Positive Appraisal Research Articles

Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study

ABSTRACT There are profound methodological challenges facing microdosing research. One way we can address some of these methodological issues is by understanding how psilocybin microdosing fits in the broader existential context of people’s lives. We recruited participants who underwent psilocybin microdosing on their own and consented to being monitored for harm mitigation purposes. We combined momentary ecological assessment and detailed retrospective interviews. Participants reported loosening of mental structures (i.e., less intense strength of thoughts, tangential stream of consciousness), increased salience of external stimuli (varyingly associated with greater interest in otherwise mundane activities, as well as sensory overload), an increase in flexible cognition, a decrease in stable cognition, and various ego-dystonic contents. Highly structured environments were conducive to positive appraisal of experiences and vice versa. Momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews yielded differing accounts of microdosing experience. We relate our findings to stable and flexible cognition, as well as the notion of salience. We point out the necessity for systematic mixed methods studies to better characterize the lived experience of taking low doses of psilocybin.

Language teachers’ emotions in online classrooms: Relations among teachers’ appraisals of classroom events, emotional responses, and instructional practices

Drawing upon Frenzel’s (2014) framework of appraisals, the current study explored language teachers’ emotional experiences and their antecedents in the online teaching context. Moreover, the interrelations between teachers’ emotions and their instructional practices were also investigated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eleven language teachers from a top-tier international university in China. Our findings revealed that positive appraisals of online classroom events, including goal attainment, the capacity in and responsibility of effectively delivering lessons online, and the importance teachers attached to online teaching, tended to result in positive emotional experiences, which consequently led to motivational stimulations in more creative and productive instructional practices. By contrast, teachers who had negative appraisals of online teaching events tended to experience more unpleasant emotions and emotional vulnerability, which would possibly impede effective instructional practices and steer their teaching towards more traditional teaching methods. Our study contributes to the understanding of the relations among teachers’ appraisals of classroom events, emotional experiences, and instructional practices in online language classrooms. Implications for how to prepare teachers emotionally for online teaching are also discussed.

Polish adaptation and validation of a family appraisal of caregiving questionnaire for palliative care (FACQ-PC)

Increasing numbers of people are taking on the role of informal caregivers of oncology patients in the advanced stages of the disease. The outcomes of such a decision are both positive (e.g. strengthening of bonds) and negative (e.g. strain). Their assessment is necessary to customise appropriate interventions for caregivers and is made possible by the FACQ-PC (multi-dimensional Family Appraisal of Caregiving Questionnaire for Palliative Care) – a tool used to assess the functioning of informal caregivers of patients receiving home-based palliative care. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the FACQ-PC. The study involved 150 informal caregivers of patients receiving palliative care at home, including 106 women and 44 men aged between 22 and 77 years. Study participants completed the Polish version of the FACQ-PC and a series of questionnaires measuring positive and negative feelings (SUPIN), stress (PSS-10) and satisfaction with family life (SOR- H). The study did not confirm the four-factor structure of the questionnaire; instead, a three-factor structure was found to be more appropriate. The following factors were determined: negative outcomes, positive caregiving appraisals and family well-being. Based on a validation review, the high reliability of the individual scales was established, and internal relevance was confirmed. FACQ-PC-PL was adopted as the abbreviated name of the tool. This tool can be used in scientific research and for initial assessments conducted in a clinical setting.

A comparison of challenging and positive caregiving experiences for caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders

BackgroundCaregivers of people with serious mental illness experience challenges that may affect their mental health. Few researchers have explored whether positive or negative caregiver experiences differ due to disorder characteristics of the person receiving care. We aimed to determine whether caregiver appraisals and psychological functioning differed between caregivers of those diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) and bipolar disorder (BD). MethodsCaregivers of people with SSD and BD participated in an online self-report survey assessing appraisals, distress, anxiety, depression, and psychological wellbeing. Independent samples t-tests and multivariate generalised linear models determined group differences, and Pearson correlation coefficients and Fisher z-score transformations determined differences in the strength of correlations between groups. Results108 caregivers participated in the study. Caregivers of people with SSD reported significantly greater negative appraisals of the care recipient's negative symptoms and dependency. Caregivers did not differ on positive appraisals. Both groups reported moderate distress, mild anxiety and depression, and moderate psychological wellbeing, but did not differ. Higher negative caregiver appraisals were more strongly associated with higher distress, anxiety and depression, and lower psychological wellbeing, for caregivers of those with SSD than BD. LimitationsSmall between group sample sizes, and analyses may have been moderated by significant demographic differences between groups. ConclusionsCaregivers can experience difficulties associated with their role, and some differences may be attributed to the care recipient's disorder. Future research and interventions should consider specific disorder characteristics, such as symptom profiles, to better support caregivers in having their specific needs addressed whilst themselves providing care.

Critical Discourse Analysis of Brunei's English Mainstream Media Perceptions on the Laos-China Railway

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the coverage of the Laos-China Railway project by mainstream media in Brunei and its impact on public perception. Utilizing web scraping tools such as Octoparse and Heritrix, this paper systematically collected relevant reporting data from two major English news platforms in Brunei, the Borneo Bulletin and Brunei News. Quantitative tools such as AntConc and Excel were employed to process and analyze the data, revealing the frequency, temporal distribution, and emotional orientation of the reports. The qualitative component utilized Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to delve into the language use, discourse structure, and implicit meanings within the reports, further exploring how the media shapes the social reality and public cognition of the Laos-China Railway topic.The findings indicate that Brunei media not only frequently and comprehensively report on the Laos-China Railway project but also cover the project's political, economic, environmental, and social implications from multiple perspectives. Additionally, the media coverage reflects a keen awareness of the project's potential risks and a positive appraisal of its developmental benefits. The novelty of this research lies in its mixed-methodological approach and unique perspective on public opinion cognition, providing insights for policymakers on public opinion guidance and project promotion, as well as offering a rich theoretical and methodological reference for the academic community.

The Enhanced Games: Prohibition, harm reduction & the future of sport

The Enhanced Games (TEG) has generated significant discussion around doping in sport, with reference to notions of athlete harm, ‘fairness’, and the normalisation of IPED use. This commentary draws on Richardson (2024) in unpacking each of these elements in turn, to offer an overview of the potential positives TEG can offer our understanding of anti-doping in sport.TEG frames itself around athlete health rather than prohibitionist policies. This commentary unpacks the limits to anti-doping as a form of prohibition, and explores how harm reduction policies may be beneficial to prioritise in the sporting realm if we are concerned with athlete health, reflecting developments in our understanding of drug policy in the non-sporting world.The commentary then unpacks ideas of ‘fairness’ in sport, and critiques the notion of the ‘level playing field’. This is followed by discussion of therapeutic and medical use of IPEDs, and some of the inconsistencies and limitations relating to TUEs at present. A discussion of technological enhancement, centred around the polyurethane swimsuit controversy, equipped powerlifting and para athletes then points to further opportunities for TEG to explore.Following this, the extent to which TEG might normalise IPED use in comparison to other factors such as social media and aesthetics culture is considered, with counter-evidence relating to the harms that stigmatising IPED use presents also developed.To conclude, this commentary suggests that TEG offers a real opportunity for us to examine how doping and anti-doping policy operate and are conceptualised, and offers a positive appraisal of the potential for this controversial proposed Games.

Foreign Language Learners' Uncertainty Experiences and Uncertainty Management.

Uncertainty is unavoidable in life; it is also an indispensable characteristic of educational settings. The process of learning a foreign language naturally involves interaction and coconstruction of knowledge. During this process, students may encounter uncertainty from a variety of sources, including the course, context, friends, or the teacher. Besides, to communicate meaningfully, the mutual effort of both the listener and the speaker is needed to deal with uncertainty. Considering this, the present study makes an effort to comprehend how learners appreciate and manage uncertainty in language learning environments. Although uncertainty is considered a multidisciplinary research topic, a limited number of studies are found in the literature which examine how students experience uncertainty and how they react to it. Regarding foreign language learning, related research focused on a specific form of uncertainty, Tolerance of Ambiguity, which is conceptualized as a cognitive style. In-class pen-and-paper surveys, reflective journals, video recordings, and stimulated recall interviews were the instruments used to gather data. The findings demonstrate that language learners frequently encounter uncertainty during the language learning process due to course-related, cognitive, and social factors, and learners may appreciate uncertainty in both positive and negative ways. Additionally, learners' emotional reactions to uncertainty depend on their positive or negative appraisals of uncertain situations. By recognizing and embracing uncertainty, language learners will adapt to it and be able to handle it through a variety of techniques. The results suggest that learners employ a variety of strategies, such as reducing, maintaining, and resolving uncertainty as well as ignoring uncertainty.

Faculty Online Teaching Effectiveness Scale (FOTES): Instrument development and content validation

This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Faculty Online Teaching Effectiveness Scale (FOTES) based upon both student and faculty perspectives of online teaching and learning in higher education. Online teaching effectiveness is a crucial component of quality education, but it has not been well-defined conceptually, and few studies have been conducted, using relevant domains, to accurately measure online teaching effectiveness. The impact of online course delivery on teaching effectiveness remains unclear. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed with three phases of instrument development and psychometric testing. The FOTES comprises 50 items in seven domains: teaching philosophy, self-efficacy, relationships, course content, learning activities, teaching practices, and satisfaction. The instrument underwent initial testing, yielding positive expert appraisals with good-excellent psychometrics. All domains of the scale were significantly correlated, except for teaching philosophy. The preliminary results of the FOTES provide the empirical evidence to advance additional psychometric validation. This newly developed instrument has the potential to enhance faculty capacity and skill in self-evaluating their teaching effectiveness in online courses, providing a valid and reliable measure. The resulting instrument is poised to promote outcome evaluation and strengthen teaching and learning processes.

Resilience and mental health among perinatal women: a systematic review.

This review aimed to assess the current evidence on the relationship between resilience and mental health employed in response to the impacts of mental health. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). The protocol of this review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42023470966). Three authors searched peer-reviewed articles using several electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Psych Info, EMBASE, and Web of Science, from September to October 2023 and included all the studies from any time until November 1, 2023. The review included all eligible quantitative observational and qualitative studies, irrespective of geographical boundaries. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders were found to be the most common, but not the only, mental health disorders during the perinatal period, and higher maternal resilience during perinatal periods was found to reduce mental health disorders. It was also found that pregnant women were more resilient to mental health disorders than postpartum women. Tolerance of uncertainty and a positive cognitive appraisal, women's self-behavior and family functioning, and protective psychosocial resources such as dispositional optimism, parental sense of mastery, self-esteem, gratitude, and forgiveness were found to be the most common mechanisms of resilience among perinatal women. Older age, having an adolescent partner, family income, and distress were found to affect resilience. Noting that women's resilience is an important tool to prevent perinatal mental health disorders, maternal healthcare providers need to counsel perinatal women on resilience-boosting mechanisms, such as applying self-behavior and having social support or close family relationships. It is recommended to counsel or provide psychosocial interventions for the woman's companion or partner to give strong support for the woman in each of the perinatal periods. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=470966, identifier CRD42023470966.

Factors related to cognitive performance among black caregivers of persons living with a chronic illness: An exploratory study

This study investigated factors associated with cognitive performance among Black caregivers of persons living with two chronic conditions: dementia or cancer. Fifty-six Black caregivers of people living with dementia or cancer were recruited from clinic and community sources. Variables measured included: depression, anxiety, stress, sleep, fatigue, and caregiver burden. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Descriptive statistics and non-parametric analyses were conducted to identify factors related to MoCA scores. Caregivers were 58.3 years of age and predominantly female. The average MoCA score was 25.23. Gender and education, along with positive appraisal of caregiving were significantly associated with cognitive performance. Several other factors approached significance including cohabitation with the care recipient, fatigue, and stress due to perceived individual and institutional racism. Our findings suggest several factors that warrant further investigation for understanding the relationship between caregiving and cognitive performance in Black caregivers of people living with cancer or dementia.

Exploring the relationships between criminal self‐efficacy factors and recidivism

AbstractPurposeCriminal self‐efficacy, an antisocial belief representing positive appraisal of one's capabilities to enact crime, is theorized to drive criminal behaviour, but few measures exist. Our aim was to re‐validate one measure of criminal self‐efficacy by re‐testing its ability to predict recidivism.MethodsWe used Criminal Self‐efficacy Scale‐15 scores from 353 people on community corrections orders measured up to three times.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis revealed three latent factors we called criminal connections, physical violence, and criminal expertise. Cox regression survival analysis demonstrated that only physical violence scores predicted recidivism.ConclusionsThe three factors provide a meaningful conceptual basis for future attempts to develop measures of criminal self‐efficacy that improve on the limitations of current measures. More broadly, there is a need to understand how specific antisocial beliefs such as criminal self‐efficacy are related to criminal behaviour.

Kant on scientific pedantry and epistemic populism

ABSTRACT While positive appraisals of testimonial knowledge by Enlightenment thinkers have recently begun to receive more attention, such discussions often operate at a very general level, leaving out much of the context and dynamics of specific types of testimonial interactions. Drawing on extended passages from Georg Friedrich Meier and Immanuel Kant, the present paper looks at the specific case of scholarly testimony and the various epistemic dangers that can befall the interaction between scholars (or, in modern parlance, ‘experts’) and lay audiences. While Kant recognises the imperfections of many expert testifiers (and pays special attention to the figure of the ‘pedant’), he is keenly aware of the – greater – risk of what may be called ‘epistemic populism’, which seeks ‘to make imperceptible the blatantly obvious inequality between loquacious ignorance and thorough science’ (AA, XI, 141). Furthermore, Kant suggests, those with superior epistemic authority can justifiably disengage from interactions with those who, as laypersons, arrogate to themselves equal epistemic standing and are unwilling to appreciate the rational force of evidence and argumentation. Prolonging interaction in such a scenario would be futile and may well be ‘contrary to the dignity of reason’ (AA, XI, 143).

Recovery and trauma among urban African Americans with serious mental illness.

Traumatic experiences are prevalent among people with serious mental illness and can significantly worsen outcomes. This study aimed to identify an urban cluster of trauma types, compare continuous distress ratings versus categorical experience of trauma for predicting outcomes such as depression and quality of life, and investigate the mediating role of recovery orientation in the impact of trauma exposure on outcomes. Data came from an intervention study on African Americans with serious mental illness living in a large urban area; 212 participants completed baseline self-report measures of past trauma experiences, related distress levels, recovery, depression, and quality of life. Data were assessed using correlations and regressive path modeling. Overall, 56.6% of participants reported experiences with trauma. Analyses suggested an urban cluster of trauma types that was self-reported by over 25% of participants. Distress due to trauma strongly correlated with greater depression as well as reduced quality of life and recovery. Interestingly, the categorical presence of trauma history (yes/no) had no significant relationship with any outcomes. Path analyses revealed that recovery mediated the impact of trauma distress on depression and quality of life, specifically implicating the recovery subfactor of hope. Results suggested that cognitive reframing focused on positive appraisals of overall recovery, and the hope subfactor can have a positive influence on trauma outcomes. The study supported the role of recovery in posttraumatic growth and suggests that hope can be used to help patients process trauma healthily. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

We are all ordinary: the shared visual narratives of daily life promote the patients’ positive attitudes toward doctors

BackgroundCurrent research on the doctor-patient relationship primarily focuses on the responsibilities of doctors, with relatively less emphasis on examining the contributions patients can make. As a result, there is an urgent demand for exploring innovative approaches that highlight the active role patients play in cultivating a robust doctor-patient relationship. The purpose of this study was to devise an intervention strategy centered around patients to enhance the doctor-patient relationship. Comics were developed to depict shared narratives encompassing challenging daily life experiences between doctors and ordinary individuals. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of this approach in cultivating positive attitudes toward doctors.MethodA 3-group design trial was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 152 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: the parallel presenting group (n = 51), where narratives about a doctor and an ordinary employee were presented side by side in comics; the single presenting group (n = 50), where only narratives about a doctor were presented; and the control group (n = 51). The outcomes assessed in this study encompassed changes in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics, perceived intimacy between doctors and patients in reality, and appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction situation.ResultsThe parallel presenting group exhibited significantly larger increases in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics, perceived intimacy between doctors and patients in reality, and appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction scenario compared to the single presenting group. The observed enhancements in the appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction scenario can be attributed to the changes in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics experienced by the participants.ConclusionOur study responds to the doctor-centric focus in existing research by exploring patients’ contributions to the doctor-patient relationship. Using comics to depict shared narratives, the parallel presenting group demonstrated significantly increased identification with the depicted doctor, perceived intimacy, and positive appraisal in prepared scenarios compared to the single presenting group. This underscores the effectiveness of patient-centered interventions in shaping positive attitudes toward doctors, highlighting the pivotal role patients play in fostering a resilient doctor-patient relationship.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trail Registry: ChiCTR2400080999 (registered 20 February 2024; retrospectively registered).

Beyond biophobia: positive appraisal of bats among German residents during the COVID-19 pandemic - with consequences for conservation intentions

Bats are often considered to be objects of biophobia, i.e., the tendency to respond with a negative emotion, such as fear or disgust, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, existing studies have rarely compared both positive and negative emotions towards bats, leading to a potential negativity bias. This is crucial given the importance of emotions to bat-related human behaviours, such as in bat conservation-related actions. Via two online surveys conducted among German residents, we aimed to (i) assess positive and negative emotions towards bats, (ii) examine emotional shifts during the pandemic and (iii) explore how emotions, along with socio-demographics, predict the intent to perform bat-conservation actions. The first survey was undertaken ten months after the official declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2020 - January 2021), when bats gained societal attention due to speculation about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the second one ran twelve months later (January 2022). Overall, respondents held higher positive emotions than negative ones towards bats in both surveys, with no significant emotional shift observed. Positive emotions positively correlated with intentions to perform bat-conservation actions, while negative emotions showed no such relationship. Although our findings might be context-specific to populations in Germany or Europe, given European-Union legislation protecting bats and their habitats, they highlight the nuanced and complicated emotions that can be associated with certain species. Understanding these emotions can guide targeted conservation strategies and public outreach. Our results caution against overly generalising discussions of biophobia in conservation.

Short- and long-term patient-reported outcomes of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy

Abstract Background The safety and efficacy of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) therapy are well-established. However, there is a paucity of patient-reported outcome data, despite the increasing emphasis on incorporating patients' perspectives into quality care assessments. Current guidelines also recommend evaluating psychological status and addressing distress in defibrillator patients. Purpose This study aims to assess perioperative and postoperative pain during S-ICD implantation, along with patient acceptance during follow-up. We also explore associations between these outcomes, clinical characteristics, and implantation variables. Methods A total of 149 consecutive patients (87% male, mean age 53±13 years, body mass index 27±4 Kg/m², ejection fraction 39±14%) who underwent S-ICD implantation across 11 centers were analyzed. Short-term endpoints included pain during and 6 hours after the procedure. Pain intensity was rated on a 10-point visual analogue scale. Long-term endpoint was S-ICD patient acceptance measured (on a 0-to-100 point scale) by the Florida Patients Acceptance Survey (FPAS) score and its components: Return to Function (RTF), Device-Related Distress (DRD), Positive Appraisal (PA), and Body Image Concerns (BIC). The survey was administered 12 months post-implantation. Results The S-ICD generator was positioned in an intermuscular pocket in 140 (94%) patients. Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) was performed in 103 (69%) patients. 72 (48%) patients underwent the defibrillation testing. Implantation success was reported in all patients without operative complications. Overall, pain intensity during implantation was 2 [25th-75th percentile: 1-4], and 1 [1-2] for static pain and 2 [1-3] for dynamic pain, 6 hours post-procedure. SAPB was associated with significantly lower pain intensity during implantation (2 [1-3] vs. 4 [2-5], p<0.001) and non-significantly lower values of dynamic pain intensity 6 hours post-procedure (1 [1-2] versus 2 [1-3], p=0.076). The other tested variables, i.e. age, sex, body habitus, ejection fraction, omission of defibrillation testing, were not associated with different pain levels. S-ICD acceptance scores were favorable overall (total FPAS 77 [63-87], RTF 69 [56-88], DRD 25 [10-45], PA 88 [75-100], BIC 13 [0-38]). Patients who underwent SAPB exhibited better RTF (75 [56-88] versus 63 [50-69], p=0.002) and PA (88 [75-100] versus 75 [69-94], p=0.004). Conclusions S-ICD implantation resulted in minimal discomfort, especially with novel anesthetic techniques. Overall, patients reported good acceptance of the S-ICD. Improved acceptance was observed in patients who underwent SAPB, highlighting the significance of enhanced patient implantation experience for long-term outcomes.

Antecedents and Outcomes of Positive Career Goal Progress Discrepancy Appraisal in Young Adults

Informed by self-regulation theories, this study examines the role of positive career goal discrepancies, where young adults appraise their progress towards career goal outcomes as better than expected. The research investigates how person-specific factors, like career calling, and situational factors, such as career congruence with parents, relate to self-regulatory responses, specifically career satisfaction and optimism. The cross-sectional study was conducted to test the hypotheses in a sample of 295 young adults ( M Age = 18.58 years, SD = 0.70). The latent variable analyses results showed that career calling and congruence with parents correlate positively with career satisfaction and optimism, and that positive career goal discrepancy appraisals played a significant role in explaining these relationships. Notably, positive achievement/ability and effort discrepancies, but not standard discrepancies, explained how career calling and congruence with parents relate to career satisfaction, but not optimism. These insights contribute to our understanding of working with young adults who already perceive themselves as highly capable and motivated, helping them to optimize their career progress and success.

How Chronic Pain Patients’ and Physicians’ Communication Influences Patients’ Uncertainty: A Pre- and Post-Consultation Study

Chronic pain is a health problem that is difficult to diagnose, treat, and manage, partly owing to uncertainty surrounding ambiguous causes, few treatment options, and frequent misunderstandings in clinical encounters. Pairing uncertainty management theory with medical communication competence, we predicted that both physicians and patients are influential to patients’ uncertainty appraisals and uncertainty management. We collected pre- and post-consultation data from 200 patients with chronic neck and spine/back pain and their physicians. Patients’ reports of their physician’s communication were a consistent predictor of their post-consultation uncertainty outcomes. Physicians’ reports of both their own and patients’ communication competence were associated with patients’ positive uncertainty appraisals. Physicians’ reports of patients’ communication competence were also associated with reductions in patients’ uncertainty. Findings illustrate how both interactants’ perceptions of communication competence—how they view their own (for physicians) and the other’s—are associated with patients’ post-consultation outcomes.

Causes de plaintes après arthroplastie totale primaire de hanche en France : données assurantielles de 240 expertises de 2014 à 2017

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most frequent orthopedic surgery procedures, and orthopedic surgeons are among the most frequently accused of malpractice by their patients. Identifying the main reasons for malpractice claims after THA is a prior condition to reducing their frequency. The quality of the preoperative risk information given to the patient by the surgeon is crucial for these purposes. Data specific to THA are sparse in France, and we therefore conducted a retrospective study 1) to determine whether the outcome of medico-legal expert appraisal correlated with the quality and traceability of preoperative information, and 2) to identify the most frequent grounds for complaint after primary THA.Hypothesis: The quality of patient information partly determines expert appraisal.Material and Method: A retrospective study was conducted based on data from the Branchet medical professional insurance agency for malpractice claims following THA over the period 2014-2017, with 240 complete files, for 125 women and 115 men. Data comprised: type of procedure, main grounds of complaint (complications), positive or negative expert appraisal, quality of preoperative patient information, amounts of compensation accorded and fees paid, and the practitioner’s liability. We assessed correlations between information quality and liability.Results: Surgical site infection and neurologic deficit were the two main grounds for malpractice claims. In the 240 files, cases for 106 operations (44.2%) were submitted to arbitration, 95 (39.6%) were brought to court, and 39 (16.2%) were settled out of court. The practitioner was held at least partly liable in 40 files (16.7%). Information to the patient was deemed imperfect or poor for 119 files (49.6%) and good in 121 (50.4%). Mean compensation was euro 30,940 (range, euro 0 to euro 198,100).In 27 of the 40 cases of liability (67.5%), the information to the patient was deemed imperfect or poor. Twenty-six of the 40 cases (65%) were settled out of court.In case of poor information, there was a significant risk for the practitioner to be held liable: 7.5% vs 25% (p=0.003).Discussion: The present study listed the main complications underlying malpractice claims after THA: infection, neurologic complications, and limb-length discrepancy. This should enable practitioners to improve patient information so as to reduce the rate of malpractice claims or at least decrease the practitioner’s liability, as the study found a correlation between information quality and expert appraisal.Level of evidence: IV; retrospective study.

Positive Development Patterns in Left-Behind Adolescents: Do Resilience and Making Sense of Adversity Have Beneficial Effects?

Despite increased attention to the positive development of left-behind adolescents, research findings remain inconclusive. Utilizing latent profile analysis, we identified various positive development profiles among the left-behind adolescents and explored the association between resilience and positive development profiles, alongside the mediating role of making sense of adversity. A multi-stage cluster sampling procedure was employed, randomly selecting four provinces-Zhejiang, Guangdong, Henan, and Jiangxi-from the central and coastal regions. The sample comprised 718 left-behind adolescents recruited from primary and junior high schools across grades 4, 5, 7, and 8. Three scales were utilized, and analyses included latent profile analysis and mediation analysis. Three latent subgroups of positive development among left-behind adolescents were identified: low, moderate, and high. Those with higher resilience and positive perceptions of adversity tended to belong to the high group rather than the low (β = -0.45, p < 0.001; β = -0.09, p < 0.001) or moderate group (β = -0.23, p < 0.001; β = -0.04, p < 0.05). Left-behind adolescents with higher negative perceptions of adversity tended to belong to the high group rather than the moderate group (β = -0.07, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that resilience facilitated the development of positive appraisals of adversity, subsequently increasing the likelihood of being categorized into the high (95% CI of -0.09 to -0.03) or moderate group (95% CI of -0.05 to -0.01) rather than the low group. These findings hold significant implications for intervention formulation. Educators should focus on strengthening resilience and fostering positive perceptions of adversity among the low group. For the moderate group, maintaining moderate negative perceptions of adversity may stimulate the intrinsic potential for positive development more effectively.