Completed Questionnaires Research Articles

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its association with quality of life among people with HIV in the United States

ABSTRACT Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical for people with HIV (PWH) to achieve and maintain virologic suppression and minimize drug resistance. This study aimed to use real-world data to characterize ART adherence and its effect on quality of life (QoL) in PWH. Data were drawn from the Adelphi HIV Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and PWH in the United States, conducted June–October 2021. Demographic and clinical characteristics, ART adherence and treatment satisfaction for PWH were reported by physicians. PWH completed standardized QoL questionnaires. Adherence level was categorized into completely, mostly and less adherent. Regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with adherence and the association between adherence and QoL measures. Of 578 PWH, 189 (32.7%) were not completely adherent. Having AIDS-defining illnesses, anxiety/depression or being symptomatic was significantly associated with lower adherence. Reasons for poor adherence included forgetting, difficulties integrating into routine and side effects. QoL scores were significantly higher in the completely adherent group. These findings highlight the strong association between suboptimal adherence and QoL among PWH and key factors and PWH reasons that may lead to suboptimal adherence. Interventions aimed at improving the QoL of PWH by understanding these factors are warranted.

Opioid Use and Healthcare Utilization in Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Opioid use among individuals with spondyloarthritis is common; however, data on whether these individuals have higher utilization of the healthcare system are lacking. We examined the association between opioid use and healthcare utilization and costs among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We included adults with PsA or AS enrolled in the FORWARD registry, with ≥ 1 completed disease activity or disability questionnaire between 2010 and 2019. The exposure was patient-reported opioid use, and the outcomes were annualized healthcare utilization and prescription costs. We used negative binomial regression to assess the association between opioid use and the utilization outcomes, and generalized linear models with γ-distribution and log link function for the association between opioid use and costs. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and hospitalization. AS and PsA were studied separately. Among 828 patients with PsA, 21.4% used opioids; for those with AS, 27.2% of 334 patients reported opioid use. Opioid users had higher healthcare utilization and costs, including increased medical visits, diagnostic tests, direct medical costs, and pharmacy expenses. Opioid users had 32-33% more medical visits annually vs nonusers. Patients using opioids spent more on medical visits annually compared to nonusers (US $3464 vs $2706 for PsA; US $4500 vs $3660 for AS). Compared to patients not using opioids, patients with PsA and AS who used opioids had higher healthcare utilization and higher health-related costs. New care pathways are needed to improve care and reduce costs.

Self-control and bed procrastination as mediators between mindfulness and sleep quality among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

In recent years, sleep problems among college students have become increasingly prominent, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sleep quality has deteriorated dramatically, severely affecting their physical and mental health. Numerous research studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality; however, it is still unclear what psychological process underlies this relationship. In the current study, college students’ bed procrastination and self-control as mediating factors in the association between mindfulness and sleep quality were investigated. Using the convenience sampling method, 763 Chinese college students (mean age = 19.48 years, SD = 2.06) were recruited to complete self-reported questionnaires that included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Control Scale, Bed Procrastination Scale, and Sleep Quality Scale. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0 software. Results showed that (a) mindfulness was positively associated with sleep quality; (b) both self-control and bed procrastination mediated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality, and (c) self-control and bed procrastination sequentially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality. These findings collectively suggest a potential mechanism for how mindfulness influences sleep quality, providing a therapeutic target for mindfulness-based interventions aimed at helping college students improve sleep quality.

Maternal peripheral blood telomere length and preterm birth in African American women: a pilot study.

This study aimed to explore the association between preterm birth and telomere length of maternal peripheral blood in African American women. 78 African American women were recruited for this study between 2018 and 2023 from 2 prenatal clinics in central and east Texas. Participants provided blood samples and completed clinic questionnaires, with clinical data collected from their post-delivery medical records. Telomere length was measured using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Linear regression and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyze the association between telomere length and gestational length. Kruskal-Wallis's test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare preterm birth, early-term birth and full-term birth by telomere length, social-demographic characteristics, stress and discrimination. The rates of preterm birth was higher in pregnant women with shorter telomeres. After adjusting for confounders, for every 10-units increase in the relative telomere-to-single-copy gene (T/S) ratio, gestational days increased by 1.090 days (90% CI 0.182, 1.997), and for every 10-units decrease in the T/S ratio, the odds of preterm birth was 2.664 (90% CI 1.064, 6.673) times greater than the odds of full-term birth. No statistically significant associations were observed between stress, discrimination, and either preterm birth or telomere length. Maternal peripheral blood telomere shortening is associated with preterm birth, providing support to further explore the clinical utility of maternal telomere testing for prediction and early intervention of preterm birth and the study of biological mechanisms of spontaneous preterm birth.

The Link Between Temporomandibular Disorders and Jaw Functional Limitations Among Chinese Adolescents

BackgroundCurrently, there is still controversy surrounding the relationship between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) symptoms and jaw functional limitations. We investigated the distribution of TMDs in senior high school students, including both the number and types of symptoms, and assessed their association with jaw functional limitations. Furthermore, we explored sex differences in these associations. MethodsThis study was conducted at a public high school in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, with data collected from September to October 2022. All subjects completed questionnaires assessing the anamnestic symptoms of TMDs and the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS), and examinations were performed by trained dentists according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. Data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Chi-square tests. ResultsThe mean age of the participants (N = 2890) was 17.2 ± 0.14 years and 38.9% were females (61.1% were males). Limitations in self-assessed jaw function were associated with the presence of TMDs (P < .05). Participants with more symptoms reported significantly high levels of functional limitations (P < .05). Compared to male adolescents, female adolescents more commonly experienced TMDs pain and tended to have more symptoms (P < .05). However, no sex differences were observed in most associations between TMDs and jaw functional limitations. ConclusionTMDs-positive symptoms are common in adolescents. Female adolescents were more affected by TMDs symptoms than male adolescents. Individuals with more TMDs symptoms have greater jaw functional limitations.

The comparison between intratympanic gentamicin prehabilitation and postoperative virtual reality exposure to standard vestibular training in patients with vestibular schwannoma.

Resection of the vestibular schwannoma causes acute peripheral vestibular loss. The process of central compensation starts immediately afterward. The rehabilitation goal is to support this process and restore the quality of life. In this prospective single-center study, 67 consecutive patients underwent vestibular schwannoma resection (40 females, mean age 52 ± 12 years). The patients were divided into three groups: the prehabilitation with intratympanic gentamicin group, the virtual reality group (optokinetic stimulation via virtual reality goggles in the first ten days after the surgery), and the control group. All patients were examined with objective methods and completed questionnaires before the prehabilitation, before the surgery, at the hospital discharge, and after three months. Intratympanic gentamicin prehabilitation leads ipsilaterally to a significant aVOR reduction in all semicircular canals (p < 0.050), the increase of the unilateral weakness in air calorics (p = 0.026), and loss of cVEMPs responses (p = 0.017). Prehabilitation and postoperative exposure to virtual reality scenes improved the patient's perception of vertigo problems according to Dizziness Handicap Inventory (p = 0.039 and p = 0.076, respectively). These findings conform with the optokinetic testing results, which showed higher slow phase velocities at higher speeds (40deg/s) in both targeted groups compared to the control group. Preoperative intratympanic gentamicin positively affects peripheral vestibular function, influencing balance perception after VS resection. In long-term follow-up, prehabilitation and postoperative exposure to virtual reality improve patients' quality of life in the field of vertigo problems.

Sleep, Wellness, and Mood of Personnel Standing Watch on US Navy Information Warfare Watchfloors

This project aimed to improve the sleep, wellness, and mood of personnel standing watch on US Navy Information Warfare watchfloors. Data were collected from 82 participants on two US Navy watchfloors. Volunteers wore ŌURA rings and completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study. Our findings suggest that the 6-section/8-hour-shift watchbill is generally preferable to the 4-section/12-hour-shift watchbill. We developed general guidelines and recommendations for fatigue mitigation based on the data collected from the two watchfloors, the predicted effectiveness of the two watchbills calculated using the Sleep, Activity, Fatigue, and Task Effectiveness (SAFTE-FAST) model, and background literature on shiftwork. The recommendations for watchstanders focused on sleep hygiene practices, sleep environment, timing of sleep and naps, light management, the use of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, nutrition, and exercise.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from a randomized, phase 3 trial of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab (EV+P) versus platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC).

108 Background: EV+P nearly doubled median progression-free survival and overall survival vs PBC in patients (pts) with previously untreated la/mUC in the phase 3 EV-302 trial. PROs are reported here. Methods: In EV-302 (NCT04223856) pts were randomized 1:1 to EV+P or PBC (gemcitabine with cisplatin or carboplatin). PRO assessments included the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) completed at baseline, weekly for 12 weeks (wks), then every 3 wks through survival follow-up, inclusive of the time post-progression. Time to pain progression (TTPP) and mean change from baseline in worst pain at wk 26 using the BPI-SF were prespecified analyses statistically tested using a gatekeeping strategy. Mean change from baseline through wk 26 and time to confirmed deterioration (TTCD) of EORTC-QLQ-C30 and BPI-SF domains were prespecified descriptive analyses. TTPP and TTCD were assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Of 886 pts randomized, 731 (376 received EV+P; 355 PBC) completed baseline PRO questionnaires. Compliance rates differed between arms and remained &gt;70% through wk 29 for EV+P and through only wk 17 for PBC. Median TTPP was 14.2 months (mos) with EV+P and 10.0 mos with PBC (hazard ratio [HR]=0.92; 95% CI=0.72, 1.17; 2-sided p-value=0.48). The least squares (LS) mean reduction in worst pain at wk 26 was numerically greater with EV+P vs PBC (-0.61 vs -0.03, LS mean difference [95% CI]: -0.58 [-1.05, -0.11] [nominal 2-sided P = 0.015]). Pts with moderate to severe pain at baseline who were treated with EV+P (n=128, 34%) had a meaningful (&gt;2 pt) improvement from baseline in BPI worst pain from wk 3 through 26. In EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/Quality of Life [GHS/QoL], EV+P demonstrated a transient worsening at week 3 (-6.3) that returned to baseline from weeks 4 through 26, while patients treated with PBC demonstrated deterioration from week 1 through week 17 (range -1.2 to -7.1) where scores returned to baseline. TTCD for EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL was 5.9 mos with EV+P vs 3.2 mos with PBC (HR = 0.98 [95% CI]: 0.79 – 1.2). Conclusions: Pts treated with EV+P have improved survival compared with PBC without detriment to quality of life and functioning, further supporting the value of EV+P for pts with la/mUC. Compliance, especially after progression, was lower than expected (particularly in the PBC arm) and may have impacted the results. Clinical trial information: NCT04223856 .

A Mixed-Methods study of the impact of sex and situational pain catastrophizing on pain sensitivity.

It is well established that catastrophic thinking about pain modulates clinical pain severity, but it may also relate to interindividual differences in the pain experience during procedures. This mixed-methods study investigated the relationship between ratings of situational pain catastrophizing and reported pain sensitivity in the context of receiving a nerve block without sedation, and explored participants' experiences. Healthy volunteers (n = 42) completed baseline psychosocial questionnaires, underwent quantitative sensory testing, and received a lower extremity nerve block, followed by further psychosocial assessment and interviews. Associations of catastrophizing scores with pain sensitivity and procedural site pain were assessed using Spearman's correlations. Interviews were reviewed using an immersion/crystallization approach to identify emergent themes. Greater situational catastrophizing scores were associated with higher pain sensitivity, measured as lower pain threshold and tolerance. Although females exhibited greater pain sensitivity generally, moderation analysis revealed a significant association between situational catastrophizing scores and pain sensitivity only among male participants. Qualitative interviews revealed the importance of participants' emotional responses to pain, and a mismatch of expectation and experience with procedural pain. Males also reported more negative comments about procedural pain. Examination of the variable subjective experience while receiving a nerve block in this experimental lab-based study revealed an important relationship between situational pain catastrophizing scores and pain sensitivity, which was more prominent among male participants. These findings reinforce how insight into individual expectations, emotions, and thought processes may impact pain sensitivity during procedures, and may inform strategies to personalize care, improving patient satisfaction and procedural acceptance.

Full and Partial Facial Affect Recognition in Pediatric Brain Tumour Survivors and Typically Developing Children Following COVID-19 Pandemic.

Affect recognition has emerged as a potential mechanism underlying the social competence challenges experienced by pediatric brain tumour survivors (PBTSs). However, many social interactions were altered during the pandemic, with the widespread use of masking potentially impacting affect recognition abilities. Here, we examine affect recognition in PBTSs and typically developing youth (TD) after the onset of the global pandemic. Twenty-three PBTSs and 24 TD between 8 and 16 years old were recruited and completed two performance-based affect recognition tasks (full and partial facial features) and a self-reported questionnaire on mask exposure in their social interactions. Their parents completed parent proxy questionnaires on their child's social adjustment and sociodemographics. The scores between the PBTSs and TD did not differ significantly in full (t(45) = 1.33, p = 0.19, d = 0.39, 95% CI [-0.69, 3.40]) or partial (t(37.36) = 1.56, p = 0.13, d = 0.46, 95% CI [-0.47, 3.60]) affect recognition, suggesting similar affect recognition between the two groups. These skills were also not significantly correlated with social adjustment or mask exposure (p > 0.05). However, the combined sample had significantly better scores in affect recognition when exposed to partial facial cues versus full. Additionally, participants obtained lower scores on a measure of full facial affect recognition and higher scores on a measure of partial affect recognition compared to pre-pandemic data. The pandemic may have influenced affect recognition across youth, underscoring the importance of further research into its lasting impact on the social competence of youth.

Knowledge and practices of neonatal intensive care unit nurses concerning hypothermia in preterm infants: Adescriptive cross-sectional study.

To investigate the knowledge level and clinical practice of neonatal intensive care unit nurses on the whole process of hypothermia prevention in preterm infants. A polycentric descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 23 hospitals in Shandong province involving 254 neonatal intensive care unit nurses. An evidence-based knowledge and clinical practice questionnaire on hypothermia prevention in preterm infants and a general information questionnaire were used to collect data. SPSS and EXCEL 24.0 database were used for data statistics and analysis. Nearly one-third of nurses were unclear about the definition of mild hypothermia and heat preservation measures during labour management and resuscitation. Knowledge about the correct rate of amniotic fluid evaporation was low. The higher the hospital level and nurses' education level, professional title, work experience, and position, the higher the knowledge level. The clinical practice of nurses differed in terms of body temperature assessment tools, measurement sites, and measurement frequency for premature infants. Nurses in neonatal intensive care units need to apply evidence-based knowledge and carry out practice interventions to ensure preterm infants' safe transition from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit. There have been few studies evaluating neonatal nurses' knowledge and practices with regards to the preventing hypothermia of premature infants from delivery room to neonatal intensive care unit. The study identifies the deficiencies and problems in temperature management that can be attributed to the knowledge level of nurses. The findings will help improve the current curriculum, teaching strategies, and the nurses' knowledge levels, preventing premature hypothermia in infants. This study adhered to the STROBE statement for observational studies and obtained approval (KYLL-2023LW045) from the ethics committee of The Second Hospital of Shandong University. The other 22 third- and second-level hospitals, as our alliance members, recognized our chairperson status within the alliance and were willing to join our academic activities. Mutual responsibility for ethical filing between alliance units. 254 nurses were recruited from 23 tertiary and secondary public hospitals in Shandong province. No public or patient involvement. Members of the research group used the Questionnaire Star platform to prepare the electronic questionnaire, including obtaining informed consent, taking precautions for questionnaire completion, and using the aforementioned measurement tools. The project research team contacted the head nurses of 23 neonatal intensive care units in Shandong Province. After obtaining consent from the head nurses, they were asked to send the requirements and link of the electronic questionnaire to their WeChat management group. The nurses go through each question and make a choice which has two options of 'agree' or 'disagree.' Based on their answers, nurses were evaluated as having 'mastered' or 'not mastered' each item. Each 'mastered' item (correct answer) was given a score of 4; an item 'not mastered' (incorrect answer) was given a score of 0. The total score ranged from 0 to 100.

Understanding the Psychosis Spectrum Using a Hierarchical Model of Social Cognition.

Social cognitive impairments are central to psychosis, including lower severity psychosis-like experiences (PLEs). Nonetheless, progress has been hindered by social cognition's poorly defined factor structure, as well as limited work examining the specificity of social cognitive impairment to psychosis. The present study examined how PLEs relate to social cognition in the context of other psychopathology dimensions, using a hierarchical factors approach to social cognition. Online community participants (N = 1026) completed psychosis, autism, and personality disorder questionnaires, as well as 3 social cognitive tasks that varied in methodology (vignette vs video) and construct (higher- vs lower-level social cognition). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used to model social cognition, with the best models being examined in association with PLEs and psychopathology dimensions. EFA and CFA supported a hierarchical model of social cognition, with 2 higher-order factors emerging: verbal/vignette task methodology and a multimethod general social cognition factor. These higher-order factors accounted for task-level associations to psychopathology, with relations to positive symptoms (r = .23) and antagonism (r = .28). After controlling for other psychopathology, positive symptoms were most clearly related to tasks with verbal methodology (β = -0.34). These results suggest that broad social cognitive processes and method effects may account for many previous findings in psychosis and psychopathology research. Additionally, accounting for broad social cognitive impairment may yield insights into more specific social cognitive processes as well.

Willingness to participate in a personalized health cohort – insights from the swiss health study pilot phase

BackgroundThis paper explores the feasibility of establishing a large-scale population-based cohort and biobank in Switzerland by assessing potential participants’ needs, expectations, and concerns about such an infrastructure providing information on health, lifestyle, and exposure trajectories, the development of disease, and risk factors over time.MethodsWe utilized a scenario-based questionnaire in the Swiss Health Study pilot phase (2020–2021), involving 1349 adults aged 20–69 from the cantons Vaud and Bern. We conducted descriptive statistics supported by R and qualitative content analysis of n = 374 open responses related to attitudes towards research.ResultsWe highlight the benefits and challenges of the scenario-based approach, discuss the sample represented in the pilot phase, and present implications for building a full cohort. We also report on participants’ attitudes towards and previous experience with health research. We analyze references regarding informed consent and feedback, attitudes towards the Swiss Health Study, and recommendations on improving its scope, design, and instruments. Results indicate a high interest (90%) in participating in a national health study, with 85% of a random population sample willing to join a long-term cohort. Only 43% were familiar with biobanks, and 44% preferred general consent. Trust was high for Swiss-based public research but lower for researchers from other countries or private sector. Over 95% expressed willingness to complete online questionnaires, undergo physical examination, and donate biosamples. Almost all participants wanted to know the outcomes of the medical tests (99.5%) and the exposure to environmental stressors (95%) from their study center visit. Preferred tools for monitoring sleep, physical activity, and diet were known smartphone apps with automatic data management.ConclusionOverall, the study reveals a positive attitude towards personalized health research, with a strong willingness to share data and samples. Key insights focus the meaning of informed consent for participation, the relevance of sampling and representativeness, as well as the significance and challenges of personalized feedback, especially regarding environmental health concerns. Findings emphasize participants’ supportive yet reflexive stances, underscoring the importance of aligning research values with individual values in personalized health research. These insights contribute valuable considerations for refining the scope, design, and instruments of future cohort studies.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIATICA PATIENTS LISTED FOR A SPINAL EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTION AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES: RESULTS FROM THE POISE COHORT STUDY

BackgroundClinical guidelines recommend epidural steroid injection (ESI) for severe sciatica but there is uncertainty of effectiveness. The POiSE study aims to identify factors, routinely collected in clinical practice that predict outcome in patients who have ESI. This presentation describes characteristics and early clinical outcomes of POiSE participants.MethodsProspective cohort study in 19 NHS spinal services in England, inviting patients with sciatica listed for an ESI. Participant baseline characteristics and 6-week follow-up outcomes are presented. Outcomes include pain intensity (0–10 NRS), disability (Oswestry Disability Index 0–100) and global change in symptoms.ResultsOver 24 months, 693 patients were invited to participate and 353 (51%) completed baseline questionnaires. Mean (SD) age 49.0 years (14.4), 60% female, and 46% (n=101) of those in work had certified time-off for sciatica. Mean pain intensity was 7.2 (2.0) and 6.2 (2.7) for leg and back pain respectively and mean disability (ODI) was 46.5 (18). 60% (n=210) had leg pain for &gt;6 months. Average confidence at baseline (0 to 10) that the ESI would help symptoms was 5.7 (2.4).Of 217 patients reaching 6-week follow-up, mean leg and back pain intensity is 5.0 (2.8) and 4.9 (2.9) respectively and ODI 36.6 (20.4), with 57% reporting improvement (completely recovered/much better/better). Follow-up data collection at 6, 12 and 24-weeks post-ESI is ongoing.ConclusionInterim analysis shows only just over half of patients are reporting improvement at 6 weeks post ESI. The POiSE cohort study will help better identify the patients with sciatica who are most likely to benefit from this treatment.Conflicts of interestNoneSources of fundingThis study is supported by Health Education England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (HEE/ NIHR ICA Programme Clinical Lectureship, Dr Siobhan Stynes, NIHR300441). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care

Physical Activity and Subjective Vitality in Female University Students: The Mediating Role of Decisional Balance and Enjoyment of the Activity.

Regular physical activity (PA) improves the psychological well-being of those who practice it. However, female university students are a risk group due to their low level of PA. Based on the transtheoretical model of behavioural change, the main aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between PA and subjective vitality was mediated by cognitive-emotional variables such as decisional balance (perceived benefits and barriers) and enjoyment associated with PA in a group of female university students. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, which were available for one month via a Google Form. The results showed the existence of a statistically significant, relative, and indirect effect between the stage of change and subjective vitality via both mediating variables. Compared to females in the pre-contemplation stage, those in the action and maintenance stages achieved higher subjective vitality scores as a result of the effect of being in a more advanced stage on decisional balance and enjoyment of PA. It is concluded that female university students who reported regular PA found the activity to be more revitalising, stimulating, and exciting; all positive feelings and cognitions that translated into a more energetic and vital perception of themselves.

Evaluation of a group-based online informed consent conversation (eConsent) in participants from a low-risk vaccination clinical trial

BackgroundElectronic informed consent (eConsent) usage has expanded in recent years in Europe, especially during the pandemic. Slow recruitment rate and limitations in participant outreach are the challenges often faced in clinical research. Given the benefits of eConsent and group counselling reported in the literature, group eConsent was implemented in recruitment for the SWITCH-ON study. We aim to explore the experience of participants who attended group eConsent for the SWITCH-ON study and evaluate its potential for future use.MethodsSWITCH-ON study aims to analyse the immunogenicity of a healthy population following bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccination. Four hundred thirty-four healthcare workers aged 18–65 were successfully recruited and sent a questionnaire about their experience with group eConsent. Out of 399 completed questionnaires (response rate 92%), 39 participants did not join group eConsent. The remaining 360 responses were included in the final analysis. Quantitative and qualitative data were reported using descriptive statistical analysis and thematic analysis respectively.ResultsParticipants found that group eConsent was an efficient method that it allowed them to hear each other’s questions and concerns and created a sense of togetherness. However, limited privacy, barriers to asking questions in a group, and peer pressure can limit the use of group eConsent. One hundred sixty-five (46%) participants thought that group eConsent was suitable to recruit participants with diseases or conditions, while 87 (24%) reported limitations with this method. The remaining participants suggested that applicability of group eConsent depended on the diseases or conditions of the study population, and one-to-one conversation should always be available. Participants who had experienced both one-to-one and group eConsent shared different preferred consent formats for future studies.ConclusionGroup eConsent was positively evaluated by the participants of a low-risk vaccination study. Participants advised using webinars to provide general information about the study, followed by an individual session for each participant, would retain the benefits of group eConsent and minimise the limitations it posed. This proposed setting addresses privacy questions and makes group eConsent easier to implement.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05471440 (registered on 22nd of July, 2022).

The Everyday Wellbeing Appraisal Scale: Assessing a type of subjective well-being uniquely associated with health behavior in people with hypertension.

Everyday well-being appraisals are judgments about the goodness of recent daily life events. These appraisals are expected to be distinct from other types of well-being involving traits, affect, and psychological distress and expected to be uniquely important for understanding health behavior such as exercise, diet, and treatment adherence for people with medical conditions. To develop and test a new Everyday Wellbeing Appraisal Scale, two studies were conducted in which a total of 718 people with hypertension completed online questionnaires. In Study 1, to achieve maximum validity with the fewest number of items, an empirical analysis was used to select a set of six items with high discrimination that incorporated multiple types of response-option formats. In Study 2, the scale's unidimensional factor structure and high discrimination were confirmed, and the new scale outperformed several existing types of well-being scales in its ability to explain unique variance in health behavior criterion variables. Specifically, it explained unique variance in health behavior after controlling for a widely used measure assessing trait-level reflections of well-being, as well as measures of positive affect and two types of psychological distress. Also, when compared to the trait-level measure of well-being, the new scale demonstrated less overlap with affect and psychological distress. These results suggest that this brief, new scale is valuable for assessing a distinct construct that is especially salient for understanding health behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Interplay between interparental relationship quality and infant temperament predicts toddler transdiagnostic psychopathology.

Although exposure to interparental conflict (IPC) in late childhood and adolescence appears to be a robust risk factor for the development of child psychopathology, less work has examined how very early exposure to IPC poses risk for the development of psychopathology in the first 2 years of life. Further, it is unclear whether IPC is uniquely related to child psychopathology relative to other critical dimensions of the interparental relationship. This study aimed to investigate the unique effects of IPC and low levels of emotional intimacy in the interparental relationship during pregnancy and infancy on toddler psychopathology and whether children with higher negative emotionality during infancy were most vulnerable to these conditions. One hundred fifty-one cohabitating couples completed semistructured interviews and questionnaires once during pregnancy and three times postpartum. Results demonstrated that consistent and sustained interparental emotional intimacy, first observed during pregnancy and persisting throughout infancy, was a unique predictor of toddler psychopathology, controlling for sustained and persistent exposure to IPC. The negative association between emotional intimacy and toddler general psychopathology was stronger at higher levels of infant negative emotionality. Results highlight the importance of early exposure to a warm, affectionate interparental relationship for healthy child socioemotional development. These findings have potential for informing early prevention and intervention efforts, including prenatal programs, aimed at reducing psychopathology across the lifespan. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

From stress communication to depressive symptoms among couples facing vision impairment: The mediating role of dyadic coping

Vision impairment is considered one of the most common disability worldwide, can induce considerable stress for both patients and their spouses and may subsequently affect couples' psychological functioning. This study examined whether dyadic coping (DC) mediated the association between stress communication (SC) and depressive symptoms among couples coping with one partner's vision impairment. A total of 99 Swiss couples completed questionnaires assessing SC, various types of DC, and depressive symptoms. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was performed. Results showed that (1) the more one partner communicated stress, the less the other partner perceived negative DC and, consequently, the less the partner perceiving negative DC reported depressive symptoms; (2) the more partners communicated stress, the more they and their partners engaged in common DC and, consequently, the less the partner engaging in common DC reported depressive symptoms; (3) the more partners communicated stress, the less they and their partners engaged in protective buffering and, consequently, the less the partner engaging in protective buffering reported depressive symptoms. This pattern of associations occurred similarly for patients and their spouses. Our findings underline the interpersonal experience of vision impairment within couples and the importance of fostering explicit SC and common DC in psychosocial rehabilitation interventions directed at couples facing one partner's vision impairment.

The CAREPAL-8: a short screening tool for multidimensional family caregiver burden in palliative care

BackgroundFamily caregivers of terminally ill and dying people do not only experience varying levels but also different dimensions of caregiver-related strain and burden. The aim of the study was to develop a short multidimensional screening tool for the detection of burden in family caregivers in palliative care.MethodsFamily caregivers of cancer patients newly admitted to specialist inpatient palliative care (N = 232) completed questionnaires on psychological burden, quality of life, social support and need fulfillment. A latent class mixture model was used to identify discrete classes of family caregivers related to their multidimensional caregiver burden. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the most predictive items from a set of established questionnaires.ResultsFour latent classes of family caregivers were identified: Currently stable caregivers (37%), Caregivers with unmet needs (20%), Psychologically burdened caregivers (30%), and High-risk caregivers (13%). Each of these classes describes a different risk profile of multidimensional family caregiver burden, although family caregivers exhibit high levels of distress across all classes. From a set of 48 items, we identified eight items that predicted the class membership best. These items represent the items of the novel multidimensional screening tool: The 8-item Screening Tool for Family Caregiver Burden in Palliative Care (CAREPAL-8). Except for social support, the items maintained fidelity to the conceptualization of multidimensional caregiver burden used in this study. A preliminary classification system was developed, which has yet to be validated.ConclusionsThis study represents the first step in the establishment of a practical, self-administered screening tool that might help healthcare providers to tailor caregiver care according to their burden in daily practice. Brevity of the 8-item tool might facilitate its use in routine clinical care.