Reliability Of Scores Research Articles

A psychometric examination of the cognitive flexibility scale and its association with Orthorexia Nervosa

BackgroundThe Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS) is a 12-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess cognitive flexibility. Despite its widespread use, its psychometric properties have yet to be evaluated in the Italian context. Furthermore, while cognitive flexibility has emerged as a central correlate in Feeding and Eating Disorders, only a limited number of studies have investigated its association with Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), a clinical condition characterized by a pathological fixation with healthy eating. The present study aimed to fill these two knowledge gaps.MethodsA total of 803 participants (Mage = 33.89, SD = 9.44; 68.6% females) were enrolled in the investigation. The sample was randomly split into two subsamples: the first one for examining the psychometric properties of the CFS, and the second one for evaluating its association with ON symptoms. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing the constructs under investigation.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis revealed a global dimension of cognitive flexibility, alongside a method factor accounting for covariance arising by reverse-worded items. The CFS, which was factorially invariant across genders, yielded a reliable total score (ω = 0.834) and provided evidence of convergent and criterion-related validity. Importantly, structural equation modelling showed that cognitive flexibility was negatively associated with emotional distress resulting from violations of orthorexic dietary rules (β = -0.279, p < .001).ConclusionsThe CFS demonstrated to be a psychometrically robust instrument in the Italian context. Moreover, cognitive flexibility may be an important treatment target for mitigating the distress derived from ON symptoms, informing the development of future therapeutic approaches.

Reliability of the Unilateral Hearing Loss in Youth Instrument for Children With Single-Sided Deafness.

While general practice parameter recommendations for children with unilateral hearing loss or single-sided deafness (SSD) have been published, clinically utilized subjective instruments specifically designed to assess this population are scarce. Treatment options are evaluated using audiometric data, speech perception data, and quality of life instruments. The Unilateral Hearing Loss in Youth (uniHELO) is a subjective assessment instrument that aims to evaluate the listening challenges in this population, but it has not yet been studied in a clinical setting. This study examined the reliability of the uniHELO among children with SSD. This was a prospective within-subject study. Nine patients with SSD, aged 8-14 years, were enrolled. Participants had not used a personal hearing device for at least 6 months prior to enrollment. The uniHELO instrument was administered at two clinic visits separated by 3-4 weeks. For comparison, the Pediatric and Parent Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) instruments were administered during the same visits. uniHELO scores were not significantly different between the first and second visits. The correlations of scale scores over time were: .96 for the uniHELO, which suggests excellent test-retest reliability; .84 for the Parent SSQ, which also suggests excellent test-retest reliability; and .27 for the Pediatric SSQ, which suggests poor test-retest reliability compared to the Parent SSQ and uniHELO. Within-subject scale uniHELO scores between clinic visits showed excellent test-retest reliability across items. The test-retest reliability scores for the uniHELO were also stronger than those for the Parent and Pediatric SSQ. These data support the use of the uniHELO to evaluate listening challenges in children with SSD.

Test-retest reliability of the Swedish version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale in people with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis

BackgroundFatigue is a subjective lack of physical and/or mental energy and is commonly perceived by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). People with MS often describe fatigue as the most troublesome MS related impairment, and it also has a negative impact on ability to initiate or maintain activities as well as work capacity and health related quality of life. The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) is a patient-reported outcome measurement of fatigue. The scale consists of 21 items divided into three subscales to capture the cognitive (10 items), physical (9 items) and psychosocial (2 items) dimensions of fatigue. MFIS is translated to Swedish but not evaluated for test-retest reliability for use in Swedish settings of rehabilitation or research. The aim of the study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the total score and the scores of the subscales of the Swedish version of the MFIS in people with mild to moderate MS-disability. MethodsEligible study participants were people with mild to moderate overall MS-disability according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) – EDSS score from 2.0 to 5.5. The included participants completed the Swedish version of MFIS at two occasions, one week apart. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) agreement was used to analyse the test-retest reliability of the total score and a quadratic weighted Cohen's kappa was used to analyse the subscale scores. Further, measurement error, smallest detectable change (SDC), and limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated for the total score of the whole sample. ResultsA total of 54 people with MS were included in the study. The mean age was 50 years and 70% were female. The mean overall MS-disability were 3.7 according to the EDSS, 28 of the participants had mild MS-disability (EDSS 2.0 to 3.5) and 26 of the participants had moderate MS-disability (EDSS 4.0 to 5.5). Results of test-retest reliability for the whole sample of the total score of the MFIS were acceptable with an ICC value of .84, a measurement error of 8.2, an SDC of 22.6 and LOA of 23.3 and -22.4. The ICC values of the total score were also acceptable for the subgroups with mild MS-disability and moderate MS-disability with ICC values of .83 and .74. The kappa values for the whole sample showed excellent or fair to good test-retest reliability of the physical, cognitive and psychosocial subscales with values of .83, .84, and .75. ConclusionThe results of this study show that the total score of the Swedish version of MFIS is a reliable measure and a change of 23 points indicates a true change in fatigue impact in people with mild to moderate MS-disability. The test-retest reliability of the cognitive and the physical subscales were considered as excellent, and the psychosocial subscale as fair to good. The total score of the scale can be recommended for use in Swedish populations.

Comparing the reliability of performance task scores obtained from rating scale and analytic rubric using the generalizability theory

In the performance assessment, unbiased and accurate scorings depend not only on raters but also on accuracy of scoring keys. It could be confusing to choose the type of scoring key for educators in most situations. The study aims to find whether there is a difference between ratings with rating scale and analytic rubric and to compare reliability of scores given by the same raters with both scoring keys to the same performance tasks using generalizability theory. The results of this study would be a guide for implementers to determine the type of scoring keys for scoring performances. By the analyses, results reveal that scores obtained with the rating scale have higher reliability compared to scores obtained from the analytic rubric. Interviews related to both scoring keys reveal that for the scoring of performance tasks of teacher candidates, the rating scale is economic in terms of time.

A validation of the Flemish School Burnout Assessment Tool for students between 17 and 21 years old (FS-BAT)

IntroductionThe present study assessed the factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the Flemish school burnout assessment tool (FS-BAT) for students between 17 and 21 years old. MethodThe sample consisted of 570 secondary and higher education students between 17 and 21 years old (Mage = 19.14, SDage = 1.11, 81% female). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability scores, and the convergent validity were assessed. ResultsCFA revealed four distinguishable but strongly related school burnout core symptoms (i.e., exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive impairment and emotion impairment), referring to one underlying construct ‘school burnout’. The psychological stress complaints and psychosomatic complaints are two separate but positively correlated aspects of the secondary symptoms. The internal consistency of the scales ranged between excellent (.94; total core symptoms scale) and acceptable (.77; psychosomatic complaints scale). The test-retest reliability after five months varied between excellent (the total core scale and secondary symptoms subscales) and good (core symptoms subscales), indicating good stability over time. The convergent validity showed moderate positive correlations with the Perceived Stress Scale and the Perceptions of Academic Stress scale. ConclusionThe current findings illustrate that the FS-BAT can be used as a reliable and valid instrument to assess school burnout symptoms in secondary and higher education students between 17 and 21 years old. Further research to assess the discriminant validity and the relation to other school burnout measures is needed.

Evaluation of reliability and radiation dose reduction in coronary artery calcium scoring by using a low tube current and low kilo-voltage peak with advanced modelled iterative reconstruction

Objective The present study sought to compare the reliability and radiation dose of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring using low tube current (16 mAs), low kilo-voltage peak (100 kVp) and advanced modelled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE 5) with the standard protocol (80 mAs, 120 kVp, ADMIRE 3). Material and methods A prospective single centre study including 200 consecutive patients with suspected coronary artery disease referred for CT coronary angiography was conducted. All 200 patients underwent CAC scoring using the low current-low kVp protocol as well as standard protocol and were subdivided into a derivation and validation cohorts. Results Correlation between CAC scores obtained using low current-low kVp protocol and standard protocol in derivation cohort was excellent (r = 0.99; p < 0.001). A linear regression model was used to derive a formula for predicting CAC that enabled conversion of CAC(low current-low kVp) to CAC(corrected) [CAC(corrected) = 1.067 × CAC(low current-low kVp)]. The formula was applied in validation cohort where CAC (corrected) showed excellent agreement with CAC(standard) (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.9970; 95%CI, 0.9956–0.9980). Excellent agreement for risk classification (weighted kappa, 0.94379; 95%CI, 0.89629–0.99130) was observed between CAC(corrected) and CAC(standard) scores. The low current-low kVp protocol demonstrated an 88.87% reduction in radiation dose (0.0679 ± 0.01032 mSv vs. 0.610 ± 0.2403 mSv; p < 0.0001). Conclusion The low current-low kVp protocol for CAC scoring has comparable reliability to the standard technique with significant radiation dose reduction. This extremely low-dose protocol may prove useful as an alternative to standard CAC scoring, particularly for screening in the low-to-intermediate risk population.

Application of big data and artificial intelligence in visual communication art design

In the era of continuous development of computer technology, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data is becoming more and more extensive. With the help of powerful computer and network technology, the art of visual communication (VISCOM) has ushered in a new chapter of digitalization and intelligence. How vision can better perform interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary artistic expression between art and technology and how to use more novel technology, richer forms, and more appropriate ways to express art has become a new problem in visual art creation. This essay aims to investigate and apply VISCOM art through big data and AI methods. This essay proposed the STING algorithm for big data for multi-resolution information clustering in VISCOM art. In addition, the convolutional neural network (CNN) in AI technology was used to identify the conveyed objects or scenes to achieve the purpose of designing art with different characteristics for different scenes and groups of people. STING is a multi-resolution clustering technique for big data, with the advantage of efficient data processing. In the experimental part, this essay selected a variety of design contents in VISCOM art, including logo design, text design, scene design, packaging design and poster design. STING and CNN algorithms were used to cluster and AI-identify the design elements 16 of the design projects might contain. The results showed that the overall average clustering accuracy was above 82%, the accuracy of scene element recognition mainly was above 80%, and the accuracy of facial recognition was above 80%; this showed that this essay applied AI and big data to the design of VISCOM, and had a good effect on the clustering and identification of design elements. According to expert scores, these applications’ reliability and practicality scores were above 70 points, with an average of about 80 points. Therefore, applying big data and AI to VISCOM in this essay is reliable and feasible.

The Intersection of Demographics and Immunization Beliefs among Nursing Mothers

Background: This research aims to elucidate the influence of demographic factors on nursing mothers' beliefs regarding childhood immunization in Ondo State, Nigeria. By identifying key variables, the study seeks to inform public health strategies that could enhance vaccination rates and improve child health outcomes. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from 400 mothers attending postnatal clinics in selected health facilities across Ondo East and West Local Government Areas (LGAs). The sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula, ensuring a representative sample. Multistage sampling techniques were applied, with health facilities grouped into clusters for systematic random sampling. The questionnaire, validated for face and content, consisted of four sections addressing study variables. Pre-testing was conducted with a Cronbach alpha reliability score of 0.69 for beliefs respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Among respondents aged 21-30 years, 36.3% exhibited positive beliefs about immunization, though no significant correlation with age was found (r=0.103; p&gt;0.05). Conversely, education significantly influenced beliefs; 23.9% of those with tertiary education demonstrated higher positive beliefs (r=0.163; p&lt;0.05). Religious affiliation did not significantly correlate with immunization beliefs (Chi-square=0.104; p&gt;0.05). A significant portion of nursing mothers expressed skepticism regarding vaccination safety, with 41.7% strongly disagreeing that vaccines cause more harm than diseases they prevent. Conclusion: The findings underscore the urgent need to address nursing mothers' beliefs about childhood immunization in Ondo State. Education emerged as a critical factor influencing acceptance, while age and religion were less significant. Targeted educational interventions are essential to combat misconceptions about vaccine safety and efficacy, leveraging insights from the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action to enhance health literacy and vaccination coverage in the region.

REDIportal: towardan integrated view of the A-to-I editing.

A-to-I RNA editing is the most common non-transient epitranscriptome modification. It plays several roles in human physiology and has been linked to several disorders. Large-scale deep transcriptome sequencing has fostered the characterization of A-to-I editing at the single nucleotide level and the development of dedicated computational resources. REDIportal is a unique and specialized database collecting ∼16 millionof putative A-to-I editing sites designed to face the current challenges of epitranscriptomics. Its running version has been enriched with sites from the TCGA project (using data from 31 studies). REDIportal provides an accurate, sustainable and accessible tool enriched with interconnections with widespread ELIXIR core resources such as Ensembl, RNAcentral, UniProtand PRIDE. Additionally, REDIportal now includes information regarding RNA editing in putative double-stranded RNAs, relevant for the immune-related roles of editing, as well as an extended catalog of recoding events. Finally, we report a reliability score per site calculated using a deep learning model trained using a huge collection of positive and negative instances. REDIportal is available at http://srv00.recas.ba.infn.it/atlas/.

Development and validation of an observational tool to measure engagement in telepractice early intervention

Purpose To develop and validate an evidence-based observational tool to measure engagement in telepractice early intervention (EI). Materials and Methods The Engagement in Telepractice Observational Tool (eTOT) was developed based on a previous e-Delphi study. Two independent raters used a set of 50 items to score 45 videorecorded telepractice EI sessions with young children with communication difficulties and their family. Principal component analysis (PCA) and reliability measures were conducted. Results PCA identified six key components related to the measurement of engagement in telepractice. The components representing professional behaviours were (1) interacting directly with the parent; (2) getting to know the child and family to keep them motivated; (3) maximising the telepractice environment; and (4) demonstrating and practising the parent’s role as agent of therapy. The two remaining components represented family behaviours: (5) parent interacting and supporting their child; and (6) family collaborating directly with the professional. The eTOT was found to have good reliability (α = .86), with very good test-retest and inter-rater reliability scores (κw = .85 and .94 respectively). Conclusion There is preliminary evidence that the eTOT is a valid and reliable tool to measure engagement during telepractice EI. The eTOT can be used as a self-reflection tool to identify and provide engagement-building opportunities in family-centred telepractice EI.

Liver Elastography-based Risk Score for Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk.

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) via vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) accurately assesses fibrosis. We aimed to develop a universal risk score for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis. We systematically selected predictors and developed the risk prediction model (HCC-LSM) in the HBV training cohort (n = 2,251, median follow-up of 3.2 years). The HCC-LSM model was validated in an independent HBV validation cohort (n = 1,191, median follow-up of 5.7 years) and a non-viral chronic liver disease (CLD) extrapolation cohort (n = 1,189, median follow-up of 3.3 years). A HCC risk score was then constructed based on a nomogram. An online risk evaluation tool (LEBER) was developed using ChatGPT4.0. Eight routinely available predictors were identified, with LSM levels showing a significant dose-response relationship with HCC incidence (P < .001 by log-rank test). The HCC-LSM model exhibited excellent predictive performance in the HBV training cohort (C-index = 0.866) and the HBV validation cohort (C-index = 0.852), with good performance in the extrapolation CLD cohort (C-index = 0.769). The model demonstrated significantly superior discrimination compared to six previous models across the three cohorts. Cut-off values of 87.2 and 121.1 for the HCC-LSM score categorized participants into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. An online public risk evaluation tool (LEBER; http://ccra.njmu.edu.cn/LEBER669.html) was developed to facilitate the use of HCC-LSM. The accessible, reliable risk score based on LSM accurately predicted HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis, providing an effective risk assessment tool for HCC surveillance strategies.

Written discharge instruction evaluation for mild traumatic brain injury from emergency departments Evaluating written discharge instructions from emergency departments for mild traumatic brain injury

Aim of studyThis study aimed to evaluate the completeness and quality of information in written discharge instructions for patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) discharged from the emergency department (ED). MethodsCopies of written discharge instructions provided to patients with mTBI from academic EDs in South Korea were collected in May 2023. We assessed the completeness of the content based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, which categorize discharge instructions into four parts: general advice, emergencies, common post-concussion symptoms and signs, and advice for recovery, with one point for each item. The quality of information was evaluated using DISCERN, a validated 16-item questionnaire assessing reliability (eight questions), quality of information (seven questions), and overall quality (one question) on a 5-point Likert scale. Completeness and quality of discharge information were analyzed by ED level and annual ED visits as proxies for hospital resources. ResultsTwenty-two (44%) written discharge instructions were collected from the 55 EDs contacted, with a mean (standard deviation) content completeness score of 10.1 (2.7) out of a maximum of 30. The mean scores for each section were as follows: general advice, 0.1 (0.23) out of 2; emergencies, 6.0 (1.39) out of 10; common post-concussion symptoms and signs, 0.4 (0.9) out of 8; and advice for recovery, 3.2 (1.9) out of 10. Regarding the quality of information, the mean reliability score was 3.5 (0.3), and the mean information quality score was 1.8 (0.7), with both assessed on a scale from 1 ("very poor") to 5 ("excellent"). Significant differences were found in content completeness for emergency features and in the general scores for quality of information between different ED levels (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed by the number of annual ED visits. ConclusionThe completeness and quality of written discharge instructions for mTBI patients in South Korean EDs were low and varied across hospitals, suggesting a potential association to hospital resources.

Cross-Cultural Validation of the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI-2) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages

ABSTRACT Sexual desire is a complex construct with important implications for sexual functioning and well-being. In this research, we translated the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI-2), a widely used scale for assessing sexual (desire), into 25 languages from English and used data from the International Sex Survey (ISS) to (a) investigate its psychometric properties (i.e. factorial structure, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance) and (b) explore the expression of sexual desire across different countries, genders, and sexual orientations. A total of 82,243 participants from 42 countries completed the SDI-2, along with other sexuality-related scales. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor solution for the SDI-2 (CFI = .980; RMSEA = .060), encompassing the domains of “Partner-related,” “Attractive-person-related,” and “Solitary” sexual desire. The reliability of the total score and subscales were excellent. Likewise, correlations with other sexuality-related variables were positive yet weak-to-moderate in effect size. Measurement invariance tests supported its use across countries, languages, genders, and sexual orientations. Analysis of SDI-2 scores according to these variables supported its ability to capture group-based differences in sexual desire. In sum, the SDI-2 constitutes a psychometrically robust measure for the assessment of sexual desire in non-clinical samples with utility in large-scale cross-cultural studies.

Analysis of YouTube Videos on Endotracheal Tube Aspiration Training in Terms of Content, Reliability, and Quality

This descriptive study aims to investigate the content, quality, and reliability of YouTube videos containing content related to endotracheal tube aspiration. The study was scanned using the keywords “endotracheal aspiration” and “endotracheal tube aspiration,” and 22 videos were included in the study. The contents of the selected videos were measured using the Endotracheal Tube Aspiration Skill Form, their reliability was measured using the DISCERN Survey, and their quality was measured using the Global Quality Scale. Of the 22 videos that met the inclusion criteria, 18 (81.8%) were educational, and four (18.2%) were product promotional videos. When pairwise comparisons were made, the coverage score of open aspiration videos was higher for educational videos than for product promotion videos (P &lt; .005). Useful videos had higher reliability and quality scores than misleading videos (P &lt; .05). In addition, the reliability and quality scores of videos uploaded by official institutions were significantly higher than those of videos uploaded by individual users (P &lt; .05). This study found that the majority of endotracheal tube aspiration training videos reviewed in the study were published by individual users, and a significant proportion of these videos had low levels of reliability and quality.

Analysis of biology midterm exam items using a comparison of the classical theory test and the Rasch model

In biology learning, test instruments are essential for assessing students' understanding of complex concepts. A test instrument is a crucial factor in learning evaluation; however, its implementation remains minimal. This descriptive quantitative study aims to analyze the quality of test items using the classical approach in terms of validity, reliability, difficulty index, discrimination power, distractor effectiveness, and the Rasch model analysis. The data consists of 30 multiple-choice questions from a biology midterm exam administered to 40 students. Classical test data analysis uses Microsoft Excel, while Rasch model analysis uses Winsteps software. The validity test results from both approaches show 14 valid questions and 16 invalid ones. The reliability scores are 0.619 (adequate) for the classical approach's Cronbach's Alpha, 0.85 (good) for the Rasch model, and 0.65 (weak) for personal reliability. The classical test theory and the Rasch model categorize item difficulty into four levels. The classical approach produces five categories for item discrimination, while the Rasch model identifies three groups based on the item separation index (H=3.45) and two groups based on respondent ability (H=1.96). Distractor effectiveness shows 93.3% functional distractors in the classical test and 80% in the Rasch model. The Rasch model offers greater precision in measuring student ability and detecting bias. Both models should be integrated for comprehensive item analysis. Future tests should focus on improving invalid items and the quality of distractors.

Communication skills influence horse owners' trust in their equine veterinarians.

Trust is an essential component of the relationship between veterinarians and horse owners. To what extent do horse owners consider their vets to be trustworthy, what aspects are important to horse owners when evaluating their vet's trustworthiness and how can equine vets become more trusted? Using an anonymous online survey, we asked horse owners whether they consider their veterinarians to be credible, reliable, empathetic and self-orientated, and therefore trustworthy compared with other professionals. Which of their equine vet's characteristics and behaviours influence how credible, reliable, empathetic and self-orientated, and therefore trustworthy, they appear? Credibility, reliability, empathy and self-orientation scores for equine veterinarians, human medical general practitioners (GPs), hairdressers/barbers and dentists were compared using a Kruskal‒Wallis H-test and post hoc Dunn's test and then combined to create a trustworthiness rating. The importance of various characteristics and behaviours displayed by equine vets when horse owners assess how credible, reliable, empathetic and self-orientated they appear was investigated using quantitative scoring and thematic analysis. A total of 415 horse owners completed the survey. Overall, respondents considered equine veterinarians to be significantly more credible, reliable and empathetic than GPs, hairdressers/barbers and dentists. Using the trust equation, equine veterinarians had the highest trustworthiness rating(8.33), followed by hairdressers/barbers and dentists (5.5) and then GPs (4.75). Only the views of a small subset of horse owners are represented. As such, the findings may not be representative of horse owners more generally. Veterinarians' communication skills influence clients' perceptions of their credibility, reliability, empathy and self-orientation. Additionally, equine veterinarians should develop their clinical skills and knowledge to increase credibility. Meanwhile, perceptions of reliability, empathy and self-orientation can be improved by continuity of care, demonstrating a clear interest in the patient and avoiding rushed consultations, respectively.

A Novel Scale of Lifestyle Physical Activity: Measure Description and Intervention Responsiveness.

Lifestyle physical activity (LPA) interventions emphasize small bouts of movement that can be flexibly integrated into one's everyday routine. Despite research illustrating benefits for LPA on health outcomes, few LPA interventions and measurement tools have been developed and tested. The purpose of this study was to present a novel LPA self-report scale, including its content, scoring, and internal consistency reliability, and summarize its intervention responsiveness. The LPA scale was administered in a pilot randomized controlled trial that tested a 12-week LPA + Fitbit intervention against a health education (HE) control (matched to LPA + Fitbit on contact time) in a sample of 50 women with depression in alcohol treatment. The LPA scale includes 22 items covering five domains relevant to LPA. Results demonstrated good internal consistency reliability for the total score (ω = 0.84) but poor-to-acceptable internal consistency reliability for the domain scores (ω range: 0.43-0.80). Participants randomized to the LPA + Fitbit intervention had significantly greater improvements in the LPA total score and two domain scores compared to HE participants. Overall, results demonstrate good internal consistency reliability and intervention responsiveness of the LPA scale total score. A larger, more comprehensive psychometric evaluation is needed for validation of this scale.

Validity and reliability of the osteoporotic fracture treatment score (OF score) and outcomes across various treatments in osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture patients

BackgroundOsteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVF) are prevalent and substantially impact healthcare systems and patients’ quality of life. The osteoporotic fracture treatment score (OF score), developed by the German Society of Orthopedics and Trauma (DGOU), guides surgical decisions, but its reliability and validity are underexplored. This study assessed the OF score’s inter- and intraobserver reliability, validated its treatment recommendations, and investigated intermediate outcomes of different DGOU-recommended surgical strategies for OVF.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted. Inter- and intraobserver reliability of the OF score and its subcomponents were analyzed using clinical and radiographic data. Validity was assessed by comparing the OF score’s recommended treatments with actual treatments received. Outcomes at the final follow-up were back pain visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, EQ-VAS, EQ-5D-5 L, adjacent fracture incidence, local kyphotic angle, and reoperation rates. Patients with at least 1-year follow-up were included.ResultsA total of 157 patients (84.7% female; mean age 74.2 ± 10.5 years) were evaluated. The most frequent osteoporotic fracture (OF) types were OF4 (49.0%) and OF3 (40.8%). The OF score demonstrated good interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65–0.86) and intraobserver reliability (ICC = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.72–0.90). Kappa values for subcomponents ranged from 0.57 to 0.89. Excluding patients with indeterminate recommendations (OF score = 6), 82.9% received treatments concordant with OF score recommendations. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67–0.86); an OF score cutoff > 6.5 predicted actual treatment with 87.9% sensitivity and 61.0% specificity. All surgical treatments showed comparable improvements in clinical outcomes. However, patients treated with stand-alone cement augmentation (CA) had less local kyphotic angle correction (P = 0.004) and greater postoperative kyphotic progression (P < 0.001) than those undergoing short-segment (SS-PI) or long-segment instrumentation (LS-PI). No significant differences in adjacent fractures or complications were observed.ConclusionsThe OF score is a reliable and valid system with good discriminative ability for surgical decision-making in OVF patients. CA, SS-PI, and LS-PI are viable options with comparable functional outcomes. However, in OF3 or OF4 fractures, caution is advised due to lesser kyphosis correction and greater kyphotic progression with CA compared to SS-PI or LS-PI, as recommended by the DGOU.

Assessment of Practice Preparedness among Novice Nurses in Private Hospitals: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. The crop of novice nurses who are currently employed is a product of flexible learning who had limited contact hours with actual patients, which is contrary to those who graduated from traditional learning modalities. Hence, it is essential to evaluate how the impact of flexible learning modality has affected the practice preparedness levels of novice nurses in the hospital setting. Objective. This study aimed to determine the level of practice preparedness and its associated factors among novice nurses who work in private hospitals. Methods. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. Data was gathered from a total enumeration of ninetyfour novice staff nurses who graduated from the flexible learning curriculum and are currently employed in private hospitals in Baguio City and La Trinidad. The tool used was a questionnaire in two parts. Part 1 consisted of questions related to demographic information and factors related to practice preparedness, and part 2 included the Nursing Practice Readiness Scale, with validity and reliability scores of &gt;0.924 and 0.90, respectively. The data was analyzed using the SPSS V27 trial version. The protocol was approved by the Saint Louis University Research Ethics Committee. Results. Findings reveal that more novice nurses in private hospitals perceived themselves as well-prepared across all domains of practice preparedness: “Collaborative Interpersonal Relationship” (n = 94, 100%); “Patient Centeredness” (n = 92, 97.90%); “Self-regulation” (n = 90, 95.70%); “Clinical Judgment and Nursing Performance” (n = 78, 83.00%); and “Professional Attitudes” (n = 76, 80.90%). There is a significant association between practice preparedness and the following factors: “Attended more than one Training/Seminars per year” (p = 0.02), “Graduated from Private Schools” (p = 0.03), and “Assigned in Regular Wards” (p = 0.05).On the other hand, no significant association was found between practice preparedness and the following factors: “Sex” (p = 0.61) and “Membership in Professional Organizations” (p = 0.73). Conclusion. In agreement with existing studies, practice preparedness is multifactorial. However, what this study contributes are new factors that are favorable in making novice nurses more confident in performing their roles and responsibilities. These include being a graduate of private schools, being assigned to regular wards, and attending professional training/seminars more than once annually. Advantageously, these factors that promote practice preparedness are modifiable.

ChatGPT versus Google Gemini: a comparison to evaluate patient education guide created on common neurological disorders

IntroductionThis study assesses the effectiveness of AI tools, ChatGPT and Google Gemini, in educating the public about neurological conditions such as Bell’s palsy, Tetanus, and Headaches, and assess chatbot-generated patient guides based on readability and ease of understanding.MethodologyIn March 2024, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study to develop patient education brochures for Bell’s palsy, Tetanus vaccination, and Persistent Headache, leveraging AI models ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The brochures’ quality was assessed through readability, similarity, and a modified DISCERN score for reliability. Statistical analysis, performed in R software, compared responses from both AI models using unpaired T-tests. The correlation between ease score and reliability was explored using Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation.ResultsThe study revealed no significant variances in word count, sentence count, or average words per sentence between the two AI tools. However, materials generated by ChatGPT exhibited significantly higher ease scores, highlighting its proficiency in creating more understandable content (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study finds ChatGPT outperforms Google Gemini in readability despite similar metrics. This suggests ChatGPT's potential superiority in creating more understandable patient education materials. As AI advances, it’s essential to research more tools and medical conditions to ensure they meet diverse patient education needs.