Congruence Scores Research Articles

Sex differences in intuitive eating and its relationship with body mass index among adults aged 18-40 years in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Intuitive eating (IE) is eating without judgment, relying only on physiological hunger and satiety. Sex differences in IE have been reported; however, none of the studies have explicitly examined IE and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) in the Saudi Arabian population. Thus, this study aimed to investigate sex differences in IE and its relationship with BMI in the Saudi population. A cross-sectional online survey of 360 participants (18 years or older) with self-reported weight and height was conducted. IE was measured using the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2). Separate multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine if total IE and its subscale scores differed across sexes. It was also conducted to assess the relationship between IE and BMI across sexes. Women had higher total IE score, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons (EPR), and body-food choice congruence (BFCC) scores compared to men (p = 0.013, p = 0.01, p <0.001, respectively). The analysis showed a significant negative association between total IE, BFCC, EPR scores, and BMI in women compared to men (p = 0.023, p = 0.01, p = 0.003, respectively). The data on the sex differences in IE and its subscales and their different association with BMI encourage tailing nutrition-related recommendations in the context of intuitive eating based on sexes. Future studies are needed to explore how intuitive eating functions differently in women compared to men and explore the causal relationship between IE and BMI in this population.

COVID-19 vaccination motivation and underlying believing processes: A comparison study between individuals with affective disorder and healthy controls.

Believing processes represent fundamental brain functions between cognition and emotion. Shortly before the introduction of a compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 in Austria, motives and underlying believing processes regarding the vaccination were collected in individuals with affective disorder (AD) and healthy controls (HC). 79 individuals with AD and 173 HC were surveyed online to assess believing processes with the parameters of the credition model (narratives, certainty, emotion, mightiness) about (1) the coronavirus itself and (2) why someone is vaccinated or not. In addition, we calculated congruence scores between content of narrative and type of emotion and divided the narrative content into positive, negative, and indifferent. There were no differences in vaccination status between AD and HC. Higher levels of certainty were observed in HC compared to AD in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The effects were higher when asked about the motivation to vaccinate or not than about the coronavirus itself. In HC, more positive emotions and more congruence between emotions and narratives were reported during believing in their vaccination motives. No group differences were found in mightiness for both items. Independently from diagnosis, unvaccinated people had high levels of certainty and more negative emotions and narratives while believing in their motives for not getting vaccinated. When believing about the COVID-19 vaccination, individuals with AD were more uncertain and experienced fewer positive emotions than HC, although both groups did not differ in vaccination status. These effects were not that strong when believing about the coronavirus in general.

A quasi-experimental study provides evidence that registered dietitian nutritionist care is aligned with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines for type 1 and 2 diabetes.

BackgroundOne previous study examined implementation of evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines (EBNPG).ObjectivesTo describe alignment of registered dietitian nutritionists' (RDNs) documented nutrition care with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' EBNPG for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and examine impact of a midpoint training on care alignment with the guideline.MethodsIn this 2-year, quasi-experimental study, 19 RDNs providing outpatient medical nutrition therapy to adults with diabetes (n = 562) documented 787 initial and follow-up encounters. At study midpoint, RDNs received a guideline content training. A validated, automated tool was used to match standardized nutrition care process terminology (NCPT) in the documentation to NCPT expected to represent guideline implementation. A congruence score ranging from 0 (recommendation not identified) to 4 (recommendation fully implemented) was generated based on matching. Multilevel linear regression was used to examine pre-to-post training changes in congruence scores.ResultsMost patients (~75%) had only one documented RDN encounter. At least one guideline recommendation was fully implemented in 67% of encounters. The recommendations “individualize macronutrient composition” and “education on glucose monitoring” (partially or fully implemented in 85 and 79% of encounters, respectively) were most frequently implemented. The mean encounter congruence scores were not different from pre-to-post guideline training (n = 19 RDNs, 519 encounters pre-training; n = 14 RDNs, 204 encounters post-training; β = −0.06, SE = 0.04; 95% CI: −0.14, 0.03).ConclusionsMost RDN encounters had documented evidence that at least one recommendation from the EBNPG was implemented. The most frequently implemented recommendations were related to improving glycemic control. A midpoint guideline training had no impact on alignment of care with the guideline.

The Relationship Between Gender-Affirming Procedures, Body Image Quality of Life, and Gender Affirmation.

This study explored whether self-reported barriers to accessing a health care provider, gender-affirming procedures, and relevant psychosocial measures were related to experienced gender affirmation in a cross-sectional sample of trans individuals (N=101). Body image quality of life [b=0.181, t(4.277), p<0.001] and the number of gender-affirming procedures [b=0.084, t(2.904), p=0.005] were significant predictors of transgender congruence, a measure of gender affirmation, and accounted for 40% of the adjusted variance in transgender congruence scores F(2, 89)=31.363, p<0.001, R2=0.413. Results suggest that experiencing a barrier to gender-affirming health care is associated with anticipation of discrimination and provides further evidence that gender-affirming health care is associated with positive psychosocial outcomes.

Measuring Agreement: How to Arrive at Reliable Measures of Opinion Congruence Between Voters and Parties

ABSTRACT The extent to which voters and parties agree on policies is an important way through which political scientists have empirically studied political representation. This opinion congruence is most often measured by comparing preferences on a number of policy statements. While the selection of policy statements has not escaped scholarly attention, its impact on the reliability of congruence scores, i.e. the degree to which similar levels of opinion congruence are found when different samples of policy statements are used, has been less investigated. This article looks at which factors of statements samples and voters affect the reliability of congruence measures. It does so by simulating over 5 million opinion congruence scores on the basis of a dataset containing 134 voter and party policy preferences. It finds that both the number of statements and their topic diversity positively affect the reliability of congruence estimates. In addition, the congruence estimates of politically less sophisticated voters are more reliable but only when many left-right policy statements are included in the statement selection. Finally, explorative analyses suggest that increasing topic diversity also increases the validity of congruence measures.

Vocational Personality Types in College Engineering Students in Relation to Academic Achievement

This study explored whether and to what extent vocational personality types based on Holland (1994) correlate with and explain unique variance of academic success among 117 undergraduate civil engineering students by using the Self‐Directed Search–Form R, 4th Edition. Findings indicated that the majority of participants’ 1st‐letter code was Realistic (39.3%), 2nd‐letter code was Investigative (24.8%), and 3rd‐letter code was Social (21.4%), compared with Holland's 3‐letter codes for civil engineering (Investigative, Realistic, Enterprising). The study also calculated the degree of congruence between personality type and occupational environment. For career counselors, the findings underscore the importance of using congruence scores to predict engineering students’ academic performance.

It’s a Match: Moralization and the Effects of Moral Foundations Congruence on Ethical and Unethical Leadership Perception

While much research has focused on the effects of ethical and unethical leadership, little is known about how followers come to perceive their leaders as ethical or unethical. In this article, we investigate the co-creation of ethical and unethical leadership perceptions. Specifically, we draw from emerging research on moral congruence in organizational behaviour and empirically investigate the role of congruence in leaders’ and followers’ moral foundations in followers’ perceptions of ethical and unethical leadership. By analysing objective congruence scores from 67 leader–follower dyads by means of polynomial regression with surface response analysis, we find partial support for our theoretically derived predictions. Significant effects were revealed for the fairness, loyalty, and authority moral foundations but not for the care and sanctity moral foundations. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Association Between Gender Confirmation Treatments and Perceived Gender Congruence, Body Image Satisfaction, and Mental Health in a Cohort of Transgender Individuals

BackgroundTransgender individuals sometimes seek gender confirmation treatments (GCT), including hormone therapy (HT) and/or surgical change of the chest and genitalia (“top” and “bottom” gender confirmation surgeries). These treatments may ameliorate distress resulting from the incongruence between one's physical appearance and gender identity. AimThe aim was to examine the degree to which individuals' body-gender congruence, body image satisfaction, depression, and anxiety differed by GCT groups in cohorts of transmasculine (TM) and transfeminine (TF) individuals. MethodsThe Study of Transition, Outcomes, and Gender is a cohort study of transgender individuals recruited from 3 health plans located in Georgia, Northern California, and Southern California; cohort members were recruited to complete a survey between 2015–2017. Participants were asked about: history of GCT; body-gender congruence; body image satisfaction; depression; and anxiety. Participants were categorized as having received: (1) no GCT to date; (2) HT only; (3) top surgery; (4) partial bottom surgery; and (5) definitive bottom surgery. OutcomesOutcomes of interest included body-gender congruence, body image satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. ResultsOf the 2,136 individuals invited to participate, 697 subjects (33%) completed the survey, including 347 TM and 350 TF individuals. The proportion of participants with low body-gender congruence scores was significantly higher in the “no treatment” group (prevalence ratio [PR] = 3.96, 95% CI 2.72–5.75) compared to the definitive bottom surgery group. The PR for depression comparing participants who reported no treatment relative to those who had definitive surgery was 1.94 (95% CI 1.42–2.66); the corresponding PR for anxiety was 4.33 (95% CI 1.83–10.54). Clinical TranslationWithholding or delaying GCT until depression or anxiety have been treated may not be the optimal treatment course given the benefits of reduced levels of distress after undergoing these interventions. ConclusionsStrengths include the well-defined sampling frame, which allowed correcting for non-response, a sample with approximately equal numbers of TF and TM participants, and the ability to combine data on HT and gender confirmation surgeries. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the fact that participants may not be representative of the transgender population in the United States. Body-gender congruence and body image satisfaction were higher, and depression and anxiety were lower among individuals who had more extensive GCT compared to those who received less treatment or no treatment at all.Owen-Smith AA, Gerth J, Sineath RC, et al. Association Between Gender Confirmation Treatments and Perceived Gender Congruence, Body Image Satisfaction and Mental Health in a Cohort Of Transgender Individuals. J Sex Med 2018;15:591–600.

Teaching Physics in English: A Continuing Professional Development for Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers in Thailand

&lt;p&gt;The purposes of this study were to develop a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) using English integrated science approach training curriculum and to promote physics teacher’s efficacy to be expert teachers and be able to teach Physics in English. The quality of the curriculum was at a high level corresponding to the congruence scores of the overall curriculum and curriculum content which equaled 0.85 and 0.93, respectively. Besides, the appropriateness scores of the curriculum content, instructional materials and curriculum format equaled 0.89, 1.00 and 0.53, respectively. The participants were 22 Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) who taught physics in the schools that attended the projects of “World-class standard school” and “English for Integrated Studies (EIS)” administered by the Ministry of Education, Thailand. Considering the participant’s opinions from semi-structured interview and satisfaction assessment form, the results found that the participants’ satisfaction was at a high level. From the follow up after training with 7 physics teachers, the results revealed that there were some concerns from teachers in several aspects based on their efficacy which were communication skills, choosing and using appropriate instructional materials, developing the physics lesson plan in English, dealing with classroom problems, and lifelong learning to improve their English skills and teaching. According to students’ opinions, students that were taught by these trained teachers were satisfied with learning physics in English because this way of learning can promote their communication skills. However, before they start learning Physics in English, improving their language ability was the most important that they required.&lt;/p&gt;

Family Involvement in Nursing Homes: Are Family Caregivers Getting What They Want?

The provision of person-centered care for nursing home residents with dementia suggests the need for family caregiver involvement. In this article, we argue that optimal family involvement differs by family caregiver and therefore depends on the degree to which family caregivers consider their own involvement to be important. In this Canadian study, we compare the importance that 135 family caregivers of residents with dementia place on 20 kinds of involvement with the degree to which they perceive opportunities for involvement. Family Involvement Congruence Scores are calculated in three ways: those for whom involvement is important, those for whom involvement is not important, and an overall congruence score. Congruence scores varied by involvement type. These scores show promise for use in future research on family caregiver involvement and as tools for use by facilities as they endeavor to meet family caregiver expectations for involvement.

Does it Matter that Most Representatives are Higher Educated?

Does it Matter that Most Representatives are Higher Educated?

How Robust is the Association of Life Satisfaction with Value Congruence? A Study of Constructed Socio-Demographic Groups in a Russian National Sample

Congruence between own values and those of one’s reference groups has been found to promote life satisfaction. Actual or anticipated support or sanctions from reference others presumably explains this effect. Does the effect extend to congruence with the values of others who are similar only in socio-demographic characteristics with whom one does not interact? We constructed 36 socio-demographic groups by crossing age, gender, religion, education level, and region of residence in a representative Russian national sample (N=961). We derived value congruence scores by correlating individuals’ values with the mean values of their constructed group. Value congruence and life satisfaction correlated significantly across individuals even in these groups. The less important self-direction values to individuals, the stronger the correlation. A meta-analysis of the correlations in the 36 groups also confirmed the positive association of value congruence with life satisfaction. The characteristics used to construct the groups did not moderate this association.

Branding Online News Providers: Brand Personality and the Image Congruence Effect

This study examined online news brand personality and conducted an empirical test of the image congruence hypothesis. A survey of 271 respondents gauged the brand personality of three online news brands (i.e., Google News, Yahoo! News, and CNN online) and respondents’ self-image perceptions to determine if self-brand image congruence relates to predispositions to behave in a favorable manner toward this brand type. Congruence scores served as indicators of the difference between respondents’ actual and ideal self-image and each brand’s personality assessed on five factors: sincerity, competence, sophistication, excitement, and ruggedness. Self-brand personality distance scores served as independent variables in stepwise regressions with brand attitude and likelihood of visiting/using the online brand as the dependent variables. Significant results, although not accounting for much variance, support the proposed relations, indicating that brand personality and image congruence are worthwhile topics of investigation for online news brands.

European Vox Radicis: Representation and policy congruence on the extremes

Although ideological congruence is a central component of empirical and normative theory of representation, little is known about congruence between ideologically extreme parties (IEPs) and their supporters or the broader electorate. Moreover, we know even less about whether levels of congruence vary from one extreme to the other, and across dimensions of political contestation. Our article integrates both left and right poles in the analysis of ideological extremism and inquires about IEPs’ policy congruence with their supporters and the broader electorate. For this purpose, we analyze policy congruence along three ideological dimensions: socioeconomic, sociocultural and pro/anti-European integration. Based on our findings, IEPs are not highly congruent with the broader electorate. These parties are congruent with their supporters – and this holds especially for those situated on the right-wing pole of the political spectrum. Importantly, IEPs’ congruence scores vary across issue dimensions. Our findings have implications for understanding the function of IEPs in modern democracies and the broader debates on representation and policy congruence.

An importance–performance analysis of media activities associated with WNBA game consumption

Since its inception, the WNBA league and its teams have made tremendous efforts to improve their community image through high-quality mass media performance in an effort to promote consumer awareness, interest, and consumption of their game products. However, the relevance and effectiveness of these efforts remains unknown. Due to lack of financial stability, ticket sales, and spectator retention, today WNBA faces great challenges in its sustainability. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance and relevance of mass media performances associated with WNBA game consumption. Through qualitative research procedures, a questionnaire was developed that contained eight media performance, six game consumption, and 10 demographic variables. Following the conceptual framework of the ‘expectancy disconfirmation theory’, the media performance variables were phrased into two versions: importance and performance. Spectators ( N = 1431) from five regular season home games of a WNBA team responded to the questionnaire, which was randomly split into two halves: one for EFA and the other for CFA. Two identical factors emerged in the EFA and CFA for the two media performance versions: Visual Media and Audio Media. An EFA was also conducted for the game consumption variables, resulting in one game consumption factor. One-sample t-tests with adjusted alpha level revealed that the mean Visual Media and Audio Media scores in both versions were significantly ( p < .05) greater than the midpoints of the factors, indicating that media performance was considered important and satisfactory by WNBA consumers. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the media performance factors in both versions and their congruence scores were positively ( p < .05) predictive of game consumption, further indicating the importance and relevance of media performance to the success of WNBA games.

ALIGNING MILITARY AND SOLDIERS’ VALUES HIERARCHY

Studies on the fit between the person and the environment i.e. P-E fit are widespread. One aspect of P-E fit is values congruence i.e. the fit or similarity between the values of the organization and the employees’ values. However, there has been no study that reported the congruence between an organization’s value hierarchy (i.e. the ranking of its values) and those of its employees. This study investigates the value hierarchy congruence between the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and its soldiers and the relationship with satisfaction. A sample of 214 officers in the MAF was obtained. When the top 5 values were used in analyses, value hierarchy congruence scores were significantly correlated with soldiers’ satisfaction (-.120, p

Promoting evidence-based management of anemia in cancer patients: concurrent and discriminant validity of RESPOND, a web-based clinical guidance system based on the EORTC guidelines for supportive care in cancer

The goal of this study is to test the validity of RESPOND, a web-based decision support system to assess and manage anemia in cancer patients as per the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) guidelines. The intraclass correlation metrics for the algorithmic definitions were reported previously. Reported here are the concurrent validity, the extent to which clinicians' anemia management is guidelines-congruent when using the system; and discriminant validity, the extent to which clinicians practice in congruence with guidelines when vs. when not using the system. Hybrid matched design with precohort (retrospective; clinicians not using RESPOND) and postcohort (prospective; clinicians using RESPOND) of anemic patients matched on cancer type and chemotherapy regimen and followed up over 4 months after treatment initiation with erythropoietic proteins (34 patients per cohort; total N = 68). Congruence scores quantified the extent to which anemia management was congruent with the EORTC guidelines (range 0-10). Hemoglobin (Hb) increased significantly for both cohorts, but the postcohort group showed more rapid rate of Hb increase over time (p < 0.006), higher Hb by visit 4 (p = 0.007), and greater Hb increase by visit 4 (p = 0.006). Concurrent validity was high with mean postcohort congruence scores of 8.18 +/- 1.38. Discriminant validity was inferred from statistically significant differences in mean congruence scores between cohorts (p < 0.001) and from the postcohort having odds ratios of 3.64 for patients to reach Hb >or= 11 g/dL and 2.91 to achieve Hb >or= 12 g/dL. RESPOND, a validated computerized clinical guidance system with an incremental effect beyond the pharmacotherapeutic effect of erythropoietic proteins, offers clinicians accurate and safe guidance in managing anemia in cancer patients.

Evidence-based management of anemia in cancer patients: Validity of RESPOND, a web-based clinical guidance system based on the EORTC guidelines

20573 Background: The EORTC has published evidence-based guidelines for the management of anemia using erythropoiesis- stimulating agents (ESA). We previously described background/validation methodology (Van Erps et al, ASCO 2007 abstr 19633) and content validity results (Foubert et al, ASCO 2007 abstr 19676) for the RESPOND system. Concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validity are reported here. Methods: 68 patients (2x34) matched by gender, cancer type, and treatment, and managed prior to (pre-cohort) and after introduction of the EORTC guidelines (post-cohort). Endpoint: congruence score (CS) with EORTC guidelines. Results: See Table 1 for CS results. Mean CS for the pre-cohort was 3.0 (SD=1.5; 95% CI 2.5–3.5), for the post-cohort 8.2 (SD=1.4, 95% CI 7.7–8.7). Concurrent validity was inferred from the high mean CS for post-cohort. Discriminant validity was inferred from the statistically significant difference between M±SD CSs for both cohorts (p<.00001) and higher likelihood of the post-cohort to have Hb ≥11g/dL (OR=3.6, 95% CI 1.1–11.8) and ≥12g/dL (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.1–8.1). Predictive validity was inferred from significant Hb differences at each of the 4 visits and HbΔ from visit 1 to 4 (all at least p<.03), interaction effect for time and cohort (p=.006), regression slope coefficient of 0.3g/dL HbΔ increase for every 1 CS point increase, and CS predicting likelihood of Hb ≥11g/dL (OR=1.5, 95% CI 1.2–2.0) and ≥12g/dL (OR=1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.8). Conclusions: RESPOND has now been shown to have content, concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validity. This validation study identified areas where web-based clinical guidance can improve guideline-adherent anemia management: ruling out or treating other causes of anemia, initiating ESA treatment, setting Hb target range, fixed initial dosing per ESA evidence, and achieving target range at 4–8wks; and where good practice is reinforced in terms of managing starting Hb levels at <9g/dL or between 11.0–11.9g/dL. Congruence scores (0-10) for pre-cohort and post- cohort Rule out/treat iron deficiency, bleeding, nutritional deficits, hemolysis 0.25 each 0% 85–100% p<.0001 ESA Rx initiated at Hb 9–11g/dL 1 6% 100% p<.0001 If Hb<9g/dL: patient considered for blood transfusion; or: not applicable 1 80% 88% p=ns If Hb 11.0–11.9g/dL: pt individually considered for ESA Rx; or: not applicable 1 100% 100% p=ns Target Hb range set at 12–13g/dL 1 0% 100% p<.0001 Initial ESA dose: 40K alfa Q1W; 30K beta Q1W; darbepoetin Q1W or Q3W 1 41% 100% p<.0001 Initial ESA dose fixed 1 3% 100% p<.0001 Target achieved at 4–8wks; if not: individualized dose escalation 1 21% 53% p=.006 Hb maintained at 12–13g/dL up to 8 weeks .125/wk 21% 38% p=ns ESA discontinued if Hb≥13g/dL (or 12–23g/dL at end of study) 1 29% 50% p=ns Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Consultant or Advisory Role Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Expert Testimony Other Remuneration Roche Roche Roche

An Empirical Test of the Modified C Index and SII, O*NET, and DHOC Occupational Code Classifications

The present study investigated new approaches for assessing Holland's congruence hypothesis by (a) developing and applying four sets of decision rules for assigning Holland codes of varying lengths for purposes of computing Eggerth and Andrew's modified C index; (b) testing the modified C index computed using these four approaches against Brown and Gore's C index; and (c) comparing the validity of SII, O*NET, and DHOC taxonomies for assigning Holland codes to work environments. Results obtained from an archived sample of 239 employed young adults suggested that the modified C index performed as well as, but not better than, the standard C index. The SII was associated with larger mean congruence scores and stronger congruence-satisfaction relations than was the O*NET, which in turn was associated with larger mean congruence scores and stronger congruence-satisfaction relations than was the DHOC. Implications for research and practice related to Holland-type congruence are discussed.

Promoting evidence-based management of anemia in cancer patients: Background and scientific validation of RESPOND, a web-based clinical decision support system

19676 Background: The 2006 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) guidelines for erythropoietic proteins in cancer-related anemia provide the most up-to-date assessment of the evidence base. To promote clinicians’ adoption of evidence- based (EB) practice guidelines (EBPGs), it is critical to bring guidelines to the point of care. RESPOND is an EB clinical decision support system (CDSS) based on the EORTC guidelines. CDSSs are seldom validated. We describe the methodologies of two studies being conducted to validate RESPOND. Methods. Study 1: descriptive design - accuracy and content validity. Five experts are asked to rate the accuracy of algorithms derived from the guidelines; the objective being an intraclass correlation coefficient =0.90 for each of 27 algorithmic sets. Study 2: hybrid matched pre-post design - concurrent and discriminant validity. Two patient cohorts (n=33 each) matched by type of cancer and similarity of chemotherapy regimen ie, sample 1 (4 months prospective data after RESPOND [post]) and sample 2 (4 months retrospective data prior to RESPOND [pre]) were used to test concurrent validity (congruence scores [CS] of sample 1) and discriminant validity (difference between sample 2 and sample 1 CS). A score is calculated for each patient to quantify the extent to which treatment and outcomes are congruent with the EORTC EBPG. Table 1 . Calculation of the congruence score ESA, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; Hb, hemoglobin, Q1W, once weekly, Q3W, once every three weeks Conclusions. These studies will provide the necessary validation for RESPOND as an evidence-based clinical support tool. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]