Version Of Index Research Articles

Validation study of the apathy motivation index in French adults.

Apathy is present in many brain disorders, but it is also prevalent to varying degrees in healthy people. While many tools have been developed to assess levels of apathy in pathology, no standardized measure of apathy in healthy people exists. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the French version of the Apathy Motivation Index (f-AMI). The results of 729 participants were analyzed using an exploratory factorial analysis. Preliminary analyses suggested that the three domains of apathy extracted in the original AMI scale-behavioral activation (BA), social motivation (SM), and emotional sensitivity (ES)-could be found also in the f-AMI. A further exploratory analysis showed that a higher number of factors could be extracted, particularly for women. Specifically, both social and emotional factors could be divided into two sub-factors: (1) social motivation toward strangers or toward an acquaintance and (2) self-directed emotional sensitivity directed toward others. Regarding construct validity, the scores of f-AMI were correlated with the French Dimensional Apathy Scale results. Concerning the divergent validity, emotional sensitivity in apathy is different from depression, anhedonia, and fatigue levels. These results suggest that the f-AMI can be used to assess levels of apathy in healthy adults.

Effect of Sleep Quality on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms among College Students in China's Xizang Region: The Mediating Effect of Cognitive Emotion Regulation.

While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, there are significant links between sleep quality, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cognitive emotion regulation. This research examines how sleep quality affects anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as the potential of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) to moderate the impact of sleep quality on these symptoms. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) were all completed online by students from two colleges in China's Xizang region. The study included 4325 subjects. The prevalence of poor sleep quality, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms was 45.69%, 36.81%, and 51.86%, respectively. We observed significant direct effects on poor sleep and severity of anxiety/depression: c'1 = 0.586 (0. 544-0.628), and c'2 = 0.728 (0.683-0.773). Adaptive CERS only had a mediating effect on the relationship between sleep quality and depression symptoms, with a1b3 = -0.005 (-0.011--0.001). The link between poor sleep quality and the intensity of anxiety and depression was significantly affected by the indirect effects of maladaptive CERS: effect a2b2 = 0.126 (0.106-0.147), and effect a2b4 = 0.145 (0.123-0.167). Individuals who experience poor sleep quality are more likely to have increased levels of anxiety and depression. However, enhancing sleep quality led to a decrease in anxiety and depression levels. Adaptive CERS did not predict anxiety, but they did predict depression. Multiple maladaptive CERS could increase levels of anxiety and depression. To prevent mental stress, it is crucial to examine sleep problems among college students, understand their cognitive strategies, promote the adoption of adaptive CERS, and reduce the reliance on maladaptive CERS.

Comparison between two molar incisor hypomineralization detection criteria in epidemiological surveys.

There is no consensus on which molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) indices are more suitable for epidemiological surveys. To compare the operational aspects and diagnostic ability of the MIH index (simplified/MIH_s and extended/MIH_e) with the MIH-Severity Scoring System (MIH-SSS) in classifying and diagnosing MIH. This cross-sectional study assessed the indices in a homogeneous group of 680 6- to 10-year-old schoolchildren in Bauru, Brazil, who had at least one first permanent molar, ensuring consistent conditions. Followed by toothbrushing, the children seated on school chairs were examined by the two calibrated researchers under artificial lighting, using mouth mirror and WHO probe, and chronometer recording the duration of examinations. The prevalence of MIH was 24.7%. The most common characteristic of MIH was demarcated opacity, with a prevalence of 81.7% and 85.45% according to the MIH_s and the MIH-SSS, respectively. A positive association was observed among the MIH_s, the MIH_e, and the MIH-SSS (chi-squared test; p < .01). The MIH-SSS demonstrated a shorter average application time than both versions of the MIH index (ANOVA/Tukey; p < .05). Additionally, fluorosis was found to be the most prevalent among other developmental defects of enamel, with a prevalence of 38.38%. All systems effectively diagnosed MIH and its characteristics.

Adaptation of the Russian version of the activity index of systemic lupus erythematosus EASY-BILAG

Assessment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity is important to determine the efficacy of treatment and to decide on further therapy. Russian-language versions of activity indices are needed to meet the needs of Russian-speaking patients and clinicians and to facilitate the use of these tools in clinical practice. An important step in this direction is the adaptation of the EASY-BILAG index, which is used to more accurately assess disease activity and select appropriate therapy in patients with SLE.

Cutaneous Manifestations in Adult Thalassemia Patients

Background: A wide range of cutaneous manifestations have been described in thalassemia patients. No studies have been conducted in Southeast Asia where there is a high prevalence of hemoglobin E (Hb E) thalassemia. Objective: The primary objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of cutaneous manifestations among adult thalassemia patients and assess how cutaneous findings differ between patients with and without β-thalassemia (β-thal)/Hb E. Secondary objectives were to determine any associations between cutaneous manifestations and clinical or laboratory findings and to evaluate quality of life (QoL). Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between April 2021 and December 2022 in Thailand. Adults aged 18 years and older with any type of thalassemia were eligible. The authors collected relevant demographic data, cutaneous and laboratory findings, as well as responses to a validated Thai version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results: One hundred patients (37% male) were included, with a median age of 33 (IQR of 24, 41) years. Of these, 76% had β-thal/Hb E. Xerosis was the most common cutaneous manifestation at 69%. Hyperpigmentation was more common in patients with β-thal/Hb E than those without at 41% versus 17% (p=0.031). Extramedullary erythropoiesis, xerosis, and serum ferritin were significantly associated with hyperpigmentation. The overall median DLQI score was 0 (IQR 0, 2). Conclusion: Xerosis was the most common cutaneous findings in adult thalassemia patients, and hyperpigmentation was more common in patients with β-thal/Hb E. However, cutaneous changes had low impact on patients’ QoL. Keywords: Thalassemia; Cutaneous manifestations; Hemoglobin E thalassemia

The effect of short daytime napping on cognitive function, sleep quality, and quality of life in mild cognitive impairment patients

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurological disorder that can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by three to five times more than those with normal cognition. To better understand the effects of daytime napping on MCI patients, a study was conducted to measure the effects of short naps on cognitive function, sleep quality, and quality of life. In total, 38 participants were asked to take 20-minute naps between 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m. three times a week for eight weeks. The cognitive function of the participants was measured using the Thai version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Thai-MoCA), their sleep quality was measured using the Thai version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Thai-PSQI), and their quality of life was measured using the Thai version of the Quality of Life (Thai-QoL) questionnaire. After the 8-week period, the participants’ scores for the Thai-MoCA and the Thai-QoL questionnaire showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001 for both), while the Thai-PSQI decreased significantly (p = 0.012). This suggests that taking short daytime naps can help to improve the cognitive function, sleep quality, and quality of life of MCI patients.

Psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the female sexual function index (FSFI-RO)

BackgroundFemale sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a highly prevalent health disorder and no self-report questionnaire on female sexual function is available in Romanian. Therefore we considered the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to be the most appropriate due to its excellent psychometric properties. The FSFI is a measuring scale with 19 items that assess the six domains of female sexual function: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. The paper aims to analyze the psychometric reliability and validity of the FSFI-RO (Romanian Version of the Female Sexual Function Index).Methods385 women (aged 18 to 51) enrolled in the present study. To assess the presence of FSD we used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for sexual dysfunction. Then we categorized the participants into two groups: the FSD group (41%) and the healthy control group (59%). Women were then asked to fill out a form that included sociodemographic information and the FSFI-RO questionnaire. A sample of 50 women agreed to re-answer FSFI-RO in a 4-week interval in order to evaluate the test-retest validity of the questionnaire. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics: the test-retest reliability was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); Cronbach’s alpha was employed to evaluate the internal consistency of the Romanian version of the FSFI, and validity was assessed by the content and construct validity.ResultsThe results showed high test-retest reliability, with ICC from 0.942 to 0.991 in the domains and 0.987 in the total score. Regarding the internal consistency of the FSFI-RO, Cronbach’s α coefficients were found to be high (α = 0.944). Convergent construct validity proved to be moderate to high in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and, satisfaction domains, and weak correlation in the pain domain. Regarding the discriminant construct validity, the scores for each domain and the total score showed statistically significant differences between the FSD group and the control group.ConclusionsThe FSFI-RO showed similar psychometric properties to those of the original version, therefore being a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in Romanian-speaking women.

Sleep Quality in Patients With Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

To investigate the sleep quality in patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) compared with patients without oGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT) and healthy controls. This cross-sectional study analyzed 142 patients after alloHCT including 94 patients with oGVHD and 48 without. Fifty healthy controls were also enrolled. oGVHD was diagnosed according to International Chronic Ocular GVHD Consensus Group (ICOGCG) criteria. Sleep quality was assessed by the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI). Poor sleep quality was defined as CPQSI score greater than 6. Patients after alloHCT demonstrated a significantly higher CPQSI score than those of controls {7.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 5.0-10.0] vs. 5.5 [IQR 4.8-7.0], P =0.002}, especially in the oGVHD subgroup (7.5 [IQR 5.0-11.0] vs. 6.0 [IQR 5.0-8.0], P =0.04) with nearly double prevalence of poor sleep quality (58 [62%] vs. 18 [37%], P =0.006). Poor sleep quality was strikingly correlated with oGVHD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-6.34, P =0.04) and systemic immunosuppressants (adjusted OR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.32-5.71, P =0.02). Among the ocular parameters, poor sleep quality was significantly associated with higher ICOGCG score (adjusted OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39, P =0.02) and lower tear film break-up time (adjusted OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.99, P =0.05). Poor sleep quality was associated with an increased severity of oGVHD and tear film instability in the long-term alloHCT survivorship.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the trauma-specific frailty index (TSFI) for geriatric trauma patients

BackgroundPre-traumatic frailty in geriatric trauma patients has caught attention from emergency medical workers and the assessment of it thus become one of the important aspects of risk management. Several tools are available to identify frailty, but limited tools have been validated for geriatric trauma patients in China to assess pre-traumatic frailty.The aim of this study is to translate the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index(TSFI) into Chinese, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the translated version in geriatric trauma patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. The TSFI was translated with using the Brislin model, that included forward and backward translation. A total of 184 geriatric trauma patients were recruited by a convenience sampling between October and December 2020 in Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan. Using reliability or internal consistency tests assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability. Content validity and construct validity analysis were both performed. Sensitivity, specificity and maximum Youden index(YI) were used to determine the optimal cut-off value. The screening performance was examined by Kappa value.ResultsThe total study population included 184 subjects, of which 8 participants were excluded, resulting in a study sample size of 176 elderly trauma patients (the completion rate was 95.7%). The Chinese version of Trauma-Specific Frailty Index(C-TSFI) have 15 items with 5 dimensions. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the C-TSFI was 0.861, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of dimensions ranged from 0.837 to 0.875, the split-half reliability of the C-TSFI were 0.894 and 0.880 respectively, test-retest reliability ranged from 0.692 to 0.862. The correlation coefficient between items and the C-TSFI ranged from 0.439 to 0.761. The content validity index for items (I-CVI) of the C-TSFI scale was 0.86~1.00, and the scale of content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.93. The area under curve (AUC) of the C-TSFI was 0.932 (95%CI 0.904–0.96, P < 0.05), the maximum YI was 0.725, the sensitivity was 80.2%, the specificity was 92.3%, and the critical value was 0.31. Kappa value was 0.682 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe Chinese version of TSFI could be used as a general assessment tool in geriatric trauma patients, and both its reliability and validity have been demonstrated.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome in Saudi Arabia: A Survey Study.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes all healthcare practices that are not part of conventional medicine. One of the most common eye disorders for visiting an ophthalmology clinic is dry eye disease (DED), and due to the increasing number of CAM used for eye conditions, 1 in 5 patients has been reported in previous studies to use CAM for eye treatment. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CAM use among patients with (DED). A web-based survey was used to collect the data, the first part of the questionnaire was about demographic data, and the second part included a validated Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). The third part was about practices that alleviate DED other than conventional medicine. The total sample was 282, 61 were males, and 221 were females. Most participants (48.5%) were between 25 and 44 years old, 90% were Saudi, and only 10% were non-Saudi. Of the participant, 70% reported having attained a university or higher education level. The prevalence of the use of CAM among patients with dry eye was around 85%. The most frequently reported type of CAM used among the participants was faith healing (Ruqyah) (41%). This was followed by warm compressors (37%). There was no significant correlation between the severity of OSDI and using CAM, as the p-value was 0.909. In conclusion, our study shows that CAM is a popular choice among patients with dry eye syndrome. Faith healing and warm compressors are the most used types of CAM. However, the lack of correlation between OSDI severity and CAM use indicates that patients may use CAM for reasons other than symptom severity. Further research is needed to explore the reasons behind CAM use and its effectiveness in managing dry eye syndrome.

On Bicyclic Graphs with Maximal Graovac-Ghorbani Index

Graovac-Ghorbani index is a new version of the atom-bond connectivity index. D. Pacheco et al. [MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 86 (2021) 429-448] conjectured a sharp lower and upper bounds to the Graovac-Ghorbani index for all bicyclic graphs. Motivated by their nice work, in this paper we determine the maximal Graovac-Ghorbani index of bicyclic graphs and characterize the corresponding extremal graphs, which solves one of their Conjectures.

Comparison of sleep quality between clear aligner and fixed appliance orthodontic therapies

Although available evidence suggests that orthodontic appliances can impact quality of life, there is limited information on the impact of orthodontic appliances on sleep quality. This study aimed to compare sleep quality between patients undergoing orthodontic treatments using conventional fixed appliances and clear aligners. Adult patients attending clinics in Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. Sleep quality was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Statistical significance was determined using inferential analysis, with a P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. There were 69 patients included in the study. The average age of a patient (33.12 ± 8.1) who received the clear aligner was significantly higher than those who received the fixed appliance (27.7 ± 5.9) (P < 0.05). The variation in the average score of ESS because of the education level was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the mean average ESS and PSQI global scores across the two orthodontic treatment groups. The average sleep latency scores were significantly higher in females than males when analyzing the PSQI component score across sex (P < 0.05). In education, ESS, PSQI global, habitual sleep efficiency, the use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction had a positive, weak, but significant correlation. Overall, this study concluded that regardless of the orthodontic appliances used, there was no statistically significant difference in sleep quality during the treatment.

Psychometric Properties of the Voice Handicap Index-10 in Kannada

This study aimed to derive the 10-item voice handicap index in the Kannada language (VHI-K10) from the existing VHI-30 in Kannada (VHI-K30). We also aimed to examine several psychometric properties of the newly derived VHI-K10, such as internal consistency, reliability, concurrent validity, discriminant validity, and diagnostic accuracy. Initially, VHI-K10 was derived from the existing VHI-K30 through item reduction, consistent with the recommendations for item reduction of the voice handicap index. This newly derived VHI-K10 was administered to 273 individuals (199 individuals with dysphonia and 74 individuals with normal voice quality). We also obtained phonation and reading samples from the participants. The obtained data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis to determine several psychometric properties. The newly derived VHI-K10 was found to have a strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.93). We also found strong test-retest reliability for VHI-K10, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.933. There was a strong statistically significant correlation between the VHI-K10 and the existing VHI-K30 for both individuals with dysphonia (ρ=0.924, P<0.001) and individuals with normal voice quality (ρ=0.798, P<0.001). However, the correlation of VHI-K10 with the auditory-perceptual measure of GRBAS was fair (ρ=0.353, P<0.001) for individuals with dysphonia and was not statistically significant for individuals with normal voice quality. Further, the diagnostic accuracy of VHI-K10 was found to be excellent, with an area under the curve (AROC) value of 0.926 with a cut-off point of ≥6.5, which was slightly superior to that of VHI-K30 (AROC=0.909, cut-off point ≥21.5). The shortened 10-item version of the voice handicap index in Kannada is consistent with versions of the VHI-10 in other languages. This version of the VHI-10 in Kannada is found to be a robust tool with strong psychometric properties.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Patients With Schizophrenia Without Prior Psychotic Symptom Aggravation: A Prospective Single-Arm Trial

Objective: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in patients with schizophrenia without prior psychotic symptom aggravation.Methods: This prospective single-arm trial included 31 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and insomnia who received CBT-I. We provided four weekly 60-min sessions of group or individual CBT-I. All patients completed several sleep-related scale assessments before and 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment: the Korean version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Korean version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (K-ESS), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale-16 (DBAS-16), and sleep diary. The primary outcome was insomnia symptom changes over the treatment period, as indicated by the PSQI-K, ISI, sleep onset latency, and total sleep time from the sleep diary. The secondary outcome was improvement in maladaptive cognition associated with sleep, as indicated by the DBAS-16.Results: The total PSQI-K and ISI at each timepoint showed significant improvements over the CBT-I program period. The total K-ESS and DBAS-16 scores showed significant improvement over the treatment period. Sleep onset latency was significantly shortened; however, no significant changes were noted in the total sleep time and some PSQI-K subscales (sleep duration, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction).Conclusion: Our findings suggest the efficacy of CBT-I in improving insomnia symptoms, dysfunctional beliefs, and attitudes toward sleep in patients with schizophrenia with relatively stable psychotic symptoms. Therefore, further large randomized controlled trials are warranted to provide precise estimates of the effects of CBT-I in this patient population.

Translation and Psychometric Analysis of Urdu Version of Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults

Purpose: To translate the Katz index from English to Urdu and to establish its validity and reliability in older individuals.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross sectional study was done in which the Katz index was adapted cross culturally after translated in Urdu. The elder adults of Wazirabad were the source of the data. The technique utilized was non-probability convenience sampling. Participants 60 years of age and older were included. For the translation Beaton guidelines were followed. The whole procedure of translation was done under the guidance of expert panel. Data were collected from the 102 older adults through the Urdu version of Katz index and Urdu version of Barthel index for association. Consent was taken from each participant. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS 20 and was presented through tables and graphs.&#x0D; Findings: Among 102 participants, 67 females (65.7%) and 35 males (34.3%) were included. There mean age was 68 with the standard deviation of 7.02. Cronbach's alpha value was 0.754 which indicates the good internal consistency of Urdu version of Katz index. The intra class correlation coefficient for the translated version was ICC 0.994(95%CI: 0.994-0.997). The correlation value r=0.953, p&lt;0.01 shows its strong association with Urdu version of Barthel index indicating that the Urdu Katz index has good convergent validity.&#x0D; Recommendations: The Katz index scale's Urdu version was found to be valid, accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. It can be extensively used by practitioners.

Obtaining preference scores for an abbreviated self-completion version of the Teen-Addiction Severity Index (ASC T-ASI) to value therapy outcomes of systemic family interventions: a discrete choice experiment

BackgroundSystemic family interventions for adolescents with problems of substance use and/or delinquency are increasingly focused subject of economic evaluations. Treatment effects go beyond improvements in commonly measured health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The Teen-Addiction Severity Index (T-ASI) was identified as capable of capturing these broad outcomes. However, it lacks preference-based scores. An abbreviated self-completion version (ASC T-ASI) was created and validated, covering the T-ASI domains substance use, school, work, family, social relationships, justice, and mental health. This study aimed to obtain societal preference scores for the ASC T-ASI.MethodsPreferences were elicited in a sample of the Dutch general adult population (n = 1500), using a web-based Discrete Choice Experiment. Choice tasks included two unlabeled alternatives with attributes and levels corresponding to the domains and levels of the ASC T-ASI. A pilot study (n = 106) informed priors, optimal presentation, and number of choice tasks applied in the main study. Data were analyzed using a mixed multinomial logit model.ResultsPreference scores were logically ordered, with lower scores for worse ASC T-ASI states. Scores were most influenced by reductions in problems concerning the domains substance use, mental health, justice, and family. Tariffs were calculated for each ASC T-ASI state, ranging from 0 (worst situation) to 1 (best situation).ConclusionsThe tariffs enable preference-based assessments of the broad effects of systemic family interventions for adolescents with problems of substance use and/or delinquency. The outcome reflects addiction-related rather than health-related utility and can be used next to generic HRQOL instruments in relevant economic evaluations. Given the source used for the preferences, interpretations and valuation of scores require attention.

Psychometric Assessment of the Swedish version of the Work Ability Index in Patients with Chronic Pain in Specialized Care.

To evaluate the construct validity and internal consistency of the Work Ability Index (WAI) in patients with chronic pain in secondary and tertiary care. Cross-sectional study based on 200 patients with chronic pain (> 3 months), with a final sample of 118 participants, 18-64-years-old. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis for the structural validity of the WAI, and by correlating the WAI with EuroQol EQ-5D, Brief Pain Inventory pain severity and interference, Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales. The study also assessed the discriminant validity of the WAI for occupational status, and the validity of the single-item work ability score. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency. A single-factor model of WAI was supported. Internal consistency was good. Moderate correlations were found, except for Brief Pain Inventory pain severity, where the correlation was weak; hence, both convergent and divergent validity of the WAI were supported. The work ability score correlated strongly with the total WAI, and the discriminant validity for both was good. In patients with chronic pain in specialized care, the WAI and the work ability score displayed acceptable construct validity and internal consistency, supporting their use in a clinical context and research.

Validation of the Arabic Version of Medication Regimen Complexity Index Among Older Patients Validation of the “MRCI-Arabic”

The medication regimen complexity index is widely used in clinical practice and many studies, to assess the complexity of medication regimens. The goal of this study is to validate the medication regimen complexity index-Arabic (MRCI-Arabic) version among older patients. Methods: This methodologic study was conducted in older patients (≥ 65 years old) who were native Arabic speakers at a community pharmacy located in Istanbul, Turkey. After the translation and cultural adaptation process finished, medication regimens of 30 patients were evaluated for test-retest reliability three weeks apart by the rater who was a native Arabic speaker. The inter-rater correlation was calculated in study population (n =100). The link between the number of medications and the score of medication regimen complexity was used to assess convergent validity. The difference in the score of pharmaceutical regimen complexity in stratified age groups was used to examine discriminant validity. Results: The inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the MRCI-Arabic total scale and its subsection were extremely high (Spearman’s rho ranged from 0.996 to 1; p &lt;0.001). There was a strong and positive correlation between the total MRCI-Arabic score and the number of medications (r = 0.830; p &lt; 0.001), the number of chronic diseases (r = 0.641; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The Arabic validation of the MRCI is a validated tool that can be used by native Arabic-speaking healthcare professionals to determine the complexity of their patients’ medication regimens.

Effect of a massage chair (BFR-M8040) on neck and shoulder pain in office workers: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundWith the increasing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, neck and shoulder pain among office workers has also increased. That said, this randomized controlled trial aimed to seek the potential effects of a massage chair (BFR-M8040) on neck and shoulder pain among office workers. MethodsThis was conducted at the Wonkwang University Gwangju Medical Center from April 2022 to December 2022. Sixty adult participants were randomly allocated. The mean age of male participants was 39.63 ± 8.09 years while female participants was 43.52 ± 8.27; women participated the most (86.67%). The control group received basic physical treatments, including a 10-min heat treatment for deep regions and a 10-min hot pack for the areas on the neck and shoulder of the complained discomfort. The experimental group received the same treatment as the control group and added 20 min of the electric massage chair's PEMF Neck Mode (XD module 3) (BFR-M8040, Bodyfriend Co., Ltd.). The participants received treatments twice per week. The primary outcome was measured using the numerical rating scale and the Korean version of the neck disability index. And the secondary outcome was measured using pressure pain threshold, range of motion, the Korean occupational stress scale, the Korean version of the Euro-quality of life-5 dimension, and safety evaluation. ResultsFifty-eight participants completed a 6-week follow-up and analyzed (29 in the control group and 29 in the experimental group). There was a significant decrease in the experiment group in both scales for primary outcome measures. For secondary outcome measures, statistically significant increases were observed in pressure pain threshold. The experimental group only showed a slight increase in the quality-of-life measures. There were no reported adverse events. ConclusionThe benefit of using a massage chair (BFR-M8040) was verified to alleviate neck and shoulder pain among office workers; future studies could involve participants from other countries for further investigation.

Promoting Climate Resilience in Building Construction Industry in Ghana

This study reports the perspectives of building construction stakeholders on how they are promoting climate resilience. Using descriptive research design with a purposive sampling through online questionnaire and adapted version of Relative Importance Index (RII) on selected environmental benchmarks, the major findings are: a) there is more to be done to promote green construction; b) many stakeholders still hold on to carbon-intensive approach; c) underlying cause for this lack of migration to less carbon use appears to be attitudinal than complete lack of knowledge of climate mitigation; d) many construction firms lack internal management system to monitor climate mitigation benchmarks indices. Based on these findings, recommendation being made is that construction managers may need to link up with international conferences to enhance professional competencies in advanced technologies for mitigating building-related carbon emission, while Government offers subsidies and green construction certification to promote contractors’ awareness of climate resilience in building construction.