Measurement Instruments Research Articles

Interior Profile Accuracy Assessment Method of Deep-Hole Parts Based on Servo Drive System.

Dimensional and profile measurements of deep-hole parts are key processes both in manufacturing and product lifecycle management. Due to the particularity of the space conditions of deep-hole parts, the existing measurement instruments and methods exhibit some limitations. Based on the multi-axis, highly precise servo drive system, a novel measuring device is developed. The laser displacement sensors are fed by the flux-switching permanent magnet linear motor, and the part is rotated by the servo motor. On this basis, the assessment methods of roundness, straightness, and cylindricity are proposed by employing the least square method (LSM). Additionally, considering the axial center deviation between the sensors and the part, the rotating center coordinate is optimized by the gradient descent algorithm (GDM). Then, the measurement system is constructed and the experiment study is conducted. The results indicate favorable evaluation error of the LSM fitting and GDM iteration. Compared with the coordinate measuring machine (CMM), the measured results show good consistency. In the error analysis, the angle positioning error of measured point is less than 0.01°, and the axial positioning error is less than 0.05 mm. The proposed system and assessment method are regarded as a feasible and promising solution for deep-hole part measurements.

International Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Against Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The aim of the present review was to systematically identify and examine current knowledge regarding the frequency of any form of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) perpetrated against women aged 16 years and older. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was applied when performing the present review. Observational studies reporting prevalence data for any form of TFSV against women aged 16 years and above were considered for inclusion. Four meta-analyses were conducted. One examined data pertaining to overall TFSV, while the other three each addressed a key dimension based on the type of victimization under study. Random-effects models were used to compute pooled estimate prevalences (95% CI). Included studies reported prevalence in 32 different countries at different time points, with 28,220 women being interviewed (16-97 years). A total of 1,437 potential articles were gathered from 8 databases and 17 studies were selected for analysis. Included studies exhibited a low risk of bias (12 strong methodological quality-5 medium). Rates of TFSV ranged from 2.2% to 84%. Global estimated prevalence was 30.60% (95% CI [24.08, 37.12]). The most frequently reported behaviors pertained to "digital sexual harassment" (28.54%) followed by "technology-facilitated aggression and coercion" (16.93%) and "image-based sexual abuse" (6.48%). Present findings shed light on a significant gap in understanding the experiences of adult women. The wide range of reported frequencies underscores the importance of unifying terms and standardizing measurement instruments, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach to better comprehend and address the multifaceted nature of TFSV.

The landscape of Functional Outcome Measures Used in Patients with Bone Sarcoma of the Lower Extremity or Pelvis: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review provides a structured overview of the measurement instruments of functional outcome used in lower extremity and pelvic bone sarcoma patients. We identified 42 unique instruments covering 18 distinct functional outcome constructs with most studies measuring constructs within the activity domain of the International Classification of Functioning, disability, and health. The MusculoSkeletal Tumor Society 1993 and 1987 score, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, and range of motion instruments were the measurement instruments most commonly used.

Organizational resilience and its implications for healthcare workers in the COVID-19 pandemic: A literature review.

Organizational resilience is crucial in supporting the well-being of healthcare workers and ensuring the quality of healthcare services during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to comprehensively review organizational resilience of healthcare facilities in terms of its conception, measurement, and impacts on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for empirical articles considering organizational resilience among healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2024. Several keywords from three categories ("COVID-19", "organizational resilience," and "healthcare facilities") were used, and RAYYAN was used to manage references. Four empirical articles from 172 studies were included, which encompassed a total sample of 6,606 healthcare workers from Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Türkiye. Organizational resilience could influence the individual resilience of healthcare practitioners, enhance crisis management and ensure safety performance. The strategies of enhancing organizational resilience at healthcare worker level included staff training, crisis management protocols, collaboration promotion, and stress management approaches. The ones at health facility level included government intervention, funds for hospital preparedness, competency-based crisis management, and mental health programs for healthcare workers. Our review also suggests a lack of empirical studies, no commonly used measurement instruments, and the heterogeneity of study contexts in the research of organizational resilience in public health. This review highlights effective strategies to enhance the organizational resilience of healthcare workers and examines their impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate government action, funding to support hospital preparedness, and the formation of flexible healthcare teams are essential to strengthen organizational resilience among healthcare workers for future crises.

Return to Physical Activity in Individuals with Surgical Stomas: A Scoping Review.

In surgically treated individuals with surgical stomas, the return to physical activity is an indicator of quality of life that reflects their well-being. With the aim of synthesizing the available evidence regarding the return to physical activity in individuals with surgical stomas, a scoping review was developed following the methodological approach of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews criteria. Searches were conducted in Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Cinahl, and Lilacs, as well as the meta-search engines TripDatabase and Epistemonikos, using MeSH terms. Included studies were written in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and German, without any limitation on the year of publication. A total of n = 15 studies was included (n = 2 qualitative; n = 2 case reports; n = 1 case series; n = 1 cohort; n = 8 cross-sectional; and n = 1 randomized clinical trial), which showed variability in the quality of the designs. The qualitative studies explored themes such as motivation, beliefs about physical activity, and other lifestyle factors. The case reports described physiological, psychological, and functional implications of returning to physical activity for specific individuals after ostomy surgery. Quantitative studies evaluated the effects of different types of physical activity on quality of life and tolerance to physical activity in these individuals, employing various measurement instruments. In conclusion, the evidence on returning to sports and physical activity after stoma surgery is limited and varied. While studies highlight the importance of social support and self-confidence, they generally lack rigor and primarily focus on adults and oncology patients. There is a need for more research to establish clear guidelines on physical activity type, frequency, and intensity to ensure safe and beneficial outcomes for individuals with stomas.

The Influence of Role Plays and Learning Motivation Towards The First Year Room Division Students Speaking Ability at Tourism Polytechnic of Palembang

Speaking ability is an important skill that must be possessed by students, especially in the field of tourism. This study aims to explore the effect of role play and learning motivation on the speaking ability of first-year students of the Rooms Division at Palembang Tourism Polytechnic. This research method used a factorial design with a population of first-year students of the Hospitality Department. The research sample consisted of 32 participants, consisting of 16 people in the Experiment Group and 16 people in the Control Group. Data were collected through questionnaires and two measurement instruments, then analyzed using Two-Way Analysis of Variance. The results showed that there was a significant effect of role play on students' speaking ability, both those with high and low learning motivation. In addition, conventional teaching techniques also had a significant effect on students' speaking ability, depending on their level of learning motivation. The use of role play proved to be more effective than the conventional teaching technique in improving students' speaking ability. This finding shows that there is an interaction between role play and learning motivation that affects students' speaking ability. Therefore, this finding emphasizes the importance of applying innovative methods and high motivation in the learning process to improve students' speaking ability. The implications of this study suggest that educators prioritize interactive and motivational teaching strategies to improve speaking skills, which are crucial for career readiness in the tourism industry. In addition, role play can be a key component in the curriculum that aims to improve communication skills at various levels of student motivation.

Congruences of factor solutions of quantitative indicators for understanding the written form of deaf children's communication through the use of words types

In deaf students, there is no contextual understanding and recognition of word types through linguistic competence testing compared to the hearing population, because 67.10% do not understand, and 10.00% of deaf respondents partially understand the contextual application of word types in a written text task. In written communication, deaf students use nouns (65.70%), pronouns (34.30%), verbs (45.7%), adjectives (28.60%), adverbs (22.90%), prepositions (54.30%), exclamations (15.70%), particles (12.90%) and numbers (32.90%). The aim of the study was to examine the factor solutions of quantitative indicators of contextual understanding of the word’s types used and the relation of isolated factors of the words types words in the written text task of deaf students. The study was conducted on a sample of 140 respondents. The first subsample of respondents, the experimental group consisted of 70 deaf students, and the second subsample, the control group of 70 hearing students, of the same chronological age and gender. The measurement instrument “Test of comprehension of the written form of expression” was applied. The collected data were processed using the method of oblique rotation and the method of factor analysis. The results of the study showed that the language discourse of the deaf in the quantitative use of word types in the written form of expression is organized significantly differently compared to the hearing population. By factor analysis, three main factors were isolated in the deaf population, and four main factors were isolated in the hearing population. Considering the saturation of variability, it is possible to accurately determine in practice the direction of teaching deaf children the types of words in their native language. Isolated factors are part of separate, statistically unrelated entities in both deaf and hearing respondents and confirm the justification of successive teaching of the deaf respondents according to the types of words that are present in the comparative analysis of hearing respondents.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Nursing Student Contributions to Clinical Settings scale and analysis of factors influencing nurses' perceptions of nursing students' contributions: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundMost medical organizations accept many nursing students each year who gain clinical practice skills under the supervision of clinical nurses. However, there are no assessment tools to measure the contributions nursing students make to the clinical setting during clinical practicum. This study aimed to translate the 'Nursing Student Contributions to Clinical Settings' scale into Chinese and test its reliability and validity from the perspective of Chinese clinical nurses. And to explore whether nurses' personal and professional characteristics are related to nurses' perception of nursing students' contributions to the clinical settings.MethodsThe original scale was translated into Chinese following the Brislin translation model. A convenience sample of 935 clinical nurses was selected from January to March 2024 for the survey. The content validity of the scale was assessed by expert consultation and content validity index. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to assess the construct validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was measured using internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test–retest reliability. The measurement quality of the scales was assessed according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments. One-way analysis of variance was used to identify variables related to students’ contributions.ResultsThe content validity index of the scale was 0.983. Exploratory factor analysis supported a one-factor structure, and the cumulative variance contribution was 71.177%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit indicators were all within the acceptable range. The McDonald's Omega coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale were 0.983. Nurses perceive that nursing students' contribution to the clinical settings is influenced by nurses' personal characteristics, professional characteristics, and the hospital environment.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the Nursing Student Contributions to Clinical Settings scale has good reliability and validity and can effectively and reliably measure the contributions of Chinese nursing students to clinical settings.

Epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players living in Portugal: Associated risk factors.

Playing guitar involves several physical demands, most inclusive of which are long hours of practice, which can make musculoskeletal symptoms common. To determine the epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players residing in Portugal and risk factors. The sample consisted of 105 guitar players, being 103 (98.10%) men, aged between 30-75 years (29,83±10,23). The measurement instrument used was a digital survey, shared by email, on social networks and in person. Fifty-six (53.30%) guitar players had injuries throughout their musical practice, totaling 132 injuries, 13 (12.40%) guitar players were injured at the time of assessment and 31 (29.5%) guitar players had injuries in the last 12 months, totaling 63 injuries. The value of injury proportion was 0.29 (CI 95% : 0.14-0.44) and the injury rate was 0.42 injuries per 1,000 hours of music practice. The most common types of injury were: tendinopathy (22; 34.92%) and low back pain (9; 14.29%). The most affected anatomical sites were: wrist (18; 28.57%) and lumbar spine (10; 15.87%). Repetitive movement was the injury mechanism most mentioned by guitar players (24; 35.29%) followed by maintaining postures for a prolonged period of time (15; 22.06%). Guitar players who did not warm up before practicing were 0.33 (CI: 0.13-0.79; p = 0.013) more likely to have an injury. There was a high percentage of injuries in guitar players and failure to warm up was a risk factor for the development of injuries. This type of study can help in creating injury prevention strategies in this type of population.

From Consoles to Classrooms: Preliminary Insights About Pre-Service Teachers and Video Games

Integrating video games into the classroom is a promising way to enhance learning experiences, as the market of serious games is expanding. European schools are investing in digital equipment, and the use of educational video games is technologically viable. Nonetheless, actual experiences of video games in class are still rare. A key gap to be explored is understanding how pre-service secondary teachers perceive and are prepared to use digital games in their future classrooms. Do they think it would enhance their teaching and their students’ learning? Do they feel prepared for it? To answer these questions, and possibly address future challenges, we conducted a comprehensive study with students at Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH). The research process began with the development and testing of a detailed questionnaire that focused on participants' personal gaming behaviour, preferences, and perceptions of the educational potential of video games. Key areas such as serious games, game design, gamification, game-based learning, and game culture were explored to assess the relevance and understanding of these concepts in an educational context. This paper explains the development and structure of the questionnaire as a measurement instrument as well as the underlying literature and methodological considerations. The first implementation and the preliminary survey with 48 PHZH students are presented, and the practicability and reliability of the questionnaire are evaluated. The result of the survey suggests pre-service teachers are generally positive about integrating video games and game design into the classroom, yet enthusiasm is not enough without additional support.

What aspects of outcome measurement instruments are important to parents and caregivers in child health trials: Survey protocol

Background Trials of interventions to prevent illness and/or improve health outcomes in children play a crucial role in the advancement of paediatric healthcare, research, and policy. It is important for researchers and trialists involved in such trials to understand factors which are important to parents/caregivers when deciding to participate and provide data about their child. There is little evidence to date surrounding the impact of outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) on parents/caregivers’ decisions about participation and provision of data in trials. The aim of this project is to examine what characteristics of OMIs are important in parents/caregivers’ decisions to engage with and participate in trials of interventions to prevent childhood illness and/or improve child health outcomes. Methods An online cross-sectional survey is being conducted. Survey recruitment began July 2024 and will be completed in October 2024. Parents/caregivers are eligible to participate if they have at least one child up to 12 years of age; there are no restrictions based on factors such as gender or nationality. Survey participants are being recruited using convenience sampling via social media, parenting websites, and online forums. This survey includes questions about parents/caregivers’ preferences for how, when, where, and with whom data is collected in child health research, as well as the types of OMIs parents/caregivers would be most comfortable using. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics. Conclusions Findings from this study will address the current gap in knowledge related to preferences of parents/caregivers in how data are collected in trials of interventions to improve health outcomes in children. Study findings will inform trialists in the design and conduct of child health research in the future. Implementation of study findings in future trials can also improve experiences of children and their caregivers engaged in research and enhance the quality and quantity of data being collected.

On Latent Structure Examination of Behavioral Measuring Instruments in Complex Empirical Settings

A multiple-step procedure is outlined that can be used for examining the latent structure of behavior measurement instruments in complex empirical settings. The method permits one to study their latent structure after assessing the need to account for clustering effects and the necessity of its examination within individual levels of fixed factors, such as gender or group membership of substantive relevance. The approach is readily applicable with binary or binary-scored items using popular and widely available software. The described procedure is illustrated with empirical data from a student behavior screening instrument.

Measuring Instruments for Media Health Literacy: A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties.

A systematic review of the scientific literature was performed in 2023. The articles were extracted from the electronic databases "Pubmed", "Web of Science", "Dialnet", and "Scopus". The search languages were limited to English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Twelve articles were selected for further analysis. The described measurement instruments included five original scales and seven cross-cultural adaptations of three of them. Four scales (the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Media Literacy scale adapted to Turkish and Chinese, along with the Media Health Literacy (MeHLit) scale and its adaptation to the Chinese language) exhibited high quality in the assessment of psychometric properties. These instruments allow for the measurement of an individual's level of skill when consuming specific health information, enabling an analysis to understand the risk they are exposed to. Further research is recommended to strengthen the existing evidence and apply these tools to broader and more diverse populations.

Psychometric Properties of the Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire in Different Languages: A Narrative Review

Background and Objectives: Appreciative assessment tools are necessary to implement the evaluation process in children with different disabilities. Versions of the children’s hand-use experience questionnaire (CHEQ) are available in several languages and are used in clinical environments. However, no study is conducted to compare the validity and reliability of this questionnaire in different languages. The current study aims to investigate the psychometric features of CHEQ in other languages. Methods: The search was conducted in PubMed and Science Direct. Keywords included CHEQ, hand assessments, cross-cultural validation and psychometric properties. Results: We identified 5 articles in which the psychometric properties of this questionnaire were investigated. In this paper, we reviewed all 5 articles and presented the results according to consensus-based standards for the selection of health status measurement instruments (COSMIN). Conclusion: CHEQ is highly regarded to assess bimanual activities, particularly in children with hemiplegia. Its focus on hand usage experiences differentiates it from other tools in this domain. With demonstrated high validity and reliability, the CHEQ is adaptable across various societies and cultures, making it a valuable tool for treatment planning and evaluation.

Methodological Validation of the Cooperative Social Responsibility Measurement Instrument

This research is part of the project "Corporate Social Responsibility in Ecuadorian savings and credit cooperatives. A multi-case analysis and proposal for the development of a cooperative education program" and examines the synergy between cooperative principles, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the dimensions proposed for a Cooperative Social Responsibility (CSR) measurement model in Ecuador. It explores how these dimensions converge to promote ethical, sustainable and socially responsible practices, aligned with current regulatory compliance. CSR has become increasingly important in cooperatives, becoming a fundamental practice that encompasses cooperative governance, economic, social, environmental, ethical and technological dimensions. This study describes the methodological process for the validation of a CSR instrument in cooperatives, reviewed and validated by experts from Spain, Ecuador, Guatemala, Argentina and Cuba, using the Delphi method to reach a consensus on the relevance and clarity of the questionnaire items. This process ensures that the instrument is suitable for assessing CSR practices in credit unions, providing a reliable tool for the continuous improvement of their operations.

Age-Dependent Relationship between Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.

Self-esteem is a powerful protective factor against depressive symptoms, with cognitive vulnerability theory suggesting that early self-esteem more strongly predicts later depressive symptoms than vice versa. While some meta-analyses have examined these relationships, limited knowledge exists on the prospective relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms, particularly how it changes with age. This study conducted a longitudinal meta-analysis of nine studies (20,733 participants) on the prospective relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms in Korean children and adolescents. Relationships were analyzed by integrating the effect sizes of 22 zero-order correlations and 17 partial correlations and examining age-related changes. The results indicated significant negative correlations in both zero-order and partial correlations. Age-related changes showed a reverse U-shape trend in partial correlations, with the strongest negative association during childhood, weakening until age 14, and then strengthening again. Moderator analysis revealed no significant effect size variation based on publication type or gender proportion, but more recent birth cohorts exhibited a stronger negative relationship in zero-order correlations. Significant differences were also found based on the measurement instrument of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions to enhance self-esteem and mitigate depressive symptoms, extending the cognitive vulnerability model within Korea's cultural context and providing insights into Korean youth mental health.

Comprehensive Scoping Review on Body Image Perceptions and Influences in Children and Adolescents.

Conducting a scoping review helps identify research gaps and opportunities, avoid duplication, guide the selection of appropriate methodologies, and base studies on existing evidence. The aim of this study was to map the literature on body image in children and adolescents (0 to 19 years). The present study follows the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA). The search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 3257 articles were found, of which 2147 were duplicates, resulting in 1110 articles. Of these, 41 met the inclusion criteria. The results were divided into analytical dimensions, including measurement instruments, programs and interventions, social media, sociodemographic aspects, physical activity, personality and cognitive thinking, and studies with specific populations. The results highlight that peer influence, physical activity, media, and the school environment play crucial roles in shaping young people's body image; factors such as sex, age, and socioeconomic context emerge as important variables in understanding body perceptions, and educational interventions and health promotion programs have been shown to be effective in preventing and reducing body dissatisfaction, underscoring the need for multifactorial and collaborative approaches.

A view on distributed sound level sensors from the perspective of legal metrology

Paper-based calibration certificates are gradually being replaced by equivalent digital calibration certificates (DCCs). The DCC is human-readable as well as machine-readable which simplifies the administration process significantly. During calibration procedure a measurement instrument is tested on-site in a testing laboratory. However, nowadays sound level sensors are increasingly deployed as distributed systems, where they transmit measurement data from one location (e.g. a workplace in a factory) to a measurement laboratory over available networks. This data transmission process has until now not been considered during calibration procedure or type approval tests. Therefore, requirements for the data transmission process according to the regulations of the European Cooperation in Legal Metrology (WELMEC Guide) must be considered. In this project two digital sound level sensors were selected and tested when deployed as distributed systems. The data collected were used to compare the two systems in accordance with the regulations of the WELMEC guide. In this work the first example of an acoustical DCC is presented and discussed. Further, a list of requirements is proposed that should be considered in the future when developing sound level sensors intended to be used as distributed systems.

Hydrodynamic performance characteristics of small-scale in-situ buoys with critical motion requirements

As the accuracy of high-precision oceanographic measurement instruments increases, the operational requirements for buoy motion become critical. This study focuses on the small-scale in-situ buoy, optimizing buoy configuration to ensure stability and performance. Aiming at the special structure which consists of a large floating column and several small tube connectors, a method for evaluating the hydrodynamic performance is proposed which combines potential flow theory with Morison equation. And the method validity is confirmed using experimental data. The performances analysis of different type buoy with catenary or taut mooring system are developed. According to the critical motion requirements for the long-term stability, the cylindrical type buoy equipped with a catenary mooring system is regarded as the most stable and economical choice, exhibiting a surge motion response of 4.07 m, a heave motion response of 2.89 m, and a pitch motion response of 9.37°. Furthermore, the anchor chain acts as an elastic damper which can mitigate the transient impact of the environmental loads, greatly limiting the amplitude of the longitudinal and heaving motions. And the maximum mooring line tension is 249.28 kN, which is significantly lower than other schemes. The evaluation method offers a technical support for engineering applications.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review Using the COnsensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Checklist.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended to measure the impact of a health condition or intervention effectiveness as they aim to capture what is most meaningful to patients. Several PROMs are used to evaluate pelvic organ prolapse (POP)-related domains, yet the measurement properties of these instruments have not been fully explored with a rigorous analysis of the methodological quality and quality of evidence. To conduct a systematic review reporting on the measurement properties of PROMs used for the assessment of POP-related domains in accordance with the COSMIN guidelines. Five databases were searched from inception to December 2023. Studies were eligible if they involved (1) at least one group of female adults diagnosed with or presenting with symptoms of POP; (2) a self-reported outcome measure (PROMs, questionnaires) to evaluate POP-related domains; and (3) at least one measurement property. Methodological quality and measurement quality were assessed using the COSMIN risk of bias (ROB) checklist and the COSMIN criteria for good measurement properties. A total of 13 PROMs were included. The BIPOP had the lowest ROB for Content Validity. The POP-SS was the only PROM with sufficient evidence of adequate construct validity and responsiveness to be used in both surgical and conservative management settings. This original work identified a gap in evidence regarding the measurement qualities of identified PROMs used in the POP population.