Version Of Instrument Research Articles

Cross-Cultural Validation of the Student Engagement Instrument for Chilean Students

Student engagement is associated with various aspects of students’ school experiences, including student achievement, high school completion, and post-secondary success. As measurement of student engagement has grown in countries around the world, few studies have been conducted in South America. This study examined a translated version of the Student Engagement Instrument, widely used in the U.S. and other countries, in a study of 2337 adolescents in Chile. Consistent with prior research, confirmatory factor analyses revealed a six-factor solution as the best fit for the data. However, fewer items were retained than on the studies of the SEI with students in the U.S. The Future Goals and Aspirations and Extrinsic motivation subscales were associated, in expected directions, with achievement 1 year later.

15-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-15): structural and criterion validity on patients with chronic low back pain

BackgroundThe Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) is one of the most used instruments to measure self-reported disability in patients with low back pain, however, the uncertainty on which version to use may lead to inadequate disability measurement and consequently, improper management of patients with chronic low back pain.ObjectiveTo propose a short version of the RMDQ, compare it with the other short versions presented by the specialized literature, and identify the best internal structure of the RMDQ for the Brazilian population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study in which we used confirmatory factor analysis to identify the best structure of the RMDQ. We assessed 545 participants, most of which were women, aged ≥ 30 years old, single, with mean low back pain intensity ~ 5 points, and mean pain chronicity ~ 72 months. We used lavaan and semPlot packages, with implementation of a tetrachoric matrix and the robust diagonally weighted least squares extraction method. We also used fit indices chi-square/degree of freedom, comparative fit index, Tucker-Lewis index, root mean square error of approximation, and standardized root mean squared residual. For the comparison between models, we considered the structure with the lowest values of the Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion. In addition, we assessed criterion validity via Spearman’s correlation coefficient to correlate the long and short versions. In this study, the 15-item structure was created through the use of modification indices to identify redundant items (9 items were excluded).ResultsRMDQ structure with one domain and 15 items and the structure with two domains and 16 items showed all fit indices with adequate values, but the one-dimensional version showed the lowest Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion values. Regarding criterion validity, correlation between the RMDQ with 24 items and 15 items is adequate (rho = 0.954, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe RMDQ-15 is a short version of the RMDQ instrument with the most adequate internal structure and satisfactorily correlated with the long version of the instrument.

Efficacy and safety of fermented Prunus mume vinegar on fatigue improvement in adults with unexplained fatigue: A randomized controlled trial.

The accumulation of fatigue leads to reduced physical, emotional, psychological, and social functions. Fermented Prunus mume vinegar (PV) improves fatigue in animals; however, studies in humans have not been conducted. We aimed to examine the effects and safety of consuming fermented PV for 8 weeks on fatigue indices in adults with unexplained fatigue while considering the placebo effect. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in adults of >19 years, who were diagnosed with unexplained fatigue for at least 1 month. Eighty participants were randomly assigned to receive daily 70 mL of fermented PV (2.56 mg/g, chlorogenic acid, and 15.3 mg/g, citric acid) or a placebo for 8 weeks. At baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the participants were visited for blood tests (liver enzyme, glucose, creatinine, lactate, malondialdehyde [MDA], and creatine kinase [CK]) and questionnaires (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS], fatigue visual analog scale [VAS], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], the Korean version of the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument [BEPSI-K], EQ-5D-3L, and EQ-VAS]). Fermented PV supplementation for 8 weeks did not remarkably improve the fatigue indices when compared to placebo. Additionally, differences in fatigue VAS, BDI, BEPSI-K, EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS, lactate, CK, and MDA concentrations between the groups were not observed. However, FSS had positively correlated with fatigue VAS, BDI, and BEPSI-K, whereas it was negatively correlated with EQ-5D-3L and EQ-VAS at the baseline and 8 weeks. None of the participants reported adverse events. The efficacy of fermented PV did not exceed the efficacy of placebo in adults with unexplained fatigue. [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04319692].

Spanish adaptation of the quality in psychiatric care-outpatient (QPC-OP) instrument community mental health patients’ version: psychometric properties and factor structure

BackgroundHealth systems in the field of mental health are strongly committed to community models that allow patients to be attended in their own environment. This helps them to maintain their family and social ties while trying to avoid costly hospital admissions. The patients’ perspective is a key component in the assessment of the quality of psychiatric care and can even determine their adherence to the devices where they are treated. However, there are few instruments with adequate psychometric properties for the evaluation of the quality of psychiatric care in community mental health. The Quality in Psychiatric Care – Outpatient (QPC-OP) instrument has adequate psychometric properties to assess the quality of psychiatric care from the patients’ perspective. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the QPC-OP instrument.MethodsA translation and back-translation of the instrument was carried out. To examine its psychometric properties, the instrument was administered to 200 patients attending various community mental health services. To assess test-retest reliability, the instrument was readministered after 7-14 days (n = 98).ResultsThe Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed a structure of 8 factors identical to the original version, with an adequate model fit. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach’s alpha) was 0.951. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.764 (95% IC: 0.649 – 0.842), and higher than 0.70 in 5 of the 8 factors. Additionally, an EFA was performed and revealed that the instrument could behave in a unifactorial or four factor manner in the sample analyzed.ConclusionsResults show that the Spanish version of the QPC-OP instrument is valid and reliable for the assessment of quality of psychiatric care in the community setting.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the ALBA screening instrument for Lewy body dementia in older adults

ALBA screening instrument (ASI) has been demonstrated to be an effective, cheap, and noninvasive clinical instrument to screen for Lewy body dementia (LBD). We aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of ASI (ASI-T) in patients with LBD and to investigate the discriminative power of the test in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), LBD, and cognitively healthy older adults (controls). 172 older adults over 60 years of age (43 with LBD, 41 AD, and 88 controls) were included. The sensitivity and specificity of the instrument were determined. A significant difference was found in ASI-T total score between people with LBD versus the controls (t=-9.259; p < 0.001), and versus patients with AD (t = 3.490; p = 0.001). Internal consistency of the ASI-T was good(Cronbach’s alpha = 0.81). The cutoff score of 7 showed sensitivity (86%) and specificity (81%) (AUC= 0.888,CI0.95, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Also, compared to AD, it showed sensitivity (86%) and specificity(70%) (AUC = 0.590,CI .95, p < 0.001). Moreover, ASI-T demonstrated a significant concurrent validity with MMSE (r = −0.62; p < 0.001) and MoCA (r = −0.54; p = 0.003). In factor analysis, the five subscales accounted for 60% of the total variance. Our findings suggested that the ASI-T is a reliable, valid, and effective instrument for screening LBD. With acceptable psychometric properties, it has the power to distinguish patients with LBD from controls or those with AD.

Translating and Validating the Community of Inquiry Survey Instrument in Brazil

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have emerged as an affordable way to distribute knowledge and democratize education. The examination of online courses calls for theoretical models and instruments that contemplate its particularities. The community of inquiry (CoI) framework has been used in several studies to analyze the effectiveness of online education and hybrid education, including MOOCs. This study aimed to translate and validate the Community of Inquiry Survey instrument (Arbaugh et al., 2008) into Brazilian Portuguese, and used a two-stage methodological design for translating and validating a questionnaire. In the first stage, we carried out translation, back-translation, and cross-cultural adaptation. We translated the 34 items while maintaining the survey’s original format. In the expert evaluation phase, all items were considered understandable and essential for inclusion in the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CoI instrument. In the second stage, a prospective cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the questionnaire, and data was collected from participants completing the Nursing Assessment MOOC available on the Lúmina platform. A total of 690 responses were gathered. The resulting instrument produced excellent results, and the three presences achieved high reliability indexes, clearly indicating their adequacy. Furthermore, this study proved the validation of the CoI instrument, maintaining the three-factor structure previously reported in the literature corresponding to the three presences: teaching, social, and cognitive presence. We recommend further studies to evaluate the need for excluding or altering cognitive presence items.

Prevalence of physical activity and dietary patterns as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among semi-urban dwellers in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases globally. Limited studies have assessed the prevalence of these risk factors in community-based settings in Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of physical activity and the dietary pattern of residents in selected semi-urban communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study carried out among 500 randomly selected residents from two semi-urban communities. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select households and participants. Data were collected using a pretested modified version of the WHO STEPS instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were determined at 5% level of significance. The mean age was 35.36 ± 12.24 and a mean household size of 4.07 ± 1.85. Majority (87.2%) of the respondents engaged in low physical activity (< 150-300 min/wk). Consumption of fruits and vegetables was low among respondents at 33% and 36.4% respectively. The employment status of respondents was significantly related to expected workplace physical activity level (χ2=11.27; P=0.024). This study highlights the need for the development and implementation of community-driven, multi-layered public health promotion initiatives across different settings.

Development of a Mexican Version of the Cycle-Tourist Motivation Instrument (CtMI)

With the growing interest in cycle tourism in Mexico, it is necessary to understand the motives for traveling and cycling. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the bicycle tourism motivation instrument (Cycle-tourist Motivation Instrument (CtMI)) for Mexico. The instrument was applied to 322 cycle tourists who participated, directly or indirectly, in the 2021 Chichimeca route, a cycle tourism event. Atypical data were removed, Cronbach’s alpha of the CtMi was 0.920, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test gave 0.911 as a result, and Barlett’s sphericity test was equal to 0.000; in addition, factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed with factor loadings greater than 0.40, resulting in an instrument with validity and explanatory capacity for the phenomenon of cyclist motivation with 32 items divided into 7 dimensions: health, social, competence domain, exploration, stimulus-seeking, self-presentation and escape, with values equal to and/or higher than those reported in the literature. The CtMI can contribute to future research related to this topic, which will allow us to understand and determine the motivations of the cycle tourist in Mexico. Likewise, this study demonstrates the need for further research to validate the CtMI in other contexts, within Mexico and abroad.

Healthcare decision-making capacity in old age: A qualitative study.

Research about decision-making capacity has been growing in the last decades. That relates to more concerns regarding patients' autonomy, and an increase in diseases that can negatively impact capacity. This research aims to: explore perceptions, legal aspects, and assessment procedures related to healthcare decision-making capacity in older adults with cognitive impairment; and study the first version of a new assessment instrument of this capacity. Nine focus groups were conducted, including healthcare, law and justice, nursing home professionals, institutionalized older adults, and dwelling older adults. Focus group discussions followed semi-structured interview scripts, specifically developed for each group. After group discussions, the assessment instrument was presented, and participants were asked to evaluate each item relevance and comprehensibility. Qualitative coding of the transcriptions was performed with resource to MAXQDA, using direct content analysis. Six primary themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: Decision-making capacity features; Abilities implied in decision-making; Factors influencing decision-making; Obstacles to decision-making; Legal aspects; and Assessment procedures. Results corroborate previous theoretical formulations of capacity. Generally, research results have implications for clinical and assessment practices, as well as preventive strategies that can improve older adult's decision-making capacity. Assessment procedures of capacity should include a thorough protocol for the assessment of cognition, functionality, depressive symptoms, and decision-making abilities. In this respect, the need for an assessment tool that can provide valid information during evaluation processes is highlighted. Concerning the strategies to promote decision-making capacity, these rely on improving older adult's health literacy and healthcare providers communication skills, as well as conduct actions to reduce stigma toward people with dementia.

Towards three-dimensional characterization of hypervelocity impact events using ultrahigh-speed digital holography

This experimental study reports the development and use of high-speed and ultrahigh-speed digital holography (DH) systems to perform three-dimensional (3D) characterization of particle-fields created from the impact of a supersonic projectile with a target plate. Different target materials including clay and gypsum were tested producing a cloud of ejecta particles from the impact zone. While the megahertz-rate ultrahigh-speed DH instrument version was used for measurements in early (0-250 µs) time-scale processes, the 100 kilohertz-rate high-speed version was employed to interrogate extended (250 µs-1 s) durations following impact. By capturing holograms and performing wavefront reconstruction at different depths, holography allows scanning through the 3D space plane-by-plane at given moment in time, allowing the user to focus on different objects to determine their shape and precise 3D location. We automate this particle detection procedure in sequential holograms by using a minimum intensity focusing criterion and obtain their locations in three-dimensional space with respect to time. Further, we track particles over these durations to determine their trajectories along with instantaneous and mean velocities. Based on the optical configuration and field-of-view employed both instruments were able characterize the ejecta clouds for particle size distributions ranging 1 µm-1 mm. The results presented clearly demonstrate the applicability of digital holography for 3D characterization of ejecta and debris clouds arising from the impact of supersonic and hypersonic projectile with different material targets.

Efficacy of Early Inpatient Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Survivors: Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

The aim of this study was to understand the demographic, clinical characteristics, and effectiveness of early inpatient rehabilitation of post-COVID survivors. A single-center retrospective chart review analysis of 100 patients admitted to a newly created acute COVID rehabilitation unit (CORE+) from April to December 2020 was conducted. The demographic and clinical characteristics and complications of 100 post-COVID patients were reviewed. Functional outcomes of GG Self-care and Mobility Activities Items (Section GG0130 and GG0170) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (Version 3.0) at admission and discharge, prevalence of oxygen requirement, the need for cognitive and neuropsychology support by discharge, and dispositions after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay were analyzed. The functional outcomes of 59 primary pulmonary manifestations of COVID patients were further analyzed based on the presence of intensive care unit stay before transfer to the COVID rehabilitation unit. Most patients demonstrated significant functional gains after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay; however, a considerable number of patients continued to require cognitive support by discharge. The data suggested the benefit of early rehabilitation for hospitalized post-COVID patients. Services need to be geared to include patients' cognitive deficits.

The reliability of the Dutch version of the vestibular activities avoidance instrument in persons with and without dizziness.

Avoidance of activities that trigger dizziness in persons with vestibular disorders may inhibit dynamic vestibular compensation mechanisms. To determine the reliability of the Vestibular Activities Avoidance Instrument (VAAI) 81 and 9 item tool and to compare the VAAI scores in Dutch-speaking healthy adults and in patients with vestibular disorders. A prospective cohort study was conducted including 151 healthy participants and 106 participants with dizziness. All participants completed the 81-item VAAI. Within 7 days, the VAAI was completed a second time by 102 healthy adults and 43 persons with dizziness. The average 81-item VAAI scores [54.8(47.1) vs. 228.1(78.3)] and 9-item VAAI scores [2.4(5.9) vs. 28.1(12)] were significantly different between healthy adults and participants with dizziness (p < 0.001). In participants with dizziness the ICC for the 81-item VAAI was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97) and for the 9-item VAAI was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.95). Cronbach's alpha for the 81-item VAAI was 0.97 and 0.85 for the 9-item VAAI. The minimal detectable change was 47.8 for the 81-item VAAI and 8.9 for the 9-item VAAI. Persons with dizziness have a greater tendency to avoid movements. Both test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Dutch version of the VAAI were excellent.

Factors influencing implementation of assistive technology services for older adults from the perspectives of Thai occupational therapists: a mixed methods study

Purpose Occupational therapists are crucial in providing assistive technology (AT) services for older adults. However, evidence has shown limited provision of such services in Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the implementation of AT services for older adults from the perspectives of Thai occupational therapists. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was guided by the measurement instrument for determinants of innovations and literature review. This study was conducted in two phases: quantitative and qualitative. During the quantitative phase, an adapted version of the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations was administered to 96 occupational therapists (OTs). A subsample of 5 OTs completed a semi-structured interview during the qualitative phase to explain the findings in the quantitative one. Results Factors were categorized into three sections: personal, organizational and socio-political context levels. At the personal level, integrating knowledge and experience could contribute to awareness and professional competency. Client satisfaction influenced OTs to utilize AT, based on a client centred manner. With coordinator and performance feedback within the organization, OTs indicated that consultants supported them in their decision-making. In contrast, availability of AT for older adults is determined by time and resources. Moreover, at the socio-political context level, legislation and regulations may permit or prohibit accessibility of assistive devices. Conclusion In order to address current challenges, education or training programmes are needed to increase the awareness and competence of OTs. In addition, collaboration with other professionals in community settings is necessary to improve access to AT services. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION AT service for older adults is limited by the availability of time and resources. To handle with these challenges, occupational therapists could advocate for village health volunteers to be a part of the AT services for older adults in the community to increase AT accessibility for older adults. Additional education or training programs should be developed to build competencies and increase occupational therapists’ awareness of providing AT services to older adults, as well as to strengthen their roles in AT services. Future research and health policies should focus on access to sufficient funding, and resources for occupational therapists relative to their role in implementing AT services.

Psychological outcomes and associated factors amongst healthcare workers during a single wave, deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

BackgroundTo date, the repeated breakout of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across many regions in China has caused continuous physical and mental harm to health care workers. This study investigates the psychological burden of the pandemic and its associated risk factors among Chinese healthcare workers (HCWs) during a single wave of COVID-19.MethodsFor this cross-sectional web-based survey conducted from January 16, 2022 to February 5, 2022, a total of 412 HCWs from Northwestern China were recruited. Their socio-demographic data and COVID-19 related survey variables were then collected using online self-rating questionnaires. In addition, the Chinese versions of well-validated instruments, including the 12-item General Health Questionnaire for psychiatric morbidity, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 for anxiety, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and the Insomnia Severity Index-7 for insomnia, were used to assess the participants' mental health status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was eventually performed to identify the risk factors associated with the psychological outcomes.ResultsOf the 388 participants who were included in the final study (94.17% response rate), the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were 25.3% (95% CI: 20.9-29.6%), 40.7% (95% CI: 35.8-45.6%), and 30.9% (95% CI: 26.3-35.5%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that being a woman and having a perceived need for psychological support were risk factors for all psychological outcomes, while poor disease cognition and perceived susceptibility were risk factors for anxiety. Poor disease cognition and being unvaccinated against COVID-19 were risk factors for depression, with the latter also being an independent risk factor for insomnia.ConclusionThis study has identified a relatively lower prevalence rate of psychological disorders among Chinese HCWs during a single wave, deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic. Female HCWs, and those who had a perceived need for psychological support, had poor disease cognition, were perceived as susceptible to COVID-19 and had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 deserve more attention.

Prednisone for the prevention of tuberculosis-associated IRIS (randomized controlled trial): Impact on the health-related quality of life.

BackgroundTuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is an important complication in patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) starting antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa. The PredART-trial recently showed that prophylactic prednisone reduces the incidence of paradoxical TB-IRIS by 30% in a population at high risk. This paper reports the impact of the intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a secondary endpoint of the trial, measured by an amended version of the PROQOL-HIV instrument—the instrument’s validity and reliability is also assessed.MethodsA total of 240 adult participants (antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve, TB-HIV co-infected with CD4 count ≤100 cells/μL) were recruited and randomized (1:1) to (1) a prednisone arm or (2) a placebo arm. In this sub-study of the PredART-trial we evaluated (1) the performance of an HIV-specific HR-QoL instrument amended for TB-IRIS, i.e., the PROQOL-HIV/TB in patients with HIV-associated TB starting ART (reliability, internal and external construct validity and invariance across time) and (2) the impact of prednisone on self-reported HR-QoL in this population through mixed models.ResultsThe PROQOL-HIV/TB scale displayed acceptable internal reliability and good internal and external validity. This instrument, including the factor structure with the eight sub-dimensions, can thus be applied for measuring HR-QoL among HIV-TB patients at high risk for TB-IRIS. Prophylactic prednisone was statistically significantly associated only with the ‘Physical Health and Symptoms’-subscale: a four-week course of prednisone resulted in an earlier improvement in the physical dimension of HR-QoL compared to placebo.ConclusionWe demonstrated that the PROQOL-HIV/TB scale adequately measures different aspects of self-reported HR-QoL in HIV-TB patients. Although more research is needed to understand how other domains related to HR-QoL can be improved, targeting patients at high risk for developing TB-IRIS with a four-week course of prednisone has a beneficial effect on the physical aspects of patient-reported quality of life.

Different measures for auditory hallucinations in populations with psychosis. The Validation of the Spanish versions of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) and the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI)

IntroductionAn updated summary of the most used instruments assessing auditory hallucinations in population with psychosis, allows us to underline the scarceness and need of Spanish versions of important instruments. The aim of the study is to examine the psychometric characteristics of two different and complementary instruments for assessing auditory hallucinations, the Spanish version of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Scale (AVHRS) and the Spanish version of the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI). Materials and methodsA sample of 68 patients from four different centres, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder presenting with auditory hallucinations were included. Apart from the AVHRS and the PUVI, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales-Auditory Hallucinations subscale (PSYRATS-AH) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were also administered to all patients, plus an acceptability questionnaire. ResultsThe Spanish version of the AVHRS showed a good internal consistency, a moderate to high inter-rater reliability, a medium to moderate test–retest reliability, and a good convergent and discriminant validity. The Spanish version of the PUVI showed a good internal consistency and a heterogeneous, but in general moderate, test–retest reliability. ConclusionsThe Spanish versions of the AVHRS and the PUVI have good psychometric properties and are well accepted among patients.

The association between trait anxiety and the fear of being laughed at in college: A preliminary study with a Brazilian sample.

To evaluate how gelotophobia correlates with trait anxiety in a sample of Brazilian college students. We evaluated the association of GELOPH &lt; 15 &gt; scores with both self-reported experiences of bullying victimization and trait anxiety measures assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The study consisted of a sample of 65 adult volunteers (M = 21.48, SD = 2.54 years, 38 females), recruited through social media or flyer distribution, and submitted to online versions of the gelotophobia assessment instrument (GELOPH &lt; 15 &gt;) and the STAI. Most participants (N = 56, 86.15%) had an STAI-T score indicative of high trait anxiety. The average GELOPH &lt; 15 &gt; score of the sample was 2.69 (0.65) and 39 of the subjects (60%) were considered gelotophobes. There was a strong positive correlation between the GELOPH &lt; 15 &gt; and STAI-T scores but no correlation between bullying and either the STAI-T and GELOPH &lt; 15 &gt; scores. However, the great majority of subjects with gelotophobia reported been previously bullied. In our sample, all gelotophobes had trait anxiety, but only a fraction of anxious subjects had gelotophobia. These preliminary findings expand on previous reports underscoring the high prevalence of mental health problems afflicting higher education students in Brazil.

Influence of Transfer Quality and Wheelchair Type on Fear of Falling Among Full-Time Wheelchair Users

ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of transfer quality and demographics on fear of falling (FOF) among full-time wheelchair users. DesignSecondary data analysis. SettingUniversity research laboratory and community, United States. ParticipantsNinety-six individuals (N=96) living with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury who use a manual or power scooter full time with median age of 54.00 years (interquartile range, 29.00 years), and median duration of health condition of 19.50 years (interquartile range, 23.00 years) were included. Fifty-two participants (54%) were manual wheelchair users. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresDemographics information included age, sex, duration of health condition, height, weight, body mass index, and wheelchair type. To assess transfer quality, the Transfer Assessment Instrument versions 3.0 and 4.0 were used. The Spinal Cord Injury Falls Concern Scale was used to quantify FOF. Stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to examine factors influencing FOF. ResultsParticipant's age, sex, duration of health condition, wheelchair type, and transfer quality were associated with FOF. The regression analysis indicated transfer quality (β=−0.25, P<.01) and wheelchair type (manual wheelchair, β=− 0.32, P<.01) were significant predictors of FOF, R2=20% (F=11.19; P<.01). ConclusionsCompared with manual wheelchair users, power wheelchair/scooter users with poor transfer quality reported higher levels of FOF. Clinicians and researchers working with wheelchair users should emphasize quality of transfers and consider the type of wheelchair while developing interventions to reduce FOF in this population. Further longitudinal prospective studies on modifiable factors associated with FOF among full-time wheelchair users are warranted.

Quantifying the linguistic demands of the oral directions of preschool cognitive assessments

AbstractResearch has indicated that school aged (6–16 years) versions of cognitive assessment instruments have varying levels of linguistic demand, which could impact assessment results for placement purposes. However, a significant limitation to this research is the fact that it has not been replicated with cognitive assessment instruments used in preschool populations. As such, the purpose of this study is to address this gap in the research literature by examining linguistic demands of cognitive test batteries used for preschool aged children. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (KABC‐II), Woodcock Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities Fourth Edition (WJ Cog‐IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition were used for this examination. Overall results demonstrated that the oral directions of preschool assessments have relatively low linguistic demands. However, several subtests on WJ Cog‐IV have high Complexity, Verbosity, and Total Demand indices, which can pose difficulty for students with limited word knowledge. Furthermore, the KABC‐II was the least demanding assessment from a linguistic standpoint. Implications are discussed in terms of the assessment of early childhood populations.

Adaptation and psychometric properties of the school engagement and contextual factors questionnaires for Covid-19 and post Covid-19 context.

School engagement has been demonstrated to be a relevant aspect in promoting students’ successful trajectories, a commitment that in its turn is influenced by contextual factors (family, teachers, and peers). Having instruments to measure these constructs allows decisions to be made to improve student retention, especially relevant in the context of uncertainty caused by covid-19. The aim of the study was to adapt and analyze the psychometric properties of questionnaires used to measure school engagement and contextual factors in the context of the pandemic with elementary school students in Chile. After adaptation of the instruments, through expert evaluation and focus groups with students, they were administered to 579 students in seventh and eighth grade (mean age = 12.79, 52% were boys), and to 334 students in fifth and sixth grade (mean age = 11.35, 38% were boys) in Chile. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the two versions of the school engagement measurement instrument had an adequate fit with the original model of three correlated factors, cognitive, affective, and behavioral commitment. Similarly, these two versions of the instrument measuring the contextual factors had a good fit with the original model of three correlated factors, family, teachers, and peers. In addition, both versions of both questionnaires presented appropriate levels of internal consistency.