Five-item Scale Research Articles

Association between patient-reported frailty and nonhome discharge among older patients with acute stroke: A prospective study

Objective To investigate the association between prestroke frailty and nonhome discharge, prolonged length of stay as well as functional outcomes. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Single urban teaching hospital in Guangzhou, China. Participants Consecutive sample of 271 older patients admitted with acute stroke. Intervention N/A. Main measures A five-item FRAIL scale (0∼5 points) and the stroke severity at onset were measured. The primary outcome of interest was nonhome discharge, with secondary outcomes including prolonged length of stay and worse short-term prognosis. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for confounding factors was used to determine the association between patient-reported frailty and nonhome discharge, prolonged length of stay, worse short-term prognosis. Results The population had a median age of 68 [interquartile range (IQR), 64∼74)]years, with 50 individuals (18.5%) identified as frail. After adjusting for age, sex, Barthel index, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and Mini-Mental Status Exam score at admission, patients with self-reported frailty were significantly likely to experience nonhome discharge (Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.788; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.272∼18.017; p = .021), prolonged length of stay (OR = 4.76; 95% CI = 1.80∼12.56; p = .002), mRS scores at 30 days (OR = 6.72;95% CI = 1.79∼25.20; p = .005) and three months postdischarge and three-month (OR = 8.94; 95% CI = 2.10∼38.08; p = .003). Conclusions In older adults with stroke, frailty is associated with nonhome discharge, prolonged length of stay, and worse short-term prognosis, regardless of the stroke severity, cognition, and Barthel index score at admission. FRAIL scale can be used as a practical screening tool in acute care setting by multidisciplinary team in supporting discharge process.

Validation of the Danish Version of the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS): A Reliable Instrument for Assessing Depression Symptoms and Functional Impairment.

In psychotherapy, having a reliable tracking tool is vital for effective treatment. We have validated the Danish version of the 'Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale' (ODSIS), which is used in the Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders (UP) and other cognitive behavioural therapies. This five-item self-rating scale is expected to correspond closely to the gold-standard Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), but also to self-rating scales addressing daily functioning and well-being. Internal consistency is assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Criterion validity is explored through Pearson's correlation coefficient with BDI-II, the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), the Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and scatter plots, and an optimal cut-off score is determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. The study included 340 respondents: 234 from a recent clinical trial, 56 psychiatric patients from inpatient/outpatient units and 50 healthy volunteers. ODSIS demonstrates strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.887-0.956, McDonald's omega: 0.888-0.957). Correlations with BDI-II, WSAS and WHO-5 highlight its strong criterion validity (BDI-II: 0.847, WSAS: 0.751, WHO-5: 0.771). The optimal cut-off score (> 7.5) for detecting depression shows great sensitivity (0.862) and specificity (0.731). The Danish version of ODSIS proves to be a reliable instrument for quantification of a combination of depression level and functional impairment from the symptoms. Its high correlation with established BDI-II makes it a brief and handy tool for repeated measurement in clinical and research settings.

Implementing the organizational readiness for change survey during a novel midwifery preceptor program in Sierra Leone: stakeholder results

BackgroundSierra Leone has one of the world’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates and suffers from a shortage of well-trained health professionals, including midwives. Prior to engaging in systematic interventions, it is critical to measure organizational readiness to gauge members’ psychological and behavioral preparedness to implement change. We aimed to measure the organizational readiness for implementing change and compare results among midwives and administrative leaders at two schools of midwifery in Sierra Leone prior to the rollout of a midwifery preceptor program.MethodsThe Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) survey is a validated 12-item questionnaire designed to assess two domains of organizational readiness for change: change commitment (motivation) and change efficacy (capacity). All survey items begin with the same prompt and a five-item Likert scale response, with seven questions about change commitment and five about change efficacy. Data collection occurred in two schools of midwifery in Sierra Leone during two day-long meetings with stakeholders. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon rank-sum test to compare independent samples: School 1 versus School 2 (site), midwife versus other roles (role).ResultsParticipants included 42 respondents (mean age 41 years, 95% female). Surveys were distributed evenly between the two sites. Occupations included midwifery faculty (n = 8), administrators (n = 5), clinicians (n = 25), and clinical educators (n = 4). Domain 1 (change commitment) had a mean score of 4.72 (SD 0.47) while Domain 2 (change efficacy) had a mean score of 4.53 (SD 0.54) out of a total potential score of five. There were no statistically significant differences between site responses for Domain 1 (p = 0.5479) and Domain 2 (p = 0.1026) nor role responses for Domain 1 (p = 0.0627) and Domain 2 (p = 0.2520).ConclusionStakeholders had very high overall readiness for change across all ORIC questions for both change commitment and change efficacy. Mean scores for change commitment were slightly higher which is not surprising given the low-resourced settings stakeholders work in while training students. High mean scores across sites and roles is encouraging as this novel preceptor program is currently being rolled out.

My precious: development and validation of the conservation of human energy resources index (CHERI)

ABSTRACT Conserving energy resources is crucial for sustaining effort and preventing exhaustion, especially in demanding work environments. Yet, a reliable and valid measure for assessing individuals’ motivation to conserve energy is currently lacking. To fill this gap, we introduce a concise five-item scale, the Conservation of Human Energy Resources Index (CHERI), available in both German (CHERI-G) and English (CHERI-E) versions. In four comprehensive studies (N = 1,814), we evaluated the structure and psychometric properties of both language versions. Our results reveal that the CHERI measures a one-dimensional, homogeneous construct characterized by a high internal consistency (Studies 1, 2, and 4). Our findings also emphasize the CHERI’s sensitivity to change (Study 3) and its meaningful associations with measures from the nomological network of motivation, energy, and effort (Studies 2 and 4). Additionally, we demonstrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the CHERI-G and CHERI-E as well as their equivalence across situational contexts, encompassing both workplace and academic settings (Study 4). Taken together, the present research provides preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of the CHERI – a measure that can be used to enhance our understanding of energy conservation behaviours and to open new perspectives for advancing research on energy management and recovery.

Long-term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and its Association with Mental Well-Being, Depression and Anxiety: A Nationally Representative Study.

Exposure to ambient air pollution may play a role in the onset of common mental disorders like depressive and anxiety disorders. The association of long-term exposure to particles smaller than 10 μm (PM10) with these diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to estimate the association of long-term exposure to PM10 with mental well-being and the frequency of probable diagnosis of common mental disorders. A nationally representative cross-sectional study was done in mainland Portugal. Long-term exposure was estimated through one-year average concentrations of PM10, calculated with data from the Portuguese Environment Agency, attributed individually considering individuals' postal codes of residence. The mental well-being and the probable diagnosis of common mental disorders were ascertained through the five-item Mental Health Inventory scale. Linear and Robust Poisson regression models were computed to estimate change percentages, prevalence ratios (PR), and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The median (interquartile range) concentration of PM10 was 18.6 (15.3 - 19.3) μg/m3. The mental well-being score was 72 (56 - 84) points, on a scale from 0 to 100. A probable diagnosis of common mental disorders was found in 22.7% (95% CI: 20.0 to 25.6). Long-term exposure to PM10 was associated with a non-statistically significant decrease in the mental well-being score [for each 10 μg/m³ increment in one-year average PM10 concentrations, there was a 2% (95% CI: -8 to 4) decrease], and with a non-statistically significant increase in the common mental health frequency (PR = 1.012, 95% CI: 0.979 to 1.045). We did not find statistically significant associations between long-term exposure to PM10 and mental well-being or the frequency of probable diagnosis of common mental disorders. These results may be explained by the reduced variability in the exposure values, given the geographical distribution and functioning of the network of air quality monitoring stations. This study contributes with evidence for low levels of air pollutants, being one of the first to adjust for individual and aggregate-level variables. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this was the first nationally representative, population-based study conducted on the Portuguese population using real-life data. Maintaining a robust and nationwide air quality monitoring network is essential for obtaining quality exposure data.

Combined Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Exercise Intervention for Improving Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

This study aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of combining mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) with exercise intervention in improving anxiety, depression, sleep quality and mood regulation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 60 patients with NSCLC who had not received surgical treatment were selected using convenience sampling and divided into an intervention group and control group, with 30 patients in each group. The control group received conventional psychological nursing care, whereas the intervention group received a combination of MBwSR and exercise therapy. Before the intervention, a questionnaire was completed to collect the basic data of the two groups. Further questionnaires were administered at 6 and 8 weeks after treatment to assess anxiety, depression, sleep quality and other items included in the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). No significant differences between the intervention and control groups were identified in terms of personal and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). No significant differences were determined in the BSRS-5, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. However, 6 and 8 weeks after the intervention, scores were significantly lower in both groups (p < 0.001). Significant differences in the BSRS-5, SAS, SDS and PSQI scores were identified between the two groups at different time points (p < 0.001). The combination of MBSR and exercise intervention demonstrated improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep quality and BSRS-5 scores in patients with NSCLC.

Impact of Service Quality Dimensions on Citizens’ Satisfaction with Land Services in Rwanda.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the correlation between service quality dimensions and citizen satisfaction with land transfer services in Rwanda. Methodology: The study employed a mixed research approach; in quantitative research, two two-stage simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample to be surveyed while key informants were selected purposively from service seekers. Data were gathered from a sample of 422 service seekers who obtained land transfer services from January to December 2019 using a five-item Likert scale. Sixteen (16) key informant interviews were carried out with representatives of service seekers to gather their experience of the service received. A reliability test was conducted and produced a result of 0.932, which is greater than 0.7 indicating excellent reliability of the research tool. Findings: The findings indicate that all five service quality dimensions are positive and significant predictors of customer satisfaction. The predictive power of each of the five service quality dimensions is as follows: responsiveness (B: 3.349, SE: .4755, Exp. (B):28.473: P-value: 0.00&lt;0.05); tangibles (B: 3.267, SE: .4969, Exp. (B): 26.231: P-value: 0.00&lt;0.05); reliability (B: 2.747, SE: .4293, Exp. (B): 15.596: P-value: 0.00&lt;0.05); empathy (B: 2.248, SE: .4362, Exp. (B): 9.467: P-value: 0.00&lt;0.05) and assurance (B: 1.827, SE: .4490, Exp. (B):6.215: P-value: 0.00&lt;0.05). Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: The study established that the five service quality dimensions are significant and positive predictors of satifastcion and recommends that, where resources are limited, institutions should focus more efforts on dimensions (Responsiveness, Tangibles and Reliabiity) that predictor satisfaction more than others. It is also recommended that land service delivery model be redesigned in line with decentralisation policy and to fully digitize land services to ensure that, the time taken to process land transfer services is reduced.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the camouflaging autistic traits questionnaire.

This study investigated the factor structure and determined the reliability and validity of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire-Japanese version (CAT-Q-J) among 204 autistic and 410 non-autistic people. Since a confirmatory factor analysis revealed no factor validity of the CAT-Q-J for both autistic and non-autistic adults, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to ensure the psychometric properties matched those of the original scale as much as possible. The results showed the CAT-Q-J comprised three subscales, a four-item compensation subscale, a five-item masking scale, and a five-item assimilation subscale. The overall CAT-Q-J and all three subscales showed sufficient internal consistency and moderate-to-good and stable test-retest reliability in both the autistic and non-autistic samples. Convergent validity was also supported by the correlations found with measures of autistic traits, well-being, anxiety, and depression. Different from the original CAT-Q, compensation/masking for the autistic sample was not correlated with mental health or autistic traits. The reliability and the validity of the overall CAT-Q-J were confirmed; however, caution should be exercised when interpreting its subscales.

Assessing the Awareness and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccination and Aids Factors among Jordanian People: A cross-sectional Study

This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among the Jordanian population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The awareness and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine were assessed via five-item and seven-item scales, respectively. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS with a chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression. A total of 407 participants were enrolled, with the majority being female (74.9%), under 49 years old (73.2%), holding a bachelor's degree (57.7%), and working in the private sector (46.2%). Results revealed a fairly high level of awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine (51.4%), with no significant association between awareness and demographic characteristics. While 51.4% of the participants perceived the importance of getting the vaccine, only 37.1% agreed that the newly developed vaccine was safe, and 77.4% expressed a preference for natural immunity. The overall attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination appears cautiously optimistic, with 60.2% of respondents scoring above Bloom's 60.0% cutoff point, despite mixed opinions on vaccine safety and necessity. Moreover, attitudes towards the vaccine showed a significant association with participants' age and occupation. Among the age group of 18-29 years old, 47.6% had a positive attitude towards the vaccine, compared to 33.3% in the 30-49 years old group, and 38.5% in the ≥50 years old group. In terms of occupation, 30.7% in the public sector had a positive attitude, compared to 44.1% in the private sector and 48.5% among students. Given the mixed but cautiously optimistic attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination observed among the Jordanian population, this study underscores the critical importance of targeted educational and communication strategies. Such initiatives should focus on enhancing the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy to improve vaccination acceptance and uptake across different age and occupational groups within Jordan.

Motivation and associated factors of health development army in the implementation of health extension packages in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionHealth development army is a network of women volunteers organised to promote health and prevent disease through community empowerment and participation.ObjectiveTo assess the level of motivation and associated factors of...

ADHD Symptoms Among Adolescents: Factor Structure Based on Mother and Adolescent Self-Ratings

Background:: At present, there is little data on the factor structure of ADHD symptoms in adolescents, especially as they are organized in the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) or the recently proposed ADHD S-1 bifactor model. This study aimed to analyze how mother and adolescent self-ratings of ADHD symptoms align with these models. Methods:: This study utilized confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a group of 300 adolescents (ages ranging from 11 to 17 years) to examine the factor structure in terms of mother ratings and adolescent self-ratings of ADHD symptoms (inattention [IA], hyperactivity [HY], and impulsivity [IM]) presented in the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale (DBRS). Based on existing theory, the study examined five structural ADHD models: (1) DSM-5/ICD-10 one-factor model (with all symptoms loading on a single factor); (2) DSM-5 two-factor model (with IA and HY/IM factors); (3) ICD- 10 three-factor model (with IA, HY, and IM factors); (4) DSM-5 bifactor S – 1 model (with HY/IM as the reference indicators for the general factor); and (5) ICD-10 bifactor S – 1 model (with IM as the reference indicators for the general factor). Additionally, mothers and adolescents completed the five-item hyperactivity scale in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results:: The results showed the most support for the ICD-10 three-factor model, with all three factors in this model showing adequate discriminant validity, good omega coefficient reliability values, and significant and positive association with SDQ hyperactivity. Furthermore, it is speculated that the ADHD structure in adolescents might involve a general ADHD factor alongside an IA-specific factor, omitting an HY component. Since the general factor was marked by the IM symptoms, this suggests that ADHD at a latent level could be typified by IA and IM symptoms, excluding HY symptoms. Conclusion:: The theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.

Identifying parkinsonism in mild cognitive impairment

IntroductionClinical parkinsonism is a core diagnostic feature for mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) but can be challenging to identify. A five-item scale derived from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) has been recommended for the assessment of parkinsonism in dementia. This study aimed to determine whether the five-item scale is effective to identify parkinsonism in MCI. MethodsParticipants with MCI from two cohorts (n = 146) had a physical examination including the UPDRS and [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT striatal dopaminergic imaging. Participants were classified as having clinical parkinsonism (P+) or no parkinsonism (P-), and with abnormal striatal dopaminergic imaging (D+) or normal imaging (D-).The five-item scale was the sum of UPDRS tremor at rest, bradykinesia, action tremor, facial expression, and rigidity scores. The ability of the scale to differentiate P+D+ and P-D- participants was examined. ResultsThe five-item scale had an AUROC of 0.92 in Cohort 1, but the 7/8 cut-off defined for dementia had low sensitivity to identify P+D+ participants (sensitivity 25%, specificity 100%). Optimal sensitivity and specificity was obtained at a 3/4 cut-off (sensitivity 83%, specificity 88%).In Cohort 2, the five-item scale had an AUROC of 0.97, and the 3/4 cut-off derived from Cohort 1 showed sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 82% to differentiate P+D+ from P-D- participants. The five-item scale was not effective in differentiating D+ from D- participants. ConclusionsThe five-item scale is effective to identify parkinsonism in MCI, but a lower threshold must be used in MCI compared with dementia.

Factors contributing to teachers’ acceptance intention to gamified EFL tools: a scale development study

This study is to develop and validate a scale that measures the acceptance intention of secondary school teachers toward gamified English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) tools. Drawing upon the technology acceptance models (TAM) and related frameworks, we synthesized a framework that includes six main factors contributing to teachers’ acceptance intention of gamified learning tools. These factors are perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEoU), perceived risks, facilitating conditions, and control variables. The study involved 361 and 512 secondary school teachers who participated in qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, respectively. Surprisingly, in the context of implementing gamified tools for the teaching of English-as-a-second-language, the results indicate that only two factors can be retained in the proposed framework (PU and PEoU). However, PU and PEoU in the current research contexts brought new connotations, which is of significance for future studies. Eventually, a five-item scale measuring PU (PU-gamification-EFL) and a six-item scale measuring PEoU (PEoU-gamification-EFL) have been validated. Implications and limitations were discussed, as well as suggestions for future studies.

Application of electroacupuncture in the prevention of low anterior resection syndrome after rectal cancer surgery.

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is one of the common postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer, which seriously affects their postoperative recovery and quality of life (QoL). Electroacupuncture therapy is one of the characteristic therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. There are few reports on the prevention and treatment of LARS by electroacupuncture therapy. To explore the clinical effectiveness of electroacupuncture in managing rectal cancer patients with postoperative LARS. A total of 50 patients with LARS after rectal cancer surgery were retrospectively selected as the research subjects. According to the treatment methods, they were divided into an observation group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). During the four-week treatment period, the control group received standard defecation function training, while the observation group received electroacupuncture care and traditional defecation function training. The anal pressure index (which includes anal resting pressure, anal systolic pressure, and maximum tolerable volume), European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL C30 (QLQ-C30) score, LARS Scale (LARSS) score, Wexner anal incontinence scale score, Xu Zhongfa five-item 10-point scale score, and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The experimental group showed considerably enhanced LARSS scores compared to those in the control group after four weeks of treatment. In the first week, second week, and fourth week, the LARSS score and Wexner anal incontinence scale score decreased, and the Xu Zhong method five-item 10-point scale score increased, with significant differences (P < 0.05). The experimental group showed substantial improvements in anal resting pressure, anal systolic pressure, and maximum tolerance volume after undergoing 4 wk of therapy in the untreated group (P < 0.05). The experimental group's QLQ-C30 score on the EORTC QoL questionnaire was higher than that of the control group during the 1st, 2nd, and 4th wk (P < 0.05). No significant variation between the groups in the frequency of adverse reactions (P > 0.05) was observed. Electroacupuncture positively impacted LARS following rectal cancer surgery, effectively improving clinical symptoms and anal pressure indicators and patients' standard of life.

Depressive Symptoms Associated with Peripheral Artery Disease and Predicting Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the mortality risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by screening for depressive symptoms and peripheral artery disease (PAD). We enrolled patients aged ≥60 years who had undergone assessments of both the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and the five-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5). PAD and depression were defined as ABI ≤ 0.90 and GDS-5 ≥ 1, respectively. The primary endpoint was total mortality. In 1673 enrolled patients, the prevalence of PAD was higher in those with depression than in those without depression (8.9% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.021). After a median follow-up of 56.6 months (interquartile range: 47.0-62.3 months), a total of 168 (10.0%) deaths occurred. The patients in the depression and PAD subgroup had the highest hazard ratio of mortality, followed by the PAD without depression subgroup and the depression without PAD subgroup (2.209, 95%CI: 1.158-4.217; 1.958, 95%CI: 1.060-3.618; and 1.576, 95%CI: 1.131-2.196; respectively) in comparison to the patients without depression and PAD after adjustment for associated factors. In conclusion, a combination of depression and PAD predicted the highest mortality risk. Screening for depression and PAD is recommended in patients aged ≥60 years with type 2 DM.

FEAR OF FALLING PREDICTS NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF AGING AMONG LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Negative self-perceptions of aging (NSPA) are associated with various health-related outcomes, including fear of falling (FOF). Despite the leading cause of injury, disability, and hospitalization among racially diverse low-income older adults, FOF’s predictive potential effect on NSPA is less studied. This was a cross-sectional study with a sampling of 54 independent and cognitively healthy older adults (4 males, 47 females, mean age 73.91, SD: 6.4; 61-87 years old) in a low-income community. A five-item NSPA Likert scale, part of the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ), was used to assess the negative self-perceptions of aging, with higher scores indicating fewer negative views. The Short Fall Efficacy Scale International questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of concern about falls for a range of activities of daily living. More than half of the participants were African Americans (27 or 50%), completed high school (29 or 53.7%), lived alone (37 or 68.5%), and earned just enough financially (29 or 53.7%). The simple regression results indicated that the model explained 14.9% of the variance (R2=.149, F(1,52) = 9.13, p =.004). Fear of falling (FOF) (β = -.406, p =.004) was negatively associated with NSPA. As FOF scores increased, NSPA scores decreased, signifying higher FOF, accentuating worse perceived aging. Future longitudinal research should focus on the relationship between FOF and NSPA in increasing fall risk and injurious falls, especially in ethnically diverse low-income older adults, to further clarify this relationship and its consequences. Additionally, assessing FOF and providing interventions may enhance positive perceptions of aging.

Understanding the Relationship between Faith-based Locus of Control and Academic Self-Efficacy among Muslim Students in Nigeria

In spite of numerous research reports demonstrating the relationship between locus of control (LOC) and academic self-efficacy (ASE) among Muslim students, studies on how faith-based LOC relates to ASE among Muslim students in Nigeria are scarce. This study employed a correlation survey to examine the relationship between faith-based LOC and ASE among Muslim students in Nigeria. The sample comprised university undergraduates (n=124) [71 females and 53males] aged between 18 and 35 years in the federal universities in South East, Nigeria. A purposive sampling procedure was used to get the sample for the study. The researchers adopted two instruments for this study: A 20 item structured Faith-based external LOC Scale (FBLCS) adapted from Rotter (1966). The second instrument is a five-item General Academic Self Efficacy Scale (GASES) adapted from Braun et al. (2021). The instrument was used in measuring students’ ASE. The data analysis in this study was done using version 29 of IBM SPSS. The relationship between the study variables was established using regression analysis while linear regression (t-test) and Hayes’ PROCESS were used to analyze the hypotheses. Result shows that there is a significant positive relationship between faith-based LOC and ASE among Muslim students in Nigeria. Furthermore, result also shows that there is no significant influence of gender on the relationship between faith-based LOC and ASE among Muslim students in Nigeria. It was recommended that teachers and stakeholders in Islamic Education system should strive to incorporate the faith aspect of their LOC into their curriculum for optimal development.

Validation of the Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale in a sample of nursing students: Evidence of validity, reliability, longitudinal invariance and changes in general self-efficacy and resilience in a two-wave cross-lagged panel model

AimThe aim of this study is to validate the Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy scale in a sample of nursing students, by: 1) offering evidence of validity and reliability; 2) studying the longitudinal measurement invariance of the scale; 3) providing evidence on the changes in the levels of self-efficacy that occur after one year of nursing education; and 4) offering longitudinal evidence on the relationship between nursing students’ self-efficacy and resilience levels. BackgroundNurses' general self-efficacy has been related to both personal and organizational outcomes. In Spain, some competencies the students must acquire during the Degree in Nursing implicitly refer to self-efficacy. For the measurement of general self-efficacy, the General Self-Efficacy Scale is one of the most widely used in Europe. DesignA longitudinal design was used. Research took place at the University of Valencia and the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain). Participants were 324 nursing students, in the first year of the Nursing Degree. MethodsThe five-item General Self-Efficacy scale and the Brief Resilience Coping Scale were used. Analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability estimates, confirmatory factor analysis, a longitudinal measurement invariance routine and several competing cross-lagged models. ResultsEvidence of reliability shown by the scale was adequate and a one-factor solution for the structure was found. Additionally, the five-item GSE showed evidence of invariance over time. A causal effect of self-efficacy on nursing students’ levels of resilience was found. ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy scale is a brief instrument that can contribute to the assessment of some of the basic competencies of the Degree in Nursing, which improve during their education and how these changes are related to other skills important for the nursing profession, such as resilience.

Factors Associated With Chronic Pain Intensity in U.S. Army Soldiers.

Chronic pain is prevalent among U.S. military personnel and veterans. The effectiveness of evidence-based pain treatments can be boosted with knowledge of factors associated with chronic pain perception. This study examined the factors that influence soldiers' self-rating of their chronic pain intensity. The study design was a retrospective review of the intake questionnaire from 203 soldiers seen at an Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center. The intake covered various aspects of soldiers' chronic pain experience, including pain intensity, interference in functioning, emotional sequelae, and pain-related catastrophic thinking. Pain intensity and impact were measured using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale. The mood was measured using the depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-9) and the anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) scales from the PHQ. Pain-related catastrophic thinking was measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Pain interference was assessed using a five-item scale that inquired about concentration, life and recreation enjoyment, task performance, and socializing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses. The mean duration of pain was 34.73 ± 38.66 months. Regression analysis using scores from the PHQ-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, three PCS subscales (rumination, magnification, and helplessness), and pain interference scale as predictors showed that pain interference and PCS helplessness factors were significant predictors of average pain rating (R2 = 24%, P < .001). Pain interference in functioning and pain-related thoughts of helplessness accounted for a significant degree of the variance in soldiers' self-rating of their chronic pain. The findings suggest that added attention should be directed at helping patients boost their self-efficacy in using pain-coping methods to improve their functioning and address the perception of helplessness about their pain.

Patient perspectives on recall period and response options in patient-reported outcome measures for chronic rhinosinusitis symptomatology: An international multi-centered study.

Existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) use a variety of recall periods and response scales to assess CRS symptom burden. Global perspectives of CRS patients regarding optimal recall periods and response scales for CRS PROMs are unknown. This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study recruiting 461 CRS patients from sites across the United States, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Austria. Participants chose which CRS symptom recall period (1 day, 2weeks, 1 month,>1 month) was most reflective of their current disease state and upon which to best base treatment recommendations (including surgery). Participants also chose which of six response scales (one visual analogue scale and five Likert scales ranging from four to eight items) was easiest to use, understand, and preferred. A plurality of participants (40.0%) felt their CRS symptoms' current state was best reflected by a 1-month recall period. However, most patients (56.9%) preferred treatment recommendations to be determined by symptoms experienced over a>1 month period. The four- and five-item Likert scales were the easiest to understand (26.0% and 25.4%, respectively) and use (23.4% and 26.7%, respectively). The five-item (26.4% rating it most preferred and 70.9% rating it preferred) and four-item Likert (22.3% rating it most preferred and 56.4% rating it preferred) response scales were most preferred. Future PROMs for CRS should consider assessment of symptoms over a 1-month period and use a four- or five-item Likert response scale to reflect global patient preferences. These findings also inform interpretation of current CRS PROMs.