Bartlett's Test Research Articles

Kalp Cerrahisi Semptom Envanterinin Türk Dilinde Geçerlik ve Güvenirliği

This study was conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Heart Surgery Symptom Inventory (HSSI) in Turkish language. This methodological study consisted of 312 patients who had CABG surgery in a public and a foundation university hospital between December 2017 and September 2018. Data were collected with the Patient Information Form and the HSSI. Language validity of the HSSI was analyzed by the translation-back translation method. Content validity was evaluated by Davis technique. Cronbach α coefficient, and item total correlation were examined for the reliability of the inventory. Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett's tests were performed to evaluate the sampling adequacy and the suitability of the data for factor analysis. KMO value was 0.867, which indicates suitability for principal component analysis. Bartlett's test was found as x2=22733.809; p=0.000 and this value shows that the data are related to each other and are suitable for factor analysis. Content Validity Index (CVI) of the inventory was found 0.84. Factor loadings of the 35-item HSSI, which was examined as a single sub-dimension, varied between 333 and 858, and explained variance was 44.922%. The total Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.961 and the total item correlations for all items were positive. As a result, the HSSI with single-subscale and 35-item was found to be valid and reliable inventory in Turkish language and could be used for the evaluation of symptoms after heart surgery.

Assessment of sociological indices affecting environmental pollution in Iwo, Nigeria

AbstractTwelve sociological factors such as: gender, age, marital status, household size, religion, educational attainment, government influence, occupation, housing structure, culture, health issues, and period of residency at the survey location were assessed to evaluate their relative impacts on environmental pollution, in Iwo, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was prepared and randomly administered to 257 households out of which 215 (83.65%) was completed and retrieved. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential (factor analysis) statistics. Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett tests showed factorability of data at p < 0.05 significant level. Factor Analysis (FA) ultimately recognized six (6) indices among the sociological factors as having eigenvalues above 1. The indices explained 65% of the total variance and are weighted as follows: household size (12.5%), marital status (11.4%), government influence (10.7%), religion (10.5%), culture (9.8%), and health issues (9.8%). These are essential indices to be explored when measuring sociological impacts on environmental pollution. That means, cultures that discourage pollution are to be identified and supported by relevant government policies and legislations.

Examining organizational politics as the cause of the crisis in energy generation in developing countries

The majority of state-owned power companies (SoEs) have experienced organizational cancer for nearly three decades without showing any signs of ceasing operations. Academicians generally agree that organizational politics are to blame for the ongoing energy-generating dilemma that has plagued rising nations. Worldwide, economies rely heavily on electricity as an energy source, to the point where they would not function or even survive without it. In order to reduce unfavorable political behavior, this study examines organizational politics at the Zimbabwe Supply Authority, a SoE in charge of energy production. A sample of 1400 individuals who were chosen at random from a population of 2210 staff members participated in the study using a quantitative research approach to collect data. By the deadline, 358 completed questionnaires had been returned; however, 11 of them were rejected because they had been wrongly filled out, with a response rate of 24.78%. The data were analyzed using the statistical tool SPSS 21.0 for Windows. To ensure that the samples were adequate for factor analysis, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's Test of sphericity were applied to the data before exploratory factor analysis could be conducted on them (Field, 2007:619). The results of the study showed that bad political behavior and ineffective managerial leadership techniques had a detrimental impact on the power generation crisis. According to the report, managers should receive training on modern managerial leadership behavior, managerial methods for behavior modification, and improved communication.

Development of the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale

BackgroundThere is a need for a valid and reliable scale to determine the individualised developmental care levels of nurses who provide care for preterm newborns. AimsTo develop the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale for nurses who provide care to preterm newborns and to evaluate its validity and reliability. MethodsThis methodological study was performed with 260 nurses who provide care for preterm newborns in neonatal intensive care units. The content validity of the research was evaluated under the guidance of professionals working in the pediatric field. Collected data were analysed using values, percentage, mean, standard deviation, correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and factor analysis methods. ResultsThe total Content Validity Index for all items was found to be 0.930. The result of Bartlett's test of sphericity (x2 = 4691.061, p = 0.000) was significant, and the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.906. The fit indices for confirmatory factor analysis were x2/SD = 4.35, GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.057 and SRMR = 0.062. All of the related fit indices were in the accepted range. The Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale was developed at the end of the study, and 34 items and four dimensions were identified. The Cronbach's alpha of the full scale was 0.937. ConclusionsFrom the results, it can be concluded that the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale is both a reliable and valid measurement tool for determining individualised developmental levels.

Evaluating Psychometric Properties of the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City (SBAHC) Nurses' Electronic Handover Tool.

Handover is crucial during the transfer of patient care between healthcare professionals.Successful handover maintains patients' safety and high-quality care. The electronic handover of patients' information is achievable, feasible, and potentially improves the quality of patient care. However, the introduction of the electronic handover is relatively recent and challenging for healthcare providers, especially nurses. Since Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City (SBAHC)has recently implemented an electronic handover system among nurses, the main aim of the current study was to develop a tool to assess the perception and barriers to electronic handover systems among nurses working at SBAHC and evaluate its psychometric properties. The tool content and face validity were assessed by the content validity ratio (CVR). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used as validity methods, while the test-retest and inter-item consistency were used as reliability measures. The sample size was planned as five times the number of questions and a total of 200 nurses participated in the study. The criteria required for factor analysis were met as indicated by the results of the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin test and Bartlett's test of sphericity. The reliability results showed a Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranging from 0.858 to 0.910 for the perception subscale and from 0.564 to 0.789 for the barrier subscale, and an overall interclass correlation of 0.986, p<0.001. The developed SBAHC electronic handover tool was valid and reliable, and it is advisable to consider it at the initial stages of implanting an electronic handover system to identify obstacles that are faced by the staff to be considered and addressed by the higher management.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Recognizing And Addressing Limited Pharmaceutical Literacy (RALPH) interview guide in community pharmacies.

The RALPH (Recognizing and Addressing Limited PHarmaceutical Literacy) interview guide makes it possible to identify patients with limited pharmaceutical knowledge and to assess their skills in the functional, communicative, and critical health literacy domains. (s): To perform a cross-cultural validation of the RALPH interview guide in Spanish population; to conduct a descriptive analysis based on patients' responses. A cross-sectional study of patients' pharmaceutical literacy skills was conducted in three stages: systematic translation, administration of the interview and analysis of psychometric properties. The target population included adult patients (≥18 years) who attend one of the participating community pharmacies in Barcelona (Spain). Content validity was evaluated by an expert committee. Viability was assessed in the pilot test, and reliability was assessed using internal consistency and intertemporal stability. Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis. A total of 103 patients were interviewed at 20 pharmacies. Cronbach's alpha values based on standardized items ranged between 0.720 and 0.764. For the longitudinal component, the ICC test-retest reliability was 0.924. The factor analysis was verified by KMO (0.619) and Bartlett's test of sphericity (P-value <0.05). The definitive RALPH guide translated into Spanish maintains the same structure as the original. Some expressions were simplified, and the questions on the comprehension of warnings or specific instructions for use, contradictory information and shared decision-making were reformulated. Pharmaceutical literacy skills were seen to be most limited with regard to the critical domain. The responses of the Spanish patients were in agreement with the original results of the RALPH interview guide. The RALPH interview guide in Spanish complies with the requirements viability, validity, and reliability. This tool may be able to identify the low pharmaceutical literacy skills of patients coming to community pharmacies in Spain, and its use may also be extended to other Spanish-speaking countries.

Development and Validation of the Missed Nursing Care Tool for Pre-Operative Patients with Lung Cancer in China.

Current research suggests that missed nursing care is widespread in preoperative lung cancer patients in China, and preoperative airway management nursing care for lung cancer patients is not standardized. Missed nursing care for preoperative lung cancer patients, on the other hand, is rarely investigated, particularly from the patient's perspective. This study aimed to develop and validate the MISSCARE Survey for pre-operative patients with lung cancer in China. This study generated the preliminary draft of the MISSCARE Survey - Lung Cancer Patient (MS-LCP) and tested its reliability and stability through three rounds of lung cancer resection (494, 50, and 309 cases, respectively). 20 patients and 6 experts determined the face and content validity. EFA and CFA assessed construct and convergent validity. Internal consistency, including Cronbach's alpha, Spearman-Brown reliability, and re-test reliability, was also examined. The scale contained 15 items, including specific care, communicative care, timely care, and basic care. KMO was 0.932 (> 0.6), and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity showed P = 0.000 (<0.05). The attribution factor's item loads ranged from 0.765 to 0.853, accounting for 82.20% of the variation. The scale's Cronbach's alpha, Spearman-Brown, and retest reliability were 0.945, 0.879, and 0.824. CFA showed goodness of fit (RMSEA = 0.021, χ2/df = 1.138, GFI = 0.900, AGFI = 0.945, CFI = 0.996, NFI = 0.967, IFI = 0.996). For each dimension, AVE ranged from 0.555 to 0.717 (>0.50) and CR from 0.861 to 0.904 (>0.70). The MS-LCP was reliable and valid in this study, making it appropriate for the Chinese lung cancer patient population. This tool is more objective in its presentation of missed nursing care, assisting nursing staff in optimizing nursing procedures before surgery, increasing the implementation of higher-quality tumor care, and promoting the recovery of lung cancer surgery patients.

Reliability and validity of the hidden hunger assessment scale in China-revised for high school students

Hidden hunger remains a severe public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. In China, challenges related to dietary imbalance and hidden hunger persist. Micronutrient inadequacy deserves more attention among adolescents, given its vital role in their growth and development; however, this problem appears to have been largely ignored. High school students, in particular, are often at a high risk of hidden hunger but have limited assessment tools available. Therefore, this study aims to revise the hidden hunger assessment scale for high school students (HHAS-HSS) in China and assess its reliability and validity. Based on a literature review, expert consultation, pre-experiment, and formal survey, a hidden hunger assessment scale was revised for high school students. The formal survey involved 9 336 high school students in 11 of the 16 cities in Anhui Province, China, and 9 038 valid questionnaires were collected and included in the analysis. The item analysis, internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis of the HHAS-HSS were examined. The HHAS-HSS included a total of 4 dimensions and 12 items: “vegetables and food diversity” (three items), “fruits and dairy products” (three items), “micronutrient-dense foods” (four items), and “health condition and eating habits” (two items). The results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.758, a split-half reliability of 0.829, and a test-retest reliability of 0.793, indicating good internal consistency. Using the Bartlett's test and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test (KMO) to test the exploratory factor analysis presented a four-factor model of the HHAS-HSS, the KMO value was 0.820 (P < 0.001), which indicated the possibility for factor confirmatory factor analysis. Using the maximum variance rotation method, four factors were obtained, and the cumulative variance explained rate was 57.974%. Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the division of the scale into four dimensions, and the fitting indices were χ² = 1417.656, χ²/df = 29.534, goodness-of-fit index = 0.974, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.958, parsimonious goodness-of-fit index = 0.600, normed fit index = 0.938, incremental fit index = 0.940, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.917, comparative fit index = 0.939, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.056. Except for χ²/df, all the indices reached the fitting standard, and the above results showed that the construct validity of the scale reached an acceptable level. The HHAS-HSS has good validity and reliability for Chinese high school students. It is a convenient self-report measure of hidden hunger risk.

A multivariate statistical approach and water quality index for water quality assessment for the Rokel river in Sierra Leone

The main aim of the study was to use multivariate statistical approach to determine the relationship between parameters, identify the factors affecting the quality of water and interpret and group the water quality parameters. Water quality data was collected during two seasons; wet season spanning from June to August 2019 and dry season spanning from February to April 2019. The physiochemical and microbial parameters measured from the sampling process were turbidity, temperature, pH, electric conductivity, total hardness, calcium carbonates, total dissolved solid (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), total suspended solids (TSS), iron, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, chromium, fluoride, e. coli and coliform. A total of 406 data set were collected and analysed using Principal Component Analysis, water quality index, cluster analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). These data sets were tested for sampling adequacy using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's Test and the result on the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy obtained was 0.615. The analysis yields Five PCs extraction with eigenvalues >1. These components explained 82.628% of the total variance of the entire components. The maximum water quality index 13 which indicated a grade A and can be treated for water supply. The following parameters Chromium 0.39 mg/l, Iron 1.88 mg/l, turbidity 18.66NTU, Phosphates 26.00 mg/l and fluorides 1.75 mg/l exceeded the WHO guidelines for drinking water. The mean values electrical conductivity is 12.26 μS/cm, 31.8 μS/cm for rain and dry seasons respectively., The following parameters Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solid, Total Suspended solids, Iron, Phosphate, Fluoride and Sulphate shows variation with High during the rain and low during the dry season with significant statical difference with a p value < 0.05. Whereas there is difference between the seasonal values of chromium, Nitrate and Potassium. The ANOVA resulted in P-value >0.05 which indicated no statistically significant different for chromium, Nitrate and Potassium. The seasonal variation was corroborated by cluster analysis with two clusters of C1 and C2. The PCs analysis, cluster analysis and ANOVA gave detailed characterization of the source and group correlation amongst the physiochemical and microbial parameters.

Pengembangan Modul Berbasis Blended Learning Pendidikan Agama Buddha Materi Kelas VII Semester Ganjil di SMP Kabupaten Blitar

Students who have grown accustomed to online instruction may experience cognitive dissonance while transitioning back to traditional classroom settings due to Covid-19's oversight. The creation of a blended learning module that incorporates online and in-person instruction is one approach to resolving the issue of how to carry out the learning process. This research set out to answer two questions: (1) how one might go about creating a blended learning module, and (2) whether or not such a module might be used effectively to teach Buddhist religious education content to seventh-semester middle school. Cennamo and Kalk's Spiral model is used for this study. In the spiral model, you first define the problem, then create a solution, then show how it works, and last deliver the solution. The average proportion, based on questionnaire data from large-scale experiments, was 92.24%. This blended learning module of Buddhist religious education has been found to be quite viable in order to be used for seventh grade students in junior high schools in Blitar Regency, as per the previously established requirements. Blended learning-based module solutions are suitable for usage as demonstrated by the results of completed questionnaires from content experts and media experts. The average percentage acquired in the massive study, as calculated by the table data from the questionnaires, was 92.24%. The integrated learning module for Buddhist religious education has been found to be quite viable in order to be used and applied to pupils in Blitar Regency's seventh grade of junior high school. After that, SPSS factor analysis indicated that the KMO and Bartlett's Test values were both more than 0.5, indicating that the product was viable. As a result, the study determines that the module can be used.

Arabic Translation of the Knee Outcome Survey–Sports Activities Scale With Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation

Background: There are few sports-specific knee functional scales in the Arabic language. The Knee Outcome Survey–Sports Activities Scale (KOS-SAS) is a validated sports-specific patient-reported outcome measure that assesses knee function in an athletic population. Purpose: To provide a validated Arabic version of the KOS-SAS (KOS-SAS-Ar) while achieving cross-cultural adaptation for use in an Arabic-speaking population with sports-related knee disorders. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: There were 2 independent translators who conducted a forward translation of the KOS-SAS, followed by a backward translation by different translators. Subsequently, researchers and expert invitees judged the conceptual content and cultural adaptations of the final translation. A total of 276 patients completed the KOS-SAS-Ar as well as the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective assessment of knee function and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Statistical analysis was performed for test-retest reliability, convergent validity, construct validity, and factor analysis. Results: The test-retest reliability of the KOS-SAS-Ar was high ( r = 0.9). The items of the KOS-SAS-Ar had statistically significant internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .924 ( P &lt; .0001). The KOS-SAS-Ar Symptoms subscore correlated with the VAS pain score ( P &lt; .0001), and the KOS-SAS-Ar Functional Limitations subscore correlated with the IKDC subjective score ( P &lt; .0001). The construct validity of the KOS-SAS-Ar was satisfactory (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value = 0.868; Bartlett test: P &lt; .0001). Factor analysis showed a statistical correlation among the 11 items of the KOS-SAS-Ar. Conclusion: The KOS-SAS-Ar demonstrated favorable reliability and validity, and it appears to be a suitable tool for Arabic-speaking patients with sports-related knee conditions.

Physical properties of long jawed mackerel fish (Rastrelliger kanagurta L.) balls with added concentration of canna starch (Canna edulis Kerr.)

Canna starch can be used in place of tapioca as a meatball filler, as fish meatballs are among the dishes that require filler. The purpose of the research was to determine the canna starch concentration that produces mackerel fish balls with the optimal physical properties. In this experiment, a completely randomized block design (CRBD) was used with a single factor, the concentration of canna starch. Seven concentrations of canna starch (w/w) were used as treatments: control with tapioca, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%. In this research, physical testing and fish ball production were utilized. The acquired data were analyzed statistically using the Bartlett and Tuckey test, the ANOVA test, and the High Significant Different test at the 5% significance level. The best addition of canna starch was determined to be treatment P1 (5%) with a hardness value of 277.75 N, a springiness value of 14.55 mm, and a cohesiveness value of 1.06.

Faktor Analisis Penilaian Polisi Kenderaan Akhir Hayat

Vehicle manufacturers usually want their vehicles to last for 10 years, so vehicles that exceed this period are classified as End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV). Widespread use of ELVs can lead to environmental pollution. A framework for ELV management should be designed to address this problem. The aim of this research is to learn about ELV -related legislation and its implementation in foreign countries, as well as to measure public evaluation of the implementation of ELV recycling in Malaysia. The study includes a review of the literature that has been adopted in foreign countries, as well as a survey of 200 respondents. Data were analyzed descriptively using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability and factor exploratory analysis (EFA) using SPSS details. The results of the analysis found that the Cronbach’s Alpha value obtained was 0.925, which is more than 0.70. Results from the exploratory factor analysis showed eight factors with Eigen values exceeding 1.0, KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) values were 0.792 and 0.881 exceeding 0.50 and Bartlett test showed significant values of p &lt; 0.05, indicating items in the solid waste management knowledge section and ELV, community readiness and community attitudes were sufficient to implement the analytical factors.

Isolated Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Patellar Instability: Does the Distance Between Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove Make a Difference?

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) is used in most patellar instability surgeries, there is controversy on adding a tibial tuberosity osteotomy (TTO). To describe the results of isolated MPFLR in patellar instability according to the Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove distance (TT-TG). Retrospective study of patients with patellar instability with a mature skeleton in one center between 2016 and 2021, using isolated MPFLR. Patients with incomplete clinical and/or radiological records and less than one year follow-up were excluded. Pre-surgical demographic and radiological data (TT-TG, Caton-Deschamps (CD) index, patellar tilt, trochlear dysplasia) were recorded. Patients were divided into three groups according to TT-TG distance (Group 1: < 17mm, Group 2: 17-19, Group 3: ≥ 20mm). A pre and post-surgical Kujala score was performed. Local complications, satisfaction, recurrence and/or reintervention were recorded. Pre-surgical variables between groups, intra and inter-group Kujala differences were compared using Bartlett's test. Consent from the patients and approval from the local ethics committee were obtained. 67 patients met the selection criteria, mean age of 23years, 70% were women. There were no pre surgical, radiological nor follow-up differences between the groups (average 27months). Pre and post-surgical Kujala score, respectively: Group 1: 37-78, Group 2: 37-78, Group 3: 39-79. All groups had a significant improvement (p < 0.05), there were no significant differences in improvement between groups (p > 0.05). There were three patients with a redislocation episode, all in group 1. One patient had a mobilization under anesthesia due to an arthrofibrosis (Group 2). 97% of all cases reported being satisfied. Isolated MPFLR in patellar instability presents a functional improvement, with a low rate of complications and failure, regardless of the pre surgical TT-TG. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-023-00906-6.

Two-way and three-way resolutions of fluorescence excitation-emission dataset for the co-estimation of two pharmaceuticals in a binary mixture

A new comparative study based on applying two-way and three-way data analysis methods to the fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) was performed to co-estimate two active pharmaceutical ingredients (amlodipine besylate, AD, and telmisartan, TS) in a binary mixture. Two-way data analysis was carried out by a bilinear model algorithm using multivariate curve resolution-alternative least squares (MCR-ALS). Three-way data analysis was performed by trilinear models using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), and Tucker3. Loadings or profiles obtained by applying the MCR-ALS, PARAFAC, and Tucker3 to the EEMs in the presence of the overlapping excitation and emission spectra made it possible to obtain the individual contribution of the target drugs without requiring a chromatographic separation methodology. The excitation-emission spectra of the analytes were identified from the excitation and emission profiles. The quantity of two pharmaceuticals in analyzed samples was obtained from the relative concentration profiles using univariate calibration. The calibration curves were found to be linear in the range of 0.5–5.0 μg/mL for both drugs. The validity of the methods was verified by analyzing validation samples. Then, the applicability of MCR-ALS, PARAFAC, and Tucker3 approaches was tested for the assay of AD and TS in commercial tablets. For a comparison of the proposed bilinear and trilinear approaches, the statistical analyses including the one-way ANOVA and Bartlett tests were applied to the means and variances of the assay results, respectively. The statistical results showed that the precision and accuracy of the experimental results obtained with the MCR-ALS, PARAFAC, and Tucker3 models were comparable for the assay of the two target drugs.

Cross-cultural Adaptation of Oral and Maxillofacial Frailty Assessment Tools for Geriatric Population of Kerala.

The aim of this study is to translate the oral and maxillofacial frailty index (OMFI) into Malayalam, culturally adapt it, and test its reliability and validity in the Kerala geriatric population. OMFI was translated, culturally adapted, and validated in Malayalam using a methodological and cross-sectional study design. The Malayalam version of OMFI underwent full linguistic validation and was tested on 200 patients at Amritakripa Hospital in Kalpetta. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used for exploratory factor analysis, and Cronbach's alpha was used to assess reliability. Two-hundred patients were recruited in this study. Participants ranged in age from 60 to 83 years; mean age was 68 years (SD: 15.21). In total 55.5% were male participants, and 30.5% were belonging to upper middle class as per the Kuppuswami scale. Only 12% of the participants were living alone. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin was found to be 0.583, and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant with a Chi-square test value of 1003.469. A principal axis factor analysis conducted on 20 items with orthogonal rotation (varimax). OMFI Malayalam version (5 items) had a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.751). Item-total correlations were reviewed for the items of OMFI. The OMFI Malayalam version demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability and can be used to screen the oral frailty of the geriatric population in Kerala. As Kerala is having highest geriatric population in India, we need to assess the oral frailty burden of Kerala. This study provided the first measure to assess the oral frailty in elderly in Kerala.

A path causal model of the effect of TQM practices on teachers' job satisfaction in schools in Qatar

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between TQM practices and teachers' job satisfaction in Qatar, visualizing this relationship through a path causal model.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey from different schools in Qatar was conducted, using a questionnaire administered to 359 teachers. Factor analysis was used to establish the construct validity of the questionnaire, using two statistical tests: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy, and Bartlett's test of sphericity.FindingsThe TQM practices measured were information, professional development, teachers' involvement in decision-making, teamwork and salary. Regression analyses showed that only four of the five constructs were significant in predicting teachers' job satisfaction. The path causal model's results revealed that each explanatory variable's direct effect was strengthened via the effect of the other independent variables.Practical implicationsTeachers who are highly satisfied with their jobs are willing to give their best. This study proposes a conceptual causal model for TQM adoption in the Qatar educational system. The proposed causal model will help policymakers and decision-makers in Qatari schools to draw strategies based on the antecedents and consequences of teachers' involvement in decision-making.Originality/valueEmpirically, this article has employed the concepts of TQM and job satisfaction to construct a causal model, demonstrating the effect of TQM practices on teachers' job satisfaction in schools in Qatar, thus bridging the gap between the two fields. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, no prior studies have examined this relationship within Qatari schools.

Validity and Reliability of the Vietnamese Version of the Inhaler Use Scale for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

The purpose of this study was to establish and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Vietnamese version of the inhaler use scale for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. This study was conducted with 150 participants who were admitted to the Outpatient Department of Pulmonary Diseases in Vietnam, using a face-to-face interview technique. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test, Bartlett's test, and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess construct validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to evaluate the reliability of the scale. In the results of exploratory factor analysis with eigenvalues > 1.00, 3 factors of scale appeared. The total variance of the questionnaire was 78.78%, where variances of each component were 34.16%, 26.88%, and 17.73%, respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of scale in the first test and re-test after 4 weeks were 0.913 and 0.901, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.826. The validity and reliability of the Vietnamese version of the inhaler use scale study were found to be equivalent to the original author-developed scale and it can be applied to measure the factors affecting behavioral intention in Vietnamese chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Groundwater quality assessment using SPSS based on multivariate statistics and water quality index of Gaya, Bihar (India).

Groundwater is a valuable resource for developmental activities, and its demand is growing as surface water becoming scarce. Groundwater demand is increasing, resulting in reduction in water level and deterioration in water quality. A total of 156 groundwater samples were taken from Gaya, a district in Bihar (India), to check the safety of drinking water. The quality of groundwater was assessed using a water quality index (WQI). Analysed samples were assessed using a variety of physicochemical characteristics, and statistical methods principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used as they areeffective and efficient. As per the Gibbs, plot majority of the sample falls in the rock-water interaction and some evaporation dominance field. The domination of major cation in the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ and the major anions followed the order of HCO3- > [Formula: see text]>[Formula: see text]>[Formula: see text]>[Formula: see text]. The KMO's sample adequacy value of 0.703 and the significance level of Bartlett's test of sphericity (0.0001) were indicating that PCA may be implemented. Using the PCA, the three components recovered explained 69.58% of the total variation. Cluster analysis classified the groundwater sample into three cluster based on the similarities among chemical parameters involved in groundwater quality. HCA exhibit less, intermediate, and heavily mineralized groundwater characteristics of groups I, II, and III, respectively. The major parameters affecting the water quality in the study region are TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, [Formula: see text]. WQI indicates 17% of the sample were found to be of very poor quality and not consumable. The study's findings offer insights and understanding into groundwater pollution regimes. These results used for water quality assessment leading to improved environmental management and planning and in decision-making for water quality management.

Patient satisfaction with chronic disease care and its associated factors in primary health care facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Patient satisfaction is a widely used indicator of assessing health care quality and has been used by policymakers to consider the needs of patients when developing suitable strategies for safe and high-quality care. However, in South Africa, the dual burden of HIV and NCDs has implications for the health system, whereby the factors influencing the quality of care and patient satisfaction may be unique to this context. Thus, this study examined the predictors affecting chronic disease patients' levels of satisfaction with care in Johannesburg, South Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,429 chronic disease patients at 80 primary healthcare facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. A questionnaire derived from existing literature and patient satisfaction frameworks was used to measure the level of satisfaction of patients when receiving care. Patients' overall satisfaction was categorized into not satisfied and satisfied. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess scale reliability. Factor analysis was used as a data dimension reduction approach and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and the Bartlett test of sphericity were used to test the sampling adequacy and to examine the inter-independence of the items. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with being satisfied. Significance was set at 5%. The majority of chronic disease patients 65.5% (n = 1,592) were aged 18-30 years; 63.8% (n = 1,549) were females, 55.1% (n = 1,339) were married and 2,032 (83.7%) were satisfied with care. The factor analysis results were in five sub-scales namely improving values and attitudes, cleanliness of the clinic, safe and effective care, infection control, and on the availability of medicines. In adjusted models, patients aged >51years had an increased odds of 3.18 (95% CI:1.31-7.75) of being satisfied compared to those aged 18-30 years and patients who had visited the clinic at least 6 times had 51% increased odds of being satisfied (AOR = 1.51,95% CI:1.13-2.03). The odds of being satisfied increased by 28% (AOR = 1.28,95% CI:1.07-1.53), 45% (AOR = 1.45,95% CI:1.2-1.75), 34% (AOR = 1.34,95% CI:1.13-1.59) and 4.31 (95% CI:3.55-5.23) for every score increase in the factors like improving values and attitudes, cleanliness of clinic safe and effective care and availability of medicine, respectively. Key predictors of patient satisfaction were found to be sociodemographic factors including age, distance to the clinic, number of visits and waiting times as well as factors such as improving values and attitudes, cleanliness of the clinic, waiting time, safety and effective care and availability of medicines. Adjustment of existing frameworks for addressing context-specific improvement of patient experiences such as security and safety is recommended to ensure healthcare quality and service utilization for better chronic disease outcomes in South Africa.