Total Number Of Correct Answers Research Articles

Syntactic comprehension abilities in aged people with mild cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT Background Language studies in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been primarily focused on lexicosemantic abilities, with a paucity of data regarding syntactic processing. Aims We aimed to verify the sentence comprehension ability of older adults with amnestic MCI (aMCI), non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), and mild AD and compare it to the performance of cognitively healthy older adults. Methods & Procedures We evaluated 32 cognitively healthy older adults, 22 with aMCI, 43 with naMCI, and 12 with mild AD using the Test for Reception of Grammar Version 2 (TROG-2). Outcomes & Results There were significant differences between the control and MCI and control and AD groups in the total number of correct answers and among the four groups’ profiles according to the type of sentence (p < 0.05). Zero anaphor, pronoun gender/number, and centre-embedded sentences discriminated at least between two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions Poorer performance in sentences structurally more complex was in line with the severity of the cognitive decline, which may point to the effect of increased demands on working memory and executive functions on syntactic processing.

Development of two questionnaires for the assessment of knowledge and self-management in patients with chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

As with other chronic diseases, the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be expected to be positively influenced if patients are well informed about their disease and undertake appropriate self-management. Assessments of the level of knowledge and management that are comparable should benefit from structured, systematically developed questionnaires. These, however, have not been published in Germany. A total of 310 patients with COPD were recruited from three pneumological practices and one hospital to develop the questionnaires. Based on statistical criteria and content assessments by medical specialists, two questionnaires on knowledge (17 questions) and self-management (25 questions) were developed by selecting and modifying questions from published studies and training programs. In addition, two short versions with 5 and 3 questions were created to enable a quick assessment of the patients' knowledge and self-management. All questionnaires also included a visual analogue scale for self-assessment of knowledge and self-management. The statistical procedures for systematically guided selection comprised correlation and regression analyses. The questionnaires revealed considerable knowledge deficits in many patients and remarkably unsystematic, incoherent knowledge. The extent of this knowledge was negatively correlated with higher age and positively correlated with participation in training programs; this also applied to self-management. Correlations between the answers to the knowledge questions were higher in patients who had participated in training programs. The visual analogue scales for self-assessment of knowledge and management always correlated with the total number of correct answers. The questionnaires on knowledge and self-management in patients with COPD could be used in outpatient settings, including by non-medical staff, in order to quickly identify and correct deficits or as a reason to recommend training programs. The short versions and the analogue scales for self-assessment can give at least first hints. Potentially, training programs should focus more on promoting the coherence of knowledge through better understanding, as this presumably favors long-term knowledge. Older patients and those with a low level of education appear to be particularly in need of specially adapted training programs.

Effect of a Childhood Burn Prevention Program on Knowledge Level of Caregivers and Burn Risk Factors

BackgroundPrevention activities are very important in paediatric burns. More than 73% of burns occur at home. This study aimed to develop a Childhood Burn Prevention Program for caregivers of children with burns and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program for reducing burn risk factors for children at home as well as increasing the relevant knowledge of caregivers on burn prevention. Methods“Childhood Burn Prevention Program” was developed in the study. Within the scope of the program, caregivers were interviewed twice at home visits. At the first home visit, caregivers were trained in burn prevention and a poster including burn risk factors was put in their homes. In addition, the knowledge levels of caregivers about burns and risk factors in home settings were evaluated in the first and second home visits. ResultsWe found the total risk factor for burns in home settings was 28.94 ± 6.24 before the training and 14.68 ± 3.74 after the training (p < 0.05). In addition, the total number of correct answers given by the caregivers to the questions about burns before the training was 8.60 ± 2.62 and 11.71 ± 1.70 after the training (p < 0.05). ConclusionThis Childhood Burn Prevention Program can be used to reduce risk factors for burns at home and to increase the relevant knowledge of caregivers of children.

Implementation of a high fidelity simulation based training program for physicians of children requiring long term invasive home ventilation: a study by ISPAT team.

The number of children requiring long-term invasive home ventilation (LTIHV) has increased worldwide in recent decades. The training of physicians caring for these children is crucial since they are at high risk for complications and adverse events. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a comprehensive high-fidelity simulation-based training program for physicians caring for children on LTIHV. A multimodal training program for tracheostomy and ventilator management was prepared by ISPAT (IStanbul PAediatric Tracheostomy) team. Participants were subjected to theoretical and practical pre-tests which evaluated their knowledge levels and skills for care, follow-up, and treatment of children on LTIHV. Following the theoretical education and hands-on training session with a simulation model, theoretical and practical post-tests were performed. Forty-three physicians from 7 tertiary pediatric clinics in Istanbul were enrolled in the training program. Seventy percent of them had never received standardized training programs about patients on home ventilation previously. The total number of correct answers from the participants significantly improved after the theoretical training (p < 0.001). The number of participants who performed the steps correctly also significantly increased following the hands-on training session (p < 0.001). All of the 43 participants who responded rated the course overall as good or excellent. The knowledge and skills of clinicians caring for children on LTIHV can be enhanced through a comprehensive training program consisting of theoretical training combined with hands-on training in a simulation laboratory.

EFETIVIDADE DE TECNOLOGIA EDUCACIONAL EM FORMATO DE VÍDEO SOBRE BANHO DOMICILIAR DO RECÉM-NASCIDO A TERMO

ABSTRACT Objective: evaluating the effectiveness of an educational technology in video format on the knowledge of family caregivers about home bathing of term newborns. Method: a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental, single-group, before-and-after design, carried out between February and June 2023, in the Rooming-in Unit of a municipal hospital located in the coastal lowlands of Rio de Janeiro State. Data collection consisted of three stages (pre-test, intervention, and post-test). McNemar's test was used to compare the proportion of correct answers before and after the intervention. The p&lt;0.5 was used. Results: 107 family members took part, 86 of them women (80.4%). There was a 36.5% increase in the total number of correct answers in the post-test after the use of educational technology. Most of the questions showed an increase in the number of correct answers (n=16; 88.9%), with more than half showing a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test. The questions on the use of different brands of hygiene products, the use of talcum powder, care of the umbilical cord stump, and the most suitable type of bath, as well as the temperature and duration of the bath, stood out. Conclusion: The educational video “How to bathe a newborn baby at home” proved to be effective in increasing knowledge about home bathing of term newborns. Thus, the video evaluated on the subject can be used as an educational health technology with families to promote safer care for newborns.

Does a training course on early childhood communication have an impact on the knowledge of early childhood education professionals?

To analyze whether a training course on communication development in early childhood has a positive impact on the knowledge of early childhood education professionals and to verify the participants' perception of the course. A longitudinal study conducted in a virtual environment between September 2021 and December 2022. A total of 91 early childhood education professionals took part and completed a training course. The course consisted of three modules on communication development in early childhood, offered through the Google Classroom platform, with a total workload of 50 hours spread over four months. Participants answered a questionnaire made up of 20 items related to the topics covered before starting the course, immediately after completing it and six months after finishing. For each question answered correctly, 1 point was awarded. The data was analyzed using a descriptive and inferential approach, and the total number of correct answers at the three moments was compared using Friedman's ANOVA, with a significance level of 5%. Both the analysis of the correct answers to each item in the questionnaire and the overall score showed a gradual increase between the three moments. The participants' perception of the course was highly satisfied. The participants showed an increase in the number of correct answers to the questionnaire before and after the training course, which suggests greater knowledge about the development of communication in early childhood both immediately after the course and after six months.

Specific Training Improves the Detection and Management of Patient-Ventilator Asynchrony.

Patient-ventilator asynchrony is common in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The proportion of health-care professionals capable of identifying and effectively managing different types of patient-ventilator asynchronies is limited. A few studies have developed specific training programs, but they mainly focused on improving patient-ventilator asynchrony detection without assessing the ability of health-care professionals to determine the possible causes. We conducted a 36-h training program focused on patient-ventilator asynchrony detection and management for health-care professionals from 20 hospitals in Latin America and Spain. The training program included 6 h of a live online lesson during which 120 patient-ventilator asynchrony cases were presented. After the 6-h training lesson, health-care professionals were required to complete a 1-h training session per day for the subsequent 30 d. A 30-question assessment tool was developed and used to assess health-care professionals before training, immediately after the 6-h training lecture, and after the 30 d of training (1-month follow-up). One hundred sixteen health-care professionals participated in the study. The median (interquartile range) of the total number of correct answers in the pre-training, post-training, and 1-month follow-up were significantly different (12 [8.75-15], 18 [13.75-22], and 18.5 [14-23], respectively). The percentages of correct answers also differed significantly between the time assessments. Study participants significantly improved their performance between pre-training and post-training (P < .001). This performance was maintained after a 1-month follow-up (P = .95) for the questions related to the detection, determination of cause, and management of patient-ventilator asynchrony. A specific 36-h training program significantly improved the ability of health-care professionals to detect patient-ventilator asynchrony, determine the possible causes of patient-ventilator asynchrony, and properly manage different types of patient-ventilator asynchrony.

Health insurance literacy among patients receiving outpatient cancer treatment.

339 Background: Limited health insurance literacy (HIL) has been linked to problems paying medical bills or delaying care among patients with cancer. In this study, we describe the prevalence and correlates of HIL in a cohort of cancer patients measured using a ten-question HIL quiz developed by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Methods: We examined HIL in 393 adult patients (aged &gt;18 years) receiving cancer treatment in two ambulatory infusion centers, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona (12/2019 to 2/2020 and 8/2020 to 10/2020) and University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi (9/2020 to 1/2021). HIL was categorized as low, moderate, or high based on the total number of correct answers: 0-4 (low), 5-6 (moderate), and 7-10 (high). Descriptive statistics characterized the sample and chi-square statistics compared HIL by sociodemographic factors. Results: Most patients understood basic insurance terms, such as premiums and deductibles (Table). However, fewer patients answered questions correctly about provider networks (46.1%), formularies (48.6%), and calculating out-of-pocket (OOP) spending (16.8%). 53 (13.5%), 69 (17.6%), and 271 (69.0%) patients had low, moderate, and high HIL scores, respectively. Lower HIL was more common among patients of younger age (&lt;65 years: 17.8%, 65+ years: 8.7%), lower educational attainment (less than college: 23.2%; college or higher: 4.4%), and lower household income (&lt;$4999: 21.1%, $5000+: 6.1%) (all p-values&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Although HIL in our cohort of cancer patients was relatively high - 69% answered at least 7 questions correctly - there were gaps in understanding of provider networks, formularies, and calculation of OOP spending. Efforts to improve HIL and help with navigation of health insurance plans may be required, especially for socioeconomically vulnerable patients.[Table: see text]

An intervention study through education: The change in attitudes and knowledge of educators about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Reliable and culturally informed health communication is vital in developing positive health behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 vaccines by providing training to educators in a province in the east of Turkey. A questionnaire developed by the researchers on the basis of the literature was used in this intervention study. It consisted of three parts: socio-demographic information, before education knowledge (BEK) and Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine (BEATV), and after education knowledge (AEK) and Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine (AEATV). There were 99 teachers, 32 public education teachers, and 144 religious officials who participated in the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics Pack version 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Statistical significance value was accepted as p < 0.05. Among the participants, the number of correct answers to all questions increased as a result of the study. There was a positive increase in most of the ATV items after the training. Education on COVID-19 vaccines increased awareness as shown by the total number of correct answers and the improved attitude of educators.

Non-ICT Students’ Familiarity with Basic Computer Concepts at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad

As a continuation of our previous paper, the aim of this research was to determine the level of familiarity of the freshmen at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, with the basic concepts related to computers. The sample included the same 568 respondents as in our first study, and the same two control groups. Familiarity was analysed with 14 questions from the field of computer literacy, both at the level of individual questions and in relation to the total number of correct answers. The results were also analysed in relation to the condition of passing the test from the appropriate European Computer Driving Licence module. No student answered all the questions correctly, which clearly indicates the need to educate students on basic concepts related to computers. The obtained results can be used to better adapt teaching to the students’ needs and their prior knowledge.

A Web-Based Therapist Training Tutorial on Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy: Pre-Post Assessment Study

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a newly recognized mental disorder characterized by pervasive intense grief that persists longer than cultural or social expectations and interferes with functioning. The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in increased rates of PGD, and few clinicians feel confident in treating this condition. PGD therapy (PGDT) is a simple, short-term, and evidence-based treatment developed in tandem with the validation of the PGD diagnosis. To facilitate the dissemination of PGDT training, we developed a web-based therapist tutorial that includes didactic training on PGDT concepts and principles as well as web-based multimedia patient scenarios and examples of clinical implementation of PGDT. We aimed to evaluate user satisfaction with the tutorial and whether the tutorial increased trainees' knowledge of PGDT principles and procedures. Moreover, we included a small number of pilot questions to evaluate the PGDT-related clinical skills. This study evaluated tutorial learning using a pre- and poststudy design. Participants were recruited from professional organization mailing lists, announcements to graduates of the Columbia School of Social Work, and through word of mouth. After signing consent, participants completed a brief demographic survey, a 55-item multiple-choice prestudy test on the concepts and principles of PGD and PGDT covered in the tutorial, and a 4-item pilot web-based prestudy test to gauge PGD clinical implementation skills. The link to the course content was then activated, and participants were given 8 weeks to complete the 11-module tutorial containing information, web-based exercises, simulated patient and video examples, and self-tests. Overall, 406 clinicians signed consent, and 236 (58.1%) started the tutorial. Of these, 83.1% (196/236) completed all 11 modules. Trainee scores on our PDGT assessment improved substantially from pretraining to the postmodule assessment, with the total number of correct answers increasing from a mean of 29 (SD 5.5; 52.7% correct) to 36.7 (SD 5.2; 66.7% correct; t195=18.93; P<.001). In addition, the trainee's implementation scores on 4 clinical vignettes increased from 2.6 (SD 0.7) correct out of 4 to 3.1 (SD 0.4) out of 4 (t188=7.02; P<.001). Effect sizes (Cohen d) were 1.44 (95% CI 1.23-1.65) for PDGT assessment and 1.06 (95% CI 0.84-1.29) for implementation. Trainees found the tutorial interesting, enjoyable, clearly presented, and useful for professional development. They endorsed a mean score of 3.7 (SD 0.47) on a 1 to 4 scale of agreement with recommending the course to others and feeling satisfied with the tutorial, and a mean of 3.3 (SD 0.57) with feeling able to apply the skills with clients. This pilot study provides support for the usefulness of this web-based training for teaching clinicians how to administer PGDT. The addition of patient scenarios for clinical implementation strategies holds promise for increasing the effectiveness of PGDT training and other evidence-based treatments. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05121792; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05121792.

Syphilis and dentists: The data about knowledge and awareness of clinicians in Turkey.

Background: Syphilis may give pathognomonic signs in oral cavity. In order to emerge an awareness about dentists' role in syphilis management, it was aimed to obtain the data from them about their knowledge.Methods: This survey-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 709 dentists practicing in Turkey. Participants answered 16 statements about syphilis "Transmission Routes," "Extra-oral Clinical Features," "Oral Findings," and "Diagnosis & Treatment" with options yes/no/I do not know. Moreover, they responded to two 5-point Likert type questions about their comfort level and frequency of taking sexual anamnesis. The statistical significance was set at p ≤ .05.Results: The mean age (years) and female/male ratio of the participants were 35.7 ± 10.2 and 449/260, respectively. The average of the correct answers in the survey was 10.38 ± 3.3. "Transmission Routes" had the highest ratio (50.6%) in terms of all questions in a single category that were answered correctly among groups. Dentists practicing at faculties had the highest number of correct answers (p = .003). The total number of correct answers and the number of correct answers in each category were positively related to both the level of comfort and the frequency of taking patient's sexual anamnesis (Oral Findings p = .002; others p ≤ .001).Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that dentists practicing in Turkey lack a significant level of knowledge about syphilis. This highlights the need for further training and education programs for dentists in Turkey.

Clustering and Switching on verbal fluency tests in elementary school children with and without learning difficulties.

Evaluate the performance in the Semantic and Phonemic Verbal Fluency tests in relation to the cognitive components of clustering and switching and explore the changes in development in elementary school. Participants were 68 children from the 2nd to 5th grade of elementary school of a public school in the municipality of Santo André, divided into two groups, Learning Difficulty (LD) and Typical Development (TD). The Verbal Fluency tests were compared for the number of clusters, mean size of the clusters, and number of switches. All variables compared showed a statistically significant higher score for Semantic Verbal Fluency. Means and standard deviations of the same variables for year and group effect were realized in both Verbal Fluency tests. A statistically significant difference was observed only for the total number of clusters in the Semantic Verbal Fluency test for group effect, with the best performance of the TD group. A high correlation was observed between the total number of correct answers with the total number of clusters and number of switches in both Verbal Fluency tests. In addition, a correlation was observed between the total number of correct answers and the mean size of the clusters only in the Phonemic Verbal Fluency. Linear regression analysis showed greater variance for the total number of clusters, making it more predictable for performance in both verbal fluency tests. Verbal Fluency tests may be sensitive and predictive for the identification of possible differences in school performance associated with reading.

Clustering e Switching nos testes de fluência verbal em crianças do ensino fundamental I com e sem dificuldade de aprendizagem

ABSTRACT Purpose Evaluate the performance in the Semantic and Phonemic Verbal Fluency tests in relation to the cognitive components of clustering and switching and explore the changes in development in elementary school. Methods Participants were 68 children from the 2nd to 5th grade of elementary school of a public school in the municipality of Santo André, divided into two groups, Learning Difficulty (LD) and Typical Development (TD). Results The Verbal Fluency tests were compared for the number of clusters, mean size of the clusters, and number of switches. All variables compared showed a statistically significant higher score for Semantic Verbal Fluency. Means and standard deviations of the same variables for year and group effect were realized in both Verbal Fluency tests. A statistically significant difference was observed only for the total number of clusters in the Semantic Verbal Fluency test for group effect, with the best performance of the TD group. A high correlation was observed between the total number of correct answers with the total number of clusters and number of switches in both Verbal Fluency tests. In addition, a correlation was observed between the total number of correct answers and the mean size of the clusters only in the Phonemic Verbal Fluency. Linear regression analysis showed greater variance for the total number of clusters, making it more predictable for performance in both verbal fluency tests. Conclusion Verbal Fluency tests may be sensitive and predictive for the identification of possible differences in school performance associated with reading.

An objective evaluation of fundamental pharmacogenomics knowledge among pharmacists and pharmacy students

IntroductionPossessing a correct and comprehensive foundation on the science of pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an important prerequisite for pharmacists to successfully apply pharmacogenomic testing to patient care. While some work has addressed general PGx knowledge among pharmacists, little research has specifically focused on PGx foundational knowledge. This study examines the level of foundational knowledge of PGx and interest in learning about PGx among community pharmacists and first-year pharmacy students at Beirut Arab University (BAU), Beirut, Lebanon. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was self-administered to community pharmacists within a random sample of community pharmacies in Beirut, Lebanon, and to first-year BAU pharmacy students. The knowledge component of the instrument consisted of 25 items, each worth one point, addressing fundamental PGx information. The validity and internal consistency of the designed instrument were tested among the study population. Correlation analysis was carried out between aggregate knowledge and key variables for participating pharmacists. ResultsOf 150 approached pharmacists, 137 (91 %) participated and of 132 pharmacy students, 131 (99 %) participated. The average knowledge score for community pharmacists was 15 (Standard Deviation = 4) out of a possible total of 25 with the total number of correct answers ranging from 8 to 24 out of 25 questions. The average score for pharmacy students was 17 (Standard Deviation = 5) out of a possible total of 25 with the total number of correct answers ranging from 5 to 24. Pharmacists’ age and years of practice were associated with a lower aggregate knowledge score (r = −0.20; p < 0.05 and r = −0.21; p < 0.05), respectively. Pharmacists’ interest in learning about PGx varied whereas 62 % were either interested or very interested in learning about PGx. Students’ interest, however, was higher with 70 % being either interested or very interested. Specific PGx topics of interest to participants were highlighted. ConclusionThis study identified areas where PGx foundational knowledge was acceptable and others where significant opportunities for improvement exist. These results add to the rapidly expanding field of pharmacogenomics education and practice in relation to pharmacy. In particular, these findings have significant implications for planning pharmacogenomics-related educational activities targeting current and future pharmacists.

Communication Styles and Attention Performance in Primary School Children

Communication styles are the three communication patterns that result from merging the verbal elements of communication, the non-verbal elements and the paraverbal elements. The objective of this study was to test what effect different communication styles have on attention performance in primary school children. We administered the assertive behavior scale for children (CABS), the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and the d2 attention test to a sample of 77 participants of primary school. A statistically significant and proportional correlation was found between the assertive communication style and the total number of correct answers of the SDMT. We also found positive correlations between the assertive communication style and d2 attention test performance. Children with an assertive communication style have better attention performance than children with passive or aggressive communication styles.

Efficacy of standardized tracheostomy training with a simulation model for healthcare providers: A study by ISPAT team.

Tracheostomy care in children may be challenging, due to lack of knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs). The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of HCP who follow patients with tracheostomy and to increase this level with theoretical training and training in a simulation laboratory. ISPAT (IStanbul PAediatric Tracheostomy), a multidisciplinary team for tracheostomy care was established and a training program was prepared. Participants were subjected to theoretical and practical pretests which evaluated their knowledge levels and skills for care, follow-up, and treatment of a patient with tracheostomy. After the theoretical and practical training given to the participants with a simulation model, theoretical and practical posttests were applied. Fifty-one HCP from nine tertiary pediatric clinics in Istanbul were enrolled in the training program. Only six (11.8%) of them had received standardized training programs previously. Regarding the theoretical tests, seven of the 33 questions were indicated as essential. The knowledge level of the participants based on the essential questions significantly increased after the training (p < 0.05 for all of the essential questions). The total number of correct answers and correct answers of three subheadings also significantly increased after the practical training (p < 0.001 for all). Ninety-five percent of the participants assessed the course as good or excellent in general. Training in a simulation laboratory in combination with theoretical education can improve the knowledge and skills of the HCP enabling improved care of children with a tracheostomy.

Cognitive Characteristics of Skilled Badminton Players

Study of the cognitive characteristics of qualified badminton players. 34 qualified badminton players, 12 men and 22 women were test subjects. Testing was carried out individually. Analysis of scientific and methodological liter- ature and world experience shows that the study of psychophysiological characteristics provides additional infor- mation about an athlete’s functional state during training and competitive activities. It is known that sports results largely depend on the individual typological characteristics of a person, as well as on the extent to which these fea- tures are used to realize the entire spectrum of the athlete's capabilities. Activation of higher nervous processes is present in almost all components of sports activity and provides a quick reaction, perception and processing of in- formation, the speed of mastering technical elements and quick switching from one type of activity to another. The study of the cognitive characteristics of badminton players was organized using the hardware-software computer complex "Multipsychometer-05". In our research, the first part of Raven's advanced progressive matrices was ap- plied. It is an express version of the test, consisting of 12 tasks and covers the entire range of possibilities diagnosed by the full test. The main informative indicator of the test is performance − the total number of correctly completed tasks for the entire time of the test (the total number of correct answers). The test execution speed, accuracy, effi- ciency are also determined. The analysis of Raven's progressive matrices showed that qualified badminton players have an average level of productivity, speed and accuracy, a level below the average of test performance. The study of cognitive abilities, taking into account sexual dimorphism, showed that, in terms of speed and quality indicators of cognitive tests, women demonstrate significantly better values in relation to men. General cognitive abilities can be used as diagnostic and prognostic criteria in the selection process for qualified badminton players.

Effect of one-session focused attention meditation on the working memory capacity of meditation novices: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

IntroductionPrevious studies have revealed that one‐session focused attention meditation (FAM) can improve top‐down attention control, which is one of the factors of working memory capacity (WMC). In addition, FAM shares various neural substrates, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with WMC. Thus, we hypothesized that one‐session FAM would improve WMC by activating the DLPFC evoked by the top‐down attention control. In this study, we examined whether FAM modified WMC in individuals with little to no meditation experience.MethodsThe participants were randomly assigned to either the FAM group (N = 13) or the control group (N = 17) who engaged in random thinking (i.e., mind‐wandering). Before and after each 15‐min intervention, the participants’ WMC was measured according to the total number of correct answers in the Reading Span Test. During each intervention, functional near‐infrared spectroscopy was employed to measure the blood flow in the participants’ DLPFC and determine the top‐down attention control effect.ResultsIn the FAM group, WMC increased, and the bilateral DLPFC was activated during the intervention. As for the control group, WMC decreased after the intervention, and the bilateral DLPFC was not activated during the intervention. A correlation was also found among all participants between the increase in WMC and the activation of the bilateral DLPFC.ConclusionThe study findings suggest that top‐down attention control during FAM can activate the bilateral DLPFC and increase WMC among meditation novices.

Effectiveness of a simulation activity on knowledge about glucose monitoring and hypoglycemia management: a pre-post intervention study

Adequate management of diabetes requires professional improvement programs. This study aimed to analyze the effect of a simulation activity on the acquisition of knowledge about blood glucose monitoring and hypoglycemia management. The study employed a pre-post intervention approach and was carried out in a university hospital located in Brazil. The participants were 82 graduating nursing students and nursing professionals studying/working at the university hospital. The intervention consisted of theoretical sessions, a practical simulation about glycemic monitoring and hypoglycemia management, and the pre- and post-tests. The simulation consisted of a rubber hand mannequin that allows simulating the glucose testing. There was a significant increase in knowledge after intervention with the total number of correct answers increasing from 186 in the pre-test to 326 in the post-test (+140, p &lt; .001). The intervention was effective in increasing the participants' knowledge about glycemic monitoring and hypoglycemia management, favoring a better nursing care for people with diabetes.