Inventory Tool Research Articles

Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the relationship between ego states, organizational commitment, and productivity among Indian bankers

Banking is a dominant player among the service providers in India. Interpersonal skills play a vital role in the banking industry, as intangible variables are influenced by communication. Through Transactional Analysis (TA), bankers can render better services to their customers by ensuring that the communication occurs at an acceptable level of ego state. This manuscript sets out to uncover the role of TA in determining the commitment and productivity of bankers. When we delve deeper into the workings of the banks, it is understandable that it is not just monetary transactions that are related to banking employees but also an interweaved set of compeller transactions between people that form the edifice of banking transactions. Therefore, effective interpersonal communication is essential for bank employees. Transactional Style Inventory tools were applied to measure the level of ego states, while structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between variables. Results show that respondents exhibit a higher level of adapted child ego and a lower level of creative child ego states. Moreover, nurturing parent, adult ego, and adapted child ego states significantly influence employee commitment and productivity. Based on the findings, the banks were recommended to incorporate developing a recruitment policy that checks the ego states of employees before placing them on the staffing panel of the workplace. Moreover, the research findings also help in using the ego states of employees to design human resource policies that can lead to better interpersonal communication that enhances the productivity of the employees.

Short-term pain control after palliative radiotherapy for uncomplicated bone metastases: a prospective cohort study.

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of different radiotherapy (RT) fractionation regimens in managing uncomplicated painful bone metastases (BM) and identifying predictive factors for pain control. Patients with 1 to 4 symptomatic BM from any primary solid tumors and a life expectancy exceeding 3months were included in the study and received palliative RT, with SBRT restricted in the context of oligometastatic disease or in patients with good prognosis. Pain analysis using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) tool was conducted at baseline, 1 and 3months after RT. Analgesic intake was recorded as morphine-equivalent doses (OME). Pain response was assessed using the International Consensus on Palliative Radiotherapy Endpoint (ICPRE). Multivariate logistic regression analyzed patient-related, tumor-related, and treatment-related factors predicting BM pain control at 3months post-RT. From Feb 2022 to Feb 2023, 44 patients with 65 symptomatic BM were investigated. Breast (32%) and lung (24%) tumors were the most common primary tumors. Treatment plans included 3DCRT (60%) and VMAT (40%), with a median biological effective dose for tumors (BED) of 29Gy [14-108]. All patients completed the 3-month follow-up. Pain response rates were 62% at 1month and 60% at 3months. Responders had better PS ECOG scores (67%; P = 0.008) and received active systemic therapies (67%: P = 0.036). Non-responders had lower pretreatment BPI (mean: 13.7 vs. 58.2; P = 0.032), with significantly higher values after 1month (mean: 9.1 vs. 5.3, P = 0.033). Baseline BPI (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.032-1.327; P = 0.014) and BPI at 1month (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.698-0.976; P = 0.025) were independent predictors of pain response at 3months. Our findings show that palliative RT ensured short-term pain control in patients with BM, regardless of tumor type and dose-fractionation regimen. A larger sample size and a longer follow-up could potentially identify which patients are likely to benefit most from RT, and which fractionation might be indicated for achieving a durable pain relief. A multidisciplinary approach is paramount to provide a better care to BM patients.

Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Performance Measures in Alternative Payment Models: Current Use, Implementation Barriers, and Principles to Succeed

ObjectivesPatient-reported outcome (PRO)-based performance measures (PRO-PMs) offer opportunities to aggregate survey data into a reliable and valid assessment of performance at the entity-level (eg, clinician, hospital, and accountable care organization). Our objective was to address the existing literature gap regarding the implementation barriers, current use, and principles for PRO-PMs to succeed. MethodsAs quality measurement experts, we first highlighted key principles of PRO-PMs and how alternative payment models (APMs) may be integral in promoting more widespread use. In May 2023, we reviewed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Measures Inventory Tool for active PRO-PM usage within CMS programs. We finally present principles to prioritize as part PRO-PMs succeeding within APMs. ResultsWe identified 5 implementation barriers to PRO-PM use: original development of instrument, response rate sufficiency, provider burden, hesitancy regarding fairness, and attribution of desired outcomes. There existed 54 instances of active PRO-PM usage across CMS programs, including 46 unique PRO-PMs within 14 CMS programs. Five principles to prioritize as part of greater PRO-PM development and incorporation within APMs include the following: (1) clinical salience, (2) adequate sample size, (3) meaningful range of performance among measured entities and the ability to detect performance change in a reasonable time frame, (4) equity focus, and (5) appropriate risk adjustment. ConclusionsIdentified barriers and principles to prioritize should be considered during PRO-PM development and implementation phases to link available and novel measures to payment programs while ensuring provider and stakeholder engagement.

Family conflict: Risk factor for low adherence in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Greek families

Introduction: Type 1 Diabetes Melitus (T1DM) treatment is demanding, due to daily blood glucose monitoring, certain diet plan, specific exercise program, multiple daily insulin injections, and management of episodes of hypo- or hyperglycemia. Family conflict may play a significant role in the adherence of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Purpose: To evaluate Greek families’ conflicts and determine their relationship with T1DM adolescents’ adherence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to June 2022. Due to COVID-19 restriction, all the interviews were conducted through online survey. Three questionnaires were distributed to the adolescents. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory tool, Diabetes Self-Management Profile and Collaborative Parent Involvement Scale for Youths Questionnaire. PeDsQL was distributed to their parents as well. Results: 59 adolescents (N=21) aged 10-19 years and their parents (N=38) participated. The mean values of PedsQL for all five factors ranged from 55.7 (Worry subcategory) to 77.8 (Treatment adherence), showing an overall moderate QoL. According to the mean values, parents’ perspectives PedsQL for all five factors ranged from 38.6 (Worry subcategory) to 77 (Treatment adherence), showing an overall moderate QoL. Mean DSMP score indicated a high level of adherence of children with diabetes mellitus to their treatment, whilst mean cooperation score indicated a high level of cooperation between parents and adolescents with T1DM and low level of FC. Bivariate analysis revealed that less FC was related to better treatment adherence in adolescents. Conclusions: T1DM management remains challenging, particularly as children grow older and move into adolescence. The family can play a significant role in T1DM management. Diabetes multidisciplinary teams should evaluate and understand family members' interactions detecting inter-family problems such as high frequency of FC. Provision of family support can improve communication between adolescents and parents and may reduce FC resulting in better T1DM treatment adherence and outcomes.

Crown segmentation using Airborne Laser Scanning data in a silvopastoral system with Eucalyptus grandis

Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) remote sensing holds immense potential for characterizing and measuring forest biomass, providing a valuable inventory tool for intensive silviculture to enhance forest management and planning. Accurate estimation of total height (Ht) and crown area (CA) is crucial to model and design silvopastoral systems. The main objective of this study was to estimate Ht and CA accurately using watershed segmentation algorithm in a triple-row silvopastoral system with Eucalyptus grandis, to compare these variables based on the position of the tree in the rows. Edge trees are the most prevalent in a triple row silvopastoral system, making it important to analyze and understand their structural differences from the trees in the interior. The study was conducted in a silvopastoral system in Reboledo, Florida, Uruguay (34° 1'15.16"S, 55° 39'13.75"W). The silvopastoral system consisted of triple rows of Eucalyptus grandis N-S oriented lined with natural pastures in 14-19 m alleys. ALS data was obtained from an area of 26 ha including two silvopastoral stands planted in 2012 (10 years) and 2019 (4 years). From the canopy height model (CHM) a Watershed segmentation algorithm was conducted to obtain individual tree segmentation, yielding Ht and CA of individual trees in both stands. Individual trees were manually classified by position in the triple row as Middle (M), External West (EW) and External East (EE). Our results show data of 1,627 individual trees in the 2019 stand and 1,405 trees in the 2012 stand, EW trees showed the highest CA in the 2019 stand with a 10% difference with M trees and a 9% with EE trees. The 2019 plot showed no significant difference in Ht. In the 2012 stand, EE trees showed the highest CA with a 22% difference from M trees and an 8% with EW, and EW trees showed a 15% higher CA than M tress in the 2012 stand. The 2012 plot showed a 1% significant average difference between Externals and Middle trees and no significant difference between EE and EW trees. Correlation between field data and ALS data in Ht showed R2=0.82, n=45 and p<0.0001 in 2019 plot, and R2=0.67, n=18, and p<0.0001 in the 2012 plot. Watershed segmentation algorithm in combination with ALS remote sensing demonstrated to be an efficient method to estimate CA and Ht in triple-row silvopastoral systems.

The Relationship between Nursing Burnout and Job Performance in Eradah Complex: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: This study aims to examine the relationship between job burnout and practical performance among nursing staff in the Eradah Complex in Jeddah Region.
 Study Design: A cross-sectional study design.
 Place and Duration of Study: Registered nurses for this research were randomly selected, and the data were collected for one year, starting from August 2022 till July 2023.
 Methodology: Data in this study were collected through the administration of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as a standard inventory tool which was used to measure job burnout. as well as self-report questionnaire was used to measure practical performance. Questionnaires developed through MBI scale and self report survey forms were distributed among the participants to collect the data. Data reliability and statistical analyses using appropriate tests were done using the SPSS version 25.0 program.
 Results: This study involved 219 registered nurses as participants from different age groups with a mean age of 37.23±11.23 years old and a predominantly male gender (72%); in this study, these study results showed that there was a significant difference between factors affecting nurses' job performance and feeling stressed and their monthly income (P-value 0.027), while there was no significant difference between age, gender, marital status, education level, job title, and experience years and actors affecting nurses' job performance and feeling stressed.
 Conclusion: The existing evidence indicates that occupational fatigue might detrimentally affect practical performance. Job burnout can have a detrimental effect on practical performance as it can result in a decline in motivation and focus. A further manner in which job burnout can influence practical performance is through the manifestation of emotional tiredness. Nurses who are encountering job burnout may experience emotional exhaustion and a sense of being overwhelmed. This phenomenon has the potential to result in insufficiencies in personnel, hence exacerbating job burnout and diminishing practical performance.

Factors influencing xerostomia and oral health-related quality of life in polymedicated patients.

To evaluate whether the severity of xerostomia in older polymedicated patients impacts oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Medication-associated xerostomia is common in older people. Xerostomia may impair OHRQoL. This cross-sectional study included older hypertensive patients from two health centres. We assessed the severity of xerostomia and OHRQoL using the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) tool, and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) instrument, respectively. We measured unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) salivary flows. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses evaluated the associations of XI and OHIP-14 and different explanatory variables. Of the 218 patients enrolled, 51.8% had xerostomia, and 38.1% and 27.5% suffered from UWS and SWS hyposalivation, respectively. Patients with xerostomia, UWS, and SWS hyposalivation scored significantly higher on the XI. However, only those with xerostomia or UWS hyposalivation had significantly higher OHIP-14 scores. A moderate correlation was observed between XI and OHIP-14 scores. The multiple regression model showed that factors with the greatest impact on XI were the patient's complaint of xerostomia, UWS flow rate, age and sex. However, only the XI score was significantly associated with the OHIP-14 score. Xerostomia has a negative impact on OHRQoL in older polymedicated patients, but this impact is less than in other types of xerostomia. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether changes in the detected explanatory variables influence XI and OHIP scores in these patients.

Surrounded by Great Lakes: Assessing the ichthyological diversity of Northern Zambian drainage systems

In contrast to the fish diversity of the African Great Lakes, in particular cichlid fishes, the ichthyofauna of most river systems in Africa is poorly documented and remains critically understudied. Here we focus on the fish fauna of Northern Zambia, a region that is located between two African Great Lakes and covers the contact zones between three major drainage systems: the Zambezi drainage system, the Congo drainage system, including the Lake Tanganyika catchment and the Lake Rukwa drainage system. Our study contributes to the taxonomic knowledge of this region by providing DNA barcodes (COI) of 315 newly acquired museum voucher specimens representing approximately 125 species, together with distribution details of these species as well as those for which no barcodes have been obtained during this study. The barcoding efforts focused mainly on the fish fauna of the Luangwa River and its tributaries, the Lufubu River, the Upper Chambeshi, the Saisi River and included some Lake Malawi affluents as well. In total, 147 fish species, distributed over 16 families and 46 genera, were recorded from 38 sampling locations. A large proportion of these species appear to be undescribed. This is best exemplified by the fish fauna of the Lufubu River, where of the 37 species recorded, 25 represent candidate species putatively endemic to the system. This first step to establish a DNA barcode library for the freshwater fish diversity of Northern Zambia will serve as valuable tool for the taxonomic inventory of this region as well as for future conservation actions.

Dome trochleoplasty for correction of patella alta and patella luxation in dogs > 20 kg.

To describe the dome trochleoplasty procedure and report the short-term outcomes and complications associated with a novel technique to correct patellar luxation and patella alta. 13 dogs (16 stifle joints) diagnosed with medial patellar luxation with concurrent patella alta in dogs > 20 kg. Medical records of dogs weighing > 20 kg that underwent a dome trochleoplasty for correction of a medial luxating patella were prospectively evaluated. The procedure described involves an osteotomy of the femoral trochlea, which is then translated and/or rotated to correct patellar luxation. Clinical results were assessed using subjective lameness scoring, radiographic evaluation, and the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) tool. 16 stifle joints were included in this study. The overall complication rate was 50%. Major complications occurred in 43.8% of stifle joints due to pin migration and recurrent luxation of the patella. One dog experienced a catastrophic complication 4 months postoperatively. Uncomplicated osteotomy healing was present in 94% of dogs. The median initial lameness score was 2 (mean, 1.81; range, 0 to 4) and at the final recheck was 0 (mean, 0.31; range, 0 to 2). The CBPI scores were available for 50% of stifle joints. The median initial CBPI score was 45.5 (mean, 48.8; range, 32 to 74) and at the final recheck was 17.5 (mean, 20.5; range, 0 to 43). The dome trochleoplasty procedure offers an alternative technique for surgical correction of patellar luxation secondary to patella alta in large-breed dogs, but due to its higher complication and reluxation rates, it should be used cautiously and probably in combination with other corrective procedures, such as tibial tuberosity transposition, soft tissue imbrication, and/or soft tissue release rather than as a stand-alone procedure.

Depressive Symptoms among People Living with HIV Attending ART Centers of Lumbini Province, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Depression is a common mental disorder and is a leading cause of disability globally. Depressive symptoms among people living with HIV can be a significant barrier to ART initiation and thus lead to poor ART adherence. Global studies have found the prevalence of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV ranges from 12 to 63%. The real scenario of Nepal still needs to be explored. Thus, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and predictors of depression in individuals with HIV. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out from August to December 2020 among 406 people living with HIV attending ART centers in Lumbini province. Participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique and surveyed with a structured questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic variables, HIV AIDS-related variables, and 21 items Beck Depression Inventory tool. The odds ratio was used as the ultimate measure of association, with a 95% confidence interval computed to establish statistical significance. A multivariate regression analysis was carried out to identify the final predictors of depressive symptoms. The study found that 26.8% of the respondents had depressive symptoms. Those who were literate (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.61), in the poorest wealth quintile (AOR = 7.28, 95% CI: 2.22-23.87), initiated ART within 12 months (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.03-3.42), had CD4 cell counts below 200 (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.54-4.06), and had a time difference of 3 months or less between HIV diagnosis and ART initiation (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29-0.86) were independently associated with depressive symptoms. Routine screening for depressive symptoms should be integrated into national HIV prevention and control programs for people living with HIV. An enabling environment should be created to facilitate the rapid enrollment of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in ART services, thereby reducing the time gap between HIV diagnosis and ART initiation.

The effects of a structured communication tool in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms: a cluster randomized trial

Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) are prevalent among primary care patients and frequently lead to diminished quality of life, increased healthcare costs, and decreased work participation. We aimed to examine the effects of a work-focused structured communication tool based on cognitive-behavioral therapy in patients with MUPS. In a Norwegian two-arm cluster randomized trial, the effectiveness of the structured communication tool Individual Challenge Inventory Tool (ICIT) was compared to usual care for patients with MUPS using a two-arm cluster randomized design. Enrollment period was between March 7 and April 1, 2022. Ten groups (clusters) of 103 General Practitioners (GPs) were randomized to provide the ICIT or usual care for 11 weeks. Patients received two or more sessions with their GP, and outcomes were assessed individually. Primary outcome was patient-reported change in function, symptoms, and quality of life measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Secondary outcomes included sick leave, work-related self-efficacy (RTW-SE), health-related quality of life (RAND-36), and patient experiences with consultants (PEQ). The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05128019). A total of 541 patients with MUPS were enrolled in the study. In the intervention group 76% (n=223) showed a significant overall improvement in function, symptoms, and quality of life as measured by the PGIC, compared to 38% (n=236) in the usual care group (mean difference-0.8 ([95% CI-1.0 to-0.6]; p<0.0001). At 11 weeks, the intervention group had a 27-percentage point decrease in sick leave (from 52.0 to 25.2), compared to 4-percentage point decrease (from 49.7 to 45.7) in the usual care group. Furthermore, compared to usual care, the intervention group reported significant improvements in work-related self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and greater satisfaction with the communication during the consultations. No adverse events were reported. The implementation of the structured communication tool ICIT in primary care significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced sick leave among patients with MUPS. The study was funded by The Norwegian Research Fund for General Practice.

Burnout and depression: A cross sectional study among health care workers providing HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi.

Health care workers (HCWs) in eastern Africa experience high levels of burnout and depression, and this may be exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic due to anxiety and increased work pressure. We assessed the prevalence of burnout, depression and associated factors among Malawian HCWs who provided HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic. From April-May 2021, between the second and third COVID-19 waves in Malawi, we randomly selected HCWs from 32 purposively selected PEPFAR/USAID-supported health facilities for a cross-sectional survey. We screened for depression using the World Health Organization Self Report Questionnaire (positive screen: score≥8) and for burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory tool, (positive screen: moderate-high Emotional Exhaustion and/or moderate-high Depersonalization, and/or low-moderate Personal Accomplishment scores). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with depression and burnout. We enrolled 435 HCWs, median age 32 years (IQR 28-38), 54% male, 34% were clinical cadres and 66% lay cadres. Of those surveyed, 28% screened positive for depression, 29% for burnout and 13% for both. In analyses that controlled for age, district, and residence (rural/urban), we found that screening positive for depression was associated with expecting to be infected with COVID-19 in the next 12 months (aOR 2.7, 95%CI 1.3-5.5), and previously having a COVID-19 infection (aOR 2.58, 95CI 1.4-5.0). Screening positive for burnout was associated with being in the clinical cadre (aOR 1.86; 95% CI: 1.2-3.0) and having a positive depression screen (aOR 3.2; 95% CI: 1.9-5.4). Reports of symptoms consistent with burnout and depression were common among Malawian HCWs providing HIV care but prevalence was not higher than in surveys before the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular screening for burnout and depression should be encouraged, given the potential for adverse HCW health outcomes and reduced work performance. Feasible interventions for burnout and depression among HCWs in our setting need to be introduced urgently.

A National Survey of Stress and Burnout in Critical Care Nurses: A Prepandemic Study.

Critical care nurses (CCNs) experience a higher level of stress and burnout than nurses in other specialties. Approximately 50% of CCNs are mildly stressed, and almost 20% are moderately stressed. Prolonged periods of stress can lead to burnout, which has been shown to have deleterious effects on quality and patient safety. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of burnout among a national sample of CCNs and the association with environmental factors. A national survey of CCNs working in the United States was implemented using an exploratory descriptive design. The anonymous survey was developed iteratively according to best practices of survey design. The survey included the Perceived Stress Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory tool. Pretesting and pilot testing were conducted with CCN specialists, and the survey was revised based on their feedback. An anonymous link was distributed to respondents using convenience sampling through social media and further disseminated via snowball sampling. Two hundred seventy nurses responded to the survey. The mean (SD) Perceived Stress Scale score in the study population was 18.5 (6.4), indicating moderate stress. The mean (SD) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory score was 61.9 (16.5), indicating moderate burnout. Our study found that the overall health of the work environment was one of the most important factors associated with both stress and burnout. This study has demonstrated the relationship between the health of the work environment and burnout among CCNs. It is imperative that health care organizations evaluate and implement strategies to optimize the health of the work environment to mitigate burnout and its negative sequelae on the nurse, patient, and system.

The CADA-MRIT: An MRI Inventory Tool for Evaluating Cerebral Lesions in CADASIL Across Cohorts.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most frequent genetic cerebrovascular disease. The clinical aspects of the disease in relation to the various types of lesions on MRI vary widely not only within families but also between different cohorts reported worldwide. Many limitations prevent comparison of imaging data obtained with different scanners and sequences in different patient cohorts. We aimed to develop and validate a simple tool to inventory quickly the key MRI features in CADASIL to compare imaging data across different populations. The Inventory Tool (CADA-MRIT) was designed by consensus after repeated expert meetings. It consists of 11 imaging items to assess periventricular, deep, and superficial white matter hyperintensity (WMH), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMB), centrum semiovale and basal ganglia dilated perivascular spaces (dPVS), superficial and deep atrophy, large infarcts, and macrobleeds. The reliability, clinical relevance, and time-effectiveness of CADA-MRIT were assessed using data from 3 independent patient cohorts. Imaging data from 671 patients with CADASIL (440 from France, 119 from Germany, and 112 from Taiwan) were analyzed. Their mean age was 53.4 ± 12.2 years, 54.5% were women, 56.2% had stroke, and 31.1% had migraine with aura. Any lacune was present in at least 70% of individuals, whereas CMB occurred in 83% of patients from the Asian cohort and in only 35% of European patients. CADA-MRIT scores obtained for WMH, CMB, and dPVS were comparable regardless of the scanner or sequence used (weighted κ > 0.60). Intrarater and interrater agreements were from good to very good (weighted κ > 0.60). Global WMH and atrophy scores correlated strongly with accurate volumetric quantification of WMH or brain parenchymal fraction (Pearson r > 0.60). Different imaging scores were significantly associated with the main clinical manifestations of the disease. The time for evaluating 1 patient was approximately 2-3 minutes. The CADA-MRIT is an easy-to-use tool for analyzing and comparing the most frequent MRI lesions of CADASIL across different populations. This instrument is reliable. It can be used with different imaging sequences or scanners. It also provides clinically relevant scores in a very short time for completion.

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Perinatal Teenage Girls Accessing Maternal Child Health Services in Nairobi County, Kenya

Depression and anxiety are categorized as common mental health disorders and the prevalence vary in different contexts. Perinatal teenage girls experience heightened stress levels that could increase the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among perinatal teenage girls accessing maternal child health services in Nairobi County, Kenya. This was a cross sectional study which involved teenage girls between the age of 10-19 years who were accessing maternal child health (MCH) services during pregnancy and within one-year post-delivery. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to identify four health care facilities offering MCH services where the participants were selected purposively. Socio-demographic questionnaire, Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) tools were utilized in collecting data from a sample of 175 perinatal teenage girls. Data analysis was done by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS (SPSS®) Version 28. The study established that the prevalence of depression was 70.8% at varying levels of severity: Mild depression was 16.6%, Moderate depression was at 24.0% while severe depression was 30.3%. The prevalence of anxiety was at 33.7% at varying levels as well, moderate anxiety was 26.3% while high anxiety was 7.4%. Depression and anxiety are prevalent during teenage perinatal period and therefore, antenatal, and postnatal teenagers should be screened for depression and intervention provided promptly.

국어교과통합 진로탐색 프로그램이 중학생의 진로결정 자기효능감과 역기능적 진로 사고에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study is to find out how it affects students’ career decision-making self-efficacy and career thinking by devising a career education program that integrates Korean language subjects and integrating the contents of Korean language classes with career education that enables students to develop their dreams. there is. The research method is as follows.&#x0D; First, the need for career education integrated with Korean subjects was examined for the third year of middle school. Second, a career education program integrated with Korean language subjects was conceived by converging Korean language subject achievement standards and career-related learning elements. Third, the Korean language integrated career education program was applied to the 8th class for an experimental group of 63 out of 127 third-year middle school students in Seoul.&#x0D; As a career decision self-efficacy test tool, the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale-SF developed by Taylor and Betz (1983) was validated by Lee Eunkyung(2001) for middle and high school students. used The self-efficacy scale for career decision-making consists of a total of 25 questions of 4 sub-factors: goal selection, job information, problem solving, and future planning (Lee Eunkyung 2001:49).&#x0D; The Career Thought Inventory (CTI) tool developed by Sampson et al. (1996) and validated by factor analysis by Jang Seon-Cheol(2003) was used. This questionnaire measures career-related dysfunctional career thinking and consists of a total of 26 questions in three sub-factors: generalized decision-making confusion, performance anxiety, and distorted identity regarding the career decision-making process.&#x0D; The collected data was verified for homogeneity between the two groups through an independent sample t-test using SPSS 25.0, followed by a paired samples t-test. As a result, the experimental group's total pre-average score for career decision self-efficacy was 84.35 points, and the post-average average score was 98.90 points. (t=-7.644, p&lt;.001).&#x0D; In addition, the overall mean score of the career thinking test in the experimental group was 54.21 points, and the mean post-test score was 46.84 points. (t=3.430, p&lt;.01).&#x0D; As such, it was confirmed that the overall self-efficacy in career decision-making improved and dysfunctional career thinking decreased after the implementation of the integrated Korean language career education program in the experimental group compared to before the implementation.&#x0D; This study has the following significance. First, the career decision-making self-efficacy of students was improved through the career education program integrated with Korean subjects. Second, it reduced the dysfunctional career thinking that interferes with students’ career exploration.

Quality of Life in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients and Care Burden of Caregivers in Sardinia during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurogenerative disorder whose median survival ranges from 2 to 4 years after symptomatic onset. Therefore, the global Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in these patients should be carefully evaluated to guarantee an adequate care level, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic period, given the increased social isolation and the pressure on healthcare services. Caregiving has been recognized as an important source of physical and psychological burden, with a possible QoL impairment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the QoL of ALS patients and the burden of their caregivers across Sardinia, Italy. The ALS Specific QoL Instrument-Short Form (ALSSQOL-SF) and the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) tools were used to assess patient's QoL and the burden on their caregivers, respectively. The questionnaires were supplemented with items specific for the COVID-19 period. Sixty-six family units of patients with advanced ALS were interviewed between June and August 2021 across Sardinia. Patients' psychological and social well-being were found to significantly affect the patients' QoL, regardless of their physical condition. In addition, the caregiver burden resulted as being inversely proportional to the patient's perceived QoL. Lack of adequate psychological support was reported among the caregivers during the emergency period. Providing adequate psychological and social support might be useful to improve QoL in middle and late stages of ALS patients and to decrease caregivers' perceived home care burden.

37 Functional Requirements to Develop a new Risk Assessment Model for Exposure to Biological Agents

Abstract Within Occupational Risk Prevention, the assessment of risks due to exposure to biological agents has received little attention compared to risks such as those arising from chemicals. This was the case until the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of health effects related to exposure to biological agents in the work environment. However, the tools for hazard inventory, risk assessment, and implementation of control measures for biological agents are scarce. There are many reasons that make it challenging for OHS professionals to assess the exposure to biological agents such as, little knowledge on the biological agents potentially present in the different economic activities, their effects on health, the lack of standardized methods for quantitative sampling or the lack of reference values available for most biological agents. Different qualitative risk assessment tools for biological agents have been developed over the last decades. Some examples are the Simplified Evaluation of the INSST (Spain), the Biogaval-Neo of the INVASSAT (Spain), the Bioaerosol Tool of the IRSST (Canada) or the RIE Method of the NKAL (The Netherlands). These tools differ from each other in terms of their scope and the parameters used to determine risk and were compared in order to better understand their limitations and applicability. After the comparison was carried out some additional specific parameters have been proposed as essential for the development of this new model. The proposed improvements could be implemented in the development of a new qualitative biological risk assessment model in the Stoffenmanager® tool.

Site Index Estimation Using Airborne Laser Scanner Data in Eucalyptus dunnii Maide Stands in Uruguay

Intensive silviculture demands new inventory tools for better forest management and planning. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) was shown to be one of the best alternatives for high-precision inventories applied to productive plantations. The aim of this study was to generate multiple stand-scale maps of the site index (SI) using ALS data in the intensive silviculture of Eucalyptus dunnii Maide plantations in Uruguay. Forty-three plots (314.16 m3) were established in intensive E. dunnii plantations in the departments of Río Negro and Paysandú (Uruguay). ALS data were obtained for an area of 1995 ha. Linear and Random Forest models were fitted to estimate the height and site index, and OrpheoToolBox (OTB) software was used for stand segmentation. Linear models for dominant height (DH) estimation had a better fit (R2 = 0.84, RMSE = 0.94 m, MAPE = 0.04, Bias = 0.002) than the Random Forest (R2 = 0.85, RMSE = 1.27 m, MAPE = 7.20, Bias=−0.173) model when including only the 99th percentile metric. The coefficient between RMSE values of the cross-validation and RMSE of the model had a higher value for the linear model (0.93) than the Random Forest (0.75). The SI was estimated by applying the RF model, which included the ALS metrics corresponding to the 99th height percentile and the 80th height bicentile (R2 = 0.65; RMSE = 1.62 m). OTB segmentation made it possible to define a minimum segment size of 2.03 ha (spatial radius = 30, range radius = 1 and minimum region size = 64). This study provides a new tool for better forest management and promotes the need for further progress in the application of ALS data in the intensive silviculture of Eucalyptus spp. plantations in Uruguay.

Perceptions of teacher leadership in the Arab region: A comparative analysis of three countries

This study compares teachers’ perceptions of teacher leadership in three Arab countries: Qatar, Oman and Egypt. Using the Teacher Leadership Inventory tool, the study examined the factors and demographic variables associated with teacher leadership in the selected countries. Specifically, the study explored the four factors identified by the TLI: Sharing Expertise (SE), Sharing Leadership (SL), Supra-Practitioner (SP), and Principal Selection (PS) and investigated if teachers’ perceptions of these factors would differ based on their country, gender and school type. Three sets of data were collected from the selected countries, and the respondents were teachers working in primary and middle public schools. Means, standard deviations, t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results showed the overall level of teacher leadership to be moderate, with Sharing Expertise being the highest ranked factor, followed by Sharing Leadership, Supra-Practitioner and Principal Selection. The study also found both similarities and differences between the three countries. For example, the Qatari sample provided the highest scores on all TLI factors, followed by Egypt and Oman. Differences were also noted based on school type and gender. Implications emerging from the results are discussed and suggestions for improvement are provided.