Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient Research Articles

The psychometric properties of the Persian version of the innovation support inventory (ISI-12) in clinical nurses: a methodological cross-sectional study

BackgroundInnovation in nursing involves applying new knowledge to create novel ideas, methods, or technologies, resulting in higher-quality care and improved patient outcomes. Adequate support for innovation is crucial for progress in nursing. This study aimed to translate the Innovation Support Inventory (ISI-12) into Persian and assess its psychometric properties specifically among clinical nurses.MethodsA methodological cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to July 2023 to evaluate the face, content, and construct validity of the ISI-12. Construct validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and convergent and discriminant validity evaluation using data obtained from 321 clinical nurses. The test–retest stability and internal consistency of the ISI-12 were also evaluated to assess its reliability.ResultsThe Persian version of the ISI-12 validation through confirmatory factor analysis has confirmed its fit with the proposed three-factor model. The ISI-12 demonstrated high reliability, as evidenced by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.969), McDonald's omega coefficient (ω = 0.922), coefficient H (H = 0.979), and mean inter-item correlation (ρ = 0.418). Additionally, the stability of the ISI-12 during two weeks among 40 clinical nurses was found to be excellent, with an ICC of 0.951.ConclusionThe Persian version of the ISI-12 is a valid inventory for evaluating the innovation Support of clinical nurses.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Questionnaire on Communicating Bad News for Healthcare Professionals Adapted into Turkish

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to make a validity and reliability study by adapting the questionnaire on communicating bad news to be used to evaluate the knowledge and skills of nurses and midwives in breaking bad news. Methods: The questionnaire adaptation study was carried out in a gynecology and obstetrics hospital between 15/05/2022 and 15/012/2022. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish and then expert opinion was obtained. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for the reliability of the questionnaire. The stability of the questionnaire over time was evaluated by test-retest. For the purpose of construct validity of the questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis was used. SPSS 17.00 and AMOS programs were used for the validity and reliability analyzes of the questionnaire. Results: The Cronbach Alpha value of the 21-items final version of the questionnaire (n=262) was 0.87. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient value was 0.95 (n=21) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.97 (P<.001). Five components were obtained, which explained 53.631% of the variance of the questionnaire. Total score obtained from the questionnaire was 55.10 ±5.53 (min=35, max=63). Conclusion: As a result of the evaluation of multiple the fit indices, it showed that the Communicating Bad News Questionnaire was statistically significant, valid and reliable for nurses and midwives.

Turkish adaptation of the state-trait anxiety inventory short version (STAIS-5, STAIT-5).

This study examines the validity and reliability of a Turkish version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version. The sample consisted of 306 people between the ages of 18-59 who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected with the demographic questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. All factor loadings of the State Anxiety Inventory Short Version were between 0.706 and 0.835, and those of the Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version were between 0.694 and 0.810. The Cronbach alpha coefficients of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version were calculated as 0.838 and 0.837, respectively. There was a significant difference between the first-test and retest values of the State Anxiety Inventory Short Version (p = 0.033) and no difference in the Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version (p = 0.145). The Turkish-adapted State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version is a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the anxiety levels of individuals aged 18-59.

Development and validation of a two‐tier number sense test for sixth‐grade students in fractions and decimals

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop an instrument for assessing sixth‐grade students’ number sense skills in fractions and decimals. This study was conducted on 452 sixth graders (10–11 years old) from the western region of Turkey. The construct validity of the number sense test (NST) was examined via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). First, the draft NST, which consists of 36 two‐tier items, was administered to 208 students for the EFA. Repeated EFA results indicated that the NST consisted of five number sense components with 25 items (understanding the meaning and magnitude of numbers, recognizing the effects of operations on numbers, using multiple representations of numbers, using reference points in numbers, and judging the reasonableness of a computational result). The NST, with factor loadings ranging from 0.60 to 0.87, accounted for 72.39% of the total variance. The composite reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 0.92. The CFA was administered to an additional 244 students in the school. The results of the first‐ and second‐order CFA revealed that the model fit of the NST was good (Chi‐square/df = 2.04; RMSEA = 0.066; NNFI = 0.97; IFI = 0.98; CFI= 0.97; and S‐RMR = 0.065). The results of the present study indicate that the NST is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing sixth‐grade students' number sense skills in fractions and decimals.

Evaluation of Home Healthcare Services By Service Providers and Users

Background: On May 15, 2017, the Turkish Ministry of Health transferred the coordination and delivery of home healthcare services from primary healthcare facilities to hospitals. Objective:This study aims to find out what the patients, their families, and home healthcare providers think about this organizational change that has been made to the service delivery process. Methods: In the quantitative research, the survey created using the results of qualitative research was administered to 396 individuals, comprising 322 patients or their relatives and 74 medical staff members. The survey's reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, its validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and the t-test was used to test the hypotheses. Results: Following the transfer of home health service delivery and coordination from primary healthcare institutions to hospitals, it was found that visit frequency-satisfaction, equity, monitoring-evaluation, and socio-economic support were the dimensions in which patients and their relatives participated more than healthcare personnel. However, compared to patients or patient relatives, healthcare personnel participate more in the areas of access to services, personnel-financial support, and private sector-security support. Conclusions: According to these findings, it is noteworthy that both groups have a much higher level of participation in issues that directly concern them. Thus, it is believed that improving the problems that clients and staff find objectionable will enhance home health services. Keywords: Home care; healthcare providers; healthcare users; primary healthcare; hospitals

A new neuropsychological tool for simultaneous reading and executive functions assessment: initial psychometric properties.

The development of reading and complex executive functions is fundamental for achieving social, academic, and professional success. So far, there is no single neuropsychological instrument that comprehensively assesses the domains of inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and reading comprehension. To assess executive functions related to reading, the "Assessment of Reading and Executive Functions" (AREF) was developed. In this study, we show initial evidence of validity and reliability for four subtests - Graphophonological-Semantic Flexibility, Inhibitory Control, Flexibility, and Working Memory. A total of 93 students from 4th to 9th grade, aged 8-14, in public (n = 61) and private (n = 32) schools were evaluated. Tasks from the AREF instrument, as well as measures of reading comprehension, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and intelligence, were administered. Correlations between AREF scores and the other measures were performed to assess external construct validity. Performance differences between school groups on AREF subtests were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, and Mann-Whitney tests, and the internal consistency of the instrument's tasks was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The scores of the AREF subtests demonstrated significant positive correlations with reading measures (ranging from 0.339 to 0.367) and executive functions (ranging from 0.209 to 0.396). Significant differences were found in the performance of some AREF tasks when comparing individuals from public and private schools, as well as between 4th and 5th graders compared to students in higher grades. The internal consistency of the tasks was low for Graphophonological-Semantic Flexibility (Cronbach's α = 0.566), moderate for Inhibitory Control and Flexibility (Cronbach's α = 0.768), and high for Working Memory (Cronbach's α = 0.881). The results provide initial evidence of construct validity and reliability for the AREF subtests. It is expected that this new neuropsychological test will contribute to the assessment of reading skills and executive functions, assisting in guiding clinical and educational interventions for individuals with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.

Competencies needed for public health workforce in the programs of Iran's health transformation plan: A descriptive study based on programs, operations, and competencies chain.

The public health workforce faces a wide range of challenges related to people's health. Thus, they need a combination of different professional skills and competencies to perform essential public health operations and provide services to people. The present study was conducted to determine the competencies needed for the public health workforce to implement health transformation plan programs at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in the capital of Khuzestan province in Iran. This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2020 among 51 managers and experts of the health deputy and faculty members of the public health school. STROBE guideline was used for the present study. The research tools were two researcher-made questionnaires based on the chain of Programs, Operations, and Competencies (POC). Additionally, the validity and reliability of the questionnaires were checked. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was equal to 0.87 for the first questionnaire (programs-operations) and 0.85 for the second questionnaire (operations-competencies). The operations of surveillance of population health and well-being, monitoring and responding to health hazards and emergencies, and disease prevention, including early detection of illness, obtained the highest mean total score (3.9 (95% CI: 3.6 to 4.2)). Respect for and adherence to ethical principles and confidentiality in any professional activity obtained the highest mean total score (4.0 (95% CI: 3.7 to 4.3)) among the needed competencies. To properly implement public health programs, managers must plan and take necessary measures to improve such operations as surveillance of population health and well-being, monitoring and responding to health hazards and emergencies, disease prevention (including early detection of illness), and promotion of the workforce competencies in the field of respect for and adherence to ethical principles and confidentiality in any professional activity.

The Development and Preliminary Validity and Reliability of Self-Disclosure to Romantic Partner (SDRP) Scale.

The purpose of the present study was to develop and conduct a preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Self Disclosure to Romantic Partner Scale that assesses adults' attitudes towards sharing their personal information that includes disturbing feelings, thoughts, and experiences with their romantic partners. Two studies were conducted for this purpose. The first study was carried out with 200 participants and the second study was conducted with 206 participants. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis showed a one-dimensional factor structure for the seven items of the Self Disclosure to Romantic Partner Scale. Furthermore, the results indicated that Cronbach alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient of Self Disclosure to Romantic Partner Scale were over .70 for both studies. Taken together, these findings suggest that Self Disclosure to Romantic Partner Scale has good psychometric properties.

Risk Management and Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between risk management and performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria as moderated by environmental turbulence. The study adopted the cross-sectional research survey design. Primary data was generated through structured questionnaire while the population of study was the 24 deposit money banks in Nigeria. The entire population of 24 deposit money banks were adopted as a census. However, the number of respondents/ participants in the study was one hundred and twenty senior level managers of the 24 Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha coefficient with all the items scoring above 0.70. The hypotheses were tested using the Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient. The tests were carried out at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between risk management and performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Therefore, the study concludes that the adoption of risk management practice positively enhances the performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. This implies that by adopting a proactive approach to risk management, deposit money banks can identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks that could adversely impact their operations. Hence, the study recommends that deposit money banks should conduct regular and thorough risk assessments to identify potential risks that could impact the bank's operations and performance. This includes assessing credit, market, liquidity, operational, and other relevant risks. Understanding the risk landscape is crucial for developing effective risk management strategies.

Assessing the psychometric properties of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25 (CD-RISC 25) in pharmacy students and academics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

BackgroundResilience is a complex concept that is defined and influenced by the context of individuals, organisations, societies and cultures. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) is a widely used validated tool to evaluate psychological resilience. CD-RISC is a self-administered scale of twenty-five items, each rated by a 5-point Likert scale. The scale evaluates overall personal resilience through assessing five main resilience-related constructs; personal competence, trust in one's instincts, positive acceptance of change, control and spiritual influences. As per the scale's developers, higher scores reflecting greater level of resilience. This particular tool has not previously been tested with a pharmacy student or academic population sample. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the CD-RISC-25 in a sample of pharmacy students and academics from faculties drawn across the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2020 and January 2021 sampling pharmacy students and academics across the EMR who were invited to complete the self-administered CD-RISC 25 questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis using principal components analysis with oblique rotation was conducted on sample responses (n = 616). The internal consistency and reliability for each identified factor and from the CD-RISC scale was evaluated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. ResultsFive factors were isolated accounting for 51.5 % total cumulative model variance. Identification of factors showed high convergence with previous work on the CD-RISC resilience tool. The current study in our sample found a five–factor structure which differed from the original scale reliabilities. This study did identify a five-factor solution with differing item factor loadings. The reliability analysis on the CD-RISC-25 items in our study sample revealed an overall Cronbach Alpha value of 0.89; however, three items showed corrected Item-total correlations of <0.3. Our analysis, in this respondent sample, suggested a re-adjustment of the scale inclusions to improve overall scale stability and performance. ConclusionsThe current research findings propose a modified five-factor structure to resilience, with a 22-item unidimensional model of CD-RISC scale.

Heads of Schools Preparation of School Environment for Actualizing Student Mothers’ Continuation with Education in Public Secondary Schools in Dodoma Municipality

This study aimed to investigate the heads of schools' preparation of the school environment in actualizing student mothers’ continuation with education in public secondary schools in Dodoma municipality. Guided by the Clinical Supervision Model (CSM) developed by Goldhammar in 1969, the study used the convergent design under a mixed methods research approach. Targeted 40 heads of schools, 312 secondary school teachers, and 291 student-mothers, a sample of 6 heads of schools, 60 teachers, and 12 student-mothers was drawn, making a total of 78 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides whose validity was ensured by education experts in educational administration and planning. Based on the pilot test data, the reliability of teachers' and student mothers’ questionnaires was established through Likert-type items where 0.81 and 0.75 Cronbach-Alpha coefficients were separately obtained with the aid of SPSS version 22. The credibility and dependability of the qualitative data gathered through interview guides were carried out through instrument triangulation and peer debriefing approaches. At the same time as the qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented in quotations, the quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and tabulated in frequencies, percentages, and means. The study revealed that public secondary schools in Dodoma Municipality did not have on-site childcare facilities. The study also exposes that schools are striving for inclusive learning, but lack counseling, mentorship, financial aid collaboration, teacher professional development, and flexible academic programs. The study concluded that there are still inadequacies in assistance, even if school administrators have made strides toward fostering inclusive learning environments and honoring the accomplishments of student mothers. As adaptive academic programs are being introduced, additional supportive measures should be strengthened. Student mothers should participate in school-run initiatives and programs intended to assist them.

Translation and validation of the Arabic Jordanian version of the diabetic foot ulcer scale-short form (DFS-SF)

The Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) is an important tool for assessing the quality of life of diabetic foot patients. This study aims to translate and validate the DFS-SF into Arabic and evaluate its validity and reliability. The translation process followed WHO guidelines, including forward translation, expert panel review, back translation, pre-testing, and final version development. The translated questionnaire was then administered to a sample of Arab Jordanian patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Validity was assessed by examining the correlation coefficients between each item and its corresponding dimension, as well as its correlation with the DFS-SF scale as a whole. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results demonstrated high validity and reliability of the Arabic Jordanian version of the DFS-SF, making it a valuable tool for assessing the impact of diabetic foot ulcers on patients' quality of life.

Evaluation of the reliability and usability of CARE-Radiology: A descriptive-analytic study.

The study aimed to evaluate the reliability and usability of the CARE-Radiology checklist in assessing radiological case reports and provide a basis for its broader adoption and optimization. Ten randomly selected radiological case reports published in scientific journals in 2020 were evaluated using the CARE-Radiology checklist. Twenty-six experts from 10 countries were invited to independently assess all ten reports. The reliability of the checklist was measured using Fleiss' Kappa, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Usability was evaluated by recording the time taken to complete the assessments and requesting the evaluators to rate each item on a Likert scale for its easiness of use. The median time for evaluating one radiological case report was 15 min. The overall agreement among evaluators showed moderate reliability with a Kappa value of 0.47 and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.51. The mean compliance rate for the items of CARE-Radiology was 61.8%, with some items exceeding 90% compliance. Items related to abstracts and keywords had the lowest compliance rates. The evaluators found most items easy to understand, with a few exceptions. The CARE-Radiology checklist is relatively easy for researchers to use and understand. Continuous feedback is necessary for future revisions and updates, to enhance the effectiveness of the checklist, and to improve user experience.

Career Management Planning and Strategy – An Albania Study

This comprehensive study investigates the significance of career planning and strategy in attaining career objectives. The research question is: Can improving career planning and strategy help achieve career goals? The survey was performed using a direct survey model and a questionnaire filled out by the respondents who work in different companies. The study sample consists of 250 employees in Tirana and Durres, the two largest cities in Albania. The data analysis will be focused on three different methods, ensuring a thorough examination of the research question. The first one involves factors that weigh each factor and reliability analysis using the Cronbach alpha coefficient, which should be above 0.7. The second method will be focused on multicollinearity analysis. Finally, after we conclude the methods above, we will be focused on testing the hypothesis through multiple regression. The findings revealed that career planning and strategy positively impact career goals. This study's implications are far-reaching. It can guide employees in planning and developing their careers, assist companies in managing and growing their employees' careers, and provide a valuable reference for researchers in this field of study, reassuring them about the validity and reliability of the findings.

E-Procurement and Performance of Humanitarian United Nation Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan

Manual procurement processes are expensive in terms of human resource cost, purchasing cost, wastage due to errors of commission or omissions, cause of delay in delivery of goods, services and works which accounts for 40% of losses to inefficiencies, and attracts corruption in the system amongst others. The study was guided by four objectives: To assess the role of e-tendering on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. To examine effect of e-contract management on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. To evaluate effect of e-order processing on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan and to explore influence of e-supplier management on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. The study methodology adopted explanatory research design of cross-sectional type for the population under study. There were over 235 National Non-governmental organizations, 150 International organizations in addition to over 15 United Nations agencies, bringing the total target population to 400 organizations. This study targeted 400 humanitarian organizations operating in South Sudan. Therefore, the sample size of 200 humanitarian organizations operating in South Sudan were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using structured questionnaires which was dropped and picked later or emailed. The data collected from two hundred (200) respondents was coded into statistical package of social sciences (IBM SPSS v29) data analysis tool. The researcher covered a total of 20 respondents for pilot testing. Content validity was also conducted while reliability was conducted using Cronbach alpha. The data was presented in inform of graphs, charts, bars for descriptive analysis. Reliability findings indicated that e-tendering had Cronbach Alpha Coefficient of 0.873, e-contract management had 0.852, e-order processing had 0.872, e-supplier management had 0.736, and performance had 0.859. All the variables had Cronbach Alpha Coefficients greater than 0.7 and this denoted that the questionnaire was reliable. Validity findings reported that KMO value was 0.623 which was above the recommended minimum threshold of 0.5. This statistic implies that the statements in the questionnaire were adequate. In addition, results of the Bartlett roundness test yielded a chi-square statistic of 41.373 and a p-value of 0.000&lt;0.05. These statistics indicate that the statements were correlated and therefore suitable for further analysis. The study found that e-tendering, e-contract management, e-order processing, and e-supplier management have a positive and significant relationship with performance. The study hence concluded that e-tendering, e-contract management, e-order processing, and e-supplier management have a positive and significant effect on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. Based on these findings, the study suggested that all NGOs and humanitarian agencies should ensure they adopt the use of e-platforms in conducting activities relating to procurement. The study also recommends that the policy makers that make policies relating to humanitarian agencies and NGOs should formulate for them a policy that will enable them make use of the e-platform in conducting procurement activities without any limitations.

Breastfeeding Basic Competence in Primary Care: A Spanish Translation and Cross-Cultural Validation of the CAPA Questionnaire.

The number of validated questionnaires that assess the level of breastfeeding competence of primary care professionals who attend lactating mothers is limited. To validate the CAPA (Competència en l'Atenció Primària sobre Alletament [Breastfeeding Competence in Primary Care]) questionnaire into Spanish in collaboration with professionals from the primary care services of the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain). In this multicentric study, four bilingual healthcare professionals translated the CAPA questionnaire into Spanish and back-translated it into Catalan. The cross-cultural adaptation included a discussion by an expert committee, a review by a philologist, and a pilot study that involved 13 healthcare residents. We randomly selected professionals from specialties involved in breastfeeding. The re-test was conducted 3 weeks later, aiming to avoid changes in the studied population. We performed a factor analysis to identify underlying constructs and hypothesis-testing to assess the validity of the questionnaire and estimated the Cronbach Alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess its reliability. A total of 198 professionals participated by responding to the questionnaire. Factorial analysis showed that the questionnaire was unidimensional. Hypothesis testing showed that, of all the considered professional groups, midwives achieved the highest mean score (M = 131.7, SD = 10.9, p < 0.001). Amongst the other professionals, only 26.5% achieved a basic level of breastfeeding competence. The Cronbach alpha and ICC were 0.852 (95% CI [0.821, 0.880]) and 0.890 (95% CI [0.800. 0.937]). The Spanish CAPA questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing breastfeeding basic competence among primary care professional groups who attend lactating mothers.

GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: EVIDENCE FROM PRIMARY DATA ANALYSIS

This study investigates Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices within the food and beverages sector in Nigeria, focusing on how these practices contribute to the sustainability of these companies. A census approach was adopted, encompassing the entire population of 325 staff members from the sector. Data was collected using a validated and reliable questionnaire, with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.798. The analysis, conducted using SPSS Version 25, revealed key insights into GHRM practices. Results indicated that green recruitment is well-integrated into the companies, with 87.1 of respondents confirming the inclusion of green job descriptions, and 81.6 agreeing that employees are recruited based on their environmental awareness. Green training is also emphasized, with 87.1 of respondents agreeing that their companies conduct training on environmental management, and 81.6 confirming job rotation to develop green managers. Green rewards are prevalent, with 85.3 agreeing that employees receive bonuses for environmental achievements. Additionally, 87.1 of respondents agreed that green performance appraisal systems are in place, incorporating green performance indicators. Lastly, 87 of employees felt involved in green initiatives, highlighting active communication and engagement in environmental policies. The findings suggest that GHRM practices significantly enhance the sustainability of food and beverages companies in Nigeria. The widespread adoption of green recruitment, training, rewards, performance appraisal, and employee involvement underscores the importance of aligning HR practices with environmental goals for improved sustainability and business performance.

Психометрические показатели шкалы «Проактивные аттитюды» в подростковом возрасте: проверка факторной структуры и внутренней согласованности

&lt;p&gt;This study was carried out as part of the development of psychodiagnostics tools for studying the proactive coping behavior in adolescents. Currently, there are few studies on proactive coping in adolescence, given the variety of studies on general coping behavior in adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify the psychometric properties of R. Schwarzer&amp;rsquo;s &amp;ldquo;Proactive Attitudes&amp;rdquo; scale, including its factor structure, internal consistency and validity, among adolescents. A total sample of 237 participants (117 girls and 120 boys) aged 11&amp;ndash;15 years old (M=13.2; SD=1.41), was used. The scale consists of 8 questions and was designed to assess the level of proactive attitudes towards future events. The scale showed acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient &amp;alpha;=0.78). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the scale (&amp;ldquo;Responsibility and independent choice&amp;rdquo;), using confirmatory factor analysis the one-factor structure of the scale was confirmed (&amp;chi;&amp;sup2;=34.17; CFI=0.959 acceptable, SRMR=0.041; SMSEA=0.069 with 90% confidence interval 0.032&amp;ndash;0.104). The scale demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity. Average scores on the scale are presented, gender differences were not found. The &amp;ldquo;Proactive Attitudes&amp;rdquo; scale can be used as an effective tool for assessing a person&amp;rsquo;s proactive orientation in adolescence, and has acceptable psychometric indicators. The prospect of work should focus on standardizing of the scale for other age groups with different professional and social status, including clinical sample.&lt;/p&gt;

Risk Factors for Low Quality of Life among Women Using Different Types of Contraceptives in Saudi Arabia: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

This study aimed to assess and identify the risks for poor quality of life among female Saudi contraceptive users by administering an online questionnaire. The validity of the Arabic version of the Spanish Society of Contraception Quality of Life (SEC-QOL) questionnaire was assessed by incorporating the relevant items into an exploratory factor analysis and a subsequent confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. p < 0.05 was statistically significant. Questionnaires completed by 652 eligible women were analyzed. The most common contraception method was oral pills (51.5% of respondents). Analysis of the internal consistency of the questionnaire revealed that overall reliability was >0.7, which is considered adequate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.845). Analysis of risk factors associated with higher overall SEC-QOL scores (worse overall quality of life) revealed several statistically significant variables. A "not good" relationship with their husbands, "heavy" menstrual flow, and premenstrual breast symptoms (breast pain, hypersensitivity, and increased size) were identified as risk factors for poor quality of life due to their association with the highest scores (poor quality of life). The Arabic version of the modified SEC-QOL is a valid and reliable tool to measure the quality of life of Saudi contraceptive users.

An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Readiness towards Hospital Autonomy.

We aimed to investigate Tehran's University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) affiliated hospitals organizational readiness toward implementing the 'Autonomous Hospitals' program as a change initiative from a managerial perspective in 2020. A census covering all eligible managers working in TUMS affiliated hospitals, Tehran, Iran (350 individuals) was carried out. Overall, 281 questionnaires were returned (a 30% non-responsiveness rate). A standard construct was adopted for data collection which was validated through a process of translation- back translation, face validity, and content validity (CVI=0.86, CVR=0.76). The reliability was acquired using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.87 and over 0.7). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to draw conclusions .SPSS 26 was used for data analysis. Total organizational readiness for change (TORC) in hospitals was 60.75%±10.11 showing a state of medium to upper-medium readiness status. Also, the 'Clear mandate and centralized leadership' theme scored the lowest mean (53.02%±15.78) for ORC. 'Hospital accreditation level' (r=-0.14, P≤0.05), 'bed occupancy rate' (r=-0.19, P ≤0.05), and 'leadership status' (r=0.26, P≤0.001), also showed significant association with TORC. In addition, 'standardized bed occuPancy rate' (P≤0.05, B=-2.41), a 'male' leader (P ≤0.05, B=3.42), and 'academic affiliation' (P≤0. 1, B=-9.52), were good Predictors of TORC based on 'Backward Multiple Linear Regression' analysis. Full support from hospital and headquarters executives, delegation of sufficient decision-making authority to hospital managers, and implementation of comprehensive performance evaluation criteria were prerequisites for robust hospital autonomy in TUMS-affiliated hospitals.