Semi-structured Interview Tool Research Articles

Unmasking teachers’ proficiency in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for transformative education

This paper examines the awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) among school teachers in Nepal. We interviewed twenty teachers from ten urban schools in Nepal over four weeks using a semi-structured interview tool. The analysis of interview data reveals the teachers’ mixed perception of AI, including their understanding of innovative technologies in education, the potential challenges for new-generation teachers, and the opportunities for pedagogical transformations. The findings suggest that although the teachers have limited awareness of how AI can be used in teaching and learning, they possess some level of understanding that has opened up new opportunities for exploring innovative ways of teaching and learning. Notably, participants discussed tools, such as Education Management Information System (EMIS) for record keeping and automated grading and AI-driven chatbots for student tutoring. However, teachers also expressed concerns about the possibility of AI replacing human teachers. These insights provide valuable implications for policymakers and educators regarding the integration of AI into classroom instructions to promote innovative and equitable learning opportunities.

AI in Education: Unveiling the Merits and Applications of Chat-GPT for Effective Teaching Environments

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into educational systems, making it indispensable. Chat-GPT, a prominent AI tool, is anticipated to shape the future of education and learning. Objective: To analyze the impact of Chat-GPT on students' learning experiences. Methods: Design: Development of a semi-structured interview tool, validated by experts. Data Gathering: Content analysis, akin to a qualitative approach. Results: Respondents' perceptions of Chat-GPT in education highlighted: Merits: Identification of elite benefits. Applications: Potential areas of application and exploitation. Conclusion: Chat-GPT shows significant potential to enhance the instructor-student connection and create effective teaching environments. When combined with pedagogical strategies and information/communication technologies (ICTs), it supports knowledge construction and skill acquisition.

Anime watching: is a new kind of addiction? Evaluation of psychopathologies and psychosocial factors associated with problematic anime watching among adolescents

BackgroundIn recent years, with the rapid development of technology, research on behavioral addiction concepts such as digital gaming disorders and problematic internet use has increased. As anime-watching has become widespread worldwide, it is thought that this behavior may be one of the areas of problematic technology use, especially in adolescence. However, studies evaluating problematic anime-watching behaviors within the framework of behavioral addictions are quite limited in the literature. In this study, problematic anime-watching behaviors, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and possible psychosocial factors were evaluated in 86 anime watchers aged between 12 and 18 years. Problematic anime-watching behaviors were evaluated according to the diagnostic criteria of other defined disorders related to addictive behaviors in ICD-11. A semi-structured interview tool was used to assess psychiatric comorbidities, and the IGDS9-SF adapted form for anime-watching, the Self-Efficacy Scale for Children, KIDCOPE, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents were used to collect other data.ResultsIt was determined that 36.8% of the 86 adolescents in our study had problematic anime-watching behavior. Compared to other adolescents, the problematic anime-watching group had significantly lower self-efficacy scores and significantly higher social anxiety and avoidant coping scores. A significant relationship was found between social anxiety disorder and watching problematic anime.ConclusionsThe present study showed that problematic watching of anime may be a variant of behavioral addiction. In conclusion, the relationship between problematic anime-watching behaviors and mental health warrants further examination.

Prevalence of camel trypanosomosis and herders’ knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the disease in the pastoral area of southern Ethiopia

BackgroundSurra is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi that threatens the health and productivity of camels. Despite its significant impact on camels in Ethiopia, surra has not received as much attention as diseases in cattle and other domestic animals. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of surra, identify the potential risk factors and assess the traditional knowledge, attitude and practices of camel herders towards the disease.MethodsThe study used a parasitological and participatory epidemiological (PE) approach. Between February and July 2022, a total of 335 blood samples were collected from camels across three districts and tested using the buffy coat technique. The PE investigation involved six key informant groups consisting of 8 to 12 key persons, and used a semi-structured interview and various PE tools and principles.ResultThe study found that the prevalence of surra among examined camels was 3.9% (95% CI: 2.1–6.5). The prevalence was significantly higher in camels with a poor body condition score (BCS) (OR = 9.3; 95% CI: 1.8–47.5; p = 0.008) compared with camels with a good BCS. However, district, age, sex, and ethnicity had no effect on the prevalence of surra (p > 0.05). The study also found that the packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in parasitaemic animals (18.92 ± 2.63) than in aparasitaemic animals (25.13 ± 4.56). Camels with poor BCS (22.7 ± 3.5) had a significantly (p < 0.001) lower mean PCV than camels with good BCS (26.2 ± 5.0). The PE investigation showed that all the camel herders were well aware of surra, known locally as Dhukana. The clinical symptoms, the season of high incidence, routes of transmission, impact on production, and control methods were accurately described. Moreover, this study emphasized that surra is the primary disease affecting camel health and productivity.ConclusionThe study identified a moderate prevalence of surra in the research area. To reduce surra incidence and associated losses, enhancing veterinary services and providing support for proper camel husbandry practices in the region is recommended. Additionally, future studies should consider using more sensitive and specific techniques like serological and molecular assays, as this study relied on microscopy only.

Analyzing the Opinion of the Elites in the Field of Population Policies in the City of Yazd: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Due to the lack and the continuation of low fertility in past decades, it is necessary to review the population policies of the country. In formulating or revising demographic policies, taking effective and timely measures to facilitate the process of marriage and family formation and encouraging young couples to have children is an important and unavoidable necessity in the current conditions of society. The purpose of the current research is to discover and analyze this issue in Yazd province, based on the opinion of elites and policy makers related to the issue. Methods: This study was conducted using qualitative and grounded theory methods in 2014 in the city of Yazd. The participants in the research were 18 health officials and academic elites from the province. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview tool. Data analysis was conducted using both theoretical and free coding methods as well as central and selective coding techniques. Results: The results showed that while the decision to have children is influenced by social and cultural contexts, it is primarily influenced by social policies. 57 sub-categories and 20 main sub-categories were extracted The themes of the research included rethinking marriage, postponing childbearing, the dangerous world of childlessness, dynamic policy making, family and child support policies. Also, the core category, the vacuum of dynamic, and efficient policy were calculated Conclusion: The results of the research show that the issue of having children is related to other needs and necessities of the family, such as taking care of children and the economic needs of the family. For this reason, policymakers should support programs that help families in this field and bring some kind of psychological comfort to the family.

Σχολική βία και πολιτισμική ετερότητα των μαθητών. Απόψεις και πρακτικές εκπαιδευτικών της πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης

School violence is a socially complex phenomenon that manifests itself in aggressive behaviors and incidents that unfold within the school environment. The phenomena are more and more intense over the years and affect students in all their fields of action. Also, due to population movements, many people with cultural heterogeneity live in Greece in recent years. Their daily contact leads to possible conflicts that carry over to school. For this qualitative research, the semi-structured interview tool was used for data collection. The sample was 10 primary school teachers, who were teachers of classes with cultural heterogeneity. According to the results of the survey, the occurrence of school violence phenomena is influenced by the existence of pupils with different cultural backgrounds, due to various factors such as fear and insecurity, perceptions and attitudes of parents and teachers, as well as the number of pupils with cultural heterogeneity attending a class, the prestige of the country of origin of foreign pupils, the area where the school is housed and due to issues of intercultural competence.

Designing and Offering a Customer Trust Model in the Marketing Ecosystem Based on Blockchain Technology

Objective: The main purpose of the current research is to designing and presenting a model for building customer trust in the marketing ecosystem based on blockchain technology and based on the identification and introduction of trust-building elements and functions arising from blockchain technology in marketing actions. Methodology: In this study, by adopting a qualitative approach, the researcher seeks to identify the antecedents and consequences of building customer trust in the marketing ecosystem based on blockchain technology. In this regard, the required data were collected based on the opinions of experts in the field of digital marketing and advanced information technology and semi-structured interview tools and were analyzed based on thematic analysis method and the use of MaxQDA software. Findings: The analysis of the collected data in the research resulted in the extraction of 64 main themes with a frequency of 264 codes which after the final categories, these themes provided seven general antecedents and two general consequences of applying blockchain technology in order to build trust among customers of a marketing ecosystem. Conclusion: Therefore, in this context, it is possible to design a mechanism to paying commissions to agents and brokers in case of implementing this technology.

Women’s expectations about birth, requests for pain relief in labor and the subsequent development of birth dissonance and trauma

BackgroundBirth is a significant event in women’s lives. As Mansfield notes (2008) many women aim for a birth that avoids pharmacological pain relief because they are advised it is better for them and their baby. For women having their first baby, this may not be realistic as 3/4 of primiparous women in Australia will use pharmacological pain relief. This study examines the expectations that a group of women had regarding pain relief, how these expectations developed and what happened to requests for pain relief in labour.MethodsA longitudinal prospective study design was used to recruit 15 women who were having their first baby. Women having low risk pregnancies, hoping for a ‘natural birth’ (vaginal, no/minimal pharmacological pain relief) were eligible. A semi-structured interview tool was used across all three interviews that asked women about their expectations, then actual labour experience, pain management requests and how these were responded to by carers. Fifteen women were interviewed – at 36 weeks gestation; as soon after delivery of their baby as possible, then six months post-delivery (N = 43 interviews). Interviews were recorded and transcribed and coded by ES using NVivo software with hierarchical thematic analysis used.ResultsThe study found that women appear to experience a mismatch between expectations they had developed pre-birth, versus actual experience. This appears to cause a specific form of dissonance – which we have termed ‘birth dissonance’ leaving them feeling traumatised post birth. This is because what women expected to happen in birth was often not realised. In particular, some women requested pain relief in birth and felt that their request was not responded to as hoped, and also seemed to develop post-birth trauma. We proposed that this may have resulted from dissonance arising from their expectations about being able to birth without significant pain relief. Interventions and technology may also contribute to this sense of mismatch and post-birth trauma.ConclusionsLow risk birthing women birthing in a hospital may have to engage with higher levels of technology, intervention and pain relief than that which they expected pre-birth. This could possibly be avoided with four simple changes. Firstly, better pre-birth education for women about how painful labor is likely to be. Secondly, pre-birth education which includes a detailed explanation of the utility of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief. Thirdly, more egalitarian decision-making during labour and finally delivering upon women’s requests for pain relief in labor, at the time that they ask for it. Further research is required to determine the extent of birth dissonance and how women making the transition to motherhood can avoid it.

A qualitative assessment of tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy (TiOAT) in rural and smaller urban British Columbia, Canada: Motivations and initial impacts

BackgroundThe evolving and unpredictable unregulated drug market has driven an unprecedented overdose crisis that requires effective intervention. Growing evidence suggests that novel opioid agonist treatments, such as tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy (TiOAT), have potential to prevent overdoses and other drug-related harms. More evidence is needed to characterize their utility in achieving these outcomes. The current article is an analysis of two TiOAT programs implemented in British Columbia, Canada, to assess impact on health and well-being, including overdose risk. Moreover, we explored participants' enrollment goals and if they were achieved. MethodsThe study employed qualitative methods to evaluate the TiOAT program in two sites between October 2021 and April 2022. We developed a semi-structured interview tool to guide in depth interviews. All interviews (n = 32) took place on teleconference software or in person. Thematic analysis allowed for the emergence of themes associated with TiOAT participation. ResultsParticipants discussed various motivations for enrolling in TiOAT, which included gaining financial stability, reducing or eliminating drug use, addressing withdrawal symptoms, wanting to work, and improving social circumstances. An assessment of initial programmatic impacts revealed that many participant-identified motivators were achieved. Participants also reported fewer or no overdoses since starting TiOAT, and many reported switching from injecting to smoking drugs. Some challenges included adequate dosing as evidenced by ongoing withdrawal and pain. Some participants requested additional opioids, such as diacetylmorphine, to aid in reducing illicit drug use. ConclusionParticipants described how TiOAT helped them to achieve many of their goals. Suggested programmatic improvements include enhanced patient-provider co-design with respect to dosing to address ongoing withdrawal and pain. As the unpredictability the unregulated drug market worsens, novel options, such as TiOAT, ought to be implemented broadly to reduce overdose events and improve quality of life for people who use drugs.

Perceptions of Justice Involved Children on the Child Justice System in Nairobi County, Kenya

Children seeking justice, interact with numerous agencies as they navigate through the justice system. They are more often than not subjected to a myriad of processes some of which are too complex and even traumatizing. Despite the existence of many international instruments guiding on the interaction between them and justice actors, children remain passive participants lacking agency and inclusion in matters affecting them. This makes it difficult for the justice system to respond appropriately to their needs. In Kenya there is a dearth of studies with regard to how children who have passed through the justice system experience and perceive it. The aim of this study was to find out how children experienced the system, its processes and practitioners. The sample size constituted 36 children aged 12-17 years drawn from remand homes, probation hostels, youth corrective centers and Borstal institutions. The participants were distributed across five focus group discussions which were guided by a semi structured interview tool that enabled children to share their experiences with police officers, prosecutors, lawyers, magistrates, probation, children and prisons officers. The findings indicate that children experience some justice actors as threatening, unemphatic, shaming, and could not trust them. With regard to the environments, the police station was described as the most scaring and unsafe while the court room was intimidating, too formal and sometimes oblivious to the distress children experience when seated in court. There was limited participation as children were not consulted or informed about various legal processes. There were also positive interactions with some justice practitioners. The study provided rich insights into the justice system from the eyes of the child. The findings can be used to institute reforms in the child justice system and promote therapeutic jurisprudence so as to enhance access to justice for all children.

Proposed Mechanisms for Enhancing the Performance of Omani Universities in the Global Rankings

The study aimed to identify the reality of Omani universities in the international rankings of universities in three types of classifications: ARWU, QS, THE, and to identify the challenges facing universities in these classifications from the perspective of the participants and the proposed mechanisms to improve the reality of universities. The study used the descriptive approach through Describe the performance of universities through the ranking tables of the classification institutions and used the qualitative method through the semi-structured interview tool to identify the reasons for poor performance and suggest mechanisms to improve the reality of universities. The intended sample is from all the targeted universities. After the disclosure on the websites of the rankings institutions, the result shows that one university appeared in the rankings, which is Sultan Qaboos University. However, in the last report of the QS classification it fell from (368) to (384). The study revealed the factors behind the decline of the university as well as the reasons for the failure of other universities to emerge. The most important of which is the modernity of the universities and that all universities are still as a teaching universities, despite the fact that there is interest in scientific research, especially in Sultan Qaboos University, but it still has not reached the rates that contribute to raising global ranking, as well as aspects of funding, especially in private universities. The study suggested a number of improvement mechanisms, including addressing funding sources with the existence of an educational endowment, paying attention to the research infrastructure of universities, marketing research to diversify sources of income, and other proposals.

General and reproductive healthcare experiences of formerly incarcerated women in the United States: a qualitative study

PurposeThe US prison population has recently reached an all-time high, with women representing the fastest growing subpopulation. Correctional health-care system in the USA remains fragmented and nonuniform in practice, particularly in women’s health care, with poor transitions between incarceration and release. This study aims to examine the qualitative health-care experiences of women while incarcerated and their transition into the community health-care setting. Additionally, this study also examined the experiences of a subset of women who were pregnant while incarcerated.Design/methodology/approachAfter obtaining institutional review board approval, adult, English-speaking women with a history of incarceration within the past 10 years were interviewed using a semi-structured interview tool. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis.FindingsThe authors completed 21 full interviews and identified six themes that were both the most significant and most novel: “feeling stigmatized and insignificant,” “care as punishment,” “delay in care,” “exceptions to the rule,” “fragmentation of care” and “obstetric trauma and resilience.”Originality/valueWomen face numerous barriers and hardships when accessing basic and reproductive health-care services while incarcerated. This hardship is particularly challenging for women with substance use disorders. The authors were able to describe for the first time, partially through their own words, novel challenges described by women interacting with incarceration health care. Community providers should understand these barriers and challenges so as to effectively reengage women in care upon release and improve the health-care status of this historically marginalized group.

Distance learning gains via digital platforms during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of the experience of faculty members

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on educational institutions, and learning has become fully dependent on digital platforms that have helped in the immediate transition from face-to-face to distance education. This study focused on the experience of faculty members regarding the gains involved in using digital platforms during the pandemic. The qualitative phenomenological method was used. The sample included (10) faculty members. The data was collected through the semi-structured interview tool. The data were analyzed using the objective analysis method. The results showed that there are a number of gains for distance education through digital platforms in light of the Corona pandemic, which can be developed in the future through continued learning through those systems, and the application of the integration between the electronic system and the traditional system, and these gains were represented in (4) main themes: the structure of E-learning, social interactions, outputs, trends towards the use of e-learning, under each main topic a set of sub-themes.

Perceptions of Teachers Concerning the New Grading System at Secondary Level School: A Qualitative Approach

This paper presents the teachers’ perceptions of the Letter Grading System (LGS) at secondary-level schools in the Tarakeshwor Municipality of Kathmandu district. The main objective is to study teachers’ perceptions of LGS and identify how to address its foremost challenges. This research is based on phenomenological design and prefers citizen constructivism. Data is collected using decisive sampling methods and a semi-structured interview tool. The teachers’ practices with the LGS are significant, appropriate, motivated, and suitable for stimulating the Nepali education system. Similarly, undergraduates’ and their parents’ perceptions are simply ensuing generous promotion strategy with advancement to their child without difficulties. As a result, there is a mismatch between the evaluation technique’s practices and teachers’ perceptions of the LGS for tracking students’ progress. Furthermore, as discussed in this article, the LGS has assessed the student’s proficiency and rational domain using nine reformist scales based on the performance opportunity provided. Finally, an experienced teacher believes that LGS has biased, liable, productive, and merit-based assessment tools in education without incorporating non-standardised tests into the school assessment system. Currently, LGS has a far better assessment method in the school appraisal system if it is possible to integrate non-testing devices, such as project work, classroom assignments, homework, group work, practical work, etc., as an assignment.

Nursing Clinical Instructors' Perspectives on Clinical Learning Environment Challenges: A Qualitative Study

Background and Aim: The clinical instructorsplay an essential role in the clinical learning environment by providing students with the important nursing skills. Therefore, this study aims to discover clinical instructors’ perspective about the challenges in the clinical learning environment. Method: A qualitative descriptive content analysis study design and semi-structured interview tool was used; the participants were 12 clinical nursing instructors who were selected purposively with a work experience of 7 − 18 years , earned MSc and PhD degrees and recruited from Nineveh governorate colleges of nursing. The data transcripts were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. Results: Four challenges emerged: (i) Ineffective clinical instruction; (ii) Ineffective clinical administration; (iii) Ministerial challenges; and (iv) Student related challenges. These challenges revealed clinical nursing instructors' difficulties in balancing their competency, good administration, ministerial factors and student competency. Conclusion: The identified challenges reflect the need to improve the quality of education and to create qualified nurse professionals, it may be important for students to be properly prepared, to choose the optimal clinical setting that meets the purpose, and to receive adequate teaching, advice, and supervision.

The Effects of Situational and Contextual Variables on Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety: An Investigation of Pakistani Tertiary EFL Students’ Perceptions

Foreign language anxiety is a type of anxiety that is specific to language learning process. Anxiety can not only impact the language students’ negatively but it can also enforce them to give up their studied (Horwitz, 2017; Malik et al., 2020; Milan, 2019). In Pakistan, there is a lack of research in the field of language anxiety and the majority of language teachers and students are not fully cognizant of its existence and effects on language learning (Samad, 2014). Most of the previous studies have investigated anxiety from classroom perspective and there is a lack of studies exploring anxiety from outside of the classroom perspective (Marwan, 2017). Therefore, this study is an attempt to understand language learning anxiety by investigating it in relation to various contextual variables to contribute to the existing body of knowledge. This study explored 100 BS English students’ language anxiety at University of Baluchistan. It aimed to investigate Pakistani tertiary EFL students’ perceptions when speaking English in class and outside of class. The study employed both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (semi-structured interview) tools to collects data. The findings clearly suggested that students experience more anxiety when speaking English in class than speaking English outside of class. The study suggests that a friendly and supportive teacher, gentle error correction, relaxed and social classroom environment and incorporation of activities that don’t require students to be singled out may alleviate students’ anxiety.

Assessing community readiness for overweight and obesity prevention among Ghanaian immigrants living in Greater Manchester, England

AimThis study assesses community readiness to prevent overweight/obesity among Ghanaian immigrants in Greater Manchester, England.Subject and methodThe Community Readiness Model (CRM) was applied using a semi-structured interview tool with 13 key informants (religious and other key community members) addressing five readiness dimensions. A maximum of 9 points per dimension (from 1 = no awareness to 9 = high level of community ownership), was assigned, alongside qualitative textual thematic analysis.ResultsThe mean readiness score indicated that the study population was in the “vague awareness stage” (3.08 ± 0.98). The highest score was observed for community knowledge of the issue (4.42 ± 0.99) which was in the pre-planning phase, followed by community climate (vague awareness; 3.58 ± 0.62). The lowest scores were seen for resources (denial/resistance; 2.70 ± 0.61) and knowledge of efforts (no awareness; 1.53 ± 0.44). Findings identified structural barriers, including poor living conditions as a result of poorly paid menial jobs and high workload, contributing to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Socio-cultural factors such as fatalism, hereditary factors, and social status were associated with acceptance of overweight.ConclusionDespite recognising overweight/obesity as an important health issue in these communities, especially among women, it is not seen as a priority for targeting change. To help these communities to become more ready for interventions that tackle overweight/obesity, the focus should initially be to address the structural barriers identified, including reducing poverty, alongside designing interventions that work with these structural barriers, and thereafter focus on the socio-cultural factors.

Design and Validation of the Teaching Model of Philosophy of Life for Students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from the Point of View of Professors

Introduction: This research aimed to design and validate the education model of philosophy of life for students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from the point of view of professors. Method: This qualitative research was performed on eight university professors selected through the purposeful sampling method. In the qualitative section, a semi-structured interview tool was used to collect data until theoretical saturation was reached. The qualitative data analysis method was open and central with selective coding. Its validity and reliability were measured through factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha and were confirmed at 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. Results: Regarding the pattern of the components of social life philosophy, individual life philosophy, religious life philosophy, and moral life philosophy, 10, 9, 6, and 8 key concepts were obtained, respectively. In total, 33 concepts were obtained from the results. Conclusion: Based on the review of results, the components of the causal conditions include four main components and 13 secondary components were confirmed. Finally, the findings and the teaching model presented in this research were confirmed.

Becoming an Effective Classroom Manager: Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of their Classroom Management Education and Self-Efficacy Beliefs

It is very important that preservice teachers are provided an effective classroom management education so that they can develop the knowledge, attitude, and practices expected from an effective classroom manager. This study explores the preservice teachers’ perceptions of their classroom management education. This is a qualitative study using a hermeneutic phenomenology research design. Eleven participants from a private university were interviewed using a semi-structured interview tool. The findings suggest that preservice teachers are provided with multiple skills, from emotional support to moral reinforcement and diversity management, so that they can become skillful classroom managers. The significance of preservice teachers, their training, and different aspects of how a classroom should be, have been discussed in the research. Overall, it’s qualitative research, and it elaborates on preservice teachers’ perceptions of multiple domains of classroom management education in an education department.

Psychiatric diagnostic dilemmas among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Research regarding the accuracy of co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is sparse. Yet correct diagnostic assignment is vital so that effective and appropriate treatment can be implemented, especially for the large numbers of individuals requiring expensive and restrictive behavioural health crisis services. A retrospective review of de-identified data from multidisciplinary specialty team assessments completed for 50 individuals with ID (IntellectualDisability) with and without ASD and unresolved behavioural health challenges was conducted. The accuracy and reliability of the psychiatric diagnoses upon referral were compared with the diagnoses after the comprehensive team evaluation, and within-individual diagnostic agreement was calculated. The agreement between the Mood and Anxiety Semi-Structured interview tool (MASS) and the full team evaluation was also calculated. The influence of demographic and clinical characteristics on diagnostic agreement was explored. The most common chief complaints upon referral were aggression to others and self-injurious behaviour. Individuals were taking a median of six medications (interquartile range: 5 to 7); 80% were taking an antipsychotic medication. The most common medical conditions were constipation (70%) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (52%). Measures of interrater reliability of the referral diagnoses with the team assessment were below 0.5 (kappa range: -0.04 to 0.39), with the exception of ruling out dementia (kappa=0.85). The interrater reliability estimates for the MASS evaluations for depression and anxiety were higher (kappa=0.69 and 0.64) and reflected higher sensitivity and PPV. The odds of any referral diagnosis being confirmed by team evaluation were low: 0.25 (range: 0 to 0.67). The level of diagnostic agreement for each patient was not significantly attributable to demographic or clinical characteristics, although effect sizes indicate a possible positive relationship to age and the number of prescribed psychotropic medications at referral. Individuals in the current study had serious psychiatric and behavioural problems despite psychiatric care in their communities. The majority of psychiatric diagnoses provided upon referral were not supported by the multidisciplinary specialty team's assessment. In addition to possible diagnostic inaccuracy, the group in the study suffered from multiple medical co-morbidities and were exposed to polypharmacy. Results emphasise the importance of multidisciplinary evaluation by clinicians with expertise in neurodevelopmental disabilities when people with ID with and without ASD have complex behavioural health needs that are unresponsive to usual care. In addition, based on agreement with the full team evaluation, the MASS shows promise as an assessment tool, especially with regards to identifying anxiety and depression.