Reliability Of Scores Research Articles

Translation and validation of the CLEO tool in Vietnamese to assess the significance of pharmacist interventions.

There is currently no validated tool available for assessing the potential significance of pharmacist interventions in Vietnam. This study aimed to translate the CLEO tool from French into Vietnamese, validate the Vietnamese version, and demonstrate its feasibility in daily practice. The CLEO tool was translated into Vietnamese (CLEOVN) using a 5-step process by bilingual experts. A total of 100 scenarios were compiled from clinical cases from nine hospitals evaluated by seven clinical pharmacists to determine inter-rater reliability and 30 out of 100 scenarios were re-evaluated one month later to determine test-retest reliability. Reliability was quantified using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). A 20-item questionnaire on a 7-point Likert scale assessed the tool's appropriateness, acceptability, precision, and feasibility. Inter-rater reliability was good for clinical dimension (ICCA,1 = 0.71), excellent for economic dimension (ICCA,1 = 0.86), and fair for organizational/operational dimension (ICCA,1 = 0.56). Test-retest reliability scores were excellent for clinical (I̅C̅C̅A,1 = 0.79), excellent for economic (I̅C̅C̅A,1 = 0.84), and fair for organizational/operational (I̅C̅C̅A,1 = 0.56). The tool was rated as appropriate (mean = 5.86; SD = 1.03), acceptable (mean = 5.19; SD = 1.12), precise (mean = 5.71; SD = 1.17), and feasible (mean = 5.05; SD = 1.24). The maximum time required to evaluate an intervention was three minutes. The CLEOVN tool was successfully translated and validated for reliability, appropriateness, acceptability, precision, and feasibility. It will be suitable toevaluate the value of clinical pharmacy interventions.

Quality evaluation of French guidelines in primary care infectious disease: An AGREE II assessment.

Antibiotic prescription, its nature and its duration are a very common decision-making situation in primary care practice. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are regularly emitted by various organisations on this topic. Our goal is to run a quality appraisal of the current French guidelines, for the most common primary care infectious pathologies. We collected all primary care CPGs that are currently prevailing in France through a systematic review of the french website Antibioclic®. For each of these guidelines, a quality assessment was run by 3 independent reviewers, by means of the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II instrument. The main outcome was a 'reliability score', defined as the sum of the scores in domains 'rigour of development' and 'editorial independence'. To be considered 'reliable', the CPG had to reach a 60% threshold in these two domains. Secondary outcomes were as follows: global quality score of CPGs, number and ratio of CPGs for which a systematic review has been conducted during its conception. Over the 43 CPGs that have been assessed, none reached the 60%-threshold as to the reliability score. Only one CPG (2.33%) gets an over-60% quality assessment in the domain of rigour of development (D3), whereas three CPGs (6.98%) reach this threshold in the domain of editorial independence (D6). One CPG (2.33%) met the quality threshold of 60% as to overall assessment. Rigour of development and editorial independence are the domains that obtained the lowest average score, respectively, 11% and 21%. Overall assessment received an average score of 29%. A systematic review of the literature was mentioned for 10 CPGs (23.26%). There is a lack of quality in the development process of the current French guidelines in primary care infectiology. This process should be reconsidered, with higher insistence as to its quality.

Development and Evaluation of the OF Pelvis Score for Osteoporotic Pelvic Ring Fractures - A Retrospective Assessment of Therapy Recommendations for 107 Patients.

The aim of this study was to develop a simple and reliable score which supports decision making between non-operative and operative treatment in patients with osteoporotic pelvic fractures.Between 2018 to 2020, the OF Pelvis Score was developed during a total of 5 meetings of the Working Group on Osteoporotic Fractures of the Spine Section of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Trauma. The OF Pelvis Score as a decision aid between non-surgical and surgical treatment was developed by expert consensus after analysis of numerous geriatric sacral and pelvic ring fractures from several hospitals. Subsequently, retrospective evaluation of the score was performed on consecutive patients from three hospitals.The following parameters were considered relevant to decision making between non-surgical and surgical treatment and were incorporated into the score: fracture morphology using the OF Pelvis Classification, pain status, level of mobilisation, fracture-related neurological deficits, health status, and the modifiers already integrated into the OF Pelvis classification. If the score is <8, non-surgical therapy is recommended; if the score is >8, surgical therapy is recommended; if the score is 8, there is a relative indication for surgery. The OF Pelvis Score was then evaluated retrospectively in a total of 107 patients, according to records. The OF Pelvis Score was 8 points in 4 patients (3.7%), all of whom received surgical treatment. Of the remaining 103 patients, 93 received score-compliant therapy (90.3%). Among these, 4 of the patients who did not receive score-compliant care refused the recommended surgery, so the actual therapy recommendation was score-compliant in 94.2%.The OF Pelvis Score can be used to derive a therapy recommendation in many patients in clinical practice. Because of the possible change of clinical parameters during the course of the disease, the score has a dynamic character. In the retrospective evaluation, the recommendations from the OF Pelvis Score were in close accordance with the therapy actually performed.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis of Communication Activities of Daily Living third edition in Spanish and Catalan for people with aphasia.

In the Spanish and Catalan context, there is currently a lack of standardized, linguistically adapted tools to assess people with communication disorders. This lack is especially evident when it comes to instruments designed to assess functional communication. The main objective of this study is to adapt the instrument entitled Communication Activities of Daily Living 3rd edition (CADL-3) into European Spanish (CADL-3VE) and Catalan (CADL-3VC), thus providing a new tool to assess the functional communication of patients with aphasia in the Spanish and Catalan populations. A total of 152 people, all residents of Catalonia, took part in the study. The CADL-3VE test was administered to 125 Spanish-speaking participants, who were divided into two groups, one consisting of patients with aphasia and the other a control group. The CADL-3VC test was administered to 27 Catalan-speaking patients with aphasia. Other tests and assessment scales were used for the external validation of the test. Reliability scores were recorded for both new versions of the test. There was a very strong correlation between the CADL-3VE test and external criteria. The scores for both of the new versions showed significant differences in terms of performance between the aphasia and control groups. Both versions displayed similarities with the original test with respect to most of the psychometric analyses carried out. The test makes it possible to assess everyday communicative functioning and participation in real-world contexts. As such, it helps inform the creation of personalized, interdisciplinary treatment plans aimed at functional objectives that consider the patient's context. What is already known on the subject In order to effectively assess aphasia based on a bio-psycho-social perspective, it is necessary to examine functional communication. In other words, there is a need to explore the kinds of communication difficulties that people face in their everyday lives. Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL-3) is an English-language test that was developed to assess functional communication by simulating certain everyday activities. What this study adds This paper offers an analysis of the items, reliability and validity of the Spanish and Catalan versions of the CADL-3 test. What are the clinical implications of this work? This new instrument has the potential to play an essential role in assessing the everyday functional communication of people with aphasia in Spain.

Supporting adherence to the cystic fibrosis regimen: Development and validation of The Daily Care Check-In (DCC)

BackgroundThe cystic fibrosis (CF) regimen is time-consuming and burdensome leading to barriers to self-management. This mixed-methods study developed the Daily Care Check-in (DCC) that is specific to the barriers faced by people with CF (PWCF) and evaluated its validity. MethodsQualitative methods were used to identify barriers to self-management and develop items, with “think aloud” cognitive interviews conducted to refine the items. A multisite, cross-sectional study was conducted to test the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity of the DCC scores, comparing them to objective medication adherence (composite medication possession ratio (cMPR)) and psychosocial measures (self-efficacy, medication beliefs, executive functioning, depressive and anxiety symptoms, treatment burden, and treatment complexity). ResultsThe DCC (18 items) includes two scales: Occurrence (score range 0–18) and Interference (score range 0–90). 405 participants completed the DCC, 344 (85 %) completed the survey, and 365 (90 %) had a cMPR calculated. On average, 6.8 barriers were reported (SD = 4.2 Occurrence Scale), and the Interference Scale had a mean score of 18.4 (SD = 14.0). Reliability was acceptable to good. cMPR was negatively correlated with the DCC (rho=-0.26, Occurrence and rho = -0.31, Interference, p-values<0.0001). A priori hypotheses between the DCC and the other measures were supported and demonstrated construct validity. ConclusionsThis study provides evidence supporting the validity of the DCC for assessing the presence and impact of barriers to CF self-management, including medication adherence. Formal screening of self-management barriers (e.g., using the DCC) should be considered to facilitate conversations with the care team and identify tailored interventions to support CF self-management.

Testing the Validity and Reliability of a Standardized Virtual Examination for Concussion.

We determined inter-modality (in-person vs telemedicine examination) and inter-rater agreement for telemedicine assessments (2 different examiners) using the Telemedicine Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination (Tele-BCPE), a standardized concussion examination designed for remote use. Patients referred for an initial evaluation for concussion were invited to participate. Participants had a brief initial assessment by the treating neurologist. After a patient granted informed consent to participate in the study, the treating neurologist obtained a concussion-related history before leaving the examination room. Using the Tele-BCPE, 2 virtual examinations in no specific sequence were then performed from nearby rooms by the treating neurologist and another neurologist. After the 2 telemedicine examinations, the treating physician returned to the examination room to perform the in-person examination. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) determined inter-modality validity (in-person vs remote examination by the same examiner) and inter-rater reliability (between remote examinations done by 2 examiners) of overall scores of the Tele-BCPE within the comparison datasets. Cohen's kappa, κ, measured levels of agreement of dichotomous ratings (abnormality present vs absent) on individual components of the Tele-BCPE to determine inter-modality and inter-rater agreement. For total scores of the Tele-BCPE, both inter-modality agreement (ICC = 0.95 [95% CI 0.86-0.98, p < 0.001]) and inter-rater agreement (ICC = 0.88 [95% CI 0.71-0.95, p < 0.001]) were reliable (ICC >0.70). There was at least substantial inter-modality agreement (κ ≥ 0.61) for 25 of 29 examination elements. For inter-rater agreement (2 telemedicine examinations), there was at least substantial agreement for 8 of 29 examination elements. Our study demonstrates that the Tele-BCPE yielded consistent clinical results, whether conducted in-person or virtually by the same examiner, or when performed virtually by 2 different examiners. The Tele-BCPE is a valid indicator of neurologic examination findings as determined by an in-person concussion assessment. The Tele-BCPE may also be performed with excellent levels of reliability by neurologists with different training and backgrounds in the virtual setting. These findings suggest that a combination of in-person and telemedicine modalities, or involvement of 2 telemedicine examiners for the same patient, can provide consistent concussion assessments across the continuum of care.

Development and validation of the caregiver-report version of the international grief questionnaire (IGQ-CG): Results from a Ukrainian sample of parents.

The International Grief Questionnaire (IGQ) is a self-report measure of ICD-11 Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) in adults. This study sought to develop and validate a caregiver-report version of the IGQ for children and adolescents aged 7-17 years; the IGQ-Caregiver Version (IGQ-CG). 639 parents living in Ukraine provided data on themselves and one child in their household as part of the "The Mental Health of Parents and Children in Ukraine Study: 2023 Follow-up" study. The latent structure of the scale was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while convergent validity was assessed through associations with other mental health correlates. Prevalence rates of probable ICD-11 PGD were estimated. CFA results supported a correlated two-factor model ('core' and 'associated' symptoms) and the internal reliability of the scale scores were acceptable. Convergent validity was supported through significant correlations with internalizing symptoms, while contact with the deceased, time since bereavement, and parental PGD were associated with higher scores on the IGQ-CG latent variables. The prevalence of probable ICD-11 PGD was 1.4%, and amongst those with a lifetime bereavement, the conditional rate was 3.2%. The IGQ-CG produces reliable and valid scores for ICD-11 PGD symptoms in children and adolescents as reported by their caregivers.

Inter-reader reliability and diagnostic accuracy of PI-RADS scoring between academic and community care networks: How wide is the gap?

ImportanceThe Prostate Imaging Reporting & Data System (PI-RADS) scoring guidelines were developed to address the substantial variation in interpretation and reporting of prostate cancer (PCa) multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) results, and subsequent updates have sought to further improve inter-reader reliability. Nonetheless, the variability of PI-RADS scoring in real-world settings may represent a continuing challenge to the widespread standardization of prostate mpMRI and limit its overall clinical benefit. ObjectiveTo assess variability in mpMRI interpretation and reporting of PCa, we evaluated the discrepancies in PI-RADS scoring between community practices and a tertiary academic care center. Design, setting, and participantsWe identified 262 mpMRI studies from nonacademic facilities, reinterpreted by radiologists at our institution between January 2016 and July 2022. Results of targeted MRI fusion biopsy were identified for 193 of these patients, totaling 302 lesions. PI-RADS scoring from both community and academic interpreters were recorded in addition to presence of clinically significant PCa (csPCa) on pathological analysis of targeted cores. Main Outcome and measuresThe primary outcome was inter-reader reliability via intraclass correlation (ICC) and the kappa statistic. We also assessed the diagnostic accuracy of PI-RADS scoring for detecting csPCa for both cohorts via receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis and compared these findings using paired-sample area difference under curve analysis. ResultsInter-reader agreement and reliability of PI-RADS scoring per lesion was generally poor (absolute agreement ICC = 0.393, 95% CI: 0.288–0.488; consistency ICC = 0.407, 95% CI: 0.308–0.497; kappa = 0.336, 95% CI: 0.267–0.406). Reliability results from studies obtained after the publication of PI-RADSv2.1 were similar to those of the overall analysis. No agreement was observed in the subgroup of lesions scored as PIRADS 3 by community interpreters. No statistically significant difference in diagnostic accuracy was observed between cohorts (ROC area under curve [AUC]: 0.759 vs. 0.785, respectively; P = 0.337). PI-RADS 3 was determined to be the optimal cutoff for detecting clinically significant disease in both cohorts. Conclusions and relevanceOur results suggest that mpMRI diagnostic accuracy for detecting csPCa is not significantly different between academic and community practices. However, significantly poor reliability of mpMRI was observed between cohorts, suggesting the risk of introducing practice variation for community prostate cancer management. Variability, particularly for PI-RADS 3 lesions, can lead to inconsistent biopsy recommendations, which may result in missed csPCa or unnecessary biopsies.

Inter-rate Reliability Of Mental Toughness Scores By Head And Assistant Coaches: A Repeated-measure Design

Inter-rate Reliability Of Mental Toughness Scores By Head And Assistant Coaches: A Repeated-measure Design

Real-time identification of precursors in commercial aviation using multiple-instance learning

This research pioneers the application of precursor concepts to preemptively identify and prevent aviation safety incidents using Machine Learning (ML). Airlines and governing organizations, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, have been trying to prevent safety incidents during routine operations. However, this task is challenging due to the lack of timestep-wise event annotation in flights and the complexity involved in the timely identification of incidents prior to their occurrence. To address these issues, we propose a real-time precursor identification methodology combining Multiple-Instance Learning (MIL) and feature-based Knowledge Distillation (KD) learning. Our two-stage approach, involving deep MIL for labeling and a KD-based model for real-time warnings, demonstrates state-of-the-art performance and a time delay of 2.99ms using a dataset of 23,549 real flights. Further experiments using t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) and occlusion method confirm our model’s transparency, enabling the generation of reliable quantitative precursor scores and facilitating reasoning about the causes of safety incidents at the parameter level. Additionally, statistical analysis of precursors reveals varying evolution times for different safety events, which indicates that pilots have at least 8 s to react after receiving a warning. In conclusion, our research provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for the next generation of online risk warning systems, enhancing flight safety and offering a pathway towards more intelligent and secure flight operations.

BrainQCNet: A Deep Learning attention-based model for the automated detection of artifacts in brain structural MRI scans

Abstract Analyses of structural MRI (sMRI) data depend on robust upstream data quality control (QC). It is also crucial that researchers seek to retain maximal amounts of data to ensure reproducible, generalizable models and to avoid wasted effort, including that of participants. The time-consuming and difficult task of manual QC evaluation has prompted the development of tools for the automatic assessment of brain sMRI scans. Existing tools have proved particularly valuable in this age of Big Data; as datasets continue to grow, reducing execution time for QC evaluation will be of considerable benefit. The development of Deep Learning (DL) models for artifact detection in structural MRI scans offers a promising avenue toward fast, accurate QC evaluation. In this study, we trained an interpretable Deep Learning model, ProtoPNet, to classify minimally preprocessed 2D slices of scans that had been manually annotated with a refined quality assessment (ABIDE 1; n = 980 scans). To evaluate the best model, we applied it to 2141 ABCD T1-weighted MRI scans for which gold-standard manual QC annotations were available. We obtained excellent accuracy: 82.4% for good quality scans (Pass), 91.4% for medium to low quality scans (Fail). Further validation using 799 T1w MRI scans from ABIDE 2 and 750 T1w MRI scans from ADHD-200 confirmed the reliability of our model. Accuracy was comparable to or exceeded that of existing ML models, with fast processing and prediction time (1 minute per scan, GPU machine, CUDA-compatible). Our attention model also performs better than traditional DL (i.e., convolutional neural network models) in detecting poor quality scans. To facilitate faster and more accurate QC prediction for the neuroimaging community, we have shared the model that returned the most reliable global quality scores as a BIDS-app (https://github.com/garciaml/BrainQCNet).

Reliability analysis of WBCT-derived 3D models for comparing preoperative and postoperative alignment in total ankle arthroplasty

BackgroundTraditional imaging techniques for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) evaluation are limited by rotational bias and bone superimposition, highlighting the necessity for more precise assessment methods. The advent of weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) generated 3D enhance the visualization of foot and ankle alignment, offering unmatched detail. This study aims to assess the accuracy of preoperative and postoperative measurements in TAA across all three planes using WBCT-generated 3D models. We hypothesize that these models can be reliably used to compare preoperative and postoperative alignment. MethodsFor 81 patients undergoing TAA, preoperative and postoperative WBCT models were created. Measurements included five coronal angles: Alpha, Tibiotalar Surface Angle (TSA), Talar Tilt Angle (TT), Salzmann's 20 degrees Angle (SA), and Talocalcaneal Angle (TCA); three sagittal angles: Beta, Gamma, and Tibiotalar Ratio (TTR); and one axial angle: The Posterior Talar Rotational Angle (PTARA). Two raters evaluated these before and after surgery in two separate sessions. The study then compared preoperative to postoperative measurements, calculating inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. ResultsSignificant changes were observed in three coronal angles (TSA, TT, and SA) and two sagittal angles (Beta and Gamma), with P-values of 0.2, 0.007, 0.019, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively. No significant changes were noted in Alpha, TCA, TTR, and PTARA, with P-values of 0.2, 0.9, 0.2, and 0.6, respectively. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability scores ranged from 0.885 to 0.97, indicating good to excellent interclass correlation across all planes, both pre-and postoperatively. ConclusionWBCT-generated 3D modeling and image analysis software have enabled a detailed comparison between preoperative alignment and postoperative TAA positioning across coronal, sagittal, and axial planes, revealing significant adjustments in coronal and sagittal alignments. The high reliability and reproducibility of these measurements affirm their value in preoperative planning in improving the accuracy of surgical interventions. Level of evidenceLevel III of evidence

Decreased Quantitative Cerebral Blood Volume Is Associated With Poor Outcomes in Large Core Patients.

Recent large core trials have highlighted the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Variable perfusion-imaging thresholds and poor Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score reliability underline the need for more standardized, quantitative ischemia measures for MT patient selection. We aimed to identify the computed tomography perfusion parameter most strongly associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke-large vessel occlusion with significant ischemic cores. In this study from 2 comprehensive stroke centers from 2 comprehensive stroke centers within the Johns Hopkins Medical Enterprise (Johns Hopkins Hospita-East Baltimore and Bayview Medical Campus) from July 29, 2019 to January 29, 2023 in a continuously maintained database, we included patients with acute ischemic stroke-large vessel occlusion with ischemic core volumes defined as relative cerebral blood flow <30% and ≥50 mL on computed tomography perfusion or Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score <6. We used receiver operating characteristics to find the optimal cutoff for parameters like cerebral blood volume (CBV) <34%, 38%, 42%, and relative cerebral blood flow >20%, 30%, 34%, 38%, and time-to-maximum >4, 6, 8, and 10 seconds. The primary outcome was unfavorable outcomes (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 4-6). Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, intravenous thrombolysis, and MT. We identified 59 patients with large ischemic cores. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that CBV<42% ≥68 mL is associated with unfavorable outcomes (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 4-6) with an area under the curve of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.99) in the total and MT-only cohorts. Dichotomizing at this CBV threshold, patients in the ≥68 mL group exhibited significantly higher relative cerebral blood flow, time-to-maximum >8 and 10 seconds volumes, higher CBV volumes, higher HIR, and lower CBV index. The multivariable model incorporating CBV<42% ≥68 mL predicted poor outcomes robustly in both cohorts (area under the curve for MT-only subgroup was 0.87 [95% CI, 0.75-1.00]). CBV<42% ≥68 mL most effectively forecasts poor outcomes in patients with large-core stroke, confirming its value alongside other parameters like time-to-maximum in managing acute ischemic stroke-large vessel occlusion.

Assessing inter- and intra-rater reliability of movement scores and the effects of body-shape using a custom visualisation tool: an exploratory study

BackgroundThe literature shows conflicting results regarding inter- and intra-rater reliability, even for the same movement screen. The purpose of this study was to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability of movement scores within and between sessions of expert assessors and the effects of body-shape on reliability during a movement screen using a custom online visualisation software.MethodsKinematic data from 542 athletes performing seven movement tasks were used to create animations (i.e., avatar representations) using motion and shape capture from sparse markers (MoSh). For each task, assessors viewed a total of 90 animations. Using a custom developed visualisation tool, expert assessors completed two identical sessions where they rated each animation on a scale of 1–10. The arithmetic mean of weighted Cohen’s kappa for each task and day were calculated to test reliability.ResultsAcross tasks, inter-rater reliability ranged from slight to fair agreement and intra-rater reliability had slightly better reliability with slight to moderate agreement. When looking at the average kappa values, intra-rater reliability within session with and without body manipulation and between sessions were 0.45, 0.37, and 0.35, respectively.ConclusionsBased on these results, supplementary or alternative methods should be explored and are likely required to increase scoring objectivity and reliability even within expert assessors. To help future research and practitioners, the custom visualisation software has been made available to the public.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNING KITS BASED ON CAUSALITY MODEL TO IMPROVE CREATIVITY THINKING SKILLS MOMENTUM AND IMPULSE OF STUDENTS

Teachers still do not fully pay attention to the creative thinking abilities of students. This is seen from the selection of models in the teaching tools used by teachers in teaching. The selection of teaching models that tend to be directed towards direct teaching results in students being less active in following physics learning. Therefore, this research aims to determine the feasibility of a causality model learning device to improve creative thinking skills on the material of momentum and impulse. This type of research includes research and development (R&amp;D), using a 4D model design. However, in this research, only the development stage is carried out. The research procedures carried out refer to the steps of developing the 4D model, namely define, design, and develop. The developed learning device consists of a syllabus, lesson plans, and pre-tasks. Data collection is done through validation of the learning device by validators. The results of the validation of the learning device reached an average validation value of 87.50% with the criteria of very valid and the reliability score is 92.30%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the causality model learning device to improve the creative thinking skills of momentum and impulse students is suitable to be used in learning.

Validity And Reliability Of The Central Kurdish Version Of The Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ-CK)

Background — The goal of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Central Kurdish version of the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ-CK). Initially, the THQ was translated into the central Kurdish language, resulting in the THQ-CK. Subsequently, a supplementary assessment was conducted to ascertain the reliability and validity of the THQ-CK. Methods — The original version of the THQ was translated into the Kurdish language and then offered to 275 tinnitus patients. The procedures were performed using published guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life measures. The Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ), the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire (TPFQ), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness and annoyance were offered to participants suffering from tinnitus. In addition, a pure-tone audiogram was obtained. Results — Our study encompassed a total of 275 patients (132 female, 143 male). Their mean age was 47.43±14.32 years. Of them, 43.6% previously worked in a noisy environment. The internal consistency of the THQ total score and its factors (Cronbach’s alpha of total scores: 0.833; factors: 0.949, 0.959, 0.960) suggested excellent reliability. The test-retest correlation coefficient demonstrated excellent reliability (0.9) for the total scores, and factors 1 and 2, but moderate reliability (0.66) for factor 3. The THQ-CK demonstrated good construct validity, as indicated by the strong correlation (r=0.757) between the THQ-CK and TPFQ scores. Conclusion — The evaluation of the validity and reliability of the THQ-CK suggests that it is a reliable instrument for assessing the impact of tinnitus on individuals in the central Kurdish-speaking population. The study contributes valuable information to the field of tinnitus research and opens up avenues for future cross-cultural studies.

Effectiveness of psychological workplace counseling for South Korean employees: A longitudinal study

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychological workplace counseling for South Korean employees.Methods: Psychological counseling sessions were conducted for 93 employees from 11 companies that signed a contract for psychological counseling services with the Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Each 50-minute session was tailored to the individual needs of the clients. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) counseling effectiveness assessment scale was administered before and after the counseling. A paired t-test was used to compare the mean scores before and after the sessions, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, followed by a Scheffe post hoc analysis.Results: In the overall sample, the mean CORE-OM scores before and after counseling showed a significant decrease from 1.343 to 0.883, with improvements observed in all four sub-domains. ANOVA showed that the group with more than 11 sessions showed greater change in scores than the group with four sessions or fewer. The reliable change index scores showed that 38% of the employees demonstrated a reliable change, and the groups with eight or more sessions exhibited greater change than the group with fewer than eight sessions.Conclusion: Among South Korean employees who received workplace counseling services, both the mean total score of the CORE-OM and the mean scores of the four sub-domains decreased after counseling. In addition, the effectiveness of counseling significantly increased as the total number of sessions increased.

Validation of the Teachers AI-TPACK Scale for the Indian Educational Setting

Educators work in extremely dynamic and complex classroom environments where they must continuously alter and update their understanding. Specifically, possession of rich, organised, and integrated knowledge from various domains including knowledge on subject-matter, knowledge of students' thinking and learning, and, increasingly, knowledge of technology is essential. By integrating these three aspects, Mishra and Koehler developed the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework in 2006 which offers a thorough and comprehensive method for incorporating technology into the education setting. On the parallel, use of information technology has rapidly increased in the field of education, especially with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thus, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework needed to be updated to reflect the growing incorporation of AI into educational standards. Hence, investigator Ning and colleagues in the year 2024 built a framework for incorporating AI into TPACK and developed a robust scale titled Teachers AI-TPACK Scale that measures the teachers competencies in incorporating AI into their teaching environment. The objective of this work was to test the validity of the scale in the Indian educational setting. With a sample size of 660 teaching faculties in universities and colleges across India, this study followed the routine stages such as construct validity analysis in the form of Exploratory Factor Analysis using SPSS V27, followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis in AMOS software. The original scale with 39 items across seven dimensions were retained throughout the validation process and resulted in a high reliability score of 0.907. This provides compelling evidence for the validity and reliability of the teachers AI-TPACK scale in measuring Indian educators' knowledge and skills at the juncture of AI with pedagogy, technology and content. This is currently the only scale available to measure this construct in India.

Satisfaction in mental health care: Examining psychometric properties of experience of service questionnaire.

Measuring satisfaction with psychological health services is important in clinical settings to evaluate the benefits of treatment. Past research has shown that relationship with therapist is at the core of satisfaction reports. However, measurement tools focusing on patients' psychological health care experiences are rather scarce. The objective of this study is to adapt the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ) Parent form and examine its psychometric properties in a Turkish population. ESQ Parent form was presented to parents (N = 265) of children who have received treatment at a university's psychological counseling center. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was gathered from parents pre- and post-treatment to measure symptomatic gains and investigate their associations with satisfaction with treatment. Confirmatory factor analysis comparing two different constructs showed that the 2-factor structure had a better fit. In addition, participants showing higher therapeutic gains showed significantly higher satisfaction in ESQ. This study is the first to measure satisfaction in psychological health care settings in Turkey, and therefore aims to contribute to a gap in the field. Results indicate a significant association between treatment outcome and satisfaction levels. Also, adapted measurement tool demonstrates adequate reliability and validity scores supporting its use in clinical settings.

Reliability of the Assessment of Tooth Wear Severity on Dental Hard Tissues and Dental Restorations, Using the TWES 2.0, by Nonexperts.

Tooth wear is a multifactorial process resulting in the loss of dental hard tissues. For its assessment, the tooth wear evaluation system (TWES) 2.0 has been published. Previous studies on the TWES involved well-trained practitioners, rather than nonexperts. The first aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of the assessment of tooth wear severity on dental hard tissues, using the TWES 2.0, by nonexperts. The second aim was to investigate the reliability of assessment of wear severity on dental restorations, using a third scale. Forty-seven dental students evaluated at least 9 of 14 possible patient cases on dental casts and intraoral photographs. Cohen's kappa (agreement with sample solution) and Fleiss' kappa (Inter-rater reliability) were calculated. The agreements of the operators' ratings compared to the sample-solution resulted in Cohen's kappa between 0.02 and 0.9. The agreements were 0.34 for occlusal; 0.43 for vestibular; 0.57 for oral surfaces. Inter-rater reliability (Fleiss' kappa) was 0.35 for occlusal, 0.17 for vestibular and 0.24 for oral assessment. The inter-rater reliability of the ratings on tooth surfaces with restorations was lower with 0.21 (occlusal), 0.14 (vestibular) and 0.39 (oral). The agreement on different restorations differed tremendously. The ability to correctly assess the cases varied considerably between individual examiners. Within the limits of this study, assessment of restorations was slightly more challenging compared to natural teeth, particularly in occlusal regions or when the restorative material is gold. Subsequent studies should address whether enhanced training and improved definition of tooth wear grades result in higher reliability scores.