Test-retest Measurements Research Articles

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers.

The aim of the study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers. In the current methodological study, research data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers. Validity analysis was conducted using the content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The Pearson product-moment correlation and Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients were performed for reliability analysis. High scores indicate a higher ability to support breastfeeding mothers. To evaluate the tool's invariance over time, test-retest measurements were made at an interval of at least two weeks and showed no difference in mean scores (p > 0.05). Corrected item-total score correlations varied between 0.43 and 0.77. The Cronbach alpha value was determined to be 0.97, which indicated high internal consistency. The results of the present study show that the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers is valid and reliable. It can be utilised as a measurement tool to determine the degree of self-efficacy in the ability to support breastfeeding mothers.

The Turkish Version of the Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female (SIDI-F): Examination of the Validity, Reliability and Factorial Structure

The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female (SIDI-F). This methodological study was conducted with 268 women who met the sampling criteria between January and February 2024. Validity analysis was performed using the content validity index, convergent and divergent validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Pearson product-moment correlation and Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficients were used for reliability analysis. To evaluate invariance of the inventory over time, test-retest measurements were conducted three weeks apart and showed no difference in mean scores (p > .05). Corrected item-total score correlations ranged from 0.303 to 0.846 in the positive direction and were statistically highly significant. Adjusted goodness-of-fit index > 0.85 and comparative fit index > 0.90 confirmed the construct validity of the Turkish SIDI-F. The Cronbach Alpha was found to be .88, indicating high internal consistency. The Turkish version of SIDI-F can be used as a measurement tool to determine the level of sexual interest and arousal.

What can I do for my low back pain? The Work In Progress questionnaire!

There is growing evidence on Commitment Therapy for people with low back pain (LBP). A self-reported questionnaire is lacking which evaluates commitment by relying on the most recommended actions, the most important core outcome domains, and the most evidenced treatment options. To describe the development and psychometric validation of the Work In Progress (WIP) questionnaire. Development and psychometric validation of the WIP questionnaire in the context of people with LBP, as a means to evaluate Commitment. Outpatient facilities. People with LBP. The new instrument was created by item generation and selection. Face validity, appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility were investigated. Psychometric testing was carried out in a cross-sectional study and included: 1) exploratory factor analysis; 2) reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest measurement (Intra-class Correlation Coefficient, ICC<inf>2.1</inf>); and 3) construct validity by hypothesis testing the correlation of the WIP questionnaire with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a pain intensity Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) (Pearson's r correlations). The WIP questionnaire was successfully developed based on international guidelines and the testing of face validity, appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility were satisfactory. The instrument was administered to 102 people with LBP (39 females, mean age of 49.7±14.6 years [range 20-80], pain median duration of 42.1 weeks [range 3-360]). Factor analysis revealed a two-factor 10-item solution (57% of explained variance). The internal consistency was good (α=0.70-85) and test-retest assessment was excellent (ICC<inf>2.1</inf>=0.91-94). Construct validity was good, as ≥75% of hypotheses were confirmed. The WIP questionnaire is a self-reported tool to evaluate commitment in persons with LBP showing satisfactory psychometric properties. It can be recommended for clinical and research purposes. This study adds original new data to the existing knowledge in the field of Commitment within the bio-psychosocial paradigm for disabled people. It is expected to contribute to the evaluative, clinical and rehabilitative approach of individuals with low back pain.

Breastfeeding health literacy scale for pregnant women: A scale development study.

Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for infants, and health literacy significantly influences breastfeeding rates. This study aimed to develop a tool to assess the breastfeeding health literacy levels of pregnant women. This methodologically structured study was conducted with 590 pregnant women who visited the pregnancy follow-up clinic between January and April 2024 and met the sampling criteria. Data were collected using a participant form and the Health Literacy Scale for Breastfeeding for Pregnant Women (BFHLS). To assess the BFHLS validity, the content validity index (CVI) and factor analysis were used, while the reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method, item-total score correlation, and Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient. The BFHLS for pregnant women is structured into four dimensions, comprising 25 items. To assess the scale's stability, test-retest measurements were conducted with a minimum interval of 2 weeks, revealing no significant difference in mean scores (p > 0.05). The CVI for each item was 99%. The corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.48 to 0.92, and Cronbach's alpha value was determined to be 0.96. The BFHLS developed for pregnant women is a valid and reliable tool. Higher scores on the scale indicate a greater level of breastfeeding health literacy in pregnant women. This scale can effectively be used to assess the breastfeeding health literacy levels of pregnant women.

Perceived Halo Effect in Referee Evaluations in Sport: A Scale Development Study

This study was conducted to develop a scale that can measure the relationship between the Halo effect and the evaluations made by referees about athletes' performances, who should make subjective evaluations in sport competitions. The population of the study consisted of 247 referees who were on duty in various sports and in different classifications and who were registered for the year 2023. The items of the scale were produced by the researcher with the support of the literature and it was determined that the items provided content validity (CVI=0.925). After the pilot study, reliability analysis was performed and Alpha=0.970 was found. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to reveal the construct validity of the scale and Alpha=0.972 was found. The fit statistics calculated by confirmatory factor analysis were found to be compatible with the previously determined factor structure of the scale at an acceptable level. In the results of the analyses, it was determined that factor loadings were high, standard error values were low, t values were significant and the construct validity of the predetermined factor structure was confirmed. In addition, as a result of the item discrimination test, it was determined that the scale was able to make a sensitive discriminative measurement (p&amp;lt;0.05). It was found that the scale provided convergent and divergent validity (CR&amp;gt;AVE&amp;gt;0.5), ICC values related to the agreement between test-retest measurements were high, there was no difference between test-retest correlation values, and the scale made reliable measurements based on short time (p&amp;lt;0.05). As a result, it was concluded that the "Perceived Halo Effect Scale in Referee Evaluations in Sport" is a valid and reliable scale.

Reliability, validity and normative data of the timed water swallow test accompanied by sEMG.

Swallowing disorders are highly interrelated with increased morbidity and mortality rates; therefore, early detection is crucial. Most screening tools rely on subjective observation, thus making objective assessment tools more vital. Timed Water Swallowing Test (TWST) is a screening tool used in the field providing quantitative data. This study aimed to investigate the swallowing parameters in a wide age range by using TWST and to expand the already existing normative data pool accordingly. It is also aimed to examine the reliability of the TWST and assess its validity in stroke survivors. This study had a cross-sectional design. TWST carried out simultaneously along with surface EMG and laryngeal sensor on 196 healthy subjects aged 10 to 80 for normative data. Also, TWST carried out 30 patients having a history of recent stroke. Test-retest and inter-rater scoring analysis were used for reliability purposes, while Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) test was used for validity purposes. Additionally, the correlations between the participants' TWST scores and GUSS scores were examined using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The normative TWST data of healthy participants are tabulated and presented and their average swallowing capacity was found 13.73ml/s. Furthermore, the mean swallowing capacity of stroke survivors was found 4.61ml/s. As a result of validity analyses, a statistically strong and significant relationship was found between GUSS and TWST parameters (r = 0.775, p < 0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlation values were found between moderate to good agreement between test-retest measurement (ICC = 0.563 to 0.891, p < 0.05). Also, the agreement between the raters was found to be significant (ICC = 0.949 to 0.995, p < 0.05). TWST is a valid and reliable screening tool to evaluate dysphagia on given population. Although the test's performance on healthy individuals is adequate, more research is still needed to confirm that it can be used as a screening tool for stroke.

Reliability, Concurrent Validity, and Clinical Performances of the Shorter Version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire in a Sample of Italian People with Non-Specific Low Back Pain.

Evaluating the psychometric and clinical performances of the RM-18, the shorter version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), in Italian people with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) as a time-saving and clinically useful method of assessing disability. This cross-sectional study included 74 people (52 females and 22 males, 53.03 ± 15.25 years old) with NSLBP. The RM-18, the RMQ, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a pain intensity numerical rating scale (NRS) were administered. Psychometric testing included reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest measurement (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC2.1), and concurrent validity by comparing the RM-18 with the RMQ and the ODI (Pearson's r correlation). Two separate regression analyses were performed to investigate the different impact of RM-18 and RMQ on NRS. Cronbach's α of RM-18 was 0.92 and ICC (2,1) = 0.96. Strong correlations were found with the RMQ and the ODI (r = 0.98; r = 0.78, respectively). The regression models showed that the RM-18 and the RMQ similarly impacted the NRS (p < 0.001). The RM-18 showed satisfactory psychometric testing and similarly impacted the NRS when compared to the RMQ. It can be recommended for clinical and research purposes in Italian people with NSLBP.

Preliminary protocol for measuring the reproducibility and accuracy of flow values on digital PET/CT systems in [15O]H2O myocardial perfusion imaging using a flow phantom

BackgroundSeveral factors may decrease the accuracy of quantitative PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). It is therefore essential to ensure that myocardial blood flow (MBF) values are reproducible and accurate, and to design systematic protocols to achieve this. Until now, no systematic phantom protocols have been available to assess the technical factors affecting measurement accuracy and reproducibility in MPI.Materials and methodsWe implemented a standard measurement protocol, which applies a flow phantom in order to compare image-derived flow values with respect to a ground truth flow value with [15O]H2O MPI performed on both a Discovery MI (DMI-20, GE Healthcare) and a Biograph Vision 600 (Vision-600, Siemens Healthineers) system. Both systems have automatic [15O]H2O radio water generators (Hidex Oy) individually installed, allowing us to also study the differences occurring due to two different bolus delivery systems. To investigate the technical factors contributing to the modelled flow values, we extracted the [15O]H2O bolus profiles, the flow values from the kinetic modeling (Qin and Qout), and finally calculated their differences between test-retest measurements on both systems.ResultsThe measurements performed on the DMI-20 system produced Qin and Qout values corresponging to each other as well as to the reference flow value across all test-retest measurements. The repeatability differences on DMI-20 were 2.1% ± 2.6% and 3.3% ± 4.1% for Qin and Qout, respectively. On Vision-600 they were 10% ± 8.4% and 11% ± 10% for Qin and Qout, respectively. The measurements performed on the Vision-600 system showed more variation between Qin and Qout values across test-retest measurements and exceeded 15% difference in 7/24 of the measurements.ConclusionsA preliminary protocol for measuring the accuracy and reproducibility of flow values in [15O]H2O MPI between digital PET/CT systems was assessed. The test-retest reproducibility falls below 15% in majority of the measurements conducted between two individual injector systems and two digital PET/CT systems. This study highlights the importance of implementing a standardized bolus injection and delivery protocol and importance of assessing technical factors affecting flow value reproducibility, which should be carefully investigated in a multi-center setting.

Polish Cultural Adaptation and Reliability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Performance and Sensory Assessment Scale in Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Performance and Sensory Assessment Scale (FMA) is the most commonly used and recommended outcome measure for the sensorimotor impairment of the upper and lower limbs in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to perform cross-cultural translation and adaptation of the scale into Polish and to evaluate the FMA's reliability of motor performance and sensation of the upper and lower limb sections among ischemic stroke patients. Methods: The Polish version of the FMA (FMA-PL) was developed using a forward-backward translation performed by a group of experts and then evaluated by a panel of judges according to international guidelines. The study involved 86 patients (F = 30, M = 56, i.e., 35%; the average age of patients was 64 ± 12 years, 36 with right-sided stroke and 50 with left-sided stroke). The FMA-PL was carried out twice by two experienced neurological physiotherapists with a 2 h gap between assessments (test-retest and inter-rater). The reliability of the outcome measure was defined by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimum detectable change (MDC) were also calculated. The internal consistency of the test was determined by the Cronbach's alpha indicator. Results: Three domains were evaluated on the FMA-PL scale. From the whole test, results were obtained in the range of 12-124 points: 64 points for FMA-UE-PL 2, 34 points for FMA-LE-PL 4, and 24 points for FMA-S-PL 0. The ICC values were in the range of 0.99-1.00 for the total FMA-PL score and the results of each domain. The SEM and MDC for the entire FMA-PL calculated for test-retest measurements were 0.22 and 1.60, respectively. The SEM and MDC for the total FMA-PL score obtained during repeated measurements of the same investigator were 1.3 and 3.5 points, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha values calculated for the total FMA-PL, FMA-UE-PL, FMA-LE-PL, and FMA-S-PL items amounted to 0.938-0.939, 0.932-0.934, and 0.634-0.722, respectively. Conclusions: The Polish version of the FMA is a consistent and reliable outcome measure for the motor and sensory evaluation of the upper and lower limbs for patients in subacute and chronic stroke stages.

Dynamic neuroreceptor positron emission tomography in non-anesthetized rats using point source based motion correction: A feasibility study with [11C]ABP688

To prevent motion artifacts in small animal positron emission tomography (PET), animals are routinely scanned under anesthesia or physical restraint. Both may potentially alter metabolism and neurochemistry. This study investigates the feasibility of fully awake acquisition and subsequent absolute quantification of dynamic brain PET data via pharmacokinetic modelling in moving rats using the glutamate 5 receptor radioligand [11C]ABP688 and point source based motion correction. Five male rats underwent three dynamic [11C]ABP688 PET scans: two test-retest awake PET scans and one scan under anesthesia for comparison. Specific radioligand binding was determined via the simplified reference tissue model (reference: cerebellum) and outcome parameters BPND and R1 were evaluated in terms of stability and reproducibility. Test-retest measurements in awake animals gave reliable results with high correlations of BPND (y = 1.08 × −0.2, r = 0.99, p < 0.01) and an acceptable variability (mean over all investigated regions 15.7 ± 2.4%). Regional [11C]ABP688 BPNDs under awake and anesthetized conditions were comparable although in awake scans, absolute radioactive peak uptakes were lower and relative blood flow in terms of R1 was higher. Awake small animal PET with absolute quantification of neuroreceptor availability is technically feasible and reproducible thereby providing a suitable alternative whenever effects of anesthesia are undesirable, e.g. in sleep research.

The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Ostomy Self-Care Index and the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care in Ostomy Patient Index.

Living with an ostomy is a chronic condition, and self-care in such cases improves patient outcomes. To adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Ostomy Self-Care Index (T-OSCI) and the Turkish version of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care in Ostomy Patient Index (T-CC-OSCI). A psychometric study was conducted on a convenience sample of 202 adult patients with an ostomy and their 165 caregivers. Translation and back translation, face and content validity, construct validation, and reliability assessment of the T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI were performed. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the construct validity. Reliability was established using Cronbach α coefficients, ceiling and floor effects, and the Hotelling T2 test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and intraclass correlation coefficient. Content validity values were in the range of 0.85 to 1 for both the T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated generally acceptable factor loadings. The overall index revealed a high level of internal consistency (T-OSCI = 0.968, T-CC-OSCI = 0.862). No statistically significant difference was found between test-retest measurements. There was no indication of either ceiling or floor effects, or response bias. The T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI are valid and reliable indexes to measure the self-care of patients with an ostomy and their caregivers. These indexes may allow health care professionals to evaluate self-care in research and clinical settings, identify educational needs, and collaborate in developing and supporting appropriate self-care initiatives for patients with an ostomy and their caregivers.

Investigation of the Validity and Reliability of Two Smart Bands Selected That Count Steps at Different Walking Speed

Whether activity monitor smart wristbands that have become widespread can accurately estimate the step count while walking is a matter of curiosity. The current study aims to analyze the validity and reliability of step count (SC) estimation at normal walking and fast walking pace under controlled conditions of two selected smart wristbands of the leading wearable device vendors, Xiaomi (Mi4) and Huawei (H4). Twenty healthy adult male and twenty healthy adult female were included in the study and analyzed separately. The mean age of male and female participants was 22.25 and 21.62 years, with BMI values of 24.22 kg/m2 and 21.42 kg/m2, respectively. The above-ground walking protocol consisted of four separate five-minute tests: Normal Walking Test, Normal Walking Retest, Fast Walking Test, and Fast Walking Retest. In the study, the analyses were performed by using activity monitor measurements and criterion measurements (the number of steps determined from video recordings), compatibility of test-retest measurement values, error indicators (MPE and MAPE), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement. According to the current study results, it was revealed that the MAPE values recorded for Mi4 and H4 smart wristbands for both normal and fast walking pace in male and female participants were &amp;lt;5%, which was deemed excellent. According to all analyses, the H4 device was found to be valid and reliable, but according to ICC and Pearson Correlation analyses, the Mi4 device was not found to be valid and reliable at fast walking pace.

Short-term effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide eye drops on macular choroidal thickness in myopic children.

To investigate the short-term effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide eyedrops on choroidal thickness (ChT) in myopic children using placebo or low-dose atropine eyedrops. The analysis included 242 myopic individuals (7-19 years) enrolled in two randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials of low-dose atropine eyedrops. Cycloplegia was induced using either one drop of 1% cyclopentolate (n = 161), two drops of 1% cyclopentolate (n = 32) or two drops of 1% tropicamide (n = 49). ChT measurements were taken using swept-source optical coherence tomography before and 30 min after administering the cycloplegic eye drops. A subset of 51 participants underwent test-retest measurements prior to cycloplegia. Mean changes in subfoveal ChT after two drops of tropicamide and one and two drops of cyclopentolate were -2.5 μm (p = 0.10), -4.3 μm (p < 0.001) and -9.6 μm (p < 0.001), respectively. Subfoveal ChT changes after one and two drops of cyclopentolate were significantly greater than the test-retest changes (test-retest mean change: -3.1 μm; p < 0.05), while the tropicamide group was not significantly different (p = 0.64). Choroidal thinning post-cyclopentolate was not significantly different between atropine and placebo treatment groups (p > 0.05 for all macular locations). The coefficient of repeatability (CoR) in the tropicamide group (range: 8.2-14.4 μm) was similar to test-retest (range: 7.5-12.2 μm), whereas greater CoR values were observed in the cyclopentolate groups (one drop: range: 10.8-15.3 μm; two drops: range: 12.2-24.6 μm). Cyclopentolate eye drops caused dose-dependent choroidal thinning and increased variation in pre- to post-cycloplegia measurements compared with test-retest variability, whereas tropicamide did not. These findings have practical implications for ChT measurements when cyclopentolate is used, particularly for successive measurements.

Febrile convulsion knowledge scale for parents/caregivers: A validity and reliability study

BackgroundThe primary worry of parents/caregivers in relation to fever is the potential for their child to experience a seizure as a result. The literature suggests that parents/caregivers need to be informed about febrile convulsion. Thus, this study sought to develop the ‘Febrile Convulsion Knowledge Scale for Parents/Caregivers’. Design and methodsIt is a methodological study comprising 984 parents/caregivers who were accessible online between 07/04/2021 and 30/06/2022. After creating the scale item pool's construction, expert opinions were sought to evaluate the scale, and a content validity analysis was conducted. Subsequent analysis included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's Alpha, and a test-retest reliability assessment of the scale data. ResultsThe scale was found to consist of 8 items and 3 factors according to the factor analyses. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the scale explained 72.783% of the variance. The scale's reliability analysis produced a Cronbach's Alpha score of 0.679, indicating good internal consistency, and it was consistent with test-retest measures (t = −0.660, p = 0.514). ConclusionsIt has been determined that the scale is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating the knowledge of parents/caregivers regarding febrile convulsions. Practice implicationsIt is advisable for pediatric nurses to routinely use the devised scale with families of children who are vulnerable to febrile convulsion and impart instruction based on the findings derived from the scale.

Reliability, Measurement Error, Responsiveness, and Minimal Important Change of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale 2.0 for Patients With Nonspecific Neck Pain.

The Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess functional limitations. Recently, the PSFS 2.0 was proposed; this instrument includes an inverse numeric rating scale and an additional list of activities that patients can choose. The aim of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability, measurement error, responsiveness, and minimal important change of the PSFS 2.0 when used by patients with nonspecific neck pain. Patients with nonspecific neck pain completed a numeric rating scale, the PSFS 2.0, and the Neck Disability Index at baseline and again after 12weeks. The Global Perceived Effect (GPE) was also collected at 12weeks and used as an anchor. Test-retest measurement was assessed by completion of a second PSFS 2.0 after 1week. Measurement error was calculated using a Bland-Altman plot. The receiver operating characteristic method with the anchor (GPE) functions as the reference standard was used for calculating the minimal important change. One hundred patients were included, with 5 lost at follow-up. No floor and ceiling effects were reported. In the test-retest analysis, the mean difference was 0.15 (4.70 at first test and 4.50 at second test). The ICC (mixed models) was 0.95, indicating high agreement (95% CI = 0.92-0.97). For measurement error, the upper and lower limits of agreement were 0.95 and -1.25 points, respectively, with a smallest detectable change of 1.10. The minimal important change was determined to be 2.67 points. The PSFS 2.0 showed satisfactory responsiveness, with an area under the curve of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.70-0.93). There were substantial to high correlations between the change scores of the PSFS 2.0 and the Neck Disability Index and GPE (0.60 and 0.52, respectively; P < .001). The PSFS 2.0 is a reliable and responsive patient-reported outcome measure for use by patients with neck pain.

Test-Retest Reliability of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index and the Acoustic Breathiness Index

The acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) and the acoustic breathiness index (ABI) are two validated measurements for the objective-acoustic assessment of voice quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of AVQI and ABI as well as detect the natural variability of vocally-healthy voices. Totally, 39 vocally-healthy participants received weekly an AVQI- and ABI measurement using the freeware VOXplot over a period of 3 weeks. This study is a within-subject design to assess significant differences between the test and retest measurements (test and mean of two retests) of AVQI and ABI with the paired sample t test and to investigate the reliability of these two acoustic parameters with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plot, and the minimal detectable change (MDC). No significant differences between the test-retest measurements of AVQI and ABI were revealed (all P-values>0.05). The relative reliability of AVQI and ABI showed good results (eg, ICC=0.81, and ICC=0.92, respectively). Absolute reliability measured with the MDC yielded a test-retest value of 0.78 and 0.66 for the AVQI and ABI, respectively. Deviations within this range may be due to natural variations of the voice (random bias). AVQI and ABI revealed high-reliability results in a test-retest measurement of vocally-healthy participants.

Family Physicians' Perceptions of Primary Health Care Use in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Covid-19 Pandemic, a Cross-sectional Study.

The main objective of this paper was to examine the perceptions of family physicians on the use of primary health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a short online questionnaire that was sent to primary care physicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina from April 20th, 2022, to May 20th, 2022. The research sample consisted of 231 doctors of primary health care from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an average age of 45 years and 85% women. About 70% of participants reported having COVID-19 at least once from March 2020 to March 2022. Participants had an average of 1,986 registered patients and approximately 50 encounters per day. The study revealed a high degree of reliability between test-retest measurements, with a single measure Intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.801, and internal consistency determined using Cronbach's alpha of 0.89. Participants reported that the following health services were most affected during the COVID-19 pandemic: care for patients with chronic diseases, home visits, navigating the health system with patients making appointments with specialists, cancer screening, and preventive health services. The study also found statistically significant perceived differences in the use of these health services based on age, gender, postgraduate education in family medicine, participation in COVID-19 clinics, and personal history of Covid-19. There were significant disturbances to the use of primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research could investigate patient outcomes compared to family physician perceptions.

Reliable affordances: A generative modeling approach for test-retest reliability of the affordances task.

The affordances task serves as an important tool for the assessment of cognition and visuomotor functioning, and yet its test-retest reliability has not been established. In the affordances task, participants attend to a goal-directed task (e.g., classifying manipulable objects such as cups and pots) while suppressing their stimulus-driven, irrelevant reactions afforded by these objects (e.g., grasping their handles). This results in cognitive conflicts manifesting at the task level and the response level. In the current study, we assessed the reliability of the affordances task for the first time. While doing so, we referred to the "reliability paradox," according to which behavioral tasks that produce highly replicable group-level effects often yield low test-retest reliability due to the inadequacy of traditional correlation methods in capturing individual differences between participants. Alongside the simple test-retest correlations, we employed a Bayesian generative model that was recently demonstrated to result in a more precise estimation of test-retest reliability. Two hundred and ninety-five participants completed an online version of the affordances task twice, with a one-week gap. Performance on the online version replicated results obtained under in-lab administrations of the task. While the simple correlation method resulted in weak test-retest measures of the different effects, the generative model yielded a good reliability assessment. The current results support the utility of the affordances task as a reliable behavioral tool for the assessment of group-level and individual differences in cognitive and visuomotor functioning. The results further support the employment of generative modeling in the study of individual differences.

Translocator protein PET imaging in temporal lobe epilepsy: A reliable test-retest study using asymmetry index.

Translocator protein (TSPO) targeting positron emission tomography (PET) imaging radioligands have potential utility in epilepsy to assess the efficacy of novel therapeutics for targeting neuroinflammation. However, previous studies in healthy volunteers have indicated limited test-retest reliability of TSPO ligands. Here, we examine test-retest measures using TSPO PET imaging in subjects with epilepsy and healthy controls, to explore whether this biomarker can be used as an endpoint in clinical trials for epilepsy. Five subjects with epilepsy and confirmed mesial temporal lobe sclerosis (mean age 36 years, 3 men) were scanned twice-on average 8 weeks apart-using a second generation TSPO targeting radioligand, [11C]PBR28. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of the volume of distribution and derived hemispheric asymmetry index of [11C]PBR28 binding in these subjects and compared the results with 8 (mean age 45, 6 men) previously studied healthy volunteers. The mean (± SD) of the volume of distribution (VT), of all subjects, in patients living with epilepsy for both test and retest scans on all regions of interest (ROI) is 4.49 ± 1.54 vs. 5.89 ± 1.23 in healthy volunteers. The bias between test and retest in an asymmetry index as a percentage was small (-1.5%), and reliability is demonstrated here with Bland-Altman Plots (test mean 1.062, retest mean 2.56). In subjects with epilepsy, VT of [11C]PBR28 is higher in the (ipsilateral) hippocampal region where sclerosis is present than in the contralateral region. When using TSPO PET in patients with epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (HS), an inter-hemispheric asymmetry index in the hippocampus is a measure with good test-retest reliability. We provide estimates of test-retest variability that may be useful for estimating power where group change in VT represents the clinical outcome.

Standard Heart Rate Variability Parameters-Their Within-Session Stability, Reliability, and Sample Size Required to Detect the Minimal Clinically Important Effect.

Many intervention studies assume the stability of heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, and their sample sizes are often small, which can significantly affect their conclusions. The aim of this study is to assess the stability and reliability of standard HRV parameters within a single resting session, and to estimate the sample size required to detect the minimal clinically important effect of an intervention. Heart rate was recorded in 50 adult healthy subjects for 50 min in a seated position. Eight standard HRV parameters were calculated from five evenly spaced 5 min intervals. Stability was assessed by comparing the mean values of HRV parameters between the consecutive five test-retest measurements. Absolute reliability was determined by standard error of measurement, and relative reliability by intraclass correlation coefficient. The sample size required to detect a mean difference of ≥30% of between-subject standard deviation was estimated. As expected, almost all HRV parameters had poor absolute reliability but most HRV parameters had substantial to excellent relative reliability. We found statistically significant differences in almost all HRV parameters between the first 20 min and the last 30 min of the session. The estimated sample size ranged from 19 to 300 subjects for the first 20 min and from 36 to 194 subjects for the last 30 min of the session, depending on the selected HRV parameter. We concluded that optimal HRV measurement protocols in a resting seated position should be performed within the first 20 min or between 20 and 50 min after assuming a resting seated position. Future interventional HRV studies should include a sufficient number of subjects and consider the Bonferroni correction according to the number of selected HRV parameters to achieve an appropriate level of study power and precision.