Impact Scores Research Articles

SFDR Article 9: Is it all about impact?

We investigate more than 1,000 investment funds that are classified under Article 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Using the G7’s new typology of sustainable investments, we show that Article 9 funds pursue varying degrees of ambition: while 60 % follow an impact-oriented strategy, we identify 40 % that instead pursue a general Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. We do not find significant differences in ESG scores between ESG-related and impact-related funds. Yet, impact-related funds have higher SDG impact scores and higher management fees. Downgraded funds that changed SFDR status, however, tend to be less focused on impact.

Identifying the risks of armed conflict impact on the ecosystem

The object of the study is the territory that became the object of the influence of hostilities. The study is dedicated to finding ways to assess the state of ecosystems and ensure their stability in the conditions of military conflicts. The impact of military conflict on the environment is highlighted through the analysis of risks and losses in ecosystems. It has been studied that the intensity of armed conflicts determines the scale and degree of damage to ecosystems, and the use of destructive weapons leads to the direct destruction of natural environments and their components. It has been determined by an expert survey that the most significant changes in natural ecosystems are the biodiversity losses, deforestation, territorial changes and the destruction of natural objects (scores ≥9.0). Factors of low impact (score <6.75) are air pollution, erosion due to air pollution, biodiversity losses due to water pollution. The interrelationships between military actions and environmental pollution are studied for the importance of understanding these processes for effective management of environmental security during military conflicts. A mathematical and graphic model of material flows has been developed, which allows taking into account resource flows, pollution and losses in the ecosystem during armed conflicts. The model, tested in the Kyiv region, made it possible to determine the priorities of conservation and risk management. Analysis of 9,000 km2 revealed contaminated areas, in particular, in the southwestern and western directions. The practical use of the research results is in the development of strategies for minimizing and restoring the ecological consequences of armed conflicts. This can help improve the management of natural resources in the context of military operations and increase the resilience of ecosystems

Don’t delay, but don’t despair: symptom duration, comorbidity and outcome after closure of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks

ObjectiveMicrosurgical sealing of spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks is a viable treatment option in spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Several factors may influence the outcome, with symptom duration probably the most modifiable variable.MethodsPatients with closure of spinal CSF leaks between September 2020 and March 2023 and a follow-up period of 6 months were included in this retrospective single-center study. Pre- and postoperative scores for impact of headaches (Headache Impact Test, HIT-6) and quality of life (QoL, EQ-5D-5L) were systematically collected. Multiple regression modelling and subgroup analyses for different symptom durations and comorbidities were performed for these outcomes.ResultsOne hundred patients (61% female, median age 43.5 years) were included. Six months postoperatively, there was significant improvement in headache impact (HIT-6: 66 (IQR 62–69) to 52 (IQR 40–61, p < 0.001) and QoL (EQ-5D-5L VAS: 40 (IQR 30–60) to 79 (IQR 60–90); EQ-5D-5L Index: 0.67 (IQR 0.35–0.8) to 0.91 (IQR 0.8–0.94, p < 0.001, respectively). Subgroup analysis for a symptom duration above (74%) and below 90 days (26%) and comorbidity, as well as multiple regression analysis, revealed a trend in favor of early treatment and lower comorbidity. However, even after a prolonged symptom duration, improvements were significant.ConclusionAs patients with shorter symptom duration show a trend for a better outcome, our results promote a timely diagnosis and treatment in SIH patients. However, a significant postoperative improvement can still be expected even after a prolonged symptom duration.

Designing and psychometric assessment of the moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals

The moral intelligence of healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room is one of the most important aspects of professional competence. However, moral intelligence is an abstract and multidimensional concept that needs to be clarified and described based on organizational culture and environment. Therefore, there is a need to design a specific scale for measuring the moral intelligence of healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. This study aims to design and assess the psychometric properties of a moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. The present study was a mixed method study with a sequential exploratory approach. The research was conducted in 2023–2024 in Iran. The first phase data were collected from 20 healthcare professionals and were analyzed by conventional content analysis method. In the second phase, the validity and reliability of the instrument were evaluated by involving 300 healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. The moral intelligence of health care professionals in the cardiac operating room was defined as moral sensitivity combined with moral commitment and moral courage for the provision of quality care that respects the principles of medical ethics. After deducing the conceptual framework, the moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room was developed with three dimensions: “moral sensitivity,” “moral commitment,” and “moral courage.” 11 items were removed during testing to ensure content validity. Face validity was confirmed with impact scores > 1.5 for all items. A scale was developed through factor analysis with three factors that accounted for 73.04% of the observed variance. The instrument’s reliability using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient calculation was reported as 0.94 for the entire instrument. The testretest showed no statistically significant difference between the pre and post-test scores of moral intelligence (p = 0.51). The moral intelligence scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. The moral intelligence scale for health care professionals in the cardiac operating room demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. This instrument may serve to assess the moral intelligence of healthcare professionals and determine the need for educational interventions to reduce the ethical challenges and improve the moral intelligence of this healthcare.

Long-acting B-2 agonists (LABA) or long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA): which one may be the first option in group A COPD patients?

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) or beta-2 agonists (LABA) have been recommended for symptom control in group A COPD patients as a first-line bronchodilator treatment in GOLD guidelines. However, there is no mention of priority/superiority between the two treatment options. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of these treatments in this group. The study cohort was formed of all subjects from six pulmonology clinics with an initial diagnosis of COPD who were new users of a LAMA or LABA from January 2020 to December 2021. Seventy-six group A COPD patients, in whom LABA or LAMA therapy had been started in the last 1month as a first-line treatment, were included in our study. Participants were evaluated with spirometry, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), mMRC scale, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for three times (baseline, 6-12th months). There were 76 group A COPD patients with LAMA (67.1%) and LABA (32.9%). The number of patients who improved in CAT score at the end of the first year was significantly higher in patients using LAMA than those using LABA (p = 0.022); the improvement at minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in CAT score of LAMA group at 1st year was also significant (p = 0.044). SGRQ total and impact scores were found to be statistically lower at 1st year compared to baseline in patients using LAMA (p = 0.010 and 0.006, respectively). Significant improvement was detected in CAT and SGRQ scores at the 6th month visit in the LAMA group having emphysema (p = 0.032 and 0.002, respectively). According to significant improvements in CAT and SGRQ score, LAMA may be preferred over LABA as a bronchodilator agent in group A COPD patients, especially in emphysema-dominant phenotype.

Implementation of Synoptic Reporting for Endoscopic Localization of Complex Colorectal Neoplasms.

Introduction Lack of documented tattooing of colorectal neoplasms at index colonoscopy results in high repeat preoperative colonoscopy rates. We developed national consensus recommendations for endoscopic localization and piloted an electronic synoptic reporting template. We report on the implementation and perceptions of using synoptic reporting to enhance colorectal lesion marking in a central Canadian healthcare system. Methods We implemented the template within our endoscopy reporting system and ran an infographic education campaign. We then conducted a follow-up email-based interview with all regional endoscopists. Thematic analysis and a mixed-methods triangulation approach were employed to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data. Results The interview was completed by 28/52 endoscopists (54%). Most (60.7%; n = 17) completed >100 colonoscopies and 71.4% (n = 20) identified six to 20 neoplasms requiring tattooingsince introduction. A total of 50% (n = 14) used the template. Those not using it were unaware of it (42.9%; n = 12), or preferred using narrative text (17.9%; n = 5). Users reported modest mean functionality scores (intuitiveness: 3.56/5; efficiency: 3.7/5) and high impact scores (credible: 4.22/5; informative: 4.21/5). However, the perception of the synoptic template's ability to reduce the repeat preoperative colonoscopy rate was more circumspect (3.76/5). Conclusions Endoscopists believed the synoptic template was a functional, impactful tool that would improve communication and help to decrease the repeat preoperative colonoscopy rate. However, synoptic template uptake was limited by provider awareness, therefore more educational efforts are needed to increase uptake.

Association Between Early External Ventricular Drain Insertion and Functional Outcomes 6 Months Following Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. Intracranial hypertension following moderate-to-severe TBI (m-sTBI) is a potentially modifiable secondary cerebral insult and one of the central therapeutic targets of contemporary neurocritical care. External ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common therapeutic intervention used to control intracranial hypertension and attenuate secondary brain injury. However, the optimal timing of EVD insertion in the setting of m-sTBI is uncertain and practice variation is widespread. Therefore, we aimed to assess if there is an association between timing of EVD placement and functional neurological outcome at 6 months post m-sTBI. We pooled individual patient data for all relevant harmonizable variables from the Erythropoietin in Traumatic Brain Injury (EPO-TBI) and Prophylactic Hypothermia Trial to Lessen Traumatic Brain Injury (POLAR) randomized control trials, and the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) Core Study version 3.0 and Australia-Europe NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (Oz-ENTER) prospective observational studies to create a combined dataset. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was used to define TBI severity and we included all patients admitted to an intensive care unit with a GCS ≤12, who were 15 years or older and underwent EVD placement within 7 days of injury. We used hierarchical multi-variable logistic regression models to study the association between EVD insertion within 24 h of injury (early) compared with EVD insertion more than 24 h after injury (late) and 6-month functional neurological outcome measured using the Glasgow Outcome Score Extended (GOSE). In total, 2536 patients were assessed. Of these, 502 (20%) underwent early EVD insertion and 145 (6%) underwent late EVD insertion. Following adjustment for the IMPACT (International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI) score extended (Core + CT), sex, injury severity score, study and treatment site, patients receiving a late EVD had higher odds of death or severe disability (GOSE 1-4) at 6 months follow-up than those receiving an early EVD adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval, 2.14; 1.22-3.76; p = 0.008. Our study suggests that in patients with m-sTBI where an EVD is needed, early (≤ 24 h post-injury) insertion may result in better long-term functional outcomes. This finding supports future prospective investigation in this area.

Life cycle assessment of wastewater reuse alternatives in urban water system

Increasing water stress necessitates adopting wastewater reuse for sustainable living in urban environment. Trade-offs exist between different wastewater reuse applications and their environmental impacts. The impacts associated with developing urban water systems (UWSs) are not known, and city scale wastewater reuse in general is not well understood. This study investigates indirect, direct, non-potable and hybrid wastewater reuse scenarios in a real UWS to suggest environmentally sustainable reuse strategy using life cycle approach. The study develops a comprehensive life cycle inventory of actual water and wastewater utilities. Results show that all environmental impacts except eutrophication increases for direct potable and hybrid reuse. The centralized non-potable reuse (NPR) had lowest impact scores related with ecotoxicities while impacts including global warming were equivalent to the baseline. The study recommends adopting centralized NPR in developing UWSs while highlighting the treatment processes and impacts for reuse scenarios favorable in high to extreme water stressed regions.

Special irregular neutrosophic graphs

Recently, the neutrosophic graph has been introduced as an extension of fuzzy graphs and intuitionistic fuzzy graphs, which offers more compatibility and flexibility than these two types in modeling and structuring many actual issues. In this article, using neutrosophic highly strong arc, the new notions of (totally) special irregular, highly special irregular, strongly special irregular, neighborly special irregular and special arc-irregular of neutrosophic graphs are stated. Finally, one of their utilizations relevant to offering a fixed optimization model in decision making in diverse conditions is presented. In fact,we present a decision-making problem in real-world applied example which discusses the factors influencing a companys efficiency. The presented model is, in fact, a factor-based model wherein the impact score of each factor is divided into two types of direct and indirect influences, in which the concept of neutrosophic special dominating set plays a significant role.

Patient-Centered Outcomes in Bronchiolitis.

We examined the impact of hospitalization for bronchiolitis on patient-centered outcomes across patients with varying levels of support. The participants included primary caregivers of children aged 0 to 24 months hospitalized for bronchiolitis at an 150-bed tertiary care children's hospital. Data were collected using a 30-item questionnaire examining quality of life impact, adapted from the previously validated survey, the Impact of Bronchiolitis Hospitalization Questionnaire.1 The survey contained questions asking to what extent the hospitalization interfered with different aspects of care. After all surveys were collected, the patients were split into groups categorized by level of support and defined as no support, low support (low-flow nasal cannula only or nasogastric [NG] only), moderate support (high-flow nasal cannula without NG), high support (high-flow nasal cannula with NG support), and positive pressure (with or without NG support). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the distribution of mean impact scores across these groups. A total of 92 caregivers and their children were included. The mean impact score for variables of difficult to hold, difficult to bond, and breastfeeding disruption increased with greater levels of support with P values of P = .003, P = .04, and P < .001, respectively. We found that the impact on patient-reported outcomes varied by level of support, as defined here, among children hospitalized with bronchiolitis, with significant impacts being in areas of caregiver bonding, caregiver holding, and breastfeeding.

The COVID-19 pandemic as autobiographical period: evidence from an event dating study

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 Pandemic is undoubtedly one of the most impactful and ubiquitous public events in recent history. In this study, we focused on how it affected the organisation of autobiographical memory by examining how often individuals referred to the COVID-19 Pandemic while estimating the date of their autobiographical memories. To that end, we collected word-cued memories from the recent past, event dating protocols, COVID-relatedness ratings, and the transitional impact scores from first-year undergraduates. We found that participants frequently recalled COVID-related memories, and often used the Pandemic as a temporal landmark for dating both COVID-related and unrelated memories. Importantly, reference to the Pandemic in dating estimates was as frequent as the references to other important life periods (high school, university). Despite affecting the lives of these individuals only moderately in psychological and material terms, these data indicate that the Pandemic has become a prominent landmark in autobiographical memory, shaping the way we remember and situate past experiences.

The Long-Term Impact on Patients with MDR-TB Using the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire

Abstract Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) continues to be a global health catastrophe. This prospective study examines the subjective impact of the disease as experienced by patients using the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire. Methodology: The study involved 244 patients diagnosed with drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis over a 10-year years. These patients were administered the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, which was evaluated in comparison between the two groups to determine the progressive impact of disease in patients with MDR-TB compared to patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB). Results: The analysis showed that patients with MDR-TB had statistically significantly higher symptomatic activity and impact scores compared to patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Conclusions: The results suggest that patients diagnosed with MDR-TB at different stages of disease progression need urgent attention from healthcare providers.

Groundtruthing cumulative impact assessments with biodiversity data: Testing indicators and methods for marine ecosystem condition assessments in South Africa

Abstract Accurate assessments of ecosystem condition are needed to inform management processes such as systematic conservation planning and protected area expansion, marine spatial planning and other effective area‐based conservation measures. Yet measuring the condition of dynamic and often largely inaccessible marine ecosystems is extremely difficult and presents a global challenge. Broad‐scale cumulative impact assessments have been used in South Africa as a proxy for marine ecosystem condition in national assessments and reporting because the data are more readily available, and knowledge exists on the impacts of various human activities (or pressures) on marine ecosystems. While useful for national reporting, assessments based on in situ ecological data are also needed at finer scales relevant to management. Applying the HELCOM BEAT approach, this study used in situ ecological data to identify potential methods and indicators that can be applied in South Africa to conduct integrated ecosystem assessments and to assess the suitability of current cumulative impact assessments as a proxy for condition. Aggregated fish indicators demonstrated greater sensitivity to varying human pressures compared with benthic community indicators, with responsiveness differing by location. Notably, site‐level differences in empirical condition emerged that broad‐scale cumulative assessments often missed. The study thus highlighted the varying suitability of cumulative impact scores as proxies for condition, indicating their reliability for fish communities. However, this is also dependent on the pressure types included, the biotic indicators used and the area of focus. Conservation decisions based solely on cumulative impact scores could misrepresent the actual condition of the environment, which makes it difficult to make management decisions, especially at finer scales. As such, conservation initiatives need to be regionally adapted to effectively address the unique pressures and conditions of each area and should be tailored to account for fine‐scale variability, instead of adopting a one‐size‐fits‐all approach.

The Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version of the Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory

Background and Aim: Experiencing dizziness/vertigo is often an indication of dysfunction in the vestibular system. Recent findings show a connection between peripheral vestibular dysfunction and cognitive impairments. The Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory (NVI) can assess physical, emotional, and cognitive issues in individuals with dizziness/vertigo. The aim of this research was to translate, cultural adaptation and evaluation of the reliability and validity of NVI to Persian. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the NVI scale was translated and adapted to the Iranian cultural context following the international quality of life assessment protocol for translation and equivalence. After obtaining face validity, the scale was administered to 140 patients with peripheral vestibular system dysfunction and 70 control group (age between 25 and 80 years). After one week, 50 participants were asked to complete the questionnaire again. Eventually, reliability was evaluated with both methods of internal consistency and test-retest reproducibility. Results: Out of the 28 items in the NVI scale, 3 items were modified to better align with the cultural conditions of Iranians. The impact scores for most items in this scale were found to be higher than 1.5. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient values for the overall scale (0.90) and test-retest reliability with intra-class correlation coefficient for the overall scale (0.91) were confirmed. Conclusion: The Persian version of NVI scale demonstrates excellent validity and reliability, and it exhibits a high level of content alignment with the original version. Therefore, it can be a useful tool to better understand the physical, emotional and cognitive disturbances in patients with vertigo/dizziness. Keywords: Validity; reliability; dizziness; vertigo; vestibular dysfunction; neuropsychological vertigo inventory

The effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance

ABSTRACT Objective Evaluate the independent effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance. Study Design Baseline ImPACT scores from tests taken by 7454 athletes aged 12–22 from 2009 to 2019 were split into three age cohorts: 12–14 years (3244), 15–17 years (3732), and 18–22 years (477). Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of age on ImPACT composite scores while controlling for demographic differences, medication-use, and symptom burden. Significance values have been set at p < 0.05. Results Linear regression analyses demonstrated that increased age does not significantly affect symptom score (β = 0.06, p = 0.54) but does improve impulse control (β = −0.45, p < 0.0001), verbal memory (β = 0.23, p = 0.03), visualmotor (β = 0.77, p < 0.0001), and reaction time (β = −0.008, p < 0.0001) scores. However, age did not have an effect on visual memory scores (β = −0.25, p = 0.07). Conclusions Age was shown to be an independent modifier of impulse control, verbal memory, visual motor, and reaction time scores but not visual memory or symptom scores. This underscores the previous literature showing developmental differences as age increases among the adolescent athlete population. This data also indicates the need for repeat neurocognitive baseline testing every other year as baseline scoring is likely to change as athletes become older.

P1010 Guselkumab improves abdominal pain and bowel urgency symptoms in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis: Results from the phase 3 QUASAR induction study

Abstract Background Abdominal pain and bowel urgency are prevalent, burdensome symptoms experienced by patients (pts) with ulcerative colitis (UC) that impact daily life, including social activities. In this study, we use data from the Phase 3 QUASAR Induction Study to assess efficacy of guselkumab (GUS) on abdominal pain, bowel urgency, and the impact of bowel urgency on pts’ lives. Methods Pts were randomized 3:2 to receive IV GUS 200mg or placebo (PBO) at Weeks (Wks) 0, 4, and 8. Abdominal pain and bowel urgency were evaluated at baseline and Wk12 using items from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, where pts rated trouble with abdominal pain, symptoms of bowel urgency, and the impact of bowel urgency over the past 2 wks using 7-point scales (1=all of the time to 7=none of the time). A ≥2 point increase from baseline was clinically meaningful improvement. All analyses were prespecified but not multiplicity controlled; all p-values are nominal. Results At baseline, percentages of pts with abdominal pain (GUS 77.7% and PBO 77.9%), symptoms of bowel urgency (GUS 86.0% and PBO 83.2%), and impact of bowel urgency (GUS 70.8% and PBO 70.4%) at least a little of the time (score ≤5) were similar between groups. GUS-treated pts showed greater improvements at Wk12 in these outcomes compared with PBO (Table 1). For abdominal pain, 52.0% of GUS-treated pts had clinically meaningful improvements from baseline at Wk12 vs 33.0% in the PBO group (p&amp;lt;0.001), and 21.1% vs 12.3%, respectively, of those with abdominal pain at baseline had resolution at Wk12 (p=0.004; Fig. 1A). For symptoms of bowel urgency, 58.6% vs 33.0%, respectively, had clinically meaningful improvements (p&amp;lt;0.001; Fig. 1B), and 24.0% vs 9.8%, respectively, of those with symptoms of bowel urgency at baseline had resolution at Wk12 (p&amp;lt;0.001). Similarly, 57.7% vs 33.0%, respectively, had clinically meaningful improvements in the impact of bowel urgency (p&amp;lt;0.001; Fig. 1B), and 32.4% vs 13.1%, respectively, of those impacted at baseline had resolution at Wk12 (p&amp;lt;0.001). Symptoms and impact of bowel urgency were combined into a bowel urgency score; of pts with symptoms or impact scores ≤6 at baseline, 19.7% versus 8.2%, respectively, had resolution of both at Wk12 (p&amp;lt;0.001; Fig. 1B). Conclusion Pts receiving GUS showed clinically meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life measures related to abdominal pain and bowel urgency, including both the symptoms of bowel urgency and impact on pts’ lives.

Help, Teach, Counsel: How Terminology Changes in the ProQOL-5 Impact Score Reliability

Objective: This study evaluated score reliability of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL) when contextualizing help to a relevant derivative. Method: The researchers evaluated score reliability across three datasets among school-based professionals (n = 122), teachers (n = 216), and mental health professionals (n = 543) using Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, inter-item correlations and visual analysis. Results: Score reliability was acceptable across samples. However, item analysis indicated variability in responses indicating participants’ extracting different meaning or relevance to the items. Terminology changes may extract different meaning based on profession resulting in measurement error. Conclusions: Findings highlight use of one-word derivative changes to items may impact score reliability based on the professional activities represented. Researchers should adjust item terminology for clarity and relevance to all the professions represented in the sample. Evidence of the nature of professional activities with client or student trauma to secondary traumatic stress is presented.

MAGIC: Malware behaviour analysis and impact quantification through signature co-occurrence and regression

Malware poses risks by compromising both data integrity and system security. Proactive defense efforts have led to the adoption of malware scoring, allowing analysts to assess the severity and develop countermeasures. These scores indicate the degree of malware maliciousness based on triggered signatures. However, current scoring methods do not precisely depict the true extent of malware's maliciousness. This inaccuracy is attributed to an inadequate assessment of the impact of behaviour corresponding to signatures on both system and network resources. To address this limitation, the paper proposes a novel scoring approach that accurately quantifies the impact of signatures triggered by malware through co-occurrence analysis. The method assesses the ensemble behaviour of signatures across two phases. In the first phase of signature scoring, an impact score quantification algorithm initializes each signature to predefined severity score bands based on the studied severity and frequency. The second phase refines initial scores iteratively, considering mutual information among signatures co-occurring in the malware's execution. Experimental results validate the proposed method's ability to accurately reflect signature maliciousness. This novel scoring method enhances malware analysis platforms in generating more precise scores compared to traditional methods, thereby improving resilience against evolving malware threats in the dynamic cybersecurity landscape.

Psychometric testing of anesthesia nursing competence scale (AnestComp)

Background & AimThe competence of anesthesia nurse has a significant association with patient health and safety, reduction of medical errors, hospital infections, and postoperative complications. However, there is no instrument available to measure the competence of anesthesia nurse Iran. Anesthesia Nursing Competence Scale (AnestComp) is a self-assessment tool that measures the competence level of anesthesia Personnel. The present study sought to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of AnestComp in the Iranian anesthesiology community. Materials & MethodsThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of AnestComp in a sample of 362 anesthesia nurse from hospitals affiliated with the University of Medical Sciences. After translating the original version of the scale, the face, content, and structural validity as well as the reliability of the scale were evaluated. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-16 and AMOS-24 software. ResultsThe assessment of the face validity of AnestComp showed that the impact score for each item was greater than 3.13. Moreover, the average content validity ratio (CVR) for 38 items was 0.91 and the corresponding value for each item was greater than 0.54. The average content validity index (CVI) for 38 items was 0.93 and the related value for each item was greater than 0.73. In addition, item 39 was removed due to low CVR and CVI values. The construct validity of the scale was checked using confirmatory factor analysis and the factor loading values for the items varied from 0.82 to 0.91, confirming that the seven factors of the scale were within acceptable ranges. Moreover, the reliability of the scale was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.981 and the correlation of 0.94 between the scores from the re-administration of the scale, indicating that the scale has acceptable internal consistency. ConclusionThe Persian version of AnestComp has acceptable psychometric properties and it can be used as a valid tool to measure the competencies of anesthesia Personnel.

Satisfaction and attitudes towards online continuous medical education and its impact on clinical practice among physiotherapists

BackgroundThe traditional face-to-face of medical education is gradually being replaced with online education. However, the rate of adoption of online continuing medical education (OCME) as a learning method among practicing clinical physiotherapists (PTs) is unclear. The objectives of this study were to measure the satisfaction with, attitudes towards, and impact of OCME among practicing clinical PTs in Saudi Arabia (SA) and to examine the factors that affect the findings for satisfaction, attitude, and impact towards OCME.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and January 2022. PTs employed at various medical facilities and specialties in Saudi Arabia completed an online survey to assess satisfaction with, attitudes towards, and impact of OCME.ResultsOf the 127 participants, 48 were female (37.8%), 44.1% were aged between 24 and 30 years. Overall, 57.5% of the respondents were satisfied with OCME compared with conventional face-to-face education, and 45.7% agreed and 18.1% strongly agreed that OCME was more flexible. Further, 52.8% of the respondents thought that OCME programs could supplement traditional face-to-face education. The majority of the participants (63.8%) agreed that participating in OCME programs increased their knowledge, and 55.1% and 51.2% agreed that attending these programs improved patient outcomes and increased their confidence in patient management, respectively. However, only 38.6% agreed that participating in OCME programs enhanced their clinical expertise. The mean satisfaction, attitude, and impact scores differed significantly according to age group, marital status, number of years of practice, and specialty (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that older age was independently associated with better satisfaction and more positive attitudes and impact. Further, having a specialization also seemed to improve the impact of OCME.ConclusionThe PTs were satisfied with and had positive attitudes towards OCME, and also found that it had a positive impact on their clinical practice. Thus, existing OCME programs are a good option for expanding the number of PTs proficient in clinical care.