Seven-point Likert Scale Research Articles

Patient reported experiences of health care, quality of life and preoperative information in colon cancer.

Cancer may create problems and needs associated with impaired quality of life (QoL). The first health care encounter is important to enable patients to cope and may ultimately impact QoL. The aim of this study was to describe the patients' experiences of encounters with health care professionals. Another aim was to explore the possible impact that the encounters may have on QoL 1 year after a colon cancer diagnosis. We also wanted to investigate whether patients had received information about treatment related side-effects. This substudy within the QoLiCOL (Quality of Life in COLon cancer) study included 1687 patients (male n = 876, female n = 811, mean age 71) between 2015 and 2019. Questionnaires were answered at diagnosis and after 1 year. QoL was self-assessed with a seven-point Likert scale. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression. A total of 1,550 patients (91.9%) reported feeling well received by health care professionals. We found no statistically significant association with QoL. Patients (87%) reported feeling well informed about their treatment, but few patients recalled having received information regarding potential side effects on bowel or sexual function. Patients with colon cancer generally had a positive experience of the encounter with health care where they felt both well received and well informed. However, the amount of relevant information received was scarce. This indicates that it may be difficult to identify whether patients are properly informed prior to treatment for colon cancer only by asking if they feel well informed.

The impacts of digital and learning orientations on supply chain resilience

PurposeThis study quantitatively investigates the impacts of digital and learning orientations on supply chain resilience (SCR) and firm performance (FP), aiming to fill the gaps in understanding their specific impacts in the context of Industry 4.0 developments and supply chain disruptions.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized survey techniques and structural equation modelling (SEM) to gather and analyse data through a questionnaire based on a seven-point Likert scale. Hypotheses were formulated based on an extensive literature review and tested using Amos software.FindingsThe study confirms SCR’s significant impact on FP, aligning with existing research on resilience’s role in organizational competitiveness. This study uncovers the nuanced impacts of digital and learning orientations on SCR and FP. Internal digital orientation (DOI) positively impacts SCR, while external digital orientation (DOE) does not. Specific dimensions of learning orientation – shared vision (LOS), open-mindedness (LOO) and intraorganizational knowledge sharing (LOI) – enhance SCR, while commitment to learning (LOC) does not. SCR mediates the relationship between DOI and FP but not between DOE and FP.Research limitations/implicationsThis research focuses on digital and learning orientations, recommending that future studies investigate other strategic orientations and examine the specific contributions of various digital technologies to SCR across diverse contexts.Practical implicationsThe empirical findings emphasize the significance of developing internal digital capabilities and specific learning orientations to enhance SCR and FP, aligning these initiatives with resilience strategies.Originality/valueThis study advances knowledge by distinguishing the impacts of internal and external digital orientations and specific learning dimensions on SCR and FP, offering nuanced insights and empirical validation.

Treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of Lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in the real-world Italian clinical practice: a prospective 3-month observational study.

Although second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have proven to be effective therapeutic options for patients with schizophrenia, there is a notable lack of evidence on patients' subjective perspectives regarding their well-being, quality of life, and satisfaction with these medications. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in real-world Italian clinical practice. This was a multicentre, national, non-interventional, single-arm, 3-month prospective study. Patients who were naive to lurasidone treatment and whose treating physician had decided to start them on this medication were enrolled and evaluated over a 3-month period. Eligible patients were adults (≥ 18 years of age) with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia who were being treated with lurasidone (for the first time [i.e., they were lurasidone naive]) as part of routine clinical practice. Efficacy endpoints were changes in patient/caregiver treatment satisfaction (seven-point Likert scale from the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication), patient quality of life and functioning (QLS), investigator-rated global assessment of functioning (CGI-S, IAQ) after 6 weeks and 3 months of lurasidone, and number of relapses and hospitalizations. Sixty-one patients were enrolled and 59 completed the study. The median dosage of lurasidone at baseline was 37.00mg/day. The median duration of titration was 86.0 days (Min 28; Max 115 days); the median number of dosage changes was 1.0. At the end of 3-month observation period, the median dose of lurasidone was 74.00mg/day. QoL and Functioning Score showed a trend of improvement over time, reaching a mean change from baseline of 9.8 at the end of the study. According to the CGI-S, the percentage of patients who were "markedly or severely ill" showed a continuous decrease from baseline to 3 months, from 62.29% to 8.20%. Patient satisfaction increased over time, with 80.32% of patients reporting that they were somewhat, fairly, or very satisfied (including 63.93% who were completely or very satisfied) at the end of the study. No relapses/hospitalizations for psychiatric reasons were reported. Lurasidone was well tolerated with no safety concerns or discontinuations due to AEs. Lurasidone represents a valid option for the treatment of schizophrenia and positively affects subjective well-being, quality of life and satisfaction. NCT06527885 retrospectively registered (01/08/2024).

A Multidisciplinary Consensus-Building Exercise to Define and Prioritize Topics in Supportive Care of Children With Cancer at a Global Level.

Optimal outcomes during childhood cancer treatment require effective management of toxicities, often called supportive care. A lack of agreement on what comprises supportive care limits the development and provision of comprehensive guidance (for this work, we have defined supportive care as any disease- or treatment-related condition experienced by children with cancer, excluding psychosocial conditions, palliative care, survivorship, or procedural topics). To address this gap, we conducted a consensus-building exercise among global experts to define and prioritize topics for supportive care. Two rounds of brainstorming and prioritization exercises were conducted. A multidisciplinary panel nominated by professional societies and cooperative groups was formed to ensure geographic and resource representation using snowball sampling. An internal expert panel generated an initial list of supportive care topics. In round one, the multidisciplinary panel reviewed the initial list and recommended additional topics, followed by prioritization in round two using a seven-point Likert scale. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. The multidisciplinary panel consisted of 57 members representing 32 countries. The initial list included 46 topics; 161 additional topics were suggested. After removing duplicates and out-of-scope additions, the final list contained 62 topics. Febrile neutropenia, sepsis, bloodstream infections, and pain were ranked highest priority. Mortality, morbidity, and frequency of the event were identified as the most important factors influencing prioritization. Through a multidisciplinary and globally representative process, we identified core supportive care topics and factors influencing their prioritization for childhood cancer. Outputs from this work will inform efforts to generate resource-adapted recommendations for a global audience. This supports ongoing WHO CureAll work to develop a health systems-level policy brief of supportive care requirements in the management of children with cancer.

EVALUATING THE LEARNING CURVE OF A NOVICE OPTOMETRY STUDENT IN SCLERAL LENS FITTING: A PROSPECTIVE QUANTITATIVE STUDY USING DELIBERATE PRACTICE AND CUMULATIVE SUMMATION (LC-CUSUM)

Background and Objective: To evaluate the learning curve of a novice optometry student in scleral lens fitting through deliberate practice and to objectively quantify the learning process using the LearningCurve-Cumulative Summation (LC-CUSUM) test, ensuring accurate and unbiased results. Method: The complexity of scleral contact lens fittings was assessed by categorizing subjects into regular and irregular cornea groups. A student enrolled in the Master of Optometry program conducted the fittings using a dedicated scleral lens record form (rubrics) designed to quantify the lens management approach. Prior to performing fittings independently, the student received four weeks of training from a contact lens expert, who also served as her guide for the study. This training period and the subsequent fittings were structured based on the principles of deliberate practice, with the student performing repeated diagnostic trials. A maximum of three diagnostic trials were performed for each subject to achieve the optimal fit. After each trial, the student completed a self-efficacy scale questionnaire to assess her perceived diffi-culty and clinical judgement skills, recording “FIRST trial scores” following the initial trial and ‘LAST trial scores’ after achieving the optimal fit. The guide consistently provided verbal feedback after each case throughout the fitting process as part of the deliberate practice methodology to enhance the student’s understanding of the fitting procedure while keeping the scores confidential to ensure unbiased self-as-sessment. Following the complete supervision of the fitting procedure, the guide evaluated the student’s clinical skills using a specially designed observation scale questionnaire, referred to as the ‘GUIDE scores.’ A seven-point Likert scale was used to rate the judgement for both the self-efficacy scale and observation scale questionnaire. The student’s LAST trial scores were subsequently compared with the GUIDE scores. Results: A total of 80 scleral lens fittings were evaluated. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) demonstrated excellent agreement between student-reported self-efficacy scores and guide-reported observation scores. The difference in self-efficacy scores between the initial and final lens fittings was statistically significant (p < 0.05), as determined by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Learning Curve-Cumulative Summation (LC-CUSUM) chart revealed that learning stabilized after 26 fittings, marking a consolidation phase where minimal further improvement was observed beyond this point, and additional practice primarily helped to maintain proficiency. The average number of trials required per eye was higher in patients with irregular corneas than those with regular corneas. Conclusion: This study evaluated the learning curve of a novice optometry student in scleral lens fitting through deliberate practice, utilizing the LC-CUSUM test to quantify progress and assess skill acquisition objectively. Proficiency was achieved after 26 fittings, with additional trials needed for irregular corneas, underscoring the influence of patient characteristics on learning. These findings emphasize the importance of structured training, personalized feedback, and self-assessment in developing clinical competence. The insights contribute to advancing education and research in contact lens science by providing practical guid-ance for designing effective programs focused on planning, teaching, and learning about scleral lens fittings.

Beyond COVID-19 business transformational opportunities: Develop e-satisfaction for predicting repeat purchase behavior based on “goodwill e-trust” ; Case of South Korean SMEs

The increasing prevalence of e-commerce has transformed online shopping into one of the most favored methods for consumers. This study investigates the factors influencing initial e-trust formation toward e-commerce adoption, focusing on information quality, web interface, and company reputation. It aims to assess how e-trust affects customer satisfaction and the sustained use of e-commerce, and explores the moderating role of perceived privacy concerns. Utilizing a randomized distribution of questionnaires among 236 participants, and employing a seven-point Likert scale, the study gathered data both online and offline.Statistical analyses using SPSS AMOS confirmed the acceptance of all proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that e-trust, grounded in goodwill-trust theory, significantly influences trust and satisfaction, thereby enhancing future purchase intentions and positively affecting online shopping behavior. The study demonstrates that understanding and addressing the antecedents of e-trust is crucial for fostering consumer satisfaction and promoting continued e-commerce adoption.Notably, Post-COVID-19 consumers showed a decrease in privacy concerns compared to Pre-COVID-19, indicating reduced fear and apprehension associated with online shopping. This reduction in privacy concerns is linked to an increased likelihood of repurchase behavior. Theoretical implications suggest that the research provides valuable insights for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them enhance customer trust and satisfaction, thus gaining a competitive edge over larger e-commerce firms. The findings underscore the long-term impact of e-trust on consumer adoption in the globalized e-commerce landscape.

Exploring Perspectives on Data Science Competency: Insights from Students, Professionals, and Employers

Graduate-level data science programs at iSchools have increased in recent years in response to growing needs in the field and demand for professionals with data-related skills due to technology advancements and the ubiquity of information and data. However, a perception gap still exists regarding skills taught in classrooms and those needed in the workplace. Hence, we systematically analyzed graduate-level data science programs and courses and conducted a survey of relevant stakeholders (current students, data professionals, and employers) on their perceptions of the skills and knowledge necessary for an effective data science professional or data librarian. In the questionnaire, 116 participants rated the importance of data science competencies and topics using a seven-point Likert scale. The survey participants rated most data competency areas as important, very important, or extremely important, indicating a strong consensus among respondents regarding the significance of technical skills like data analysis, foundational skills like problem-solving, and soft skills like communication. Overall, students rated the importance of most technical skills higher than employers and professionals did. However, employers rated the importance of soft skills, such as communication, higher than students. A Kruskal-Wallis H test confirmed significant differences in the rating of multiple data competency importance among the three groups. When asked about the importance of data topics, participants rated topics like data ethics, privacy, and access as important. These findings could inform and assist administrators and faculty at LIS and iSchools with curricula design for graduate programs while working to prepare students for careers in the information professions.

Fostering sustainability through technological brilliance: a study on the nexus of organizational STARA capability, GHRM, GSCM, and sustainable performance

This study aims to investigate the influence of Organizational Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Algorithms (STARA) capabilities on Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices, Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices, and also its direct impact on Sustainable Performance (SP) outcomes within the manufacturing landscape of Bangladesh. A quantitative approach was employed, gathering data from 395 employees in the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector through a survey questionnaire using a seven-point Likert scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the data, focusing on testing hypotheses related to the relationships between organizational STARA capabilities, GHRM, GSCM, and SP. The study found positive relationships between organizational STARA (OSC) capabilities and GHRM, GSCM, and SP. All hypotheses were accepted, GHRM ← STARA (β = 0.210), GSCM ← STARA (β = 0.247), and SP ← STARA (β = 0.135). Additionally, it revealed that GHRM and GSCM mediate the relationship between organizational STARA capabilities and SP. This research contributes to filling the existing gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the integration of STARA capabilities with GHRM and GSCM practices, specifically within the context of the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector. It also highlights the mediating role of GHRM and GSCM in enhancing sustainable performance through STARA capabilities. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for organizations operating in the manufacturing sector, suggesting strategies for leveraging STARA capabilities to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness. Policymakers and stakeholders can use these insights to formulate policies and initiatives to promote the adoption of sustainable practices in manufacturing.

International Survey on Consensus Definition on Nutrition Impact Symptoms in Patients with Cancer

ABSTRACT A self-reported electronic questionnaire to advocate for a consensus definition of nutrition impact symptoms (NISs) was conducted in a diverse group of international healthcare providers. The questionnaire had 2 components: the definition of NISs and the relevance of each symptom as a NIS. Agreement on the tentative definition and 24 symptoms were evaluated using a seven-point Likert scale. For the factor validity and internal consistency of symptoms, an exploratory factor analysis was employed, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (Cronbach’s α) were calculated in each domain. A total of 66 healthcare providers responded. Regarding the tentative definition of NISs, the percentages of the number of participants with agree and strongly agree were 40.9% and 42.4%. Three conceptual groups were extracted as follows: 1) symptoms that interfere with patients’ ability to ingest or digest nutrients, 2) symptoms that compromise patients’ desire to eat and take nutrients, and 3) symptoms that indirectly compromise patients’ food and nutrient intake. The values of Cronbach’s α were 0.91, 0.92, and 0.87. We proposed a new definition – NISs are symptoms that compromise patients’ desire or ability to eat, interfering with their nutritional needs and increasing the risk for malnutrition, loss of lean body mass, and impaired QOL.

On the influence of discourse connectives on the predictions of humans and language models.

Psycholinguistic literature has consistently shown that humans rely on a rich and organized understanding of event knowledge to predict the forthcoming linguistic input during online sentence comprehension. We, the authors, expect sentences to maintain coherence with the preceding context, making congruent sentence sequences easier to process than incongruent ones. It is widely known that discourse relations between sentences (e.g., temporal, contingency, comparison) are generally made explicit through specific particles, known as discourse connectives, (e.g., and, but, because, after). However, some relations that are easily accessible to the speakers, given their event knowledge, can also be left implicit. The goal of this paper is to investigate the importance of discourse connectives in the prediction of events in human language processing and pretrained language models, with a specific focus on concessives and contrastives, which signal to comprehenders that their event-related predictions have to be reversed. Inspired by previous work, we built a comprehensive set of story stimuli in Italian and Mandarin Chinese that differ in the plausibility and coherence of the situation being described and the presence or absence of a discourse connective. We collected plausibility judgments and reading times from native speakers for the stimuli. Moreover, we correlated the results of the experiments with the predictions given by computational modeling, using Surprisal scores obtained via Transformer-based language models. The human judgements were collected using a seven-point Likert scale and analyzed using cumulative link mixed modeling (CLMM), while the human reading times and language model surprisal scores were analyzed using linear mixed effects regression (LMER). We found that Chinese NLMs are sensitive to plausibility and connectives, although they struggle to reproduce expectation reversal effects due to a connective changing the plausibility of a given scenario; Italian results are even less aligned with human data, with no effects of either plausibility and connectives on Surprisal.

Exploring the barriers and enablers of industrial solutions in renovation projects: a mixed-methods study in the finnish AEC industry

Offsite construction is a major approach to promote industrialisation in construction. However, implementation of prevailing industrial solutions is often less adequate and unsatisfactory, especially in renovation projects. Thus, the overall objective of this study is to understand the reasons behind the poor performance in implementation of the industrial solutions. The specific objectives include identifying the prominent barriers and enablers of prefabricated products in renovation projects. This study employed exploratory sequential mixed method. The qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured interviews to collect experiences and perception of experts related to industrial solutions. This was followed by quantitative data collection via questionnaire survey using a seven-point Likert scale. The major barriers and enablers of industrial solutions in renovation projects have been ranked in this study. The findings reveal that immutability of heritage buildings, the tolerances of old buildings and insufficient spaces to ensure construction work ranked the top three barriers for implementing industrial solutions in renovation projects. Moreover, the study identifies the most significant enablers including shorter project schedules, quality improvement and work safety improvement. The novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive presentation of the barriers and enablers of industrial solutions in the renovation project context. Policymakers, designers, and contractors can utilize these findings as guiding principles to enhance decision-making processes and create viable solutions for the obstacles encountered in renovation projects. This study further represents a vital step towards the efficient and effective implementation of industrial solutions in renovation projects, resulting in more sustainable and cost-effective outcomes.

User Experience of a (Semi-) Automated Cognitive Phone-Based Assessment Within a Memory Clinic Population.

We examined the user experience in different modalities (face-to-face, semi-automated phone-based, and fully automated phone-based) of cognitive testing in people with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment. A total of 67 participants from the memory clinic of the Maastricht University Medical Center+ participated in the study. The study consisted of cognitive tests in different modalities, namely, face-to-face, semi-automated phone-based guided by a researcher, and fully automated phone-based without the involvement of a researcher. After each assessment, a user experience questionnaire was administered, including questions about, for example, satisfaction, simplicity, and missing personal contact, on a seven-point Likert scale. Non-parametric tests were used to compare user experiences across different modalities. In all modalities, user experiences were rated above average. The face-to-face ratings were comparable to the ratings of the semi-automated phone-based assessment, except for the satisfaction and recommendation items, which were rated higher for the face-to-face assessment. The face-to-face assessment was preferred above the fully automated phone-based assessment on all items. In general, the semi- and fully automated phone-based assessments were comparable (simplicity, conceivability, quality of sound, visiting the hospital, and missing personal contact), while on all the other items, the semi-automated phone-based assessment was preferred. User experience was rated high within all modalities. Simplicity, conceivability, comfortability, and participation scores were comparable in the semi-automated phone-based and face-to-face assessment. Based on these findings and earlier research on validation of the semi-automated phone-based assessment, the semi-automated assessment could be useful for screening for clinical trials, and after more research, in clinical practice.

Association between Geriatric 8 frailty and health-related quality of life in older patients with cancer (PROGNOSIS-G8): a Danish single-centre, prospective cohort study

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is highly valued among older adults with cancer. The Geriatric 8screening tool identifies individuals with frailty, but its association with HRQoL remains sparsely investigated. Herein, we evaluate whether Geriatric 8frailty is associated with short-term and long-term HRQoL in older patients with cancer. In this Danish single-centre, prospective cohort study, patients aged 70years and older, referred to oncological assessment for solid cancers, were screened with the Geriatric 8. Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Elderly 14(ELD14) questionnaires at baseline, 3months, 6months, 9months, and 12months. Patient characteristics were obtained from medical records. Differences in mean global health status and QoL (GHS), measured using the two seven-point Likert scale questions from the EORTC QLQ-C30 regarding overall health and QoL during the past week, between patients with frailty (defined as a Geriatric 8score of ≤14) and without frailty within 12months were the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were differences in the mean EORTC Summary Score comprised of all questions from the QLQ-C30 except for those included in the GHS and a question concerning financial difficulties, and five functional (physical, role, and social functioning, maintaining purpose, and family support from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC-QLQ-ELD14), and five symptom scales (fatigue, pain, mobility, future worries, and burden of illness from the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and the EORTC-QLQ-ELD14). Analyses were done using linear mixed models. All primary and secondary outcomes were adjusted for gender, treatment intent, and cancer type and the primary outcome was also assessed by means of a responder analysis. Between June 1, 2020and Oct 15, 2021, 1398eligible patients were screened with the Geriatric 8 (908 [65%] with frailty and 490 [35%] without frailty) and provided medical record data. Of these patients, 707 (51%) also provided HRQoL data (437 [62%] with frailty and 270 [38%] without frailty). When adjusted, patients with frailty had poorer GHS(-15·1, 95% CI -18·5to -11·6; p<0·0001) at baseline and throughout follow-up (3 months -7·4, -11·0to -3·7, p=0·0001; 6months -11·7, -15·5to -7·9, p<0·0001; 9months -10·4, -14·3to -6·5, p<0·0001; 12months -10·4, -14·6to -6·2, p<0·0001) compared to patients without frailty. Adjusted summary scores were also poorer for patients with frailty (-9·9, 95% CI -12·1to -7·6; p<0·0001) compared to patients without frailty at baseline and throughout follow-up (3 months -8·2, -10·5to -5·8, p=0·0001; 6months -9·0, -11·4to -6·6, p<0·0001; 9months -9·2, -11·7to -6·8, p<0·0001; 12 months -8·9, -11·5to -6·3, p<0·0001). Patients with frailty had significantly worse physical and role functioning, mobility, and fatigue outcomes, with no differences in family support within 12months, at all timepoints. Older patients with cancer and frailty have significantly poorer HRQoL than those without frailty within the 12months following an oncology referral. Thus, by identifying and treating frailty, we can ultimately improve patient HRQoL. The Danish Cancer Society, Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Dagmar Marshalls Fond, and Agnes and Poul Friis Fond.

Revisiting the English Short Measure for Adult Playfulness (SMAP): An Investigation of Reliability, Validity, and Cross-Cultural Comparisons

Adult playfulness describes the personality of the quick initiation and strong intensity of enjoyable experiences coupled with the frequency of engaging in playful behaviors. In addition to examining the reliability and validity of the Short Measure for Adult Playfulness (SMAP), we compared the psychometric properties of the SMAP across (a) 4- and 7-point answer formats; (b) German and English language versions; and (c) gender. The SMAP and criterion validity measures were distributed across three independent samples from Canada (N total = 1,177) and a German sample (N = 660). Results supported a unidimensional solution with strong factor loadings for all items (>.50 across all samples) and high test-retest reliability (r = .67, BF10>100). In item response theory analyses, high discrimination parameters were found across the latent continuum. Although both the four-point and seven-point Likert scale versions showed robust item properties, the seven-point Likert scale version yielded more precise measurement of higher playfulness (θ > 1.50). No significant differential item functioning was located across gender or language. Finally, results supported external construct validity via associations with broad personality traits, humor, and orientations to happiness. The present investigation provides support for the reliability and validity of the English SMAP for concise adult playfulness measurement.

Overcoming Challenges: Implementing the CEFR in Thai Secondary School English Classrooms

In 2016, the Thai Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (Council of Europe, 2001) as a guideline for teachers in primary and secondary schools. The CEFR is a six-point scale (A1-C2) that describes a language learner’s proficiency. This study investigated how Thai EFL teachers implement the CEFR in the classroom. The participants were 300 Thai EFL teachers from public secondary schools in Northeastern Thailand, each with at least three years of teaching experience. Convenience sampling was used to select participants. Quantitative data were collected through a seven-point Likert scale questionnaire. In contrast, qualitative data were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, purposefully chosen based on their willingness indicated in the survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, percentages, and standard deviation were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were coded into CEFR domains. The quantitative results showed that Thai EFL teachers moderately implement the CEFR in their classrooms. The study highlighted a significant need for better CEFR implementation in language teaching. The qualitative findings corroborated those teachers moderately applied the CEFR. The overall findings suggest that teachers and curriculum developers need more CEFR training, and further research is recommended.

Application of Fuzzy Delphi Method in Designing Interactive Infographic Module for Learning Arabic Grammar

The topic of Arabic grammar learning has detailed debates and requires more focus to be understood. The content of textbooks explained only by teachers causes students to feel bored and unattractive, diminishing their interest in learning Arabic grammar. Utilizing technology is now essential for creating a relaxed and effective learning environment, especially for complex course content such as Arabic grammar. Therefore, this study aims to achieve a consensus of experts on the main components and elements of each component as a basis for developing an interactive infographic module for learning Arabic grammar. The design phase is to obtain expert agreement on these components and elements by using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with the use of a seven-point Likert scale. Ten experts from various fields of expertise were involved as respondents. Data obtained were analysed using Triangular Fuzzy Numbering, while ranking was determined through the Defuzzification process. The findings show that experts have reached a consensus with a threshold value of less than 0.2 (d&lt;0.2), a consensus rate exceeding 75 per cent (%) and a fuzzy score value (A) exceeding 0.5. Overall, the main components and elements agreed upon by experts related to interactive infographic modules in learning Arabic grammar can produce a module that can provide fun not only for students but also for teachers because the module is interactive and contains full multimedia elements.

Validation and Application of Thresholds to Define Meaningful Change in Vasomotor Symptoms Frequency: Analysis of Pooled SKYLIGHT1 and 2 Data.

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), the characteristic symptoms of menopausal transition, are often the primary reason women seek treatment. Current treatment options for VMS include fezolinetant, a nonhormonal, selective neurokinin3 receptor antagonist. This study aimed to define a clinically meaningful threshold for reduction of moderate-to-severe VMS in postmenopausal women treated with fezolinetant and then apply it in a responder analysis of the pooled trial data. This analysis pooled data from two identical phase3, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that randomized women with moderate-to-severe VMS to once-daily fezolinetant 30mg, 45mg, or placebo (SKYLIGHT1 and 2). The frequency of VMS was collected daily using an electronic diary. Patients completed the Patient Global Impression of Change in VMS (PGI-C VMS) instrument, which assessed changes in hot flushes/night sweats at weeks4 and 12 compared with baseline using a seven-point Likert scale. VMS frequency data were anchored to PGI-C VMS data; the anchor level for meaningful within-patient change in PGI-C VMS was "moderately better." In the pooled population (N = 1022), the mean (standard deviation) estimated thresholds for a meaningful within-patient change in moderate-to-severe VMS frequency were - 5.73 (3.47) at week4 and - 6.20 (5.18) at week12. Applying the thresholds for meaningful within-patient change to responder analyses ("missing as non-responder" imputation method) indicated a favorable clinical benefit: greater proportions of responders were observed in the fezolinetant 30-mg and 45-mg groups compared with placebo at week4 (odds ratio range 2.48-2.91; P < 0.001) and week12 (odds ratio range 1.908-2.68; P < 0.001). PGI-C VMS is sensitive to change and correlates with VMS frequency: a reduction of approximately six VMS episodes per day from baseline to week12 was meaningful at the individual patient level. Fezolinetant provides a meaningful clinical benefit for women with moderate-to-severe VMS associated with menopause and represents an important nonhormonal treatment option. NCT04003155 and NCT04003142.

Development of tolerance among parents of students with special educational needs

In the article the very important issue of parental attitudes towards children with special educational needs was examined, the number of which increases every year. The legislative framework of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in adherence to international instruments safeguarding children's rights, has incorporated the notion of children with special educational needs and the principle of equitable entitlement to high-quality education for all students, considering their individual capabilities. Contemporary environments for children increasingly manifest malevolence, bitterness, and aggressiveness. This surge can be attributed to various factors such as mutual intolerance, cultural selfishness disseminated through mass media, and the familial and social spheres influencing schools. The primary objective of this study was to assess and ascertain the level of tolerance among parents. The investigation involved 32 parents of students attending a specialized boarding school in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan. Specifically, 16 parents participated in a specialized course designed for parents of children with special educational needs. The assessment of parental tolerance commenced with pre and post-experimental phase testing, utilizing a self-translated questionnaire titled “Everyday Multicultural Competencies/Revised Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy” (Mallinckrodt, et al., 2014). The questionnaire comprises 10 statements that are assessed on a seven-point Likert scale

Multimodal perception of digital protective materials

The online clothing industry has gained popularity among consumers, and the perception of materials and equipment plays a crucial role in their purchasing decisions. Therefore, accurately representing their appearance in real-time is essential. This study aimed to subjectively evaluate 20 protective textile materials by translating their tactile characteristics into virtual prototypes. This was accomplished by scanning physical materials with an x-Tex scanner and processing them in KeyShot rendering software. Consequently, four scenarios featuring digital materials were created: S1-image, S2-video animation, S3-3D object, and S4-physical materials. Digital visual subjective evaluations were conducted for sensory analysis. Participants were asked to assess four visual and seven tactile characteristics using a seven-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was employed to evaluate the sensory data collected through subjective testing. The results indicated that agreement values for the four scenarios ranged from 1.25 to 7.0, as illustrated in boxplot diagrams representing the subjects' agreement with the perceptual attributes. Pairwise comparisons of the S4-S1, S4-S2, and S4-S3 scenarios concerning the difference in means revealed that attributes FR with values of 0.045 (S1), RM with values of 0.063 (S1), CR with values of 0.028 (S1), CR with values of 0.039 (S2), and 0.052 (S3) are closely aligned with the actual values, as the values obtained from these scenarios closely approximate 0. In contrast, the values of the remaining attributes were close to 1, indicating the difficulty of translating these attributes into digital format and achieving accurate perception. Assessing textile material properties through digital images remains a challenging task that requires in-depth subjective analysis.

Situational Judgement Test (SJT) on Digital Leadership using Fuzzy Delphi Method for Expert Evaluations

Nowadays, one of the most prominent leadership philosophies is digital leadership. However, there are still few tools available to assess digital leadership. Unfortunately, the discussion about expert consensus items is limited, especially involving fuzzy considerations. Therefore, this study will assess the content validity of an instrument called situational judgement test (SJT) by using Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM). There are 13 panels chosen to serve as the FDM's experts. The item should satisfy three conditions of FDM, namely the threshold value (d), the percentage of expert consensus, and the fuzzy score (Amax). The questionnaire uses a seven-point Likert scale based on appropriateness. There are nine constructs, namely (1) Student Engagement, Learning, and Outcomes; (2) Learning Environment and Spaces; (3) Professional Growth and Learning; (4) Communication; (5) Public relations; (6) Branding; (7) Opportunities; (8) Empowered Professionals; and (9) Learning Catalyst. Each construct has 10 items at the first level. According to the results of the study, only 45 of 90 items are appropriate for inclusion in the SJT to assess teachers' digital leadership roles, i.e., five items for each construct. The findings have important implications to recommend any other empirical ways of assessing SJT items to increase the validity aspect of the items.