Reliability Study Research Articles

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD): an empirical benchmark study of real-world diagnostic accuracy and reliability among leading international psychiatrists

Abstract Background and hypothesis Assigning a psychiatric diagnosis in real-world situations is often difficult, given that the clinical presentation does not usually conform to the list of condensed, simplified behavioral descriptors of mainstream operational taxonomies (MOT) (e.g. ICD-11 and DSM-5). The goal of this study was to benchmark diagnostic accuracy and reliability on a central and severe spectrum of psychopathology (i.e., the schizophrenia spectrum disorders [SSD]), adopting a pragmatic approach as close as possible to real-world clinical settings. Study Design We examined the diagnostic performance of 30 international psychiatrists expert in SSD. The clinicians were asked to make their clinical best diagnostic estimate for two written clinical vignettes excerpted from real-world SSD cases. Study Results In the first vignette, 22 out of the 30 clinicians (73.5%) indicated a schizophrenia spectrum disorder as their main diagnostic hypothesis. In the second vignette, 12 clinicians (40%) chose SSD as their main diagnostic hypothesis. Only 10 of the 30 clinicians (33%) correctly identified both vignettes as cases of SSD. The level of inter-rater diagnostic agreement (Fleiss’ Kappa) was but statistically significant (KFleiss = 0.08, p = 0.01). Conclusions The results suggest that, even in a sample of influential international psychiatrists, the diagnostic accuracy and reliability on SSD presentations is poor and substantially inferior to those obtained in reliability studies using structured or semi-structured interviews. The widespread adoption of MOT systems in the last decades may have inadvertently eroded ability of clinicians to detect a typical pattern of psychiatric illnesses.

Defining wound bed conformability: a new testing methodology to assess the relative swelling rise of foam dressings.

Using a dressing that expands and conforms to the wound bed upon exudate absorption is one of the best ways to promote wound healing. While many products claim wound bed conformability, no externally replicated or verified test methodology had been developed to quantify a wound dressing's ability to conform to the wound bed. The Relative Swelling Rise (RSR) test methodology was developed to measure the relative swelling rise of foam dressings upon fluid absorption, and offers a quantifiable and easily replicated method to measure wound bed conformability. The RSR test method was developed, validated and reliability tested by Coloplast A/S, Denmark. External replication was provided by ALS Odense, Denmark (previously DB Lab). Circular fences provide a fixed diameter to apply and contain the fluid and prevent horizontal spreading in the test set-up. The swelling height is quantified relative to the fence's inner diameter, i.e., the ratio alpha (α), and allows evaluation of a material's ability to conform to the wound bed. Biatain Silicone foam products (n=3, Coloplast A/S, Denmark) were tested, all afforded an average α-ratio from 0.30 to 0.60. The relative standard deviations were between 1-3%, demonstrating the strength of the test. Robustness of the methodology was demonstrated through the internal validation study, the reliability study, and both an internal and external replication study, as well as a systematic literature review and expert review of the construct, content, criterion and generalisability of the method. Having a validated, effective and easily replicable testing method to quantify wound bed conformability of foam dressings is an important step towards achieving better healing outcomes.

Study of the Level of Sports Addiction Among Students at the Faculty of Sports Science

The aim of this study was to investigate the exercise addiction of the students of the School of Physical Education and Sport and to determine the differences according to the type of exercise, age of exercise and load dynamics. The Exercise Addiction Scale (EBÖ-21) developed by Housenblas and Downs (2002) and the Turkish Validity and Reliability Study by Yeltepe and İkizler (2007) and the Personal Information Form were applied to the sample group. The sample of the study consisted of 245 athletes who regularly train at Afyon Kocatepe University School of Physical Education and Sports. Studies on this subject indicate that addiction to sports is similar to addiction to chemical substances due to the presence of withdrawal and tolerance symptoms. The results of the study presented show that self-confidence and athletic performance increase as the students' level increases. When evaluating exercise addiction by gender, it was found that female students were more likely than male students to consider physical problems and show self-control and interruption of exercise behaviour. When evaluated by age, exercise addiction was found to have decreased and been brought under control in older individuals, indicating progress in self-control of addiction.

Consumers’ Trust in Sharing Economy Peer-To-Peer Platforms: A Case Study of Online Food Delivery in Hanoi, Vietnam

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to the influence of trust on consumers’ transactional intention within a P2P sharing platform focusing on consumers who used OFD in Hanoi, Vietnam.   Design/methodology/approach: A structured questionnaire is developed in a Google Form and distributed mainly through web-based and telephone-based platforms. In total, 240 valid responses were collected from Hanoi. To ensure the study's reliability and representativeness while minimizing bias, a convenience sampling method is employed, considering the demographic distribution of consumers across different age groups, genders, occupations, income levels, and various online food delivery platforms, income, frequency of consumption, and average expense. Analytical techniques included descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha reliability testing, and multiple regression analysis.   Results and discussions: Findings revealed that four of the seven factors examined exerted a significant positive impact on Consumers’ Intention to Transact: "Consumer’s Trust in supplying Peer’s Integrity”, "Consumer's Trust in Products Ability”, "Consumer’s Trust in supplying Peer’s Benevolence”, and "Consumer’s Trust in Platform’s Integrity”. Conversely, while “Consumer’s Trust in supplying Peer’s Ability”, “Consumer’s Trust in Platforms Ability”, and “Consumer’s Trust in Platform’s Benevolence” do influence ‘Customers’ Intention to Transact’, their effect lacks statistical significance.   Research Implications: This research sheds light on Vietnam's Sharing Economy, showcasing its transformative impact and governmental support. It focuses on the developing OFD sector, highlighting its rapid growth and significance. By adopting a trust-based research model, the study offers insights into consumer behavior within OFD platforms, contributing to the understanding of trust dynamics.   Originality/Value: The research provides a theoretical foundation for understanding trust's role in shaping consumer behavior and transactional intentions, laying the groundwork for empirical research and practical applications. Practically, the study offers actionable insights for policymakers and industry players. It emphasizes the importance of integrity, reliability, and effective communication in building consumer trust.

Proximal humeral fractures in children - controversies in decision making.

Proximal humeral fractures in children are rare and usually treated non-operatively, especially in children younger than ten. The decision between operative and non-operative treatment is mostly based on age and fracture angulation. In the current literature, diverging recommendations regarding fracture angulation that is still tolerable for non-operative treatment can be found. Besides, there is no consensus on how fracture angulation should be determined. This study aimed to determine whether leading experts in pediatric trauma surgery in Germany showed agreement concerning the measurement of fracture angulation, deciding between operative and non-operative treatment, and choosing a treatment modality. Twenty radiographs showing a proximal humeral fracture and the patient's age were assessed twice by twenty-two senior members of the "Section of Pediatric Traumatology of the German Association for Trauma Surgery". Experts determined the fracture angulation and chose between several operative and non-operative treatment modalities. The mean of individual standard deviations was calculated to estimate the accuracy of single measurements for fracture angulation. Besides Intra-Class Correlation and Fleiss' Kappa coefficients were determined. For fracture angulation, experts showed moderate (ICC = 0.60) interobserver and excellent (ICC = 0.90) intraobserver agreement. For the treatment decision, there was fair (Kappa = 0.38) interobserver and substantial (Kappa = 0.77) intraobserver agreement. Finally, experts preferred ESIN over K-wires for operative and a Gilchrist over a Cuff/Collar for non-operative treatment. Firstly, there is a need for consensus among experts on how fracture angulation in PHFs in children should be reliably determined. Our data indicate that choosing one method everybody agrees to use could be more helpful than using the most sophisticated. However, the overall importance of fracture angulation should also be critically discussed. Finally, experts should agree on treatment algorithms that could translate into guidelines to standardize the care and perform reliable outcome studies. III.

An information flow field model for human–machine interaction

Purpose About 70% of all aircraft accidents are caused by human–machine interaction, thus identifying and quantifying performance shaping factors is a significant challenge in the study of human reliability. An information flow field model of human–machine interaction is put forward to help better pinpoint the factors influencing performance and to make up for the lack of a model of information flow and feedback processes in the aircraft cockpit. To enhance the efficacy of the human–machine interaction, this paper aims to examine the important coupling factors in the system using the findings of the simulation. Design/methodology/approach The performance-shaping factors were retrieved from the model, which was created to thoroughly describe the information flow. The coupling degree between the performance shaping factors was calculated, and simulation and sensitivity analysis are based on system dynamics. Findings The results show that the efficacy of human–computer interaction is significantly influenced by individual important factors and coupling factors. To decrease the frequency of accidents after seven hours, attention should be paid to these factors. Originality/value The novelty of this work lies in proposing a theoretical model of cockpit information flow and using system dynamics to analyse the effect of the factors in the human–machine loop on human–machine efficacy.

Turkish Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity Study of the Vaccine Acceptance Instrument

This research study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Vaccine Acceptance Instrument (VAI). The VAI is a 20-item Likert-type scale, with responses ranging across seven points. A systematic approach was followed to translate the scale into Turkish, involving translation, expert panel evaluation, back-translation, and pilot testing. The Vaccine Acceptance Instrument and a sociodemographic data form were used for data collection. The reliability of the scale was tested by test–retest analysis, and its internal reliability was examined by Cronbach’s alpha test. The factor structure was examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to assess the scale’s fit. Overall, 229 participants were included in the study. In test–retest reliability analysis, the intraclass correlation coefficient of the scale was 0.992 (95% CI: 0.987–0.996). The Cronbach’s alpha value of the scale was 0.824. A four-factor structure was determined. The model had an acceptable fit [χ2/df = 380.04/164 (2,317) p < 0.001, CFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.90, AGFI = 0.906, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.076]. The mean total VAI score was 112.71 ± 17.02. The low education level of the mother, being a housewife, and parents not having the COVID-19 vaccine were statistically significantly associated with a low scale score and low vaccine acceptance (p < 0.05). The Turkish adaptation of the VAI demonstrated satisfactory levels of validity and reliability following rigorous testing.

Interrater Reliability of Performing a Step-by-Step Procedure for Selected Pain Provocation Tests for Hamstrings and Special Tests for Other Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries

Objective: Our study aims to establish interrater reliability in performing the step-by-step procedure of selected pain provocation tests for hamstrings and special tests for lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. Study Design : An interrater reliability study Setting: University of Santo Tomas - Sports Science Laboratory Participants: Ten healthy adults (five females, five males; age = 22.2 ± 0.42) from the university community. Main Outcome Measures: Interrater reliability of performing step-by-step procedures for selected pain provocation tests for hamstrings (painful resisted knee flexion 90°, painful resisted knee flexion 30°, active slump test, Puranen-Orava Test, bent knee stretch) and special tests for lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries (Lachman’s test, McMurray’s test, posterior drawer test, valgus, and varus stress test). Results: Fleiss kappa showed perfect agreement (κ = 1.00) for all test procedures except for Lachman’s test procedure 1 (κ= -0.11 [95% CI, -0.36 to 0.14]), active slump test procedure 4 (κ= -0.03 [95% CI, -0.28 to 0.23]), active slump test procedure 5 (κ= -0.11 [95% CI, -0.28 to 0.23]), and active slump test procedure 6 (κ= -0.05 [95% CI, -0.31 to 0.20]), which resulted in negative agreements. Conclusions: The researcher developed protocols for each special and provocative test were consistent in measuring the intended procedures, and the raters were generally consistent with their ability to measure these tests. Keywords: Interrater reliability, special tests, pain provocation tests, lower extremity injuries

Probabilistic safety and reliability studies toward licensing and deploying HTGR technology in the Polish chemical industry

The pivotal aspects of the Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) and reliability studies for the foreseen HTGR-based nuclear-chemical (Nuc-Chem) facilities are discussed. The traditional PSA methodology has been extended to include the mutual dependence of nuclear and chemical systems of the hybrid Nuc-Chem installations, where HTGR serves as a heat source for various chemical processes. The Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) approach has been utilized for modeling time sequences of failures, including interactions between nuclear and non-nuclear systems, as well as external hazards. The Global Variance Method (GVM), based on the Sobol indices, has been proposed for uncertainty and sensitivity studies concerning numerous sources of variability in a consistent manner. The paper presents the outcomes and achievements from research oriented toward licensing and deploying High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGR) within the Polish chemical industry. The general framework developed in this work for PSA of the hybrid Nuc-Chem facilities can be applied to support the licensing process and safe operation of the Polish chemical plants to be equipped with HTGRs.

Evaluation of Neurodegenerative Disorders with Amyloid-β, Tau, and Dopaminergic PET Imaging: Interpretation Pitfalls.

Antiamyloid therapies for Alzheimer disease recently entered clinical practice, making imaging biomarkers for Alzheimer disease even more relevant to guiding patient management. Amyloid and tau PET are valuable tools that can provide objective evidence of Alzheimer pathophysiology in living patients and will increasingly be used to complement 18F-FDG PET in the diagnostic evaluation of cognitive impairment and dementia. Parkinsonian syndromes, also common causes of dementia, can likewise be evaluated with a PET imaging biomarker,18F-DOPA, allowing invivo assessment of the presynaptic dopaminergic neurons. Understanding the role of these PET biomarkers will help the nuclear medicine physician contribute to the appropriate diagnosis and management of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. To successfully evaluate brain PET examinations for neurodegenerative diseases, knowledge of the necessary protocol details for obtaining a reliable imaging study, inherent limitations for each PET radiopharmaceutical, and pitfalls in image interpretation is critical. This review will focus on underlying concepts for interpreting PET examinations, important procedural details, and guidance for avoiding potential interpretive pitfalls for amyloid, tau, and dopaminergic PET examinations.

Reliability Study of Metal-Oxide Semiconductors in Integrated Circuits

This paper is devoted to the study of CMOS IC parameter degradation during reliability testing. The paper presents a review of literature data on the issue of the reliability of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits and the types of failures leading to the degradation of IC parameters. It describes the tests carried out on the reliability of controlled parameters of integrated circuit TPS54332, such as quiescent current, quiescent current in standby mode, resistance of the open key, and instability of the set output voltage in the whole range of input voltages and in the whole range of load currents. The calculated values of activation energies and acceleration coefficients for different test temperature regimes are given. As a result of the work done, sample rejection tests have been carried out on the TPS54332 IC under study. Experimental fail-safe tests were carried out, with subsequent analysis of the chip samples by the controlled parameter quiescent current. On the basis of the obtained experimental values, the values of activation energy and acceleration coefficient at different temperature regimes were calculated. The dependencies of activation energy and acceleration coefficient on temperature were plotted, which show that activation energy linearly increases with increasing temperature, while the acceleration coefficient, on the contrary, decreases. It was also found that the value of the calculated activation energy of the chip is 0.1 eV less than the standard value of the activation energy.

Systematic Reviews on Human–Animal Interaction Topics: A Look at Reporting Practices

ABSTRACT Mirroring the patterns of primary research, there is a significant and growing increase in the number of systematic reviews (SRs) in the human–animal interaction (HAI) field. This article describes the content of published SRs and compares their reporting practices against the rigorous, prescribed methodologies associated with quality SRs. This study was designed to describe the characteristics of HAI SRs in terms of publication patterns, human subjects, animal(s) of interest, and outcomes and determine the extent to which they follow recommended practices for transparency and reproducibility. Thirteen bibliographic databases were searched for articles containing both an HAI-related term and an SR term. We screened 766 articles for relevance and coded 110 of them for desired data. The majority of reviews (54.55%) were published between 2019 and 2022. Most (65.45%) did not specify the age of human populations studied, but specified ages included children or adolescents, adults, and older adults. A range of human conditions was studied, including, among others, dementia, autism spectrum disorder, and chronic illness. A slight majority of studies (51.82%) did not specify the animal species to be studied, but those that did included, singly or in combination, dogs, horses, robotic animals, and farm or food animals. The majority of studies (63.63%) referred to PRISMA or other methodological guidelines. Across all studies, 163 different databases were searched, with PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL among the most frequently used. Few studies (18.18%) referred to consultation with an information professional. A slight majority (52.72%) provided a full search strategy for at least one database. Most (67.27%) did not include gray literature searches, and most (72.72%) included an assessment of quality or risk of bias for the studies included in their review. In light of their importance in informing practices and policies, and because they are viewed as the most reliable study type, SR reporting in the HAI field should reflect best practices. There is room for improvement in reporting among HAI SRs. Suggestions are offered for ways HAI educators and journal editors may improve SR methodologies and reporting in the field.

Monte Carlo simulation studies of reliability in psychometrics

Monte Carlo simulation studies are widely used in reliability research. This study reviewed 85 published Monte Carlo simulation studies investigating reliability. The review focused on the prevalence of particular reliability estimation methods and estimators, as well as adherence to previous recommendations for the Monte Carlo simulation method. It appears researchers do not fully adhere to these recommendations. Most of the reviewed studies have limitations in at least one of the following: reporting on the data generation procedure, selection of the number of replications, selection of conditions, benchmark utilization, and performance evaluation. Findings also suggest internal consistency in general and coefficient α are the most prevalent. Conversely, some reliability estimation methods and estimators that can be useful under many empirical conditions appear to be mostly overlooked. In the case of internal consistency, these are relatively obscure forms of α, λ2, λ4, μ-series, Kristof's coefficient, Feldt-Gilmer coefficient, maximal reliability, greatest lower bound to reliability, ω family, structural equation modeling-based coefficients, and internal consistency confidence intervals. Overlooked reliability estimation methods are parallel forms, test-retest, multilevel reliability, latent class-based reliability, reliability of an individual, and Bayesian reliability. Suggestions for future research have been offered.

Prevalence of hypersensitivity reactions in various forms of mastocytosis: A pilot study of 2485 adult patients with mastocytosis collected in the ECNM registry.

Hypersensitivity reactions (HR) are common in mastocytosis. However, little is known about triggers and risk factors. The registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) enables reliable studies in a larger cohort of mastocytosis patients. We assessed prevalence, triggers and risk factors of HR in adults with mastocytosis in the ECNM registry. Data were collected in 27 ECNM centers. We analyzed potential triggers (Hymenoptera venoms, food, drug, inhalant and others) and risk factors at diagnosis and during follow-up. The study group consisted of 2485 adults with mastocytosis, 1379 women (55.5%) and 1106 men (44.5%). Median age was 48.2 years (range 18-91 years). Nine hundred and forty eight patients (38.1%) reported one or more HR`. Most common triggers were Hymenoptera venoms in cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) and indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM), whereas in advanced SM (advSM), most common elicitors were drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and penicillin. In multivariate analyses, tryptase level < 90 ng/mL, <15% infiltration by mast cells in bone marrow biopsy-sections, and diagnosis of ISM were identified as independent risk factors for HR. For drug-induced HR, prominent risk factors were advSM and high tryptase levels. New reactions were observed in 4.8% of all patients during 4 years follow-up. HR are mainly triggered by Hymenoptera venoms in patients with CM and ISM and by drugs in patients with advSM. Tryptase levels <90 ng/mL, mast cell bone marrow infiltration <15%, and WHO category ISM are predictors of HR. New HR occur in 4.8% of all patients within 4 years.

4H-SiC MOSFET Threshold Voltage Instability Evaluated via Pulsed High-Temperature Reverse Bias and Negative Gate Bias Stresses.

This paper presents a reliability study of a conventional 650 V SiC planar MOSFET subjected to pulsed HTRB (High-Temperature Reverse Bias) stress and negative HTGB (High-Temperature Gate Bias) stress defined by a TCAD static simulation showing the electric field distribution across the SiC/SiO2 interface. The instability of several electrical parameters was monitored and their drift analyses were investigated. Moreover, the shift of the onset of the Fowler-Nordheim gate injection current under stress conditions provided a reliable method to quantify the trapped charge inside the gate oxide bulk, and it allowed us to determine the real stress conditions. Moreover, it has been demonstrated from the cross-correlation, the TCAD simulation, and the experimental ΔVth and ΔVFN variation that HTGB stress is more severe compared to HTRB. In fact, HTGB showed a 15% variation in both ΔVth and ΔVFN, while HTRB showed only a 4% variation in both ΔVth and ΔVFN. The physical explanation was attributed to the accelerated degradation of the gate insulator in proximity to the source region under HTGB configuration.

Adaptation of the Environmental Worry Index into Turkish: A Validity and Reliability Study on Teacher Candidates

Purpose: In the present research, it was aimed to adapt the Environmental Worry Index (EWI) developed by Oguntayo et al. (2023) into Turkish. Methodology: The study was conducted with the participation of 508 teacher candidates. Exploratory graph analysis (EGA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed for the validity studies. The reliability of the measurements collected via the Turkish form of the scale was examined via the Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient. Corrected item total correlations were calculated for item discrimination, and Ferguson Delta was computed to provide a discrimination index for the entire scale. Findings: The EGA outputs and the results of parallel analysis run within the scope of EFA revealed a single-factor structure unlike the two-dimensional original form of the scale. In EFA, the variance explained for the single-factor solution was determined as 45.80% and the factor loadings ranged between .44 and .80. The CFA results showed that the fit indices for the unidimensional model were within the recommended limits and the factor loadings of the items varied between .41 and .71. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was estimated as .84 and corrected item total correlations ranged between .36 and .62. The Ferguson’s delta statistic, on the other hand, was found to be .95. Highlights: The results obtained provide evidence that the measurements collected through the Turkish form of the EWI have adequate psychometric properties.

Ultrasound evaluation of deep fascia thickness: Reliability and association with clinically evaluated changes

BackgroundThere is growing evidence of fascial involvement in musculoskeletal pathologies; thus, measuring the fascia's properties is clinically essential. Objectives1) to evaluate intra- and inter-tester reliability of sonographic measurements of deep fascia thickness in healthy individuals; 2) to assess whether fascial thickness in areas of fascial movement restriction (fascial densification in Stecco's Fascial Manipulation method), differs from contralateral areas with normal fascia. MethodsPart 1 (reliability study): Fascial thickness was sonographically measured in 10 sites (5 on each side), twice by a single examiner to assess intra-rater reliability and once by a second examiner to evaluate inter-rater reliability.Part 2 (cross-sectional study): Unilateral fascial movement restrictions were detected in 5 bilateral sites by palpation. The fascial thickness on the ultrasound image was measured at the restriction site and its normal contralateral side by a blinded assessor. Results21 healthy individuals were evaluated in part 1, 15 healthy individuals in part 2. Intra-tester reliability (Interclass correlation – ICC) values ranged from 0.677 to 0.975; inter-tester ICC values ranged from 0.473 to 0.966. No significant differences in fascia thickness between the right and left body sides were observed in most sites. Significant differences were found between the fascial thickness of the site of fascial movement restrictions vs. normal counterpart. ConclusionsIntra- and inter-rater reliability of sonographic measuring fascial thickness was high, and fascial thickness of the site of fascial movement restrictions was greater than in the normal counterpart. Ultrasonography may be used as a reliable method to evaluate fascial alterations.

Association between viral infection and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common serious complication of very preterm infants (VPI) or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Studies implicate viral infections in etiopathogenesis. The aim of this study was to summarize the relationship between viral infections and BPD through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Database on December 19, 2023. We included observational studies that examined the association between viral infections and BPD in preterm infants. We extracted data on study methods, participant characteristics, exposure assessment, and outcome measures. We assessed study risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). We included 17 and 15 studies in the qualitative review and meta-analysis, respectively. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between viral infection and BPD diagnosed at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (odds ratio (OR): 2.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.89-3.09, 13 studies, very low certainty of evidence). In a subgroup analysis of specific viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV) proved to be significantly associated with BPD diagnosed at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (OR: 2.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.80-3.05, 11 studies). We did not find an association between viral infection and BPD diagnosed on the 28th day of life, probably due to the small sample size of the included prospective studies. Conclusion: Viral infections, especially CMV, are associated with an increased risk of BPD in preterm infants. Methodologically reliable prospective studies with large samples are needed to validate our conclusions, and high-quality randomized controlled studies are needed to explore the effect of prevention or treatment of viral infections on the incidence of BPD. What is Known: • Studies have attempted to identify viral infections and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants; however, results have been inconsistent. What is New: • Systematic demonstration that viral infections, particularly cytomegalovirus, are positively associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia diagnosed in preterm infants at the 36th week of postmenstrual age. • The importance of screening for viral infections in preterm infants, especially cytomegalovirus. More high-quality studies should be produced in the future to investigate the causal relationship between viral infections and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Developing a Health Belief Model Scale for Smoking Behaviour During Pregnancy: Validity and Reliability Study

Objective: The Health Belief Model, which is one of the most frequently used models in explaining health behaviours, reveals the determinants of performing preventive health behaviours. Since our perceptions play an active role in changing a behaviour, a measurement tool is needed to evaluate the pregnant woman perceptually within the scope of HBM. Our study was conducted to analyze the perceptions of pregnant women about quitting smoking by developing a scale within the scope of Health Belief Model and analyze the validity and reliability of the scale within Turkish context. Methods: In the methodological study, which was conducted at the gynecology polyclinic of an university hospital between 15.05.2018 - 30.04.2019, the data were collected by applying a questionnaire to pregnant women who smoked at least one cigarette per day. The sample of the study consists of 289 pregnant women who applied to the clinic for routine pregnancy follow-ups. The content validity of the scale was evaluated by taking the opinions of nine experts in the field of public health nursing. Descriptive and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used in the analysis of the data. Results: 24.6% of the participants are high school graduates, 56.7% are not employed, 49.1% have a history of unplanned pregnancy, and 1% have started smoking during their current pregnancy. Cronbach Alpha values of the sub-dimensions of the scale ranged between .90 and .70, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis fit indices were found as RMSEA = 0.066, CFI = 0.904 and NFI = 0.842. Conclusion: The scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for measuring perceptions of pregnant women about smoking cessation behavior smoking behaviours. It is recommended to use the assessment of perceptions of smoking cessation behavior among pregnant smokers.

Validity and reliability study in undergraduate healthcare students towards the solution of a neglected problem in working life: Attitude scale towards patients with chronic pain.

Chronic pain is the type of pain that healthcare professionals frequently encounter. Health care students' attitudes towards pain management are not sufficient and this negatively affects their chronic pain management. When students cannot manage the chronic pain they will experience professional burnout, depersonalization, and a decrease in compassion and empathy in patient care. Therefore, the first step in improving health care students' attitudes towards patients with chronic pain is to determine their attitudes. This study aims to test the validity and reliability of the Scale for Healthcare Professionals' Attitudes towards Patients with Chronic Pain (HCPAPCP Scale) in healthcare students. This quantitative study was conducted with 205 health care students in January-February 2022. Data were collected online with Personal Information Form and the HCPAPCP Scale. To determine the reliability of the scale, internal consistency and test-retest, and for construct validity, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that the two-factor scale consisting of 18 items, the factor structure, and the distribution of factors in items were the same as the findings of the original scale. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was 0.88 for the first factor and 0.74 for the second factor. Test-retest reliability was 0.60. In confirmatory factor analysis, the model had a good and acceptable fit. We found that the HCPAPCP Scale was valid and reliable in healthcare students.