Statistical Inference Research Articles

The Impact of Profitability on The Market Value of Industrial Products Companies Listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand

This article aims to study the impact of profitability on the market value of industrial products companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Use a quantitative research methodology by analyzing secondary data from 84 firms, comprising a total of 336 data points. The data is sourced from companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand throughout the period of 2019 to 2022, spanning four years. The data is extracted from annual reports, financial statements, annual information disclosure forms (Form 56-1), and SETSMART. The study used two types of statistics: descriptive statistics, which include minimum and maximum numbers, averages, and standard deviations; and inferential statistics, which include looking at the Pearson correlation coefficient. and studying multiple regression. The research findings indicate the rate of return on assets. Return on equity and net profit margin There is no impact on the market value when considering the ratio of market price to net profit. The rates of return on assets and net profit margin It affects the market value by influencing the ratio of the market price to the book value. The net profit rate is a factor in the market value of the dividend yield. This finding will prove advantageous to investors, executives, and entrepreneurs when evaluating and making informed choices on business administration or investing in the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Non-governmental organizations, green space equity, and policy change: A national study in the US

Worldwide, low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities tend to have a lower provision of green space than less disadvantaged groups. To address these inequities, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have worked on projects, such as new parks in underserved communities, and policy change, such as green space funding prioritizing underserved areas. To date, limited research has examined the landscape of NGOs working to advance green space equity via policy change. In this paper, we studied what kind of NGOs engage in green space equity policy advocacy in the US. We used topic modeling, keywords-in-context, and inferential statistics to analyze grant applications for a national initiative to fund green space equity advocacy, the first and only of its kind. We found that NGOs also advocate for several interrelated topics related to green space equity (e.g., environmental issues, social services), engage numerous policy actors in campaigns (e.g., politicians, youth), and use other strategies such as coalitions, power building, and research. NGOs working to address green space inequities also need to contend with other systemic issues affecting underserved communities (e.g., poverty, health disparities). Our findings can inform the work of public and philanthropic funders, local governments seeking partnerships with NGOs, and NGOs themselves.

Effects of procurement risk management strategies on public procuring entities' performance

Organizations implement risk management to mitigate the effects of unforeseen events in their operation settings. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between procurement risk-management strategies and the performance of public higher-learning institutions registered by the National Council for Technical Education and Vocation Training in Tanzania. The findings of the study provide valuable insights that can influence the risk management strategies and performance management policies of public procuring entities. The Principal-Agent Theory guided the study. A convergent parallel mixed-method design was employed, utilizing a census method that included all 16 public high-learning institutions in Dar es Salaam as the sample. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data analysis involved descriptive statistics to compute percentages and means of school respondents. Multiple Regressions was employed for inferential statistics analysis. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. The study identified risks affecting the performance of PEs including non-compliance risks, planning risks, managerial risks, contract management risks, and project delays. To address these challenges, the study recommends that entities should develop and adhere to their procurement plans, invest in capacity building to strengthen ethical practices to avoid unethical behavior, and address non-compliance issues. Entities should use a combination of strategies based on internal policies, experience, and the preferences of the procurement assignment.

Efficient semiparametric estimation in two‐sample comparison via semisupervised learning

AbstractWe develop a general semisupervised framework for statistical inference in the two‐sample comparison setting. Although the supervised Mann–Whitney statistic outperforms many estimators in the two‐sample problem for nonnormally distributed responses, it is excessively inefficient because it ignores large amounts of unlabelled information. To borrow strength from unlabelled data, we propose a class of efficient and adaptive estimators that use two‐step semiparametric imputation. The probabilistic index model is adopted primarily to achieve dimension reduction for multivariate covariates, and a follow‐up reweighting step balances the contributions of labelled and unlabelled data. The asymptotic properties of our estimator are derived with variance comparison through a phase diagram. Efficiency theory shows our estimators achieve the semiparametric variance lower bound if the probabilistic index model is correctly specified, and are more efficient than their supervised counterpart when the model is not degenerate. The asymptotic variance is estimated through a two‐step perturbation resampling procedure. To gauge the finite sample performance, we conducted extensive simulation studies which verify the adaptive nature of our methods with respect to model misspecification. To illustrate the merits of our proposed method, we analyze a dataset concerning homelessness in Los Angeles.

Effect of Concurrent Training on Selected Physical Fitness of Male Middle Distance Runners

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of concurrent training on cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility and speed on male middle distance runners. The study employed experimental research design. All 26 Awuscod male middle distance runners were taken with EG and CG and divided randomly into two equal groups. Both the (EG= 13) and (CG= 13) had taken PT and POT of 12-minute run test, sit-reach test, and 30 meter acceleration test to assess cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility and speed respectively.EG participated in additional 10 weeks concurrent interventions. While, the CG continued with their usual training The data collected from the study subject were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software by using descriptive statistics (mean and SD) and inferential statistics (paired t-test and independent t-test) with level of significant 0.05. The results showed concurrent training has significantly improved cardiorespiratory endurance and speed on EG (p<0.05). But no significant difference was observed in flexibility. Furthermore, no more significant differences were found in all of the variables in CG (p>0.05). Based on this finding, it can be concluded that concurrent training has a positive impact on the improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance and speed. Therefore, concurrent training is suggested for middle distance runners to improve physical fitness for athletic performance.

Assessment of the public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Nigerians regarding preparedness for future pandemics

IntroductionPandemics are global health crises that have caused millions of deaths, enormous socio-economic disruptions, and considerable public and global health security consequences. This study assessed Nigerians’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding preparedness for the next pandemics.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based national survey was conducted among 1276 respondents in Nigeria to determine public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of preparedness for future pandemics. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analyses.ResultsOf the 1276 respondents to this survey, > 50% had not heard of the Spanish flu and Zika disease. Approximately half (594) of the respondents did not consider antimicrobial resistance a possible cause of future pandemics. Over an average proportion of respondents reported unsatisfactory knowledge (655, 51.3%) and poor perceptions (695, 54.5%) about pandemic preparedness. The respondents’ good knowledge and satisfactory attitudes toward pandemic preparedness decreased with age. The respondents' education, age, and state of residence were significantly associated with good knowledge, satisfactory attitudes, and positive perceptions of pandemic preparedness with respondents with tertiary education levels being at least two times more likely to have these positive outcomes.ConclusionThis study revealed serious gaps in Nigerians’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of their readiness for upcoming pandemics. To protect Nigerians’ health, emphasis should be placed on these issues by all stakeholders, including the government.

Comparison of Instructions to Authors and Reporting of Ethics Components in Selected African Biomedical Journals: 2008 and 2017.

Journal editors instruct authors to describe human participant protections in original research reports. However, little is known about African biomedical journal authors' adherence to such journal editors' instructions. This study investigated changes in editors' instructions to authors and authors' reporting of research ethics information in selected African biomedical journals between 2008 and 2017. Twelve selected journal websites and online articles were reviewed in Eastern, Southern, and Western African [ESWA] countries. A pre-tested schema and a checklist were used to collect data from journal websites and articles published in 2008 and 2017, and the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Half of the journals requested prospective authors to disclose ethics approval and related issues in their manuscripts between 2008 and 2017. There was a significant increase in instructions to authors regarding information on the protection of research participants within this period; more authors complied with these requirements in 2017 than in 2007.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Bank Size and Customer Trust amongst Commercial Banks in Kenya

Despite the commercial banks’ significant position in Kenya's ever growing economy there is limited study on the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on consumer trust in the commercial banking industry. This study therefore sought to explore the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on customer trust in the commercial banking sector of Kenya. With focus on commercial banks, this research delved into how community investment, sustainable initiatives, stakeholder engagement, social welfare, and bank size influence customer trust. This study was anchored on Stakeholder Theory. A correlational research design was employed, targeting all the 39 commercial banks in Kenya. The analysis was centered on the banks as units of analysis, while observations were drawn from both customers and bank managers. The study used stratified sampling to select 384 bank customers population exceeding 1 million. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interview (KII), ensuring reliability and validity through Cronbach’s Alpha test and content/construct validity testing. Analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis and ANOVA. The results were presented on tables, charts and bars. The findings revealed a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.605 indicating that the CSR activities used in this study explain 60.5% of the variation in customer trust, suggesting a strong relationship between CSR and customer trust. The regression analysis demonstrated significant positive effects, with community investment (β = 0.354, p = 0.000), sustainable initiatives (β = 0.235, p = 0.003), stakeholder engagement (β = 0.275, p = 0.000), and social welfare (β = 0.329, p = 0.000) all positively influencing customer trust. Based on the findings, the study concludes that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, including community investment, sustainable initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and social welfare, significantly influence customer trust among commercial banks in Kenya. In view of the findings, the study recommends that commercial banks in Kenya should continue to invest in CSR activities as a strategic approach to enhance customer trust and loyalty. Policymakers should create supportive regulatory frameworks that encourage banks to adopt comprehensive CSR practices. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Community investment, Sustainable initiatives, Stakeholder engagement, Social welfare, Bank Size, Customer trust.

The Main Challenges Faced in the Implementation of Government Policy Interventions towards Access to Pre-primary and Primary Education by Street Children in North Rift, Kenya

Aims: Despite of the strong policy measures to have street children in school, many school-going-age are still not attending school. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper was to evaluate challenges faced in the implementation of Government policy interventions towards access to pre-primary and primary education by street children in North Rift, Kenya. Study Design: The study adopted a mixed method research design. Place and Duration of the Study: A survey was conducted in three towns of the North Rift Counties of Kenya (Kapsabet, Eldoret, and Kitale) which are the headquarters of the respective counties. Data collection done in the period between 1st December and 31st December 2022 Methodology: Purposive and simple random sampling was used to select 322 respondents (218 males and 23 females with a modal age of 10 -15 years; 18 female and 27 female teachers were aged between 30 – above 40 years). Data was collected using observation guides, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics as well as theme analysis were used to analyze the data, respectively. The data was coded and analyzed using themes. Results: Main reasons street children had not enrolled in school were a lack of money for school materials (56.2%) and an unattractive school environment (30%). Other reasons included having to work to support their families (1.3%), distance to school (0.9%), being born and raised on the streets, being over-aged, and early parenting responsibilities. Conclusion: The study concluded that government policy interventions alone are insufficient for improving street children's access to education. Effective implementation requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders, addressing barriers like poverty and parenting responsibilities, and restructuring education to include informal systems.

Evaluating Saudi Arabian nurses' willingness to respond to nuclear and radiological disasters.

We evaluated Saudi Arabian nurses' willingness to engage in nuclear and radiological disaster response. In the face of rising nuclear and radiological threats, it is essential that nurses are fully prepared to handle the health consequences of such emergencies. As frontline responders, nurses play a critical role in managing high-stakes situations, making their readiness a key factor in ensuring public safety during these crises. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 612 registered nurses in Saudi Arabia. The survey used a structured questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior, identifying behavioral intentions as the primary outcome and attitudes toward these behaviors, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as influencing factors. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Most respondents lacked specialized training and reported strong behavioral intentions. Attitude and perceived behavioral control were key drivers of these behavioral intentions, with less impact from subjective norms. Behavioral intentions were also shaped by education, the perceived likelihood of nuclear and radiological emergencies in their region, peer influence, perceived self-efficacy, and family concerns. Younger and married nurses showed significantly stronger behavioral intentions. Although most nurses lacked specialized training, their strong engagement intentions and positive responses to active learning and training indicate a desire to close this gap through further education. However, inadequate institutional support, trouble communicating with family, and concerns about personal radiation exposure emerged as potential barriers. Targeted educational initiatives and support systems are needed to enhance nurses' confidence, competence, and willingness to engage in radiological and nuclear emergency scenarios. Policymakers should prioritize the development of specialized training programs and support mechanisms for nurses, ensuring they are adequately prepared to respond effectively to increasing radiological and nuclear threats.

Effect of Nesting and Swaddling on Sleep Duration of Preterm Neonate Hospitalized at Tertiary Care Centre of Eastern Nepal

Background: All preterm neonates’ sleep is disturbed during hospitalization period due to various stressful environmental factors and human error and without focusing in individual developmental care. This impacts neonatal neurological development as well as normal growth resulting lifelong disabilities. Thus, modification of the environment by intervening developmental care could minimize the iatrogenic effect and neuro-developmental delay by decreasing stressful environment. This study was conducted to assess the effect of nesting and swaddling on sleep duration of preterm neonates during hospitalization at B.P.Koirala Instituted of Health sciences (BPKIHS). Methods: True experimental (post-test control design) study conducted among 36 preterm neonates, admitted in Nursery and Neonatal Unit of BPKIHS. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of nesting and swaddling on sleep duration. Consecutive sampling technique was used for total sample size then after random allocation is applied for creates the samples into two groups: experimental and control. Performa was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics. Sleep duration was recorded in self-administer observation form base on the observational behavior characteristics scoring of neonatal sleep by AASM (American Academy of sleep Medicine). As intervention, nesting and swaddling were performed in experimental group, then the sleep was video-recorded for 2 hours for each neonate. Finally, data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Among the enrolled neonates, there were 23 male (63.9%) and 13 female (36.1%) preterm. There was significant difference in sleep duration between experimental and control group. The mean ± SD of sleep duration was 59.22 ± 22.61 minute in experimental group and 39.50 ± 8.06 minute in control with p-value 0.001. The mean sleep duration was not associated with other selected study variables except the performed intervention. Conclusions: Nesting and Swaddling can be used as convenient and effective method to increase neonatal sleep duration or rest period.

Social Economic Challenges of Adaptation to Climate Change in Masinga Sub-County, Kenya

Climate in Masinga sub-county has been changing at a momentum which is unprecedented in the recent human history. This area consists mainly small-scale farmers who depend on rain to carry out their farming activities. Coping strategies to the changing climate in the area has faced various challenges ranging from high poverty, low levels of education, age, gender among others. This study investigated how social-economic challenges affecting adaptation strategies on climate change among the households living in Masinga sub-county, in Kenya. The main objectives of the study included; 1) To examine the adaptation strategies employed by households in Masinga sub-county 2) To determine the main factors that affect household in adaptation to climate change in Masinga sub-county 3) To investigate the environmental implications of adaptation to climate change in Masinga sub-county. Essentially, variables such as education levels, age, gender, were assessed. In order to gain an understanding on adaptation strategies used by households in Masinga sub-county, the study was conducted in all six divisions. Various methods of sampling were used in the survey which included stratified random sampling based on the number of households proportionately in the six divisions. In essence, 384 household heads were sampled through stratified random sampling. The study employed specific data collection tools in order acquire data from the six divisions; structured questionnaires, interviews schedules, Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) and direct observation were used. Qualitative data was collected through; interviews, Desk research, Focus Group Discussions comprising six to eight sampled through stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. The households coping strategies, influence of adaptation strategy to climate change and environmental implications of household adaptation was analyzed through both qualitative and quantitative interpretation. Data from survey was organized and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results were subjected to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to determine their reliability. When applying descriptive statistics, the results were presented in tables, bar graphs, and charts. In this study Chi-squire was used because it was easier to compare the results from a two dimensional perspective. These results after analysis by chi-square test, the p-value was found to be .001, thus, smaller than the significance level (α = .05). Using Chi-square tests, this study established that there is strong evidence of an association between the education level and the implementation of green-house farming (Χ2 (3) = 1.064, p = 0.001). Further analysis by chi-square test indicated that the p-value was found to be .008, thus, less than the significance level (α = .05). This study established that early warning as a strategy to adaptation to climate change was not common amongst households in the area. Further research is suggested on impact of charcoal burning on climate change adaptation and cost implications in semi- arid areas. The study findings will enable the government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that early warning system information is able to reach the local residents at all times

Influence of Working Conditions on Performance of Support Staff in Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya

This study assessed the influence of working conditions on the performance of support staff in public secondary schools within Nakuru County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: determine influence of work relationships and remuneration on work performance of support staff respectively. The study adopted the mixed methods research approach using the concurrent embedded design. Herzbergs’ two-factor theory provided the theoretical framework with a target population of 3,258 comprising of 362 principals, 362 deputy principals and 2, 534 support staff. Yamanes’ (1973) formula was used to determine a sample of 356 comprising of (40) principals, (40) deputy principals and (272) support staff who were selected by way of the stratified sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative information from principals and deputy principals, while support staffs provided quantitative and qualitative information through semi-structured interview schedules. Quantitative data collected was analyzed descriptively and inferential statistics generated while qualitative data was analyzed thematically based on the research objectives. The findings show that: work relationships and remuneration had the Pearsons’ correlation coefficient (R) of .724 and .678 respectively. The R² computed yielded values of .524 and .460 for working relationships and remuneration respectively suggesting that working relationships explained 52.4% of work performance of support staff while remuneration explained 46% of work performance. As a result of these findings, it was concluded that working conditions (work relationships and remuneration) moderately but positively influenced work performance of support staff in public secondary schools in Nakuru County. These findings are particularly important to School Boards of Management and the Ministry of Education who can utilize them to enhance work performance of support staff by enriching their working conditions. Further research to develop schemes of service for support staff across all public secondary schools is recommended in order to bolster their work performance

Advantages of Monte Carlo Confidence Intervals for Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios: A Comparison of Five Methods

Cost-effectiveness analysis studies in education often prioritize descriptive statistics of cost-effectiveness measures, such as the point estimate of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), while neglecting inferential statistics like confidence intervals (CIs). Without CIs, it is impossible to make meaningful comparisons of alternative educational strategies, as there is no basis for assessing the uncertainty of point estimates or the plausible range of ICERs. This study evaluates the relative performance of five methods of constructing CIs for ICERs in randomized controlled trials with cost-effectiveness analyses. We found that the Monte Carlo interval method based on summary statistics consistently performed well regarding coverage, width, and symmetry. It yielded estimates comparable to the percentile bootstrap method across multiple scenarios. In contrast, Fieller’s method did not work well with small samples and small treatment effects. Further, Taylor’s method and the Box method performed least well. We discuss two-sided and one-sided hypothesis testing based on ICER CIs, develop tools for calculating these ICER CIs, and demonstrate the calculation using an empirical example. We conclude with suggestions for applications and extensions of this work.

A Bayesian approach for estimating the uncertainty on the contribution of nitrogen fixation and calculation of nutrient balances in grain legumes

BackgroundThe proportion of nitrogen (N) derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) is a fundamental component of the plant N demand in legume species. To estimate the N benefit of grain legumes for the subsequent crop in the rotation, a simplified N balance is frequently used. This balance is calculated as the difference between fixed N and removed N by grains. The Ndfa needed to achieve a neutral N balance (hereafter θ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ heta$$\\end{document}) is usually estimated through a simple linear regression model between Ndfa and N balance. This quantity is routinely estimated without accounting for the uncertainty in the estimate, which is needed to perform formal statistical inference about θ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ heta$$\\end{document}. In this article, we utilized a global database to describe the development of a novel Bayesian framework to quantify the uncertainty of θ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ heta$$\\end{document}. This study aimed to (i) develop a Bayesian framework to quantify the uncertainty of θ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ heta$$\\end{document}, and (ii) contrast the use of this Bayesian framework with the widely used delta and bootstrapping methods under different data availability scenarios.ResultsThe delta method, bootstrapping, and Bayesian inference provided nearly equivalent numerical values when the range of values for Ndfa was thoroughly explored during data collection (e.g., 6–91%), and the number of observations was relatively high (e.g., ≥100\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\ge 100$$\\end{document}). When the Ndfa tested was narrow and/or sample size was small, the delta method and bootstrapping provided confidence intervals containing biologically non-meaningful values (i.e. < 0% or > 100%). However, under a narrow Ndfa range and small sample size, the developed Bayesian inference framework obtained biologically meaningful values in the uncertainty estimation.ConclusionIn this study, we showed that the developed Bayesian framework was preferable under limited data conditions ─by using informative priors─ and when uncertainty estimation had to be constrained (regularized) to obtain meaningful inference. The presented Bayesian framework lays the foundation not only to conduct formal comparisons or hypothesis testing involving θ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ heta$$\\end{document}, but also to learn about its expected value, variance, and higher moments such as skewness and kurtosis under different agroecological and crop management conditions. This framework can also be transferred to estimate balances for other nutrients and/or field crops to gain knowledge on global crop nutrient balances.

A Randomization-Based, Model-Free Approach to Functional Neuroimaging: A Proof of Concept

Functional neuroimaging analysis takes noisy multidimensional measurements as input and produces statistical inferences regarding the functional properties of brain regions as output. Such inferences are most commonly model-based, in that they assume a model of how neural activity translates to the measured signal (blood oxygenation level-dependent signal in the case of functional MRI). The use of models increases statistical sensitivity and makes it possible to ask fine-grained theoretical questions. However, this comes at the cost of making theoretical assumptions about the underlying data-generating process. An advantage of model-free approaches is that they can be used in cases where model assumptions are known not to hold. To this end, we introduce a randomization-based, model-free approach to functional neuroimaging. TWISTER randomization makes it possible to infer functional selectivity from correlations between experimental runs. We provide a proof of concept in the form of a visuomotor mapping experiment and discuss the possible strengths and limitations of this new approach in light of our empirical results.

A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice Regarding Fast Hugs Bid Among ICU Staff Nurses in a Selected Hospital of New Delhi

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice regarding FAST HUGS BID among ICU staff nurses in a selected hospital of New Delhi. The objectives of the study were: to assess the knowledge and practice regarding FAST HUGS BID among ICU staff nurses in a selected hospital of New Delhi and to find out the association of knowledge and practice regarding FAST HUGS BID with selected demographic variables of ICU staff nurses in a selected hospital of New Delhi. Ethical clearance was obtained, and formal permission was taken from Holy Family Hospital and Holy Family College of Nursing, respectively. Data collection was done from 22nd January to 27th January 2024. Research approach used for the study was quantitative research approach and research design was non- experimental descriptive study design. A total of 90 samples were selected through purposive sampling technique. Tools used for the study were demographic variables seeking personal information regarding age in years, number of years of experience in ICU, educational qualification, and attended any CNE or In-service education on FAST HUGS BID; Structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding FAST HUGS BID among ICU staff nurses; and Observational Checklist to assess the practice regarding FAST HUGS BID among ICU staff nurses. Data obtained were analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority of samples, i.e., 52 (57.78%) were 21-24 years old, 46 (51.11%) had experience as an ICU staff nurse for &lt;1 year, 53 (58.89%) were B.Sc. nurses, and 71 (78.89%) had not attended any CNE or in-service education on FAST HUGS BID. The majority of the sample had fair knowledge, i.e., 65.55%, 20% had poor knowledge, and 14.44% had a good knowledge level. The majority of the sample had a good practice level, i.e., 96.67%, and 3.33% had fair practice. The mean value of knowledge is 12.84, the median value is 13, and the standard deviation is 2.99. The mean value of the level of practice is 9.83, the median value is 10, and the standard deviation is 1.05. There was a significant association between knowledge (chi-square=19.551, p-value=0.0033 at the p&lt;0.05 level of significance) with selected demographic variables, i.e., educational qualification. The study concluded that samples had fair knowledge (65.55%), good practice (96.67%), and there was a significant association of knowledge (chi-square=19.551, p- value=0.0033 at p&lt;0.05 level of significance) with selected demographic variables, i.e., educational qualification regarding FAST HUGS BID among ICU staff nurses.

Predictors of quality of life (QOL) and treatment adherence among children with nephrotic syndrome

ABSTRACT Introduction: Any significant changes in the growth and development of any aspect of life will ultimately affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children with nephrotic syndrome. Various factors can influence treatment adherence, which can promote or decline the child’s quality of life (QOL). Objective: To assess the quality of life and adherence to treatment regimen and to identify the predictors of QOL and adherence to treatment regimen among children with nephrotic syndrome. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 59 children with nephrotic syndrome who attended the Paediatric Department of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, using the PedsQL 4.0 generic core scale to assess the quality of life and adherence response scale. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using the SPSS 20 version. Results: The overall QOL median score was 93.48, with an IQR of 18.48, which indicated good QOL. A median score of treatment adherence was 16 with IQR 5, which indicated that the overall treatment adherence was good. Type of nephrotic syndrome (P = 0.014), developmental stage (P = 0.018), education of mother (P = 0.026), and occupation of mother (P = 0.026) were the variables predicted QOL. Duration of disease (P = 0.006) and duration of therapy (P = 0.005) significantly predicted treatment adherence. Conclusion: Children need continuous reinforcement on treatment adherence strategies to attain and maintain good QOL so that it can help to reduce the disease severity. Controlling the predictors that influence the QOL and treatment adherence has to be counseled among the parents so that their adherence can be sustained throughout the disease process to maintain good QOL.

COPING WITH FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CHALLENGES: LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY

This study aimed to identify leadership competencies crucial for navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the airline sector, utilizing a mixed-method approach, specifically an explanatory sequential design. Data from 210 employees underwent analysis using des­criptive and inferential statistics, predictive analytics, and bootstrapping methods. Findings indicated that while age and education had no bearing on leadership competencies, gender, tenure, and positions displayed variations, indicating competency enhancements regardless of demographics. Furthermore, all competencies studied significantly predicted overall suc­cess, with some explicitly influencing challenges associated with the Fourth Industrial Re­vo­lution. A proposed leadership development framework addressed the findings precisely challenges, with practical implications focusing on driving success and sustainability in the airline industry.

Screening for Anxiety, Depression and Panic in older adults in a Family Medicine Unit in Sinaloa, Mexico

Introduction: The most prevalent mental disorders in Primary Care are Anxiety, Depression and Panic. These are one of the main causes of health demand in hospital stay services. Objective: to determine the frequency of mental disorders in older adults at the Family Medicine Unit No. 35, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México in the period from March to November 2024. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Older adults aged 60 to 75 years without a diagnosis of any mental disorder or syndrome were included. Sample of 379 participants. Simple random probabilistic sampling. A socio-demographic data sheet and the PHQ-4 + PHQ-TP scale were used. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi square) p ≤0,05 were used, it adhered to ethical and legal criteria. Results: The average age was 65,59 years. 53,3 % were men, 52 % were married, 50,7 % were currently working, 35,1 % had primary education and 76 % lived in urban areas. 34 % had anxiety, 28,2 % depression and 30,6 % panic. A significant relationship was found between anxiety and marital status (χ²=5,814, p=0,05) and schooling (χ²=12,845, p=0,00). Depression was related to schooling (χ²=18,479, p=0,00) and current job (χ²=8,528, p=0,003). Panic was related to sex (χ²=17,688, p=0,00), marital status (χ²=10,935, p=0,004), current job (χ²=6,273, p=0,001) and education (χ²=13,092, p=0,004). Conclusions: Anxiety was the most common mental disorder among older adults, highlighting the need to promote accessible and effective mental health programs that address the particular needs of this age group.