Acceptable Measurement Research Articles

The dark triad, dating app use and online disinhibition positively predict technology-facilitated sexual violence perpetration

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) describes the perpetration of a variety of sexual offences committed through digital communication technologies. The current study aims to investigate the similarity of risk factors between TFSV and in-person sexual offending. The sample consisted of 105 young adult, Australian males who responded to measures of sexual violence acceptance, dating app usage, online disinhibition, and the dark triad. Overall, 45.3% of the sample reported at least one instance of TFSV perpetration in the past 5 years. Standard and hierarchical linear regressions revealed dating app usage, the dark triad, and online disinhibition positively predicted TFSV perpetration. Neither measure of attitudes accepting of sexual violence predicted TFSV perpetration, but their positive correlation is indicative of cultural norms enabling sexual violence against women. As illuminated here, the congruence between TFSV and in-person violence extends beyond conceptual and prevalence trends to predictive risk factors. Recommendations for interventions and prevention include raising awareness of risk-generating app features that create vulnerability to sexual harm and identifying heterogenous groups of TFSV offenders based on key characteristics to develop optimal intervention strategies.

Implementation of nutritional screening tools, nutritional assessment tools, and diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in convalescent rehabilitation wards: A nationwide survey

The utilization of recommended nutritional assessment measures in rehabilitation settings remains unclear. This study explored methods for identifying nutritional disorders using data from a nationwide survey conducted in convalescent rehabilitation wards. This cross-sectional study analyzed the annual survey, including methods for identifying malnutrition, the risk of malnutrition, and overnutrition in Kaifukuki (convalescent) rehabilitation wards. Methods identifying malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were grouped into nutritional screening tools (NSTs), nutritional assessment tools (NATs), diagnostic criteria for malnutrition (DCM), and suboptimal methods (e.g., hypoalbuminemia). NSTs, NATs, and DCM were further categorized as "acceptable tools." The association between applying acceptable tools, hospital-based data (e.g., the number of beds), and ward-based data (e.g., assessor for nutritional status) was analyzed by logistic regression analysis with multiple imputations. In total, 885 hospitals with Kaifukuki rehabilitation wards responded to the survey, and 754 hospitals were included in the analysis. Registered dietitians assessed the nutritional status in 88% of the hospitals, whereas other professionals (e.g., nurses) evaluated the nutritional status in the remainder. NSTs (e.g., Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form), NATs (e.g., Subjective Global Assessment), DCM (e.g., Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria), and suboptimal tools were used in 13.1%, 5.4%, 4.8%, and 74.6% of cases, respectively. Most hospitals used acceptable measures (e.g., body mass index) for overnutrition (91.2%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that assessments by registered dietitians (adjusted odds ratio[OR]: 2.20.95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.09-4.45) and hospital-owned food services, a proxy for limited clinical practice time of dietitians, were associated with a low likelihood of implementing acceptable measures (adjusted OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.43-0.97). Acceptable malnutrition measures, including the NSTs, NATs, and DCM, have not been widely applied in convalescent rehabilitation settings. The implementation of recommended tools for identifying malnutrition may be promoted when registered dietitians assess the patients' nutritional status.

Research outcomes informing the selection of public health interventions and strategies to implement them: A cross-sectional survey of Australian policy-maker and practitioner preferences

BackgroundA key role of public health policy-makers and practitioners is to ensure beneficial interventions are implemented effectively enough to yield improvements in public health. The use of evidence to guide public health decision-making to achieve this is recommended. However, few studies have examined the relative value, as reported by policy-makers and practitioners, of different broad research outcomes (that is, measures of cost, acceptability, and effectiveness). To guide the conduct of research and better inform public health policy and practice, this study aimed at describing the research outcomes that Australian policy-makers and practitioners consider important for their decision-making when selecting: (a) public health interventions; (b) strategies to support their implementation; and (c) to assess the differences in research outcome preferences between policy-makers and practitioners.MethodAn online value-weighting survey was conducted with Australian public health policy-makers and practitioners working in the field of non-communicable disease prevention. Participants were presented with a list of research outcomes and were asked to select up to five they considered most critical to their decision-making. They then allocated 100 points across these – allocating more points to outcomes perceived as more important. Outcome lists were derived from a review and consolidation of evaluation and outcome frameworks in the fields of public health knowledge translation and implementation. We used descriptive statistics to report relative preferences overall and for policy-makers and practitioners separately.ResultsOf the 186 participants; 90 primarily identified as policy-makers and 96 as public health prevention practitioners. Overall, research outcomes of effectiveness, equity, feasibility, and sustainability were identified as the four most important outcomes when considering either interventions or strategies to implement them. Scores were similar for most outcomes between policy-makers and practitioners.ConclusionFor Australian policy-makers and practitioners working in the field of non-communicable disease prevention, outcomes related to effectiveness, equity, feasibility, and sustainability appear particularly important to their decisions about the interventions they select and the strategies they employ to implement them. The findings suggest researchers should seek to meet these information needs and prioritize the inclusion of such outcomes in their research and dissemination activities. The extent to which these outcomes are critical to informing the decision of policy-makers and practitioners working in other jurisdictions or contexts warrants further investigation.

Recommended measurement instruments for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause: the COMMA (Core outcomes in menopause) consortium.

The aim of the study is to identify appropriate definitions and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for each of the eight core outcomes previously selected for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause: pain with sex, vulvovaginal dryness, vulvovaginal discomfort or irritation, discomfort or pain when urinating, change in most bothersome symptom, distress, bother or interference of genitourinary symptoms, satisfaction with treatment, and side effects. We conducted a systematic review to identify possible definitions and PROMs, including their measurement properties. Identified definitions and relevant PROMs with acceptable measurement properties were entered into an international consensus process involving 28 participants from 10 countries to achieve final recommendations for each core outcome. A total of 87 publications reporting on 34 PROMs were identified from 21,207 publications screened. Of these 34 PROMs, 29 were not considered to sufficiently map onto the core outcomes, and 26 of these also had insufficient measurement properties. Therefore, only five PROMs corresponding to two core outcomes were considered for recommendation. We recommend the PROMIS Scale v2.0 - Sexual Function and Satisfaction: Vaginal Discomfort with Sexual Activity to measure the outcome of "pain with sexual activity" and the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) Questionnaire to measure "distress, bother or interference" from genitourinary symptoms. Six definitions of "side effects" were identified and considered. We recommend that all trials report adverse events in study participants, which is a requirement of Good Clinical Practice. Suitable PROMs and definitions were identified to measure three of eight core outcomes. Because of the lack of existing measures, which align with the core outcomes and have evidence of high-quality measurement properties, future work will focus on developing or validating PROMs for the remaining five core outcomes.

Group-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for PTSD in a HMO Psychiatry Clinic: An Open Trial

Mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches have shown promise as alternative interventions to trauma-focused therapies for PTSD. This open trial examined the potential effectiveness of an 8-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group in reducing psychiatric symptoms and improving quality of life in outpatient adults (N = 86, 79% female) receiving treatment for PTSD in a health maintenance organization (HMO) psychiatry clinic. The group therapy was an adjunct to usual care and utilized the six core processes of ACT: acceptance, cognitive defusion, mindfulness, self-as-context, values, and committed action. Participants completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety and quality of life; and self-report ACT-specific process measures of acceptance, cognitive defusion and mindfulness at pretreatment, posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. Repeated measures analyses of variance conducted with a completer sample (n = 55) demonstrated significant improvements on all variables with medium to large effect sizes at posttreatment and follow-up. The study findings support further investigation in a randomized controlled trial.

Co-design and usability of an interactive web-based fertility decision aid for transgender youth and young adults.

To develop a patient- and family-centered Aid For Fertility-Related Medical Decisions (AFFRMED) interactive website targeted for transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth/young adults and their parents to facilitate shared decision-making about fertility preservation interventions through user-centered participatory design. TNB youth/young adults interested in or currently receiving pubertal suppression or gender-affirming hormone treatment and parents of eligible TNB youth/young adults were recruited to participate in a series of iterative human-centered co-design sessions to develop an initial AFFRMED prototype. Subsequently, TNB youth/young adults and parents of TNB youth/young adults were recruited for usability testing interviews, involving measures of usability (i.e., After Scenario Questionnaire, Net Promotor Score, System Usability Scale). Twenty-seven participants completed 18 iterative co-design sessions and provided feedback on 10 versions of AFFRMED (16 TNB youth/young adults and 11 parents). Nine TNB youth/young adults and six parents completed individual usability testing interviews. Overall, participants rated AFFRMED highly on measures of acceptability, appropriateness, usability, and satisfaction. However, scores varied by treatment cohort, with TNB youth interested in or currently receiving pubertal suppression treatment reporting the lowest usability scores. We co-created a youth- and family-centered fertility decision aid prototype that provides education and decision support in an online, interactive format. Future directions include testing the efficacy of the decision aid in improving fertility and fertility preservation knowledge, decisional self-efficacy, and decision satisfaction.

The Effects of Fidget Spinners on Oral Reading Fluency

Research on the effectiveness of fidget spinner use in the classroom to increase academic performance and behavior has had mixed results, with no studies evaluating the use of fidget spinners on reading performance. The current study examined the effects of using a fidget spinner on Aimsweb oral reading fluency probes for 66 students in the 3rd through 5th grades at an inner-city public charter school. Students completed an acceptability measure determining whether they liked using the fidget spinner and if they thought it helped them. Results indicated that the fidget spinner use neither significantly increased nor decreased student reading fluency, even for those students who indicated they read more when using the fidget spinner. The current study suggests that even if the fidget spinner does not produce a therapeutic effect there are no significant negative effects on student reading fluency.

Validity of the Active Australia Survey in an Australian cardiac rehabilitation population

ObjectivesTo examine the long-term validity of the Active Australia Survey in a cardiac rehabilitation population using accelerometry as the reference measure. DesignCohort validation study. MethodsCardiac rehabilitation participants with coronary heart disease were recruited to a prospective cohort study. Over 7-days, 61 participants wore an ActiGraph ActiSleep accelerometer (1-second epoch, 10-minute bout) and completed the self-administered Active Australia Survey at baseline, 6-weeks, 6 and 12-months. Total daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from both methods was compared using Bland-Altman plots and Spearman rank-order correlations. ResultsParticipants tended to over-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with more active participants more likely to over-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. There was a good level of agreement between the accelerometer 1-second epochs and Active Australia Survey at all time points (mean bias (ratio) 1.04, 1.16, 1.14, and 1.06, respectively), with weak-moderate correlations (ρ = 0.3-0.48). Conversely, there was a poor level of agreement between the accelerometer 10-minute bouts and Active Australia Survey at all time points (mean bias (ratio) 6.78, 9.09, 6.35, and 5.68, respectively), with weak-moderate correlations (ρ = 0.3-0.52). Agreement between the two measures did not improve over time for both 1-second and 10-minute bout accelerometry data. ConclusionsThe Active Australia Survey may be an acceptable self-report measure of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in cardiac rehabilitation attendees when capturing any time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The Active Australia Survey may be useful to routinely monitor physical activity levels over-time in Australian cardiac rehabilitation programs at both individual and group levels. Trial registrationTrial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12615000995572, http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12615000995572.aspx.

Ethnic Racial Identity Development and Self-Esteem among Native American Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Peer Belonging.

While ethnic racial identity (ERI) development is associated with a variety of psychological well-being outcomes, the mechanisms through which this association operates is yet to be fully explained. During adolescence, social belonging is a developmentally salient process that can play a key role in how ERI impacts well-being. We sought to explore the mediating role of belonging to peer networks in the association between ERI and self-esteem among Native American adolescents. In this cross-sectional, mediational study, we used survey data from 317 Native American students attending a reservation high school (46.9% female; M age =16). Students' levels of ERI development were measured by combining items from two scales pertaining to ethnic identity development and racial identity. We employed a structural equation modeling approach to explore the mediating role of peer belonging in the association between ERI and self-esteem. Results suggest that our 4-item index of peer belonging was an acceptable measure of this construct. Further, the significant indirect effect of peer belonging explains a notable portion (β=.22, p ≤ .05) of the total effects of ERI on self- esteem (β=.54, p ≤ .05). This finding suggests that higher levels of ERI achievement contribute to higher levels of peer belongingness, which in turn lead to improved self-esteem among students. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Recommended measurement instruments for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) consortium.

The aim of the study is to identify suitable definitions and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess each of the six core outcomes previously identified through the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) global consensus process relating to vasomotor symptoms: frequency, severity, distress/bother/interference, impact on sleep, satisfaction with treatment, and side effects. A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant definitions for the outcome of side-effects and PROMs with acceptable measurement properties for the remaining five core outcomes. The consensus process, involving 36 participants from 16 countries, was conducted to review definitions and PROMs and make final recommendations for the measurement of each core outcome. A total of 21,207 publications were screened from which 119 reporting on 40 PROMs were identified. Of these 40 PROMs, 36 either did not adequately map onto the core outcomes or lacked sufficient measurement properties. Therefore, only four PROMs corresponding to two of the six core outcomes were considered for recommendation. We recommend the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale to measure the domain of distress, bother, or interference of vasomotor symptoms and to capture impact on sleep (one item in the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale captures interference with sleep). Six definitions of "side effects" were identified and considered. We recommend that all trials report adverse events, which is a requirement of Good Clinical Practice. We identified suitable definitions and PROMs for only three of the six core outcomes. No suitable PROMs were found for the remaining three outcomes (frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms and satisfaction with treatment). Future studies should develop and validate PROMs for these outcomes.

Randomized Feasibility Pilot of an Executive Functioning Intervention Adapted for Children's Mental Health Settings.

The critical role of executive functioning in autism as well as the co-occurring mental health challenges common among autistic youth support to the immense value of interventions targeting executive functioning for enhancing mental health services for autistic children. The goal of the present study was to conduct a randomized feasibility trial of Unstuck and On Target, an executive functioning intervention, adapted for delivery in children's community mental health setting. Mental health therapists (n = 26) enrolled with participating autistic clients (n = 32) were randomized to receive training in and deliver the adapted Unstuck intervention or to deliver care as usual. We completed masked observational measures of Unstuck strategy use (fidelity) during recorded sessions of participating therapist-client dyads and collected measures of acceptability from participating clients and their caregivers. We also collected measures of pre-post changes in executive functioning and mental health symptoms. Therapists trained in Unstuck demonstrated significantly higher use of Unstuck strategies compared to usual care therapists. Caregivers and autistic clients perceive adapted Unstuck as highly acceptability and helpful. Autistic clients whose therapists were trained in adapted Unstuck demonstrated larger pre-post changes in executive functioning compared to usual care. Across all participating clients, changes in executive functioning were significantly related to changes in mental health symptoms. Finally, clients of therapists trained in adapted Unstuck demonstrated moderate improvements in overall mental health symptoms. The current study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and impact of Unstuck and On Target for children's community mental health settings.

Psychometric properties of stigma and discrimination measurement tools for persons living with HIV: a systematic review using the COSMIN methodology

BackgroundThe development of antiretroviral therapy broadly extends the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). However, stigma and discrimination are still great threat to these individuals and the world's public health care system. Accurate and reproducible measures are prerequisites for robust results. Therefore, it is essential to choose an acceptable measure with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess stigma and discrimination. There has been no systematic review of different stigma and discrimination tools in the field of HIV care. Researchers and clinical practitioners do not have a solid reference for selecting stigma and discrimination measurement tools.MethodsWe systematically searched English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, The Cochrane Library, CNKI,, and Wanfang, to obtain literature about stigma and discrimination measurement tools that have been developed and applied in the field of HIV. The search period was from 1st January, 1996 to 22nd November 2021. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guideline (2018 version) was applied to assess the risk of bias for each involved study and summarize the psychometric properties of each tool. The modified version of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and, Evaluation (GRADE) method was used to grade the evidence and develop recommendations.ResultsWe included 45 studies and 19 PROMs for HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among PLHIV. All studies had sufficient methodological quality in content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and the hypothesis testing of structural validity. Limited evidence was found for cross-cultural validity, stability, and criterion validity. No relevant evidence was found concerning measurement error and responsiveness. The Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IARSS), Internalized HIV Stigma Scale (IHSS), and Wright's HIV stigma scale (WHSS) are recommended for use.ConclusionsThis study recommends three PROMs for different stigma and discrimination scenarios, including IARSS for its good quality and convenience, IHSS for its broader range of items, higher sensitivity, and greater precision, and WHSS for its comprehensive and quick screening. Researchers should also consider the relevance and feasibility of the measurements before putting them into practice.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022308579

Development process, clinical utility, and preliminary psychometric evidence of a new tool for screening psychological distress in renal care settings: the Hemodialysis Distress Thermometer (HD-DT)

Objective This study aimed to develop, evaluate the clinical utility, and test the psychometric properties of a new tool – the Hemodialysis Distress Thermometer (HD-DT) – designed to screen self-reported psychological distress and its sources in adults receiving hemodialysis. Methods and Measures Phase 1 focused on the process of developing and evaluating the content validity and clinical utility of the HD-DT using a stepwise mixed-methods approach; in Phase 2, the measurement properties of the European Portuguese version of the HD-DT were tested against reference measures in a cross-sectional study (n = 134 people on hemodialysis); while in Phase 3 the HD-DT was translated and culturally adapted into American English using forward-backward translation and review by a panel of experts. Results Qualitative findings suggested that the HD-DT was perceived by feedback panels as practical and useful for rapidly screening psychological distress in nephrology centers. The European Portuguese version of this new tool showed good test-retest reliability and high diagnostic accuracy using a cutoff point of ≥ 6 for total distress. High convergent validity was found with reference measures that assess psychological health, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusion This study highlights the potential clinical utility of the HD-DT as an acceptable, reliable, and valid measure that can be used by health psychologists in clinical practice and research in renal care settings. Data collection to validate the American English version of the HD-DT is currently underway.

Evaluation of Measurement System Analysis Techniques for Screw Shaft Manufacturing in Teaching Factory Setting

This study examines the Evaluation of Measurement System Analysis (MSA) Techniques for Screw Shaft Manufacturing in a Teaching Factory Setting at Politeknik STMI Jakarta. The research investigates the precision and accuracy of the measurement system using statistical methods such as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Number of Distinct Categories (NDC), and metrics like Total Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (GRR), Repeatability, and Reproducibility. Through comprehensive data collection, including multiple appraisers across various trials measured quantitative surveys and qualitative observations, Screw Shaft dimensions and tolerances. The collected data underwent thorough statistical analysis utilizing ANOVA to explore the sources of variation in measurements. The results of the MSA analysis provided critical insights into the measurement system's performance. Repeatability variability (9.97%) and reproducibility variability (3.80%) contribute to a total GRR of 10.67%, indicating an acceptable measurement system. Part-to-part variation emerged as the primary source of variability, emphasizing the importance of addressing part differences in quality control processes. Moreover, ANOVA highlighted the influence of different factors on measurement consistency. Part variations significantly impacted measurement variability, underscoring the need to manage part differences effectively. The assessment of repeatability and reproducibility revealed insights into measurement consistency and reliability. These findings carry significant implications for both industry and education. Understanding the factors affecting measurement variability enables the implementation of corrective measures to enhance product quality and consistency. Additionally, advancements in measurement techniques and quality management practices in Teaching Factory environments contribute to improved product quality and competitiveness in industrial settings. Continued research and evaluation are crucial for further enhancing measurement systems and manufacturing processes.

A Direct Assessment of Noninvasive Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit

IntroductionNoninvasive continuous blood pressure monitoring has the potential to improve patient treatment in the hospital setting. Such noninvasive devices can be applied earlier in the treatment process to empower nurses and clinicians to react more quickly to patient deterioration with the added benefit of eliminating the risks associated with invasive monitoring. However, emerging technologies must be capable of reproducing current clinical measures for medical decision making. MethodsThis study aimed to determine the usability and willingness of nurses to implement a noninvasive continuous blood pressure monitoring device. The secondary aim directly compared the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure values recorded by the device (VitalStream; CareTaker Medical LLC, Charlottesville, VA) with the “gold standard” brachial cuff and arterial line measures recorded in the emergency department and intensive care unit settings. ResultsVitalStream was similarly received by nurses in the emergency department and intensive care setting, but ultimately had greater promotion from emergency nurses. Despite some statistical similarity between measurement methodologies, all direct comparisons were found to not meet the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation 2008 and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation / European Society of Hypertension / International Organization for Standardization 2019 consensus statement criteria for acceptable blood pressure measure differences between the VitalStream and “gold standard” clinical measures. In all instances, the standard deviation of the Bland-Altman bias exceeded 8 mm Hg with less than 85% of paired differences falling within 10 mm Hg of the “gold standard.” DiscussionTaken together, the tested device requires additional postprocessing for medical decision making in trauma or emergent care.

Social Acceptance Scale—development of an instrument for the differentiated measurement of social acceptance in agricultural livestock farming

This paper presents the development and validation of the Social Acceptance Scale (SAS), an instrument designed to measure social acceptance, particularly in transformative sectors like agricultural livestock farming. Recognizing the need for a nuanced acceptance scale, various facets of acceptance across a three-level continuum were delineated, spanning from opposition to commitment, encompassing eight distinct items. The SAS's creation and validation process included the conceptual and empirical testing of four validity types: content validity, face validity, construct validity, and criterion validity. Content and face validity involved construct definition, item generation, iterative review, and pilot testing to ensure theoretical soundness. Empirical testing encompassed construct validity through statistical validation and assessments of factorial and convergent validity. Furthermore, criterion validity was explored by examining associations with related constructs, enhancing the SAS's external applicability. In conclusion, this paper introduces the SAS as a tool to measure social acceptance within transformative sectors. It underscores the necessity for a comprehensive acceptance scale, offering a detailed account of its development and validation. The discussion section acknowledges limitations and outlines potential directions for future research in this domain.

Effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders within routine clinical care in rural Sweden

Few studies have evaluated the implementation of ICBT in regular child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This study aimed to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of ICBT for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) within a rural CAMHS. The study also explored outcome predictors and long-term outcomes.Eighty-three participants were consecutively recruited from a non-specialized CAMHS in Region Jämtland Härjedalen in northern Sweden. Therapist-guided ICBT was offered during 12 weeks to children aged 8–17 with an anxiety disorder or OCD. Acceptability and feasibility measures included treatment adherence, treatment satisfaction, and adverse events. The primary outcome measure was the Clinical Global Impression–Severity. Secondary measures of effectiveness included clinician-, self-, and parent-ratings of symptom severity and functional impairment. Assessments were completed at baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up (primary endpoint). A two-year follow up was conducted using medical records. Potential predictors included both patient characteristics and treatment variables.Results indicated that ICBT was both acceptable and feasible according to study measures. Statistically significant improvements were found from baseline to the three-month follow-up on clinician rated severity (B [SE] = −0.92 [0.09]; p < .001), as well as on all secondary measures. Forty-three percent of participants no longer fulfilled criteria for their principal disorder at the three-month follow-up. No serious adverse events were reported. Clinical improvement was highest among children with higher functioning at baseline (B [SE] = −0.05 [0.02]; p < .05). Forty-six percent of participants had been in contact with CAMHS during the two-year follow-up period, mainly for reasons other than their initial diagnosis. Findings suggest that ICBT could be an acceptable and feasible treatment option for young people with anxiety disorders and OCD in rural non-specialized CAMHS settings. Further studies are needed to confirm treatment effectiveness in this setting. Trial registration: NCT02926365.

Acceptability and feasibility of policy implementation strategies for taxes earmarked for behavioral health services.

This study's aims are to: (1) Compare the acceptability and feasibility of five types of implementation strategies that could be deployed to increase the reach of evidence-based practices (EBPs) with revenue from policies that earmark taxes for behavioral health services, and (2) Illustrate how definitions of implementation strategies and measures of acceptability and feasibility can be used in policy-focused implementation science research. Web-based surveys of public agency and community organization professionals involved with earmarked tax policy implementation were completed in 2022-2023 (N = 211, response rate = 24.9%). Respondents rated the acceptability and feasibility of five types of implementation strategies (dissemination, implementation process, integration, capacity-building, and scale-up). Aggregate acceptability and feasibility scores were calculated for each type of strategy (scoring range 4-20). Analyses of variance compared scores across strategies and between organizational actor types. For acceptability, capacity-building strategies had the highest rating (M = 16.3, SD = 3.0), significantly higher than each of the four other strategies, p ≤ . 004), and scale-up strategies had the lowest rating (M = 15.6). For feasibility, dissemination strategies had the highest rating (M = 15.3, significantly higher than three of the other strategies, p ≤ .002) and scale-up strategies had the lowest rating (M = 14.4). Capacity-building and dissemination strategies may be well-received and readily deployed by policy implementers to support EBPs implementation with revenue from taxes earmarked for behavioral health services. Adapting definitions of implementation strategies for policy-focused topics, and applying established measures of acceptability and feasibility to these strategies, demonstrates utility as an approach to advance research on policy-focused implementation strategies.

Longitudinal tracking of intrabreath respiratory impedance in preschool children.

Longitudinal measurements of intrabreath respiratory impedance (Zrs) in preschool-aged children may be able to distinguish abnormal lung function trajectories in children with a history of wheezing compared to healthy ones. Children from a prospective, longitudinal community-based cohort performed annual intrabreath oscillometry (IB-OSC) measurements from age 3-to 7-years. IB-OSC was performed using a single 10 Hz sinusoid while clinically asymptomatic. Linear mixed-effects models were developed to explore the effects of wheezing phenotypes, growth, and sex on seven IB-OSC outcome variables over time: resistance at end-expiration (ReE), resistance at end-inspiration (ReI), the tidal change in resistance (∆R=ReE-ReI), reactance at end-expiration (XeE), reactance at end-inspiration (XeI), the tidal change in reactance (∆X=XeE-XeI), and ∆X normalized by tidal volume (∆X/VT). Eighty-five children produced 374 acceptable IB-OSC measurements. Subjects were classified into one of three wheeze groups: never (n = 36), transient (n = 34), or persistent (n = 15). After adjusting for height, children with persistent wheezing, compared to those who never wheezed, had +0.814 hPa s L-1 ReE (95% confidence interval [CI] +0.178 to +1.451, p = 0.015), -0.792 hPa s L-1 XeE (95%CI -1.203 to -0.381, p = 0.003), -0.538 hPa s L-1 ∆X (95%CI -0.834 to -0.242, p = 0.007) and -1.672 hPa s L-2 ∆X/VT (95%CI -2.567 to -0.777, p < 0.001). Increasing height had a significant effect on all IB-OSC resistance and reactance variables when adjusted for the effect of preschool wheezing. IB-OSC is feasible for tracking lung function growth in preschool-aged children and may allow abnormal lung function to be identified early in asymptomatic preschoolers with a history of persistent wheezing.

Evaluation of Ortahisar Municipality Building Interior Spaces in Terms of Noise Levels

In the study, the acoustic comfort conditions of the interiors of the Trabzon Ortahisar Municipality Building were evaluated depending on the noise level values. Noise level measurements were made indoors in Ortahisar Municipality of Ortahisar District, the center of Trabzon, and acceptable values and measurement results were compared. First, the current architectural project of Ortahisar Municipality was obtained from the Survey Project Directorate to determine the measurement points. The causes of indoor noise and density conditions in the units were evaluated by making on-site observations. Then, measurement points were determined on the project in line with the data obtained. Four measurements of 15 minutes each between 10.00-11.00 hours at the specified measurement points were completed in 24 working days. The values of the noise level measurement results depending on the frequencies were obtained. In the last stage of the study, the noise level measurement values obtained were compared with the acceptable values specified in the relevant standards. As a result of the study, it was determined that the noise level measurement results were generally above acceptable values in the background at medium and high frequencies.