Sensitive Questions Research Articles

Adverse childhood experiences and resilience in childhood and adolescent and young adult cancer patients.

Childhood and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors experience poor health outcomes in adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) also portend poor health outcomes for the general population. Resilience can mitigate effects of ACEs. We examined the feasibility of assessing ACEs and resilience in childhood and AYA cancer patients. We also described occurrences of ACEs, resilience, and poor health outcomes. Of 52 participants, most rated their study experience favorably, with privacy in answering sensitive questions. Half reported ACEs, and those with ACEs had lower resilience; X2 (3, N=52)=9.4, p=.02. Further investigations of ACEs and resilience in larger cohorts are warranted to delineate associations with long-term health outcomes.

Medical-ethical decision-making-contribution of the clinical ethics committee by ethics consultation and development of ethical guidelines

Medical-ethical decision-making ranges between the poles of the medical indication on the one hand and the will of the informed and advised patient on the other, which do not necessarily have to coincide. Even if the definitive choice of action is made by the attending physician/the treatment team, it is particularly helpful in problematic conflicting situations to set up the corresponding decision-making as broadly as possible, with the result that ultimately an appropriate, acceptable, and well-founded decision is made for all parties involved. The clinical ethics committee (CEC) can perform the task of providing the most comprehensive and structured support possible in decision-making and problem-solving in amedical-ethical context with all its instruments of ethics consultation as well as by the development of "ethical guidelines". The CEC is not adecision-making body that makes unilateral decisions on its own authority and relieves the directly treating persons of the decision-making responsibility, but an advisory and supporting authority. For recurring, similar ethically sensitive questions, ethical guidelines can be created by the CEC of an institution with the aim of facilitating decision-making in acorresponding ethical problem situation. An ethical guideline provides orientation that can increase the quality of decision-making and relieve decision-makers ethically and legally. In doing so, the ethical guideline grants the decision-maker arange of possibilities by specifying ameaningful corridor for action, from which, in justified cases, deviations can also be made after individual evaluation.

Survey research in Russia: in the shadow of war

ABSTRACT Amid ongoing uncertainty, regular surveying in Russia continues to date and collaborations with Western academics have too. These developments offer some basis for cautious optimism. Yet they also raise critical questions about the practice of survey research in repressive environments. Are Russians less willing today to respond to surveys? Are they less willing to answer sensitive questions? How can we design research to elicit truthful responses and to know whether respondents are answering insincerely about sensitive opinions? This article lays out some of the existing evidence on these important questions. It also makes the argument that cross-fertilization with other fields can help to ensure a rigorous understanding of and response to changes in the environment for survey research in Russia.

On partial randomized response model using ranked set sampling.

In this paper, we propose a partial randomized response technique to collect reliable sensitive data for estimation of population proportion in ranked set sampling (RSS) scheme using auxiliary information. The idea is to increase confidence and (or) co-operation of the respondents by providing them the option of both 'direct' and 'randomized' response for the inquired sensitive question. This option is quite logical because perception of sensitive (insensitive) inquiry can vary among respondents. The properties of the proposed method are discussed and compared with existing randomized response techniques. Cost analysis is also carried out to prove supremacy of the suggested method. Finally, an application to clinical trial on AIDS is included.

Securing IIoT communications using OPC UA PubSub and Trusted Platform Modules

In the Industry 4.0 context, data are a valuable asset that must be protected. Ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the data exchanged by the IIoT devices is challenging, especially when those devices are out of the companies premises or easily accessible (we call them out-premise devices). These devices become primary targets for attackers as a way to compromise data and cause damage to infrastructure or people.OPC UA PubSub provides the appropriate mechanisms to build scalable (e.g. one-to-many) secure and interoperable solutions with end-to-end encryption. However, authentication of IIoT devices remains a sensitive question, as it requires to securely embedding secrets.We present a novel approach based on open source software aiming to secure out-premise devices authentication, enabling the confidentiality and integrity of data exchanges with the rest of the system. Our approach uses a Trusted Platform Module as a secure element to protect the secrets embedded on devices. We further apply the approach on a predictive maintenance use case and evaluate the security level of our solution in such use case.

Making the List: Reevaluating Political Trust and Social Desirability in China

We examined sensitive questions on political trust and regime support in China using indirect methods. We replicated previous list experiment results confirming that a majority trusts the central government despite overreports. We also conducted novel list experiments on trust in local government and support for removal of the presidential term limit and found evidence of overreporting for both. The point estimate for local government also suggests majority trust, but the central government is both more trusted and feared. However, we did not find evidence of majority support for removing the term limit at the time of the removal, indicating that the public may negatively evaluate government, albeit indirectly, in some circumstances. Last, examining self-monitoring, a personality trait for examining social desirability, we found that it only influenced overreporting trust in the central government. The results reveal meaningful variation in political trust and regime support in the world’s largest authoritarian society.

Vaginal atrophy: what is it and how can it be treated?

Vaginal atrophy is common and can impact on quality of life for many women. Debra Holloway explores how the condition can be managed in primary care Vaginal atrophy is a common, chronic and progressive condition that occurs due to oestrogen deficiency. It is an under-recognised condition that can have a negative impact on quality of life. Vaginal atrophy can be treated and the aims of treatment are to promote comfort and ensure that symptoms are reduced. Practice nurses need to be comfortable asking sensitive questions and be able to give advice and signpost women to relevant and up to date information.

Estimating Web Survey Mode and Panel Effects in a Nationwide Survey of Alcohol Use.

Random-digit dialing (RDD) telephone surveys are challenged by declining response rates and increasing costs. Many surveys that were traditionally conducted via telephone are seeking cost-effective alternatives, such as address-based sampling (ABS) with self-administered web or mail questionnaires. At a fraction of the cost of both telephone and ABS surveys, opt-in web panels are an attractive alternative. The 2019-2020 National Alcohol Survey (NAS) employed three methods: (1) an RDD telephone survey (traditional NAS method); (2) an ABS push-to-web survey; and (3) an opt-in web panel. The study reported here evaluated differences in the three data-collection methods, which we will refer to as "mode effects," on alcohol consumption and health topics. To evaluate mode effects, multivariate regression models were developed predicting these characteristics, and the presence of a mode effect on each outcome was determined by the significance of the three-level effect (RDD-telephone, ABS-web, opt-in web panel) in each model. Those results were then used to adjust for mode effects and produce a "telephone-equivalent" estimate for the ABS and panel data sources. The study found that ABS-web and RDD were similar for most estimates but exhibited differences for sensitive questions including getting drunk and experiencing depression. The opt-in web panel exhibited more differences between it and the other two survey modes. One notable example is the reporting of drinking alcohol at least 3-4 times per week, which was 21 percent for RDD-phone, 24 percent for ABS-web, and 34 percent for opt-in web panel. The regression model adjusts for mode effects, improving comparability with past surveys conducted by telephone; however, the models result in higher variance of the estimates. This method of adjusting for mode effects has broad applications to mode and sample transitions throughout the survey research industry.

Obtaining Answers to Sensitive Survey Questions Using Venn Diagrams

Summary We discuss the application of techniques used to solve Venn diagram survey problems to the problem of collecting truthful responses to sensitive questions. We also develop a method for collecting data for a sensitive question that protects the confidentiality of the respondent’s answer. The method uses techniques that students are taught to solve Venn diagram survey problems, and we discuss a classroom exercise based on the solution.

Confidentiality matters! Adolescent males’ views of primary care in relation to psychosocial health: a structural equation modelling approach

Objective To investigate to what degree adolescent males (1) value confidentiality, (2) experience confidentiality and are comfortable asking sensitive questions when visiting a general practitioner (GP), and (3) whether self-reported symptoms of poor mental health and health-compromising behaviours (HCB) affect these states of matters. Design Cross-sectional. Setting School-based census on life, health and primary care in Region Sörmland, Sweden. Subjects 2,358 males aged 15–17 years (response rate 84%). Main outcome measures The impact of poor mental health and HCBs on adolescent males’ valuing and experiencing private time with the GP, having professional secrecy explained, and being comfortable asking about the body, love and sex, analysed with structural equation modelling. Results Almost all respondents valued confidentiality regardless of their mental health or whether they engaged in HCBs: 86% valued spending private time with the GP, and 83% valued receiving a secrecy explanation. Among those who had visited a GP in the past year (n = 1,200), 74% had experienced private time and 42% a secrecy explanation. Three-quarters were at least partly comfortable asking sensitive questions. Adolescent males with HCBs were more likely to experience a secrecy explanation (approximative odds ratio [appOR] 1.26; p = 0.005) and to be comfortable asking about sex than their peers (appOR 1.22; p = 0.007). Respondents reporting experienced confidentiality were more comfortable asking sensitive questions (appOR 1.25–1.54; p ≤ 0.010). Conclusion Confidentiality matters regardless of poor mental health or HCBs and makes adolescent males more comfortable asking sensitive questions. We suggest that GPs consistently offer private time and explain professional secrecy. Key Points Confidentiality for adolescent males has been scantily studied in relation to mental health and health-compromising behaviours. In this study, most adolescent males valued confidentiality, regardless of their mental health and health-compromising behaviours. Health-compromising behaviours impacted only slightly, and mental health not at all, on experiences of confidentiality in primary care. When provided private time and an explanation of professional secrecy, adolescent males were more comfortable asking the GP sensitive questions.

Beliefs about Multilingualism with Respect to Translanguaging: A Survey among Pre-Service EFL Teachers in Indonesia

Introduction. Recently, multilingualism and translanguaging have received considerable attention and are always a topic of interest and public debate in language education. However, to our knowledge, studies on pre-service EFL teachers’ beliefs about multilingualism with respect to translanguaging in the Indonesian context have not appeared in the literature. Therefore, to address this gap, this research investigated beliefs about multilingualism with respect to translanguaging, including language separation, language use/mixing, and language support, among pre-service EFL teachers in the Indonesian context. Materials and Methods. This study is quantitative in nature, adopting a survey research design. We collected data from 270 pre-service EFL teachers using an online Likert scale questionnaire that lacked any potentially sensitive questions. They were between the ages of 17 and 26, and were English teacher candidates majoring in English education at higher education institutions on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, which included the percentages and frequency distributions of the participants’ Likert scale responses. Results. The current study’s findings corroborate previous research indicating that teachers believe multilingualism and collaborative use of languages are potential assets that can benefit their students’ language learning. Discussion and Conclusion. Language separation in EFL classrooms appears to be a point of contention for the majority of pre-service EFL teachers surveyed, with a preference for and support for multilingualism and translanguaging over language separation in EFL classrooms. They agree on the importance of using or mixing other languages in their classes. On the one hand, they believe that it is critical to avoid other language support in classrooms; on the other hand, they believe that other language support can benefit students, offering a wave of optimism about future language education. Therefore, there is a need to gradually introduce and include pedagogical translanguaging to the existing curricula. The integration of new multilingual facts and the implementation of translanguaging pedagogies are part of a larger educational renewal. There is a need to intentionally create a multilingual space (translanguaging space) in EFL classrooms to fully utilise studentsʼ multilingual capabilities creatively and critically because today many teachers struggle to reconcile the disparities between monolingual educational policies and the realities of multilingual classrooms.

Exploring the validity of the body image scale with survivors of breast cancer: A cognitive interview approach.

The aim of this study is to explore the construct validity of the Body Image Scale for Cancer Questionnaire (BIS) using cognitive interviews. Twelve breast cancer survivors participated in a cognitive interview while completing the BIS. Each participant was asked to think-out-loud while answering items, and an interviewer asked probing questions relating to the participants' comprehension, example retrieval, certainty of answer and other decision-making factors. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and the data were analysed deductively and inductively. The participants' interpretations of the questions varied significantly. Several participants perceived the phrasing of some questions to be leading. The participants were able to provide examples of how their physical, physiological and body function affected their body image. The participants expressed positive attitudes towards, and gratitude for their body, which was not captured by the questionnaire. At times, the participants felt uncertain in how to respond appropriately to specific items, and the participants found some items challenging to answer. Finally, the BIS included sensitive questions that elicited emotional reactions and discomfort for some participants. The findings of this study provide insight into, and suggestions for potential questionnaire revisions that may enhance the validity and relevance of the BIS for use with breast cancer survivors.

The impact of modes of administration on self-reports of offending: evidence from a methodological experiment with university students.

Objectives Current knowledge about the causes of offending behavior is heavily reliant on self-reports of offending (SRO). However, methodological research on the impact of modes of administration on SRO is very scarce. Further, the existing evidence conflicts with the general knowledge about responding to sensitive questions. In this study, we aimed to test whether SRO are affected by modes of administration.MethodsWe carried out a methodological experiment, with a 2 (interviewer-administered vs. self-administered surveys) × 2 (paper-and-pencil vs. computer- assisted surveys) factorial design. A total of 181 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of these conditions and completed the International Self-Report Delinquency 3 (ISRD3) questionnaire.ResultsFindings showed an increased odds of reporting offending behavior in self-administered surveys, compared to face-to-face interviews. Paper-and-pencil and computer-assisted modes resulted in comparable estimates of offending.ConclusionsThis experiment provides evidence that SRO provide more accurate estimates of offending behavior using self-administered surveys.

A Reflection on the Nexus between South African Land Reform Struggles and the Unresolved National Question

The post-apartheid South African government continues to struggle with its transformation posture, including the quest to redress the racially based land inequalities that have plagued the country since its colonial past. The Covid-19 pandemic, the 2015 #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements, and the July 2021 #FreeZuma violence have highlighted both the fragility and the resilience of South African political institutions. Since the formation of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a left-leaning and militant political party, in 2013, the South African land question has become more vociferously contested within government purview and in the public domain. Unresolved land issues have exposed the failure of the state to resolve one of its most sensitive national questions. We interrogate the land conflict and locate it within the broader national questions that have continued to haunt post-apartheid South Africa. Indeed, the South African land question must be understood holistically, and not solely as an agrarian question. Although the ANC-led government has implemented a land reform scheme under four pillars—land restitution, land redistribution, tenure security, and land development—there are still compelling cases of land hunger and conflict, as well as widespread confusion about the proposed land expropriation without compensation. Despite the rhetoric by government officials, we hold that the land debacle is a manifestation of a failing national question, state fragility, and an incomplete decolonisation process wherein the so-called “political power” held by the majority has not transformed into economic power and the effective redistribution of land to meet the targets of successive administrations.

"Treat Them Like a Human Being…They are Somebody's Somebody": Providers' Perspectives on Treating Patients in the Emergency Department After Self-Injurious Behavior.

To understand ED providers' perspective on how to best care for individuals who present to US emergency departments (EDs) following self-injurious behavior, purposive recruitment identified nursing directors, medical directors, and social workers (n = 34) for telephone interviews from 17 EDs. Responses and probes to "What is the single most important thing ED providers and staff can do for patients who present to the ED after self-harm?" were analyzed using directed content analysis approach. Qualitative analyses identified four themes: treat patients with respect and compassion; listen carefully and be willing to ask sensitive personal questions; provide appropriate care during mental health crises; connect patients with mental health care. Participants emphasized treating patients who present to the ED after self-injurious behavior with respect and empathy. Hospitals could incentivize provider mental health training, initiatives promoting patient-provider collaboration, and reimbursement strategies ensuring adequate staffing of providers with time to listen carefully.

Ordinary differential equations for the adjoint Euler equations

Ordinary differential equations are derived for the adjoint Euler equations first using the method of characteristics in 2D. For this system of partial-differential equations, the characteristic curves appear to be the streamtraces and the well-known C+ and C− curves of the theory applied to the flow. The differential equations satisfied along the streamtraces in 2D are then extended and demonstrated in 3D by linear combinations of the original adjoint equations. These findings extend their well-known counterparts for the direct system and should serve analytical and possibly numerical studies of the perfect-flow model with respect to adjoint fields or sensitivity questions. In addition to the analytical theory, the results are demonstrated by the numerical integration of the compatibility relationships for discrete 2D flow fields and dual-consistent adjoint fields over a very fine grid about an airfoil.

“Well; I think…”, the Dominant Hedges Uttered by Males in Daily Communication: A Sociolinguistic Study

Hedges are linguistics features that were previously considered by some researchers as the characterization of women's speech to show hesitation and uncertainty of the speech regarding the character of discussion and the sensitivity of the questions. However, this claim was remain debatable by another researcher since the use of hedges cannot be correlated to any specific gender. This study was conducted to reveal the use of hedges can also be employed by males in an informal daily conversation, discussing lights topic and questions that often appear. The conducted study was supported by the transcription from the recorded online meeting with males native and non-native English speakers. The transcribed recorded online meeting was useful to examine the hedges as the participants' expressions in the discussion. The results of the study showed that males also utilized hedges in an informal discussion, and the most frequent one is verbal filler will. The hedges uttered by both males native and non-native were various such as to give them chance to think, to reduce the impact delivered, self-disclosure, and appraise someone's idea. The findings also found that the use of hedges by males in casual daily conversation is normal, in regard to saving the speaker's name toward the interlocutor when discussing a sensitive topic or answering a sensitive question.

An innovative improvement in Warner's randomized response device for evasive answer bias

We propose an innovative randomized response estimator that is free from the probabilities of asking the sensitive question and its complement. To utilize the proposed estimator, every respondent uses an independent electronic randomization device, unobserved by the interviewer, which encourages participation by guaranteeing the protection of their privacy. In this paper, such an electronic randomization device is developed, tested through simulation studies, and implemented in a real-world survey.

What do Veterans with homeless experience want us to know that we are not asking? A qualitative content analysis of comments from a national survey of healthcare experience.

Surveys of people who experience homelessness can portray their life and healthcare experiences with a level of statistical precision; however, few have explored how the very same surveys can deliver qualitative insights as well. In responding to surveys, people experiencing homelessness can use the margins to highlight health and social concerns that investigators failed to anticipate that standard question batteries miss. This study describes the unprompted comments of a large national survey of Veterans with homeless experiences. The Primary Care Quality-Homeless Services Tailoring (PCQ-HOST) survey presented 85 close-ended items to solicit social and psychological experiences, health conditions, and patient ratings of primary care. Amongst 5377 Veterans responding to the paper survey, 657 (12%) offered 1933 unprompted comments across nearly all domains queried. Using a team-based content analysis approach, we coded and organised survey comments by survey domain, and identified emergent themes. Respondents used comments for many purposes. They noted when questions called for more nuanced responses than those allowed, especially 'sometimes' or 'not applicable' on sensitive questions, such as substance use, where recovery status was not queried. On such matters, the options of 'no' and 'yes' failed to capture important contextual and historical information that mattered to respondents, such as being in recovery. Respondents also elaborated on negative and positive care experiences, often naming specific clinics or clinicians. This study highlights the degree to which members of vulnerable populations, who participate in survey research, want researchers to know the reasons behind their responses and topics (like chronic pain and substance use disorders) that could benefit from open-ended response options. Understanding patient perspectives can help improve care. Quantitative data from surveys can provide statistical precision but may miss key patient perspectives. The content that patients write into survey margins can highlight shortfalls of a survey and point towards future areas of inquiry. Veterans with homeless experience want to provide additional detail about their lives and care experiences in ways that transcend the boundaries of close-ended survey questions. Questions on substance use proved especially likely to draw comments that went beyond the permitted response options, often to declare that the respondent was in recovery. Respondents frequently clarified aspects of their care experiences related to pain, pain care, transportation and experiences of homelessness.

Is the treatment weak or the test insensitive: Interrogating item difficulties to elucidate the nature of reading intervention effects

Intervention research in education is sometimes criticized for the use of experimenter developed assessments, especially when these are over aligned with treatment. At the same time, intervention researchers sometimes prefer locally developed assessments because they appear to be more sensitive to treatment effects even when the test is not subject to the criticism of over alignment. This paper examines the question of test sensitivity to treatment effects for experimenter developed and standardized tests for the specific case of reading in grade 8. We examine similarities and differences between a specific experimenter developed test and widely used standardized reading assessment. Analyses show these particular tests to be quite comparable. The paper concludes with an examination of test sensitivity by simulating treatment effects of different magnitudes. These analyses highlight some potential limitations of the standardized test for detecting small to moderate effects depending on the ability range of the students participating in intervention. The implications for intervention research and identification of students under response to intervention are discussed.