Significant Difference In Mean Scores Research Articles

Depression Conditions of the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes and the Factors Affecting Them

Aim: The aim of our article is to determine the depression status of elderly people living in nursing homes and the affecting factors. Material and Method: The study included 75 elderly individuals who lived in assisted living facilities. Data was collected through a Personal Information Form, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Mini Mental Assessment Test, and retrospective blood results. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software and non-parametric tests were used due to the non-normal distribution of the data. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare independent variables. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was employed. Results: The study found that 38.7% of elderly participants had abnormal mini-mental assessments, and 21.3% had significant depression. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the total mean scores of the Mini Mental State Test (MMST) based on gender (p=0.023), marital status (p=0.001), educational attainment (p=0.001), and level of schooling. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.002) between the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) total mean score and the presence of sleep issues. The total mean scores of MMST indicated a statistically significant difference between the status of urine incontinence (p=0.001) and exercise (p=0.006), as well as their combination. Conclusion: Approximately one third of the participants were depressed and had poor cognitive status. Depression was associated with being female, low educational status and sleep problems, whereas mental status was associated with gender, marital status, and educational status. It is recommended to conduct longitudinal studies with larger samples in future studies.

유아 놀이중심 교육과정을 반영한 기후·생태계 프로그램 효과성 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a climate-ecosystem program reflect-ing an early childhood play-based curriculum on early childhood development (nature), environmental con-servation attitudes, ecological literacy, and early childhood playfulness. Methods The study participants are 5-year-old children from a kindergarten in Gyeonggi Province, with 13 in-dividuals in the experimental group and 15 individuals in the control group. SPSS 23.0 was used to determine the mean, standard deviation, and reliability coefficient of the study variables. The homogeneity test was conducted using the pre-test mean scores between groups, and the difference between the experimental and control groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test based on post-test mean scores. Pre-post differences between the experimental and comparison groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The main research results are as follows: First, the simple difference between the pre-test and post-test mean scores of the study variables revealed improvement in the experimental group(from 0.13 to 1.02 points), while the comparison group showed both an increase(from 0.01 to 0.36 points) and a decrease(from -0.26 to -0.03 points). There was no statistically significant difference in pretest mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups, confirming homogeneity. The pre-post difference test of the experimental group showed statistically significant differences in early childhood development (nature) and environmental conservation atti-tudes and subscales (conservation attitude, recycling attitude, environmental pollution prevention attitude), eco-logical literacy and subscales (nature's rights, intention to support, resource protection, ecological sensitivity, eco-logical social environment, ecological development_reverse, nature governance_reverse, ecological crisis indif-ference), and early childhood playfulness and some subscales (physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, sense of humor). On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in the cognitive spontaneity and ex-pression of pleasure sub-domains of preschoolers' playfulness. The pre-post difference test for the comparison group found statistical significance only for ecological sensitivity, a sub-scale of ecological literacy, and physical spontaneity, a sub-scale of preschoolers' playfulness. Second, the factors that resulted in statistically significant differences in post-hoc mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups were environmental con-servation attitudes and their sub-scales, recycling attitudes, ecological literacy and its sub-scales, supportive in-tention, ecological sensitivity, nature dominance(reverse), and ecological crisis indifference. Conclusions The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of climate and ecosystem programs through play. As an extension of this study, we aim to propose collaborative activities with the local community through a living lab approach.

Immersive virtual reality for prospective memory and eye fixation recovery following traumatic brain injury: A pilot study

Rehabilitation is crucial for the recoveriy from traumatic brain injuries (TBI); yet, only 77 – 88% of TBI patients are receipients of rehabilitation. Particularly, individuals lacking insurance coverage or facing transportation hurdles, notably within the Hispanic community, are less likely to undergo rehabilitation. Virtual reality (VR), known for its mobility and affordability, is recommended as a rehabilitation alternative. This community-based participatory research project aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and potential of VR scenarios in addressing common rehabilitative needs. Focus groups involving TBI patients (N = 12) were conducted to identify rehabilitative needs and design VR scenarios. Two novel scenarios were created to enhance prospective memory and eye tracking. The impact of the prospective memory VR scenario was assessed among individuals with brain injuries 1 year post-TBI (N = 11), who were divided into intervention and delayed-intervention groups. In addition, six participants underwent the eye-tracking VR scenario to evaluate its effectiveness. Data from memory tests and screen recordings were gathered. In the objective memory test, participants in the VR intervention group (66%) exhibited greater improvement than those in the memory card delayed intervention group (0%) after 12 sessions. However, there was no statistically significant difference in mean scores on a Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire memory scale between the intervention and delayed-intervention groups after 6 weeks. Nonetheless, all participants demonstrated enhanced eye tracking skills after completing the eye tracking VR scenario between the 6th and 12th sessions. In conclusion, the VR scenarios exhibited promise, acceptability, and feasibility in improving prospective memory and eye tracking for individuals with TBI 1 year post-injury.

Fracture load of chairside CAD-CAM veneers fabricated with pre-and fully crystalized lithium disilicate ceramics.

To evaluate the fracture load of chairside computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) veneers fabricated with two conventional pre-crystallized and two fully crystallized lithium disilicate ceramic materials. Seventy-five chairside CAD-CAM veneers (15 specimens/group) for maxillary right central incisors were fabricated with different lithium disilicate brands: (1) IPS e.max CAD; (2) Amber Mill; (3) Cerec Tessera; (4) n!ce Straumann; and (5) GC Initial LiSi Block. Restorations were cemented with resin luting cement (Variolink Esthetic, Ivoclar) to 3D-printed resin dies. Bonded restorations received 5000 thermal cycles and then were loaded until fracture. Statistical analysis included One-Way ANOVA. Conventional pre-crystallized e.max CAD displayed the highest fracture load value (640 N), followed by fully-crystallized n!ce Straumann (547 N), pre-crystallized Cerec Tessera (503 N), pre-crystallized Amber Mill (476 N), respectively; fully-crystallized GC Initial LiSi Block (431 N) displayed the lowest values. When comparing the fracture load of recent lithium disilicate ceramic material to the e.max group, which acted as the control, significant differences were noted. The LiSi Block GC group, in particular, had considerably higher mean difference values (208.867, p < 0.001, 95% CI [89.63, 328.10]), as did the Amber Mill group (164.200, p = 0.002, 95% CI [44.96, 283.44]) and CEREC Tessera group (137.533, p = 0.016, 95% CI [18.30, 256.77]). The e.max and n!ce Straumann groups had no statistically significant differences in mean scores (92.933, p = 0.198, 95% CI [-26.30, 212.17]). These findings imply that the clinical performance of recent lithium disilicate veneers varies when compared to the e.max CAD group. The fracture load of chairside CAD-CAM lithium disilicate veneers for maxillary central incisors varies according to the type of ceramic brands. Conventional pre-crystallized e.max CAD displayed higher fracture load than the recent pre- and fully-crystallized lithium disilicate materials, emphasizing the significance of choosing the right product based on the desired clinical outcome.

Instructional Leadership Practice of Secondary School Principals to Deliver Quality Education in North Shewa Zone in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The participants of the study were secondary school principals (47) and supervisors (16) selected using availability sampling. The method of data collection was a principals’ instructional management rating scale. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and an independent t-test, p < .05. The findings indicated that the practice of the ten instructional leadership functions was mainly poor, with some good with slightly better practices. The findings from an independent-sample t-test analysis showed that there were no statistically significant mean score differences between principals and supervisors’ ratings of the three dimensions of instructional leadership. To improve the instructional leadership practice in the schools, practical pre-and in-service training should be given to improve the knowledge and skill of instructional leadership of the principals.

The impact of teach-back training method (TBTM) on treatment adherence in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Ensuring adherence to treatment is vital for individuals undergoing haemodialysis. The demanding treatment frequency and duration often present challenges for patients in maintaining a consistent routine. Non-adherence can result in adverse health effects and an increased risk of hospitalization. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of teach-back training on treatment adherence among haemodialysis patients. A randomized controlled trial involved 60 end-stage kidney disease patients undergoing haemodialysis. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control or intervention group. Data were collected using the End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire (ESRD-AQ), assessing adherence in four dimensions: HD incidence, medication use, fluid restriction, and diet recommendations. The intervention group received feedback-based training on diet and fluid restriction during four 45-60-min sessions, while the control group received regular indoor training. Following the intervention, significant differences in mean scores for HD frequency, medication use, and fluid restriction were observed between the two groups (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean score for food recommendations (P=0.108). The teach-back training method (TBTM) is an effective communication strategy that enhances treatment adherence in haemodialysis patients. This intervention has the potential to improve patient outcomes and overall quality of life by simplifying medical information and encouraging patient engagement.

Development of an Interactive Digital Learning Media “E-MIREDOKS” on Redox Reaction Material

This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of E-MIREDOKS (Redox Reaction Interactive E-Module) as a digital and interactive learning tool for teaching redox reactions in chemistry. The research methodology employed is the Research and Development approach developed by Sukmadinata, which involves three main stages: preliminary study, media development, and media testing, culminating in a limited-scale trial. This methodology was chosen due to its alignment with the goal of developing a learning tool. The validity of the developed medium was assessed using validity sheets, pretest and posttest sheets, student feedback, and observation sheets. The medium was found to be feasible based on its content and construct validity, with validity percentages of 85.56% and 85.93% respectively, falling within the category of exceptionally valid. The effectiveness of the medium was evaluated through a comparison of pretest and posttest scores, resulting in a sig.(2-tailed) value of 0.00 &amp;lt; 0.05 (α), indicating a significant difference in mean scores between the pretest and posttest. Out of 36 students, 31 achieved individual learning accuracy, while 86.11% attained classical learning accuracy. The practicality of the medium was assessed using student feedback, which yielded a percentage of 92.63%, and observations of student behavior, which scored 96.67%, both falling within the category of exceptionally practical. These findings provide evidence that E-MIREDOKS can serve as an effective digital and interactive learning tool for chemistry education.

Effect of Supportive Midwifery Care in Primiparous on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Fear of Childbirth in Labour

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the effect of supportive midwifery care in primiparous on posttraumatic stress disorder and fear of childbirth in labour. Methods: The study was conducted in the delivery room of a maternity hospital in eastern Turkey. The data were collected between January and November 2018. This study is a quasi-experimental study, in which pregnant women were sampled from the relevant population using the non-probability random sampling method. The sample consisted of 164 women, including 82 in the experimental group and 82 in the control group. The women in both groups were asked to complete a personal information form and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) Version A. Those in the experimental group received midwifery support during labour. The women in both groups were then given the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version B and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised 6–8 hours after childbirth. Results: The mean prenatal W-DEQ version A score was 47.15±19.68 in the experimental group and 63.23±23.10 in the control group. There was a significant difference in mean scores between the groups (p

Development of the Blood Stasis Questionnaire for Gynecological Diseases: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Blood stasis is the slowing or stagnation of blood and can cause metabolic, musculoskeletal, and gynecological diseases. This study developed the Blood Stasis Questionnaire for gynecological disease (BSQ-GD) by extracting clinical indicators related to gynecological diseases using the Blood Stasis Questionnaires I and II (BSQ-I and II, respectively) and analyzed the clinical data of a cross-sectional study. In total, 103 women aged between 25 and 65 years who met gynecological disease criteria were enrolled in this study. Blood stasis scores (BSS) were evaluated using the BSQ-II and categorized into BSS and non-BSS groups. To assess the reliability of BSQ-GD, the internal consistency coefficient was employed using Cronbach's α. Furthermore, correlation analyses were conducted for the clinical symptoms related to gynecological diseases, and the discriminant validity was confirmed by comparing the two groups. The prediction accuracy was determined using logistic regression and the cut-off value of the BSQ-GD was established via the sensitivity and specificity calculations. The BSQ-GD showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.71) and validity, with significant differences in mean scores between blood stasis (22.30 ± 3.34) and non-blood stasis (14.93 ± 3.49) groups. The cut-off value of the BSQ-GD score was 19 points when the Youden index (73.45) and the concordance probability (0.75) were at their maximum. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was approximately 96%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic accuracy according to the cut-off value are 80.95% and 92.50%, respectively. The BSQ-GD can be an appropriate instrument to estimate blood stasis in patients with gynecological diseases; its diagnostic sensitivity according to the cut-off value is high.

Assessing Residents in the Department of Surgery at a Tertiary Care Centre Using Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX).

This study aimed to introduce, sensitize, and train our postgraduate students and faculty of the department of general surgery with the use of mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini‑CEX) and to assess the perception of students and faculty towards it. A cross‑sectional observational study was conducted over a period of four months. Ten surgery residents in the department were asked to volunteer to participate and five professors conducted the session. Five sessions of mini‑CEX(nine points) were conducted for each resident in different settings of the out‑patient department (OPD) and in‑patient department (IPD). A total of five skills were tested. Feedback from faculty and residents regarding the perception of mini‑CEX was alsotaken. A statistically significant difference in mean scores of all domains was observed comparing the first and last assessment (p<0.05). Hundred percent of the residents scored superior category (7-9) in the final assessment in all domains, whereas the maximum was in a satisfactory scoring grade in 1st assessment. The time taken for the assessment significantly reduced from 1st assessment to the last assessment in OPD and IPD settings (p=0.001). The mini-CEX assessment tool got 100% feedback from faculty in terms of skill improvement, method, attitude of residents, and ability to identify gaps in knowledge. However, one assessor thought that "time given for assessment" was inadequate and more effort was required than the usual traditional assessment methods. The most identified problem faced by residents was that the "time given during assessment" was less (50%); however, overall residents also found it valid, effective, and helpful in identifying knowledge gaps and improving clinical and communication skills. Mini‑CEX improves the learning environment in residency and also leads to improvement in medical interviewing skills, physical examination skills, humanistic qualities/professionalism, and counseling skills. So, it can be used for residency training in clinical departments.

Actual Scope of Nursing Practice in Saudi Ministry of Health Hospitals.

Articulating a clear scope of practice for all nursing categories is essential for improving patient safety, quality of care, and nurse retention. However, this is not the case in many countries, including Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to analyze the actual scope of practice for nursing staff in Saudi Ministry of Health hospitals. The study used a cross-sectional exploratory design. The sampling method used in the study was the quota sampling technique. The scale utilized in this study was the Actual Scope of Practice (ASCOP) scale. Data were collected in March 2021 through an electronic form questionnaire completed by 286 nurses in two hospitals in Al-Hasa province in Saudi Arabia. The overall mean score for ASCOP was 4.64 out of 6. When participants were grouped according to select characteristics (various nursing staff categories, educational levels, years of experience, nationality, gender, and type of work setting), the results revealed no statistically significant differences in overall ASCOP mean scores, except for gender and nationality. The overall mean scores of nursing activities performed in practice do not significantly differ across nurses with different professional categories (health assistant, nursing technician, nursing specialist, and senior nursing specialist), indicating no clear scope of practice for each nursing category, in turn leading to role overlap among them in practice. The current study's findings can guide decision-makers to develop a clear scope of practice for nurses. The findings should also urge the decision-makers to reevaluate the usefulness of having multiple professional categories of nurses who are allowed to carry out almost the same job duties.

The effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercise applied to lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on dyspnea, pain and sleep quality: A randomized controlled trial

PurposeThe aim of the present study is the analysis of how progressive muscle relaxation exercise affects dyspnea, pain and sleep quality in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy. MethodsSeventy-four patients diagnosed with lung cancer were included in this randomized controlled study. A total of 16 sessions of progressive muscle relaxation exercises were applied to the patients in the intervention group for a duration of 30 min, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. Patient Information Form, Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MRC dyspnea scale), Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Visual Analog Scale- Pain (VAS-P) were used to collect data. ResultsSocio-demographic and disease characteristics were found to be similar in control and intervention groups. Final scores indicated significant differences between the experimental and control groups in all variables. The experimental group showed significantly more favorable results in dyspnea (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.003) and sleep (p < 0.001) symptoms. When the effect size values (Cohen's d) of these findings were analyzed, PMR exercise was found to have a moderate effect on mean VAS-P scores (0.548) and a large effect on mean MRC dyspnea scale (1.073) and PSQI (0.970) scores. These results indicated significant differences in pre and post intervention mean scores. ConclusionProgressive muscle relaxation exercise applied to lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was found to be effective in reducing dyspnea and pain severity and improving sleep quality.Clinical trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04978805

Investigating the Level of Attitude and Satisfaction among Nursing Instructors Regarding OSCE/OSPE at the Institutes of KPK

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a commonly utilized tool for evaluating clinical performance among students pursuing medical and health professions. The study was conducted with the aim of determining the level of attitude and satisfaction among nursing educators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: A cross sectional analytical study design was used to evaluate the level of attitude and satisfaction from nursing educators of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 181 participants using convenient sampling technique. The study was conducted from March to December 2023. A valid and reliable adopted questionnaire was used for collection. The study was approved by the ethical review board while informed consent from each participant was taken before data collection. Independent t-test, ANNOVA and chi-square test was applied through SPSS version 22.0 for data analysis. Results: In the present study, the number of males was higher (65%), age 25 to 35 was 89 (49.4%), and education post-RN BSN was 101 (56.1%) in majority. The maximum number of the participants, 132 (73.3%), attitude level was moderate, having a mean score of 46.79 ± 7.01, while the level of satisfaction of the higher number of participants, 141 (78.3%), was also moderate, with a mean score of 79.77 ± 10.53. There was significant difference in mean score of attitudes within the groups of qualification, and experience, while the satisfaction there were significant difference within the groups of age, qualification and experience. Conclusions: The study concluded that attitude is associated with age, qualification, and experience, while satisfaction was associated with qualification, the tool should be improved for acceptance and understanding.

Comparison of Cluster Analysis and Latent Class Analysis for the Detection of Fake Responses on Personality Tests

This study compared the effectiveness of cluster analysis and latent class analysis in detecting fake responses in personality tests. A post-test control group design was employed involving 543 11th-grade students from eight different high schools in Şanlıurfa province during the 2021–2022 academic year. The experimental group was instructed to portray a positive personality profile on the test and provide deceptive responses, as their admission to a university program was contingent on this. Conversely, the control group was asked to represent themselves truthfully and provide honest responses. In this study, the initial focus was on assessing the validity and reliability of the scores obtained from the personality test. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the scores of the participants in the experimental and control groups for each sub-dimension of the personality test to determine if there was a significant difference. The findings revealed a significant difference in mean scores between the two groups, favoring the experimental group. Moreover, the results obtained from Cluster Analysis and Latent Class Analysis demonstrated that Latent Class Analysis outperformed Cluster Analysis in detecting fake respondents, exhibiting a lower error rate.

Practice of Adaptive Teaching in Improving Students’ Learning: An Effective Approach

Adaptive teaching is considered fundamental to teaching quality and student learning. It describes teachers’ practices of adjusting their instruction to students’ diverse needs and levels of understanding. It is becoming increasingly clear that not all students require the same education, and the requirement of personalized education is increasingly in demand. This quantitative study was completed through quasi-experimental research design. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 32 students of first semester (male =16, female=16) as sample of the study from the department of Applied Psychology Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Students’ academic performance was measured in the subject of Functional English. Experiential group was taught through adaptive approach of teaching and control group was taught through traditional approach. Pre-test and post-test were performed. Findings of the study reveal that there was significant mean score difference of academic performance among students of experiential group with respect to pre-test and post-test. Furthermore, there was also found a statistically significant mean score difference on academic performance between experimental group and control group. It is recommended that at university level adaptive of teaching of teaching should be practiced to improve students’ learning.

The Effectiveness of Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities on reducing the burden of parental care

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Introduction: Although the pressure of care has an adverse effect on mental health of parents with children with intellectual disabilities, educational training for these children can be helpful by creating independence for these children. Accordingly, the present study is conducted by determining the effectiveness of educational training for children with intellectual disabilities on reducing the burden of care for their parents.&#x0D; Methods: The current research was conducted as a semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all the children under 14 withintellectual disabilities in Pakdasht city in 2021; 30 of them were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). The experimental group underwent 20 training sessions, -two sessions a week for 5 hours, but the control group did not receive any training. Zarit Burden Interview was completed by their parents. Then, the obtained data was analyzed by SPSS 18 software and univariate covariance.&#x0D; Results: Data illustrated the significant difference of the parental burden mean scores between the experimental and control groups (F=107/535, P&lt;0/01); so, it can be concluded that educational training for children with educable intellectual disabilities significantly impacts caregiving-induced burden.&#x0D; Conclusion: Educational training for children with educable intellectual disabilities in centers related with welfare organization (private and governmental), can reduce the caregiving-induced burden and its possible devastating consequences.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Evaluating the efficacy of OralDETECT training: Face-to-face versus online delivery in dental education.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of face-to-face (F2F) and online OralDETECT training programme in enhancing early detection skills for oral cancer. A total of 328 final-year dental students were trained across six cohorts. Three cohorts (175 students) received F2F training from the academic years 2016/2017 to 2018/2019, and the remaining three (153 students) underwent online training during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2019/2020 to 2021/2022. Participant scores were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the Mann-Whitney test, Cohen's d effect size, and multiple linear regression. Both F2F and online training showed increases in mean scores from pre-test to post-test 3: from 67.66 ± 11.81 to 92.06 ± 5.27 and 75.89 ± 11.03 to 90.95 ± 5.22, respectively. Comparison between F2F and online methods revealed significant differences in mean scores with large effect sizes at the pre-test stage (p < 0.001), while significant differences with small effect sizes were noted for post-test 1 (p = 0.002) and post-test 3 (p = 0.041). Regression analysis indicated that the delivery method is associated with the participants' final scores. F2F and online versions of the OralDETECT training programme significantly enhance participants' knowledge and skills in oral cancer detection. Although F2F appeared to be more effective, the difference was not substantial enough to be considered educationally meaningful.

Safe Handling of Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents Among Nurses in Oncology Units

Background: Several concerns have been raised in the literature regarding nurses’ awareness of the safe handling of oral chemotherapeutic agents (OACAs). This research aims to assess such awareness among nurses working in oncology units. Methods: The study utilised a cross-sectional descriptive design, and was conducted between July 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from a previous study, with 34 variables grouped into four categories. Results: Our study indicated that most nurses knew how to safely handle chemotherapeutic drugs. Correct responses per category were: storage, 77.7%; handling, 65.86%; disposal of contaminated materials, 94.45%; and education and training, 89.68%. Nurses with &gt; 10 years’ experience had higher scores than those with &lt; 10 years; the difference was significant (p = 0.039). Likewise, there was a significant difference (p = 0.002) in mean scores between nurses who had received training on the safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs (92.1 ± 20) and those who had not (76.8 ± 30.7). Conclusion: The study indicates that years of experience and roles at work have a significant impact on nurses’ knowledge about the storage of chemotherapeutic drugs. Overall, nurses with more experience and training scored significantly higher, suggesting that training is an effective way to improve knowledge and skills in this area. Furthermore, participation in this study might influence might influence nurses’ judgments when handling oral chemotherapeutic drugs and caring for cancer patients.

Variations in choroidal thickness between emmetropic and myopic eyes after caffeine intake.

To investigate the variations in choroidal thinning between emmetropic and myopic subjects after caffeine intake. Forty-five healthy participants (age mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 20.75 ± 1.6 years) recruited in a prospective cross-sectional study. They were divided into three groups, based on refractive error status, emmetropes (spherical equivalent [SE] -0.25 to +0.25D), myopes (SE ≥-0.50D to ˂-6.00D), and high myopes (SE ≥-6.00D). The participants underwent choroidal thickness [ChT] measurements using optical coherence tomography [OCT] (Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro System) at baseline, 20, 40, and 60 minutes after consuming 200 mg of caffeine. The measurements of ChT were taken from five different areas horizontally. Compared to baseline measurement, the ChT significantly decreased after 200 mg caffeine intake in all conditions ( P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in ChT at baseline between the refractive groups ( χ2 (2)=6.548, P = 0.038) as the high myope group showed lesser horizontal ChT within Nasal at (1 mm) area compared to the myope group ( P = 0.032), however, no other significant differences in mean scores of horizontal ChT at baseline were found. The thinning in ChT in the high myope group was lesser compared to both emmetrope and myope groups; however, it was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the reduction in ChT due to caffeine consumption is not significantly affected by the refractive status of the eye. Thus, it is safe to hypothesize that the vascular part of the choroid behaves identically to vasoconstrictive in both emmetropic and myopic eyes. The choroidal thinning found in myopic and high myopic eyes and/or the reduced choroidal vascularity index were not apparent in this study. Therefore, further longitudinal studies recruiting greater numbers of participants, including myopes and high myopes, and measuring both vascular and stromal layers to investigate such variations are warranted.

Psychometrics of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and short form: a systematic review

BackgroundThe Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and its short-form were developed in Canada and have been used internationally among numerous maternal populations. However, the psychometric properties of the scales have not been reviewed to confirm their appropriateness in measuring breastfeeding self-efficacy in culturally diverse populations. The purpose of this research was to critically appraise and synthesize the psychometric properties of the scales via systematic review.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Three databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) were searched from 1999 (original publication of the Scale) until April 27, 2022. The search was updated on April 1, 2023. Studies that assessed the psychometric properties of the BSES or BSES-SF were included. Two researchers independently extracted data and completed the quality appraisals.ResultsForty-one studies evaluated the psychometrics of the BSES (n = 5 studies) or BSES-SF (n = 36 studies) among demographically or culturally diverse populations. All versions of the instrument demonstrated good reliability, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from .72 to .97. Construct validity was supported by statistically significant differences in mean scores among women with and without previous breastfeeding experience and by correlations between the scales and theoretically related constructs. Predictive validity was demonstrated by statistically significant lower scores among women who ultimately discontinued breastfeeding compared to those who did not.ConclusionThe BSES and BSES-SF appear to be valid and reliable measures of breastfeeding self-efficacy that may be used globally to (1) assess women who may be at risk of negative breastfeeding outcomes (e.g., initiation, duration and exclusivity), (2) individualize breastfeeding support, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of breastfeeding interventions.