Mean T-test Research Articles

An analysis on role of iron deficiency in febrile seizure among children in 6 months to 5 years: A case-control study

ABSTRACT Background for the Study: This study looks into the relationship between febrile seizures in children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years who suffer from iron insufficiency. Febrile seizures, which are common in early life, are associated with abrupt temperature increases, and iron deficiency impacts neurological development in young infants. Understanding this relationship would lead to interventions that mitigate febrile seizure impact. Aim: To investigate the link between iron deficiency and febrile seizures in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Method: A ”retrospective case-control study” of 300 cases and 300 controls, including demographic, seizure, and laboratory data, was conducted. Descriptive statistics were computed using “Chi-square tests for proportions” and “t-tests for means” with P ≤ 0.05 as the level of significance. Result: Significant findings emerged, including a notably younger mean age among cases (1.75 years) compared to controls (2.93 years). Cases showed higher rates of upper respiratory tract infections (3.7% vs. 0.3% in controls) and lower occurrences of viral febrile illnesses. Notably, cases had a lower prevalence of non-vegetarian diets and a higher incidence of family histories related to seizures. “Iron deficiency anemia” was more common in these instances, evident in blood parameters, alongside increased WBC counts. Recurrent seizures correlated with a lower mean RBC count (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The study confirms the link between “iron deficiency anemia” and “febrile seizures” among young children. Addressing iron deficiency emerges as a critical modifiable factor in potentially reducing the occurrence and impact of severe seizures, emphasizing the necessity of proactive efforts in pediatric treatment programs.

Work-family conflict and job stress as predictors of quality of work-life among nurses

This study investigated predictors of quality of work life among nurses in Ipokia Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to collect data using the Quality of Life Scale, Work-Family Conflict Scale, and Job Stress Scale. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 182 nurses (Females: 123; Males: 59). Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis, t-test of independent mean, and one-way analysis of variance. Three hypotheses were generated and tested at a 0.001 level of significance. The result revealed that work-family conflict and job stress jointly predicted the quality of work-life among nurses [R2 = 286, F (2,181) = 37.648, p = .002). Also, job stress independently predicted the quality of work-life among nurses (β = .543, p = .001). However, work-family conflict did not independently predict the quality of work-life among nurses (β =-.001, p >.05). It was concluded that work-family conflict was a significant factor when combined with job stress but not an independent predictor of quality of work-life among nurses. Therefore, the Chief Medical Director and Human Resource Department of hospitals should monitor the stress levels of their nurses to ensure continuous productivity and avoid unnecessary breakdown of nurses at Work and home.

Toward a “budding” individual interest: evidence for a fifth phase of development in four years of an automated greenhouse project

ABSTRACT Background and Context We report on four years of a design-based research project with all grade-eight students in two urban-ring schools of the Northeast US. Youth built automated tabletop “smart” greenhouses. Objective We addressed the research questions, (1) In what ways did four iterations of the smart-greenhouse project support students’ inflections of interest in STEM+C? and (2) How, if at all, did rightful presence foster development of interest? Method This mixed-methods study for convergence includes paired-sample t-tests of means for surveys (N = 599) and descriptive, in vivo, and inductive team-coding for interviews (25 focal students). Findings We found evidence to extend Hidi and Renninger’s four-phase model of interest development, with a phase we call “budding individual interest”, including five tensions thereof. Implications We share educational design considerations related to curriculum, instruction, and follow-up activities, and we explore the potential role of regular access, personal significance, and contextual expectations in students.

Place of telemedicine in the organization of emergency care: feasibility and benefits

IntroductionTelemedicine encompasses all medical practices that allow patients to be remotely cared for through new information and communication technologies. This study aims to assess the remote management of patients consulting emergency services and not requiring in-hospital care during both pre-pandemic and pandemic periods of COVID-19.MethodsThis was a prospective, randomized, controlled study. The telemedicine group received follow-up at home after emergency room discharge according to a predefined protocol, with telephone calls on days 2, 7, 15, and 30. The control group received standard care without regular telephone follow-up (only a call on day 30). The study was conducted with patients consulting the emergency department of FarhatHached Hospital in Sousse. Patient inclusion occurred between November 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020. The primary outcome measures were the re-consultation rate and treatment adherence. The secondary outcome measure was patient satisfaction.SPSS version 23.0 for Windows was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics calculated frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, medians, and range. Analytical study involved Student’s t-test and Pearson chi-square test for mean and frequency comparisons, respectively. Significance threshold (p) for all tests was set at 0.05.ResultsA total of 400 patients were included. The average age of patients was 40 years. Both groups were comparable in terms of demographics and clinical characteristics. Diagnoses included mainly benign infectious diseases, trauma, mild decompensations of chronic conditions (asthma, COPD, heart failure), and suspected COVID cases. Patients in the telemedicine group tended to reconsult less in the month following their initial emergency room visit (14% versus 26.5%) (p = 0.004). There was a significant difference in treatment adherence between the telemedicine group and the control group (97.5% versus 92%; p = 0.014). The satisfaction with telemedicine was higher than satisfaction with regard to an in-person consultation at the emergency department (90% versus 37.5%).ConclusionIt is necessary to implement telemedicine in Tunisia, especially in emergency services. It ensures better remote patient care by reducing re-consultation rates, increasing treatment adherence, and improving patient satisfaction.

Selection of reference data significantly influences biological maturity timing classification in national youth soccer players

This study investigated biological maturity timing (BMT) in 116 Irish U13 and 958 Swedish U15 male national soccer players using various growth reference datasets. BMT was expressed as a Z-score comparing each player's percentage of predicted adult height (%PAH) to age-specific means and standard deviations reported in the: Berkeley Growth Longitudinal (US), UK 1990 growth reference (UK), and Swedish 2000s growth reference (SWE) studies. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare BMT classification (Early, On-time, Late) between datasets. One-sampled means t-tests were used to examine BMT-related maturity biases per cohort and reference dataset. For both Swedish U15 ( p < 0.001) and Irish U13 ( p = 0.003) players, BMT classification was significantly influenced by the selection of the growth reference dataset. Only 61% of players had the same BMT category across all reference datasets. Significant maturity biases existed in favour of early maturing Swedish players (mean = 96.5%PAH) in all datasets, although moderate using SWE ( d = 0.7), large using UK ( d = 1.02), and very large using US ( d = 1.36) (all p < 0.001). Small significant maturity biases existed in favour of early maturing Irish players (mean = 87.1%PAH) using UK ( p < 0.001, d = 0.48) and US ( p < 0.001, d = 0.33), but not SWE. We conclude that maturity Z-scores must be interpreted with significant caution, given the large variations in BMT classification between reference datasets.

EFFECTS OF LIBRARY ORIENTATION PROGRAMME ON THE USE OF LIBRARY RESOURCES BY NEWLY-ADMITTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, IJAGUN, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated the effect of library orientation programme on the use of library resources by newly admitted undergraduate students Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun state Nigeria. Library orientation is a core programme of the academic libraries that emphasized on educating, enlightening, and assisting the users to guide, identify, know and utilise the library information resources and services efficiently. To achieve the objectives of this research, the study was guided by three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study and data was gathered through the instrument of a questionnaire. A total of 200 copies of the questionnaires were randomly distributed for equal representative of students across the institutions. Data were analysed using frequency, percentages and t-test for independent sample mean. The study concluded that a well-organized library orientation will inculcate confidence in users, encouraging them to use the library effectively. Hence the goal of library orientation is to make library users proficient in research as well as lifelong learners. Library orientation should be given more priority in the institutional library in order to sensitize more students and portray their attention to the available resources and services that can be of immense benefit to them in the course of their studies.

Comparative Analysis of Health Outcomes Between Migrants and Native Spaniards

In 2012, Spain enacted a law which changed its Universal Health System from ensuring government funded healthcare for all residents, regardless of immigration status, to restricting migrant healthcare access. This study investigates health records from 2017, one year before this restrictive legislation was repealed, to determine if such legislative action coincides with disparities in health outcomes between migrants to Spain and native Spaniards. Because a health record analysis from 2012 suggests that migrants in Spain exhibited poorer overall health even before the legislative restrictions, we hypothesized that migrant communities would continue to demonstrate lower health outcomes than native Spaniards while these restrictions were enforced. We extracted nationality and health data from the Spanish Ministry of Health’s 2017 National Health Survey. We grouped thirteen health sub-indicators into four main health indicators to compare the general physical and mental well-being of migrants and native Spaniards. These main indicators included disease prevalence, risk factors for future infirmities, mental health, and self-perceived health. After quantifying interviewees’ responses, we compared population means of migrants and natives for each sub-indicator through an unpaired t-test of means to determine trend significance. We integrated the results of sub-indicator comparisons to determine overall trends in the four main indicators. With only one exception, all eight sub-indicators for disease prevalence demonstrated decreased prevalence among migrant populations which indicates lower overall disease for migrants compared to native Spaniards. This trend continued for self-perceived health as well as all sub- indicators used to assess mental health and predisposition to future illnesses. These results suggest that migrants in Spain are healthier than their native counterparts. The better health outcomes experienced by the migrants relative to native Spaniards contradict our hypothesis. Nevertheless, previous findings explain these results as demonstrative of an established phenomenon, the “healthy migrant effect,” in which migrants typically demonstrate higher healthcare outcomes than their native counterparts. The observed “healthy migrant effect” despite legislative restrictions on migrant healthcare access, as well as the effect’s apparent disappearance during the aftermath of Spain’s 2008 economic recession, suggests that the health disparities between migrants and natives correlated more directly with a nation’s economic well-being than their legislative actions.

Headache/migraine-related stigma, quality of life, disability, and most bothersome symptom in adults with current versus previous high-frequency headache/migraine and medication overuse: results of the Migraine Report Card survey

BackgroundHigh-frequency headache/migraine (HFM) and overuse of acute medication (medication overuse [MO]) are associated with increased disability and impact. Experiencing both HFM and MO can potentially compound impacts, including stigma; however, evidence of this is limited. The objective of this report was to evaluate self-reported stigma, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), disability, and migraine symptomology in US adults with HFM + MO from the Harris Poll Migraine Report Card survey.MethodsUS adults (≥ 18 yrs., no upper age limit) who screened positive for migraine per the ID Migraine™ screener completed an online survey. Participants were classified into “current HFM + MO” (≥ 8 days/month with headache/migraine and ≥ 10 days/month of acute medication use over last few months) or “previous HFM + MO” (previously experienced HFM + MO, headaches now occur ≤ 7 days/month with ≤ 9 days/month of acute medication use). Stigma, HRQoL, disability, and most bothersome symptom (MBS) were captured. The validated 8-item Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses (SSCI-8) assessed internal and external stigma (scores ≥ 60 are clinically significant). Raw data were weighted to the US adult population. Statistically significant differences were determined by a standard t-test of column proportions and means at the 90% (p < 0.1) and 95% (p < 0.05) confidence levels.ResultsParticipants (N = 550) were categorized as having current (n = 440; mean age 41.1 years; 54% female; 57% White, not Hispanic; 24% Hispanic; 11% Black, not Hispanic) or previous (n = 110; mean age 47.2 years; 49% female; 75% White, not Hispanic; 13% Hispanic; 4% Black, not Hispanic) HFM + MO. Compared to those with previous HFM + MO (21%), adults with current HFM + MO were more likely to experience clinically significant levels of stigma (47%). Men with current HFM + MO (52% compared to men with previous HFM + MO [25%] and women with current [41%] or previous [18%] HFM + MO), non-Hispanic Black (51% compared to White, not Hispanic [45%] and Hispanic [48%] current HFM + MO groups and White, not Hispanic previous HFM + MO [12%]), current HFM + MO aged 18–49 years (50% compared to those with current HFM + MO aged ≥ 50 years [33%] and those with previous HFM + MO aged 18–49 [34%] and ≥ 50 years [4%]), and employed respondents (53% current and 29% previous compared to those not employed [32% current and 12% previous]) reported higher rates of clinically significant stigma. Those with current HFM + MO were more likely to have worse HRQoL and disability due to headache/migraine. Respondents aged ≥ 50 years with current HFM + MO were more likely than respondents aged 18–49 years with current HFM + MO to indicate that their overall quality of life (66% vs. 52%) and their ability to participate in hobbies/activities they enjoy were negatively impacted by headache/migraine (61% vs. 49%). Pain-related symptoms were identified as the MBS.ConclusionsTogether these data suggest that current and previous HFM + MO can be associated with undesirable outcomes, including stigma and reduced HRQoL, which were greatest among people with current HFM + MO, but still considerable for people with previous HFM + MO.Graphical abstract

Self-evaluation of appearance by female medicine students

Background and Study Aim. Nowadays western culture promotes appearance-wise the ideal of a slim body. The purpose of the research was to study body composition of female medicine students and compare these results with their self-evaluation on the problem. Material and Methods. Ninety-nine Casimir Pulaski Radom University in Radom females students (22.0±2.1 years old) who studied at a medicine faculty have been involved in the research. The study was conducted in accordance with the basic bioethical norms of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association on Ethical Principles for Conducting Scientific and Medical Research. Written informed consent was obtained from each study participant. The study was approved in advance by Ethical Committee of the Casimir Pulaski Radom University in Radom. The studies included survey research: The International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) - Short Form, The 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Questionnaire of self-evaluation of appearance, body mass and height. According to the Three Sigma Rule border values, research samples were selected regarding compacted values of corresponding parameters. Pearson correlation has been used with a purpose to study an interaction between anthropometric parameters of subjects. Two pair t-test for arithmetic means was applied to compare mean values of the anthropometric parameters of the subjects. Factor analysis has been used with a purpose to study body building of students. Calculations were done using Data Analysis from MS Excel Offices and computer package Statistica. Results. Shapiro – Wilk method was used to determine normality of distribution of quantity parameters studied in the research (p&gt;0.4). Because Gauss distribution was noticed, parametric statistics were applied in mathematics elaboration of anthropometric parameters. According to the Method of Principal components, the Factor analysis has been done. A number of variables were reduced to twenty-three (11 – 33). Three Eigenvalues appeared greater than one (17.4; 3.3; 1.1). Number of factors extracted equals 3. Corresponding part of variation forms 94.7% of the total. The rest of variation (5.3%) presents other factors. The main factor (the first one) forms more than three quarters of variation – 75.7%. Conclusions. Accuracy of estimation of a body height among female subjects was determined as a difference between results of subject’s answer and results of measurement. Two groups of subjects have been formed: 58 subjects presented their knowledge of values of body height and 38 subjects – estimated their own hypothetic values.

Assessment of the antioxidant and nutritive profile of the leaves and berries of Solanum nigrum and Solanum torvum Swart

The research focused on analyzing the antioxidant and nutritional properties of Solanum torvum leaves (STL) and berries (STF), as well as Solanum nigrum leaves (SNL) and berries (SNF). The study examined the basic nutritional composition, mineral content, metal presence, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capabilities of both plant species. Wild-harvested leaves and unripe berries of S. torvum and S. nigrum were cooked and ground for testing. Statistical analysis included the Student's T-test and calculations of mean ± SEM. Findings revealed that both species of Solanum are sources of dietary fibre, protein, and fats, along with essential minerals like sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in different amounts. Notably, the leaves had higher iron content than the berries, indicating their potential superiority in addressing Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Antioxidant activity was highest in STF (61.34±1.05 mg/mL) for water-based extracts and SNL (42.86±1.49 mg/mL) for alcohol-based extracts, highlighting the impact of solvent choice on antioxidant measurement. STL exhibited the greatest phenolic concentration in water extracts, while STF had the highest in alcohol extracts (15.88±0.87 mg/g GAE). Additionally, palmitic acid was identified in SNL and STL, oleic acid (97.03 %, retention time: 10.00 min) in SNB, and Sitosterol (94.93 %, retention time: 26.82 min), a type of phytosterol, in STB. Considering the role of antioxidants in preventing lipid oxidation in food and their contribution to combating degenerative diseases, the study advocates for the potential use of these Solanum species as natural food additives to protect against oxidative damage.

Contextualizing post day-one childhood immunization in-take drop-off rate in Nigeria: An assessment of working mothers in Ibadan

Background Contextualizing childhood immunization in the context of working mothers can boost coverage and completion. This study examines how informal working mothers perceive post-day-one routine immunization, and vaccines not covered under the National Program on Immunization (NPI), immunization schedules, timing, and duration. Methods The study was conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria and involved 1,044 quantitative and 73 qualitative samples of working nursing mothers. A mixed methods approach was used, including a semi-structured questionnaire to gather immunization experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test for proportions, and t-test for means (p&lt;0.05), while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Results The average age of mothers participating in this study was 31.39 years. The mean age of mothers at their first childbirth within the study group was 24.12 years. A significant majority of these mothers (95%) are married. Around three-quarters of women in this population ensured immediate immunization for their infants after birth, but less than a third achieved the complete age-specific vaccination series due to livelihood related causes, long waiting time spent in conventional immunization clinic. Around 40% of interviewed mothers vaccinated their children up to the third DPT dose, and just over 30% achieved full vaccination. Many informal working mothers, have concerning practice of adding 'supplements' to their children's immunization, driven by a lack of sufficient information about the vaccines. Some mothers also seemed unaware of these specialized vaccines. Conclusions Promoting complete immunization requires more than just raising awareness about childhood vaccinations but close and quick immunization service delivery is required. It is crucial for mothers to possess comprehensive knowledge about the mechanics and operation of immunization. Achieving this understanding could involve translating vaccine names and functions into indigenous terms, enhancing clarity and comprehension. Furthermore, a firm grasp of the immunization schedule significantly contributes to successful immunization completion.

How well do participants in clinical trials represent the U.S. population with chronic neck or back pain?

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for assessing treatment effectiveness; however, they have been criticized for generalizability issues such as how well trial participants represent those who receive the treatments in clinical practice. We assessed the representativeness of participants from eight RCTs for chronic spine pain in the U.S., which were used for an individual participant data meta-analysis on the cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulation for spine pain. In these clinical trials, spinal manipulation was performed by chiropractors. We conducted a retrospective secondary analysis of RCT data to compare trial participants' socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features, and health outcomes to a representative sample of (a) U.S. adults with chronic spine pain and (b) U.S. adults with chronic spine pain receiving chiropractic care, using secondary data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). We assessed differences between trial and U.S. spine populations using independent t-tests for means and z-tests for proportions, accounting for the complex multi-stage survey design of the NHIS and MEPS. We found the clinical trials had an under-representation of individuals from health disparity populations with lower percentages of racial and ethnic minority groups (Black/African American 7% lower, Hispanic 8% lower), less educated (No high school degree 19% lower, high school degree 11% lower), and unemployed adults (25% lower) with worse health outcomes (physical health scores 2.5 lower and mental health scores 5.3 lower using the SF-12/36) relative to the U.S. population with spine pain. While the odds of chiropractic use in the U.S. are lower for individuals from health disparity populations, the trials also under-represented these populations relative to U.S. adults with chronic spine pain who visit a chiropractor. Health disparity populations are not well represented in spine pain clinical trials. Embracing key community-based approaches, which have shown promise for increasing participation of underserved communities, is needed.

Assessing Factors Influencing the Failure of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Projects in Education and Health Sectors in Zambia: A Critical Analysis

This study critically evaluates factors leading to the failure of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects within Zambia's education and health sectors, aiming to recommend effective strategies for improving project success rates. Utilizing a sequential mixed-method approach, the research examines the effectiveness of existing management strategies, identifies key factors contributing to project failures, and explores challenges faced by project committees. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, a literature review, and five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 46 respondents from Chongwe Constituency. Purposive sampling was employed to gather both primary and secondary data. Quantitative data were analyzed using the mean t-test to determine factors significantly impacting community engagement and project outcomes. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis to explore themes from interviews, literature, and FGDs, enhancing the triangulation of findings. Findings reveal that despite the alignment of management practices with best practices, factors such as failure to use CDF, funding delays, lack of transparency and accountability, weak monitoring and evaluation, limited community involvement, and limited community knowledge of CDF, contractor incompetence, Key challenges faced by implementors included, volunteer status of WDCs which was unsustainable and challenging, lack of capacity building contribute to project failures. The study advocates for improved project management practices, enhanced stakeholder engagement and education about CDF to communities and robust monitoring to increase project success.

Are There Variations in Personality Traits Between Men and Women? The Evidence is from Indonesian Residents

Non-cognitive skills, such as personality traits, play a vital role in various facets of human life due to their association with individual decision-making. However, personality traits can vary significantly among individuals globally, particularly between males and females. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to analyze the disparities in personality traits between men and women and to investigate how non-cognitive skills influence well-being. The study utilizes nationally representative data from Indonesia, encompassing 17,560 men and 18,825 women. Employing distinct mean t-tests and linear regression estimations, we observe that men tend to exhibit higher levels of openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness in their personalities compared to women. Conversely, women demonstrate a propensity for higher level of extraversion and neuroticism. Moreover, our analysis reveals that male well-being is positively correlated with extraversion, while female well-being is linked to openness and extraversion traits. These findings underscore the significance of considering personality attributes in crafting economic development policies. Presently, policymakers in emerging nations like Indonesia heavily prioritize cognitive skills such as technical training and technological innovation. This study suggests that incorporating residents' non-cognitive talents into policy-making could potentially lead to enhanced achievements and progress.

THE APPLICATION OF CREATIVE METHOD IN TRADITIONAL MUSIC COURSE FOR 10TH GRADE STUDENTS IN CHINA

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of creative methods on the traditional music performance of grade 10 Chinese senior high school students. At the same time, the satisfaction of grade 10 students with learning traditional Chinese music with creative methods was investigated. The study was conducted in a secondary school in China with 50 students over a period of six weeks. Quantitative data was collected through students' achievement tests (pretest and post-test) and students’ satisfaction questionnaires.&#x0D; The data was analyzed for students’ learning achievement through the t-test for dependent sampling, mean, and standard deviation, as well as for the students’ satisfaction with the mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the creative method was effective in improving the students’ learning achievement, with a post-test mean score of 30.88, which was higher than the mean score of the pretest (15.88). In addition, the students’ satisfaction showed that every part was at its highest level. It means the students felt positive and satisfied with the use of creative teaching methods to improve the performance of traditional music in Chinese secondary schools.

Rural-urban differences in use of health services before and after dementia diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundRural-urban differences in health service use among persons with prevalent dementia are known. However, the extent of geographic differences in health service use over a long observation period, and prior to diagnosis, have not been sufficiently examined. The purpose of this study was to examine yearly rural-urban differences in the proportion of patients using health services, and the mean number of services, in the 5-year period before and 5-year period after a first diagnosis of dementia.MethodsThis population-based retrospective cohort study used linked administrative health data from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan to investigate the use of five health services [family physician (FP), specialist physician, hospital admission, all-type prescription drug dispensations, and short-term institutional care admission] each year from April 2008 to March 2019. Persons with dementia included 2,024 adults aged 65 years and older diagnosed from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 (617 rural; 1,407 urban). Matching was performed 1:1 to persons without dementia on age group, sex, rural versus urban residence, geographic region, and comorbidity. Differences between rural and urban persons within the dementia and control cohorts were separately identified using the Z-score test for proportions (p < 0.05) and independent samples t-test for means (p < 0.05).ResultsRural compared to urban persons with dementia had a lower average number of FP visits during 1-year and 2-year preindex and between 2-year and 4-year postindex (p < 0.05), a lower likelihood of at least one specialist visit and a lower average number of specialist visits during each year (p < 0.05), and a lower average number of all-type prescription drug dispensations for most of the 10-year study period (p < 0.05). Rural-urban differences were not observed in admission to hospital or short-term institutional care (p > 0.05 each year).ConclusionsThis study identified important geographic differences in physician services and all-type prescription drugs before and after dementia diagnosis. Health system planners and educators must determine how to use existing resources and technological advances to support care for rural persons living with dementia.

Home and school gardening: Practices, attitudes, and beliefs of pre-service teachers

The study investigates the attitudes and beliefs of pre-service teachers on home and school gardening as the basis for incorporating gardening activity in teacher education courses. Utilizing a descriptive research design, the data was gathered through a researcher-made survey and analyzed using various statistical methods such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test for independent sample means, and Pearson r. The findings reveal a high positive regard for gardening among pre-service teachers, irrespective of sex and geographical location. The geographical location shows some variations in beliefs about gardening, particularly between coastal-rural and other areas, whereas attitudes were consistently positive across locations. A significant correlation between beliefs and attitudes suggests that fostering positive beliefs may enhance positive attitudes toward gardening. These results underscore the potential for integrating gardening into teacher education, promoting values like environmental conservation, and healthy habits. The study acknowledges limitations like the limited diversity of the sample and unexplored translation of attitudes into practice and recommends the incorporation of gardening into the curriculum and the provision of practical gardening spaces and training. The conclusions affirm the role of pre-service teachers in addressing challenges like limited food supply and environmental degradation and emphasize the need to include gardening values in teacher education. This study recommends that gardening activities be integrated into the pre-service teacher education curriculum.

Assessing left atrial size and pump function in ischemic stroke patients: Is cardiac MRI superior to transthoracic echocardiography?

ObjectivesCurrent guidelines recommend transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) following an ischemic stroke as the primary technique to identify cardiac abnormalities associated with an increased risk of cerebral embolism. It is unclear whether cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), a technique shown to provide increased imaging resolution, may also enhance the cardiac assessment of ischemic stroke patients. We compared cMRI with TTE in the evaluation of Left Atrial (LA) size and pump function in a cohort of 44 patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and methodsThe biplane method was utilized to acquire LA diameters as well as area measurements in both TTE and cMRI. We calculated LA volume (LAV), LAV index (LAVI), LA Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) and LA pump function. Results were compared using paired two sample for means t-test. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman methods quantified the agreement of measurements obtained by TTE and cMRI. ResultsLAVI measurements by cMRI were significantly larger (34.97 v. 28.81; p = 0.001) than by TTE. The concordance correlation demonstrated only a weak agreement between LA size measured by cMRI and TTE (ρc = 0.397; p= 0.001, 95% CI 0.16 - 0.59), and the Bland-Altman plot demonstrated that LAVI measured by cMRI averaged 6.3 ml/m2 larger magnitude than those obtained by TTE. ConclusionsUsing TTE alone leads to an underestimation of LA abnormalities important in the evaluation of ischemic stroke patients. Nearly one in every five ischemic stroke patients evaluated based on the current guidelines may have a missed potential source of cardiac embolism.

PHYSICS EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY (PhET) INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS AS TEACHING AID IN ENHANCING STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICS

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Physics Education Technology (PhET) interactive simulations in enhancing students performance in Physics. It is a quantitative study involving pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research. The respondents for this study were 60 Grade 11 senior high school students, specifically from two sections in a public secondary school in the Division of Davao de Oro. They were categorized into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The pretest and posttest questionnaire, derived from the Grade 11 Physical Science module, underwent pilot testing to ensure its validity and reliability and was utilized as the instrument. The mean, mean gain score, T-test for correlated mean, and T-test for uncorrelated mean were employed as the statistical treatments for this study. The results revealed that before the intervention, the students performance in both groups was at the same level. However, during the post-test, the control and experimental groups improved their Physics performance, albeit at different levels. A significant difference was observed between the mean gain scores of the two groups. This suggests that the intervention, Physics Education Technology (PhET) interactive simulation, is more effective compared to the conventional method of teaching. The researcher recommends that students play an active role in the learning process. Teachers should incorporate PhET interactive simulations into their classes, and administrators should provide relevant training and workshops on the proper use of PhET interactive simulations. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct studies on other areas related to PhET interactive simulations. KEYWORDS: Education, students performance, Physics Education Technology (PhET), quasi-experimental, Pretest-Posttest design, Grade 11 students

(235) False Negative Penile Duplex Sonography: Results of Cavernovenous Leakage Surgery in 41 Patients with Normal End-Diastolic Velocity. The Need for Venous Leak Hemodynamic Criteria Re-Evaluation?

Abstract Introduction In cavernovenous leakage (CVL), blood entering corpora cavernosa escapes too early due to abnormal venous network, for erections to develop or maintain. CVL diagnosis relies on persisting blood flow velocity in cavernosal arteries at the end of diastole (EDV), with a consensus 5 cm/s cut-off value at pharmacologically-challenged penile duplex sonography (PC-PDS). Objective We present clinical, hemodynamic characteristics, and response to surgery of 41 patients with severe ED resistant to PDE5Is, with EDV5 cm/s at PC-PDS, considered non pathologic, but with CVLs identified by gold standard pharmacologically-challenged penile CT-cavernography. Methods Prospectively collected data from 41 consecutive patients with ED resistant to PDE5Is, with cavernosal artery EDV5 cm/s (Group A), were compared to data from 130 patients with EDV&amp;gt;5 cm/s (Group B). CVLs in Group A were detected by PC-PDS on deep dorsal vein or penile superficial veins after intracavenosal injection of Prostaglandin E1 plus Papaverine. All patients had refused a penile implant and underwent CVL intervention consisting in open surgery and embolization during the same procedure. Inter-group comparison used a T-test of means, pre- and post-operative data comparison a paired t-test. Results Patients in Group A were younger than in Group B (mean age 38.2±14.0 and 45.9±11.6 years, respectively, p&amp;lt;.0022). Pharmacologic Erection Hardness Score (EHS) was higher (2.9±.7 vs. 2.4±.6, p&amp;lt;.0001), EDV velocity was less (1.6±2.2 vs. 15.1±2.2 cm/s, p&amp;lt;.0001) in Group A than B, respectively. Pre-operative IIEF5 score was higher in Group A than in B (13.3±5.3 and 9.4±4.8, respectively, p&amp;lt;.0181). Other pre-operative erection parameters were otherwise similar in the two groups (morning erection EHS and frequency, masturbation and sexual intercourse EHS, percentage of successful penetration (p&amp;lt;.498, .543, .682, .510, .289, respectively). Patients in Group A and B responded similarly to surgery, with a similar pharmacologic EHS increase at systematic three-month post-operative PC-PDS (0.77±.94 vs. .81±.67, p&amp;lt;.80). Mixing Group A and B 171 patients, at the end of the 29.8±20.4-month follow-up, a significant improvement on all clinical parameters was observed: IIEF-5 score had increased from 9.7±5.1 to 15.5±6.0 (p&amp;lt;.0001), clinical EHS during sexual intercourse from 2.0±.7 to 3.3±.7 (p&amp;lt;.0001), penetration success rate from 22.3±31.7 to 70.1±37.2% (p&amp;lt;.0001), mean EHS during masturbation from 2.11±.67 to 3.04±.75 (p&amp;lt;.0001), morning erection EHS from .95±1.24 to 2.12±1.37 (p&amp;lt;.0001), before and after surgery, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between Group A and B regarding all these parameters, demonstrating similar clinical responses to surgery. Conclusions Patients with EDV5 cm/s may have CVL evidenced by PC-PDS flow analysis directly on veins, and gold standard PC-PCTC. Their erection disability is severe. They respond well to combined open and embolization surgery, a confirmation that they suffer CVL. EDV criterium misses CVL in as much as one patient out of four with actual CVL in our series. Since false negative diagnosis has severe, life-long, patient and partner implications, hemodynamic criteria for CVL diagnosis should be debated in the field of sexual medicine. Disclosure No.