addresses four aspects, based on three...

Is self-directed speech critical to cognitive processes supporting complex, goal-directed behavior? If so, how? An influential developmental hypothesis is that children talk to themselves to support cognitive control processes, and that with age this speech becomes increasingly covert and strategic. However, while many studies suggest language supports cognitive control, evidence that self-dire...

BACKGROUND Surgical mortality audit is an important tool for quality assurance and professional development but little is known about the impact of such activity on professional practice at the individual surgeon level. This paper reports the findings of a survey conducted with a self-selected cohort of surgeons in Queensland, Australia, on their experience of participating in the audit and its...

BACKGROUND Work ability is the ability of a worker to perform his job. The authors hypothesized that supervisor support influences the work ability of workers working in an information technology company located in Tokyo. AIMS To assess whether or not support from supervisors influences work ability. METHODS Two surveys using the Brief Job Scale Questionnaire and the Work Ability Index (WAI...

This study explored organizational climate and its effects on organizational commitment in the setting of Saudi academic nursing. A cross-sectional design was employed. Seventy-two faculty nurses at three universities were surveyed. The Organizational Commitment, Organizational Climate, and Academic Index were used for data collection. A descriptive analysis was used. The mean age of the facult...