Wrong Answers Research Articles

Assessment of Knowledge and Competencies of Community Pharmacists for Differentiated HIV Care and Services in Jos, Nigeria

Background: Knowledge and competence of community pharmacists in HIV care, are essential for translating the goals of differentiated care into improved outcomes.
 Aims: To assess the knowledge and competence of community pharmacists in Jos, for differentiated HIV care and services.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
 Place and Duration of Study: Community pharmacies in Jos North and Jos South local government areas of Plateau state, North-Central Nigeria, between September to November, 2018.
 Methodology: We included community pharmacists who responded to six items on knowledge of HIV therapeutics with each correct answer recording a score of 1 and zero for wrong answers. Respondents with a correct score of 5 or 6 represent good knowledge. We examined competence on a 36 item scale graded 1 for weak competence and 5 for strong competence. Factor analysis; reduce the 36 scale items down to competency domains. Frequencies and percentages for reported competencies were presented. In addition, aggregated scores for each of the competency domains were used to compare respondents based on years of experience, educational level and employment status in community pharmacy. All levels of significance were set at p≤ 0.05.
 Results: 73 out of 110 community pharmacists responded to the questionnaire. Of these, only 25% reported good level of knowledge in HIV therapeutics. 69% reported strong competency in identifying drug therapy problems, 31% inter-professional and patient communication. There was statistically significant difference in competency domains based on years of practice experience and employment status p<0.05. Respondents with 10 years or less of practice experience recorded higher mean ranked scores compared to those with 11 or more years. Similarly, employed pharmacists recorded higher mean ranked scores than those who owned their business.
 Conclusion: Overall, respondents reported low knowledge and weak competency in HIV care emphasizing the need for specialized training before implementation of differentiated care model.

Is your mind set? \u2013 how are intra- and interpersonal competences dealt with in medical education? A multi-professional qualitative study

BackgroundProfessional intrapersonal and interpersonal competences (IICs) form an important part of medical expertise but are given little attention during clinical training. In other professional fields such as psychotherapy, education and aviation, training in IICs is an integral part of education and practice. In medicine, IICs tend to actually decline during studies. To date it is unclear why IICs are given less attention in medicine, despite evidence for their importance in the treatment process.In view of this, the study examined the role of IICs in the treatment process, the current situation of IIC training in medicine and, most importantly, the reasons for the comparatively low focus on IICs in the clinical training of medical students.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 experts from a variety of medical specialties and non-medical professions that provide a training with a stronger focus on IIC development. The interviews were evaluated using grounded theory.ResultsThe experts confirmed the idea that IICs are an equally important component in the treatment process, along with medical knowledge and technical skills. They also described large differences between the IICs possessed by physicians but noted a general developmental need. The key shortcoming was perceived to be a deep-seated defensiveness towards learning from mistakes and deficits e.g. through reflection and feedback. The interaction of different factors that seem to be reasons for this defensiveness and perpetuate it were identified: lack of support in dealing with insecurities in the face of responsibility; the notion of medicine as a science with the categories of right and wrong answers; and a range of pressures arising from the setting, such as hierarchical, economic and competition pressures.ConclusionOur study showed, that the defensive attitude towards learning from mistakes and deficits especially in the field of IICs appears to be a subtle but powerful obstacle for implementing IICs in medical training, in contrast to other professional fields. This obstacle is sustained by various underlying barrier factors. We therefore propose that changes should be made within a cultural transformation targeting this defensive mindset and culture and its presumed reasons.

Knowledge and use of antibiotics in Thailand: A 2017 national household survey.

BackgroundThe Thailand National Strategic Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2017–2021, endorsed by the Thai Cabinet in 2016, aims to increase public knowledge about antibiotics and AMR awareness by 20% by 2021. This study assesses the prevalence of antibiotics use, clinical indications and sources; knowledge and access to information related to antibiotics and AMR; and factors related to level of knowledge and access to information among Thai adult population.MethodsAn AMR module was developed and embedded into the 2017 Health and Welfare Survey; a cross-sectional, two-stage stratified sampling, nationally representative household survey carried out biannually by National Statistical Office. The survey applied a structured interview questionnaire. The survey was conducted in March 2017 where 27,762 Thai adults were interviewed of the AMR module. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThe one-month prevalence of antibiotic use was 7.9% for three common conditions; flu (27.0%), fever (19.2%) and sore throat (16.8%). The majority of antibiotics (70.3%) were provided by public or private healthcare facilities, and 26.7% by pharmacies. Thai adults have low levels of knowledge about antibiotics; only 2.6 gave correct answers to all six statements related to antibiotics, while 13.5% gave wrong answers to all six statements. A few factors associated with knowledge and having received information on antibiotics were assessed. People who have higher education levels, and belong to richer wealth quintiles, and receive antibiotics and AMR information have significantly higher levels of knowledge about antibiotics. In the last 12 months, only 17.8% of respondents had heard information about the proper use of antibiotics and AMR; mostly from doctors (36.1%), health workers (24.8%) and pharmacists (17.7%).ConclusionsThere is a large gap of public knowledge about the use of antibiotics. The main communication channel is through healthcare professionals, which indicates they are key persons in communicating information about the proper use of antibiotics to the public.

Impact of educational games on academic outcomes of students in the Degree in Nursing.

ObjectiveThe aim of using the game-based tool Kahoot! was to evaluate and reinforce the contents taught in the subject of Management and Administration of Nursing, Ethics and Health Legislation Services included in the Degree in Nursing, during the 2016–2017 academic year.MethodsA prospective quasi-experimental study was carried out on a sample of 116 students. 10 multiple-choice questions were designed, with only one possible correct answer and a 20-second-limited response time for each of the questions. Four of these questions previously answered in the classroom using this game were chosen (20% of the exam). Each one of them corresponded to one unit of the topics taught in the subject.In order to participate in the educational game, students needed their smartphones or electronic devices. After completing the game, the students’ satisfaction level derived from its use was assessed.ResultsThe correct answer rate in the educational game was greater than 50% for all questions except for one, in which the rate was 28.8% (P<0.05). Response time as related to score presented statistically significant differences, and higher scores for those questions with lower response time (P<0.001).The questions included in the final test which had been previously answered using Kahoot! showed a significantly higher difficulty index than the rest of the final exam questions (P<0.05). Question 3 was the easiest, while being the one in which the highest-scoring students obtained more wrong answers.For the students this tool was easy to use (89.6%) and they positively valued the content acquisition and comprehension, as well as the teacher-student interaction (P<0.05).ConclusionThe implementation of educational games which consider response time and correct answers favors competitiveness and motivates students to actively participate in their learning process.

Death Inc.

On March 23, 2018, the exhibition "Design Does* for better and for worse" opened at the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona (Design Museum). The exhibition was steered through questions that provoked discussion about the roles and responsibilities of design in our society. It featured open-ended questions, with neither a right nor a wrong answer. Questions such as: should everything be automated?&#x0D; With this question Design Does* presented the piece Death Inc., a reflection on design applied to the arms industry. The exploration of a new style of killing that arises from the incorporation of image recognition technologies to military robots. The death of a human by a machine’s hands and decision.

High‐powered Contracts, Self‐selection and Welfare in Settings with Externalities

We extend the experimental analysis of sorting and effort effects of high‐powered contracts on welfare to situations with negative externalities. Participants solve brainteasers from Raven's matrices. The difference between right and wrong answers represents our measure of welfare per capita. We compare two contract schemes: fixed‐wage and bonus contracts that reward subjects for the number of correct answers, regardless of the number of wrong answers. With fixed wages, selfish individuals have no effort incentive. With bonuses, they have incentives to answer as many questions as possible. The two contract schemes are further separated depending on whether participants self‐select or are randomly assigned to a contract. The self‐selection treatments correspond to cases where countries do not regulate contracts. The random assignment treatments mimic situations where countries either offer only bonuses or ban them. We find that bonuses generate lower welfare per capita than fixed wages as the higher effort incentives are outweighed by the detrimental effect of answering too many questions. However, due to productivity sorting, a general ban on bonuses does not increase welfare per capita compared to offering both contract schemes.

RMetS National Meeting ‐ Progress in Weather Forecasting ‐ the user's perspective

RMetS National Meeting ‐ Progress in Weather Forecasting ‐ the user's perspective

Perception and Practice of Diabetic Patients about Hypoglycemia

Background &amp; objective: Diabetes is major global epidemic with an ever-increasing trend. For diabetic patients hypoglycemia is a fact of life. The gravity of the problem demands that the diabetics must be aware about the symptoms of hypoglycemia as well as its immediate corrective measures to overcome the crisis. But, a substantial proportion of diabetic patients is unaware of all the symptoms of hypoglycemia leading to delayed management. This study was intended to assess the diabetic patients‟ perception about hypoglycemia.&#x0D; Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Community Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi over a period of 2 months from April 2018 to May 2018. The diabetic patients in the rural area of Puthia Upazila were the respondents (study population). A total of 107 diabetic patients were consecutively included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire containing the variables of interest for evaluating perception of the respondents about diabetic hypoglycemia was used. Respondents‟ level of knowledge about hypoglycemia was measured using Likert Scale Score. Score „1‟ was assigned for each correct answer and score „0‟ for each wrong answer. As there were more than one question in assessing respondents‟ level of knowledge, combined scores were used to measure respondents‟ perception about hypoglycemia.&#x0D; Result: Over one-third (36.4%) of the respondents was middle aged (40 – 50 years old) and 29% were upper middle aged (50 – 60 years old) with mean age of the respondents being 51.3 years (range: 30-93 years). Approximately 55% were male with male to female ratio being roughly 11:9 More than two-thirds of the respondents took measures to control diabetes and their compliance to treatment was also commendably high (83%). The proportion of controlled diabetics was no less (57%). But their knowledge about common symptoms and causes of hypoglycemia was poor (no more than 25% on an average). The knowledge about measures to be taken to correct hypoglycemia was even poor (no more than 20% on an average). The perception of the significance of symptoms of hypoglycemia and the importance of their correction were disappointingly low (&lt; 10%). Overall half (49.5%) of the respondents had very poor level of knowledge, over one-third (34.6%) had poor knowledge, 13.1% had average knowledge and only 2.8% had good knowledge about symptoms of hypoglycaemia.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study concluded that over two-thirds of the diabetic patients of Puthia Upazilla adopt measures to control diabetes and their compliance to treatment is appreciably high. The proportion of controlled diabetes is also appreciable. But their knowledge about symptoms, causes of hypoglycemia, measures to be taken to correct hypoglycemia and the importance of taking immediate measure to correct hypoglycemia are all inappreciably low.&#x0D; Ibrahim Card Med J 2018; 8 (1&amp;2): 31-38

Validitas Tes Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Remaja (TKBKR) di Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

This study aims to examine the validity of tests of critical thinking skills in adolescents. Validity tested based on; 1) test content, 2) response process, and 3) internal structure. The constructs of Critical Thinking Skills are 23 questions with the correct answer wrong with the answer answers in the form of reasons supporting the correct wrong answers. The subjects in this study amounted to 304 students from six faculties, namely FPMIPA, FIP, FPOK, FPIPS, FPBS, and FPTK at the Indonesian University of Education. The results of the study showed that of the 36 questions there were only 23 questions that could be maintained because 13 questions that had fallen had poor validity and measurement of adolescent critical thinking skills. Based on the results of the validity test of proof of the contents of the language expert, critical thinking experts, and experts in analytical ability mathematically evaluate that this test is feasible to use and the constructed answer key is in accordance with the questions presented. Based on evidences of the internal structure, it is explained that the KMO value of the results of factor analysis shows the number 0.570 with 2 components formed, namely analysis and evaluation capabilities. Suggestions for further research, TKBK has not been tested in its external validity in depth so that there needs to be evidence based on the relationship to other variables and based on the consequences of the test.

Rancang Bangun Aplikasi Pengenalan Pupuh Bali Menggunakan Metode Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients

Pupuh is a basic of tembang for someone that can later be used for further learning to a higher level that is Sekar Madya and Sekar Agung. Balinese culture is an important features to determine the ethnicity identity of a group. Then it should be the Balinese use and preserve Pupuh that has been inherited by the ancestors. The media for Balinese pupuh learning will be use an Android devices with MFCC method. To attract the interest of young peoples to learn Balinese pupuh, then this Balinese pupuh learning system based-Android was created. This application will use the sound recorded by an Android devices and sent to the Python server for sistematic calculations, then returned to the Android devices and will get the correct or wrong answer which according to server calculation. By developed this Balinese pupuh learning system, expected can help the teachers or Balinese language teachers to teach their students about Balinese pupuh on a mobile and practical.&#x0D; Keywords: balinese language, balinase pupuh, learning, android, python

Peer Instruction-Based Feedback Sessions Improve the Retention of Knowledge in Medical Students

ABSTRACT Peer Instruction (PI) is an interactive teaching-learning process between colleagues and has been applied in various universities throughout the world. This active teaching methodology improves students’ performance and their capacity to resolve problems when they perform activities with their study colleagues. There are no systematic studies about the use of PI in assessment feedback. The aim of our study is to identify whether the use of PI on assessment feedback improves the retention of basic concepts in medical programs. For this study 226 undergraduate students (Y2 = 115, Y3 = 111) enrolled in a Brazilian medical school were invited to participate. After taking the regular exam (RE), the students of the control group (125) could individually receive feedback (review of the exam) from the professor according to the course routine, and the students in the study group (101) were invited to participate in an immediate intervention after the RE with a feedback developed session using the peer instruction teaching method. At the conclusion of the feedback session, the students again answered the post-feedback exam (PFE) so that we could identify any changes in the answers compared with the regular exam taken before feedback and 6 months later, we applied a diagnostic exam (DE) of identify whether the students retained the concepts covered in the previous exams. The control and study groups are statistically significantly different in the RE (p = 0.0014) and DE (p &lt; 0.000). The study group demonstrated better performance in both exams than the control group. When we gave feedback, using PI immediately after the exam, retention of basic science knowledge jumped to 39%, increasing by 15%. The students that had assessment feedback had the opportunity to discuss their misconceptions. These students had the highest number of correct answers with assimilate knowledge and fewer assimilation of wrong answers, therefore, students who received immediate feedback had less tendency to make the same conceptual errors. PI in the feedback was effective in improving retention of basic science knowledge.

Securing Aggregate Queries for DNA Databases

This paper addresses the problem of sharing person-specific genomic sequences without violating the privacy of their data subjects to support large-scale biomedical research projects. The proposed method builds on the framework proposed by Kantarcioglu et al. [1] but extends the results in a number of ways. One improvement is that our scheme is deterministic, with zero probability of a wrong answer (as opposed to a low probability). We also provide a new operating point in the space-time tradeoff, by offering a scheme that is twice as fast as theirs but uses twice the storage space. This point is motivated by the fact that storage is cheaper than computation in current cloud computing pricing plans. Moreover, our encoding of the data makes it possible for us to handle a richer set of queries than exact matching between the query and each sequence of the database, including: (i) counting the number of matches between the query symbols and a sequence; (ii) logical OR matches where a query symbol is allowed to match a subset of the alphabet thereby making it possible to handle (as a special case) a “not equal to” requirement for a query symbol (e.g., “not a G”); (iii) support for the extended alphabet of nucleotide base codes that encompasses ambiguities in DNA sequences (this happens on the DNA sequence side instead of the query side); (iv) queries that specify the number of occurrences of each kind of symbol in the specified sequence positions (e.g., two ‘A’ and four ‘C’ and one ‘G’ and three ‘T’, occurring in any order in the query-specified sequence positions); (v) a threshold query whose answer is ‘yes’ if the number of matches exceeds a query-specified threshold (e.g., “7 or more matches out of the 15 query-specified positions”). (vi) For all query types, we can hide the answers from the decrypting server, so that only the client learns the answer. (vii) In all cases, the client deterministically learns only the query's answer, except for query type (v) where we quantify the (very small) statistical leakage to the client of the actual count.

Correlation of awareness of the disease with glycaemic control and diabetic complications among patients attending a tertiary care hospital

Introduction. The awareness level among diabetic patients varies across patient population based on many factors such as differences in the literacy of the study population, socioeconomic status, availability of diabetes education. Hence, it is important to study the same in our set-up to plan appropriate preven- tive strategies. The present research work attempted to assess the awareness level about diabetes and its complications among diabetic patients attending a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and methods. This is a hospital based, cross- sectional study, done in diabetic patients attending a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. The awareness level of the patient was assessed using a pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire had 25 questions (knowledge — 18, attitude — 4 and prac- tice — 3) and each correct answer was given a score of ‘one’ and each wrong answer was given a score of ‘zero’. Patients were assessed clinically for the presence of micro and macrovascular complications and basic investigations were carried out. Metabolic control is assessed by HbA1c level. Results. A total of 150 patients were included in the study. Approx. 52.6% of patients scored between 14 and 18 (sufficient awareness), 6.6% of patients had satisfactory awareness (KAP score 19–20) and 4% of patients had highly satisfactory awareness (KAP score &gt; 20). Only eight patients had a score less than 10 (highly insufficient awareness) and 31.3% had insufficient awareness (KAP score 10–13). A positive correlation between educational qualification and awareness level was observed (r = 0.495, p &lt; 0.001). Mean awareness score of patients who received diabetes education from physician and dietitian was significantly high when compared to other sources of patient education. Mean awareness scores were lower for those with various diabetic complications. There is a statistically signifi- cant negative correlation observed between awareness and HbA1c values (r = 0.527, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion. Majority of the patients had sufficient awareness about the disease and about one-third of the patients had insufficient awareness about diabetes. The awareness level of the patients about the disease had a strong influence on the metabolic control, diabetic complications and also correlated with their educational status.

Legal Realism and Legal Reasoning: A Quasi-Realist Approach

Legal philosophers who espouse an expressivist (or non-cognitivist) meta-ethics may fairly be said to have adopted an anti-normativist position in law. This is so because they hold that moral statements do not aim to report (moral) facts or to describe the (moral) world, but aim instead to express the speaker’s attitudes, preferences, or emotions and thereby to influence the audience, and because they typically also hold that there simply is no normativity in the world. Scandinavian realist Karl Olivecrona, for example, maintains that legal rules are best conceived as independent imperatives, which cannot establish legal relations but which can cause human behavior, and that they can do this because the citizens respect the constitution and so are disposed to obey rules that can be traced back to the constitution. He also maintains that there is no such thing as the binding force of law, arguing that the reason why so many people nevertheless believe in the binding force of law is that they misunderstand the nature of legal statements and fail to see that they do nothing more than express the attitudes (preferences, emotions) of the speaker. One could, however, object to Olivecrona’s position, and to the expressivist position more generally, that it cannot account for our practice of discussing questions of legal interpretation and application. For it is clear that we often make use of fact-stating language and assume that in many cases there are right and wrong answers to legal questions. Although I accept moral anti-realism and am sympathetic to Olivecrona’s position, I agree with the critics that the expressivist position in general is a bit problematic in this sense; and I would therefore like to consider in this article Simon Blackburn’s quasi-realism, which aims to account, on the basis of expressivism, for any objectivist (or realist) features of moral (or legal) discourse and to earn in this way the right to discuss moral (or legal) questions using fact-stating language. I am going to argue (1) that in order to understand legal reasoning one needs to distinguish between first-order and second-order legal statements and between two types of first-order legal statements, namely, between committed statements and detached statements, and to be clear about which type of statement one is concerned with; and (2) that, on an expressivist analysis, first-order legal statements are not normative at all. I am also going to argue (3) that Scandinavian realist Karl Olivecrona’s anti-normativism is indeed problematic, (4) that expressivism in general is problematic, too, and (5) that Simon Blackburn’s quasi-realism can provide us with an interesting, and in many ways attractive, account of our practice(s) of legal reasoning, conceived as resting on an expressivist foundation. However, I am also going to argue (6) that the modest version of quasi-realism is problematic, because it assumes that clashing attitudes (which are assumed to lack truth-value) are inconsistent; and (7) that ambitious quasi-realism is even more problematic, primarily (i) because it assumes that there is such a thing as a best possible set of attitudes, but also (ii) because it might be self-defeating.

INVESTIGATING THE LEVEL OF TEST ANXIETY IN EFL STUDENTS’ AT KANDAHAR UNIVERSITY, AFGHANISTAN

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the level of test anxiety in EFL students’ at Kandahar University. This was quantitative research approach in which survey questionnaire was developed to collect data from the students. One hundred and eighty students (freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior) were selected through the use of random sampling method which 159 were males and 21 were females. The data was analyzed by using IBM 24 version of SPSS and found out the frequency and percentage as well mean and standard deviation. The problem was that most of the students had test anxiety and failed in their final exam. The findings of this study revealed that students have high level of test anxiety before from the test because of not having time to study, not answering well to the questions and unseen questions in the test. As well as, students have high level anxiety during the test; they could not remember the answers in the test area, limitation of the time and the use of hard words in the questions. Moreover, lack of self-confidence about given answers to the questions and giving wrong answers to the questions made the students to have high level of test anxiety after the test. Article visualizations:

Students Ability Analysis to Complete the TIMSS Test of Light Content on Eight Class Level of Junior High School

This research aims to identify students’ ability to complete the TIMSS test of light content. This research is a qualitative descriptive research. Data were obtained from 95 students in 3 different classes. The TIMSS test that was given to the student consisted of 5 multiple choices and 2 essay. The results of this research show that the student’s ability are good in completing the TIMSS test of light content with the right answer of multiple choice percentage is higher that the percentage of either wrong answer or not answer. The result of essay also shows the percentage of the appropriate answer, appropriate and complete answer are higher that student’s inappropriate answer, not quite appropriate or not answer

STRATEGI GURU DALAM PEMBELAJARAN BERPIKIR KRITIS PESERTA DIDIK MELALUI UNIT KEGIATAN BELAJAR MANDIRI MATA PELAJARAN PPKn (Studi di SMA Negeri 3 Surakarta)

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The research aims to find out: 1) The strategy of teachers in student’s critical thinking learning using self learning activity in Pancasila and Citizenship Education in SMA Negeri 3 Surakarta; 2) Teacher’s supporting factors and inhibitory factor in critical thinking learning using self learning activity in Pancasila and Citizenship Education in SMA Negeri 3 Surakarta.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;They study uses a qualitative approach, a type of qualitative descriptive research. Data sources are obtained from the informant, place and document. Sampling techniques using purposive sampling. Data collection techniques using interviews, observations, and document analysis. Data validity using trianggulation data and Trianggulation method. Analyze data using interactive analysis models.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Result of the research: 1) The strategy of teachers in student’s critical thinking learning using self learning activities in Pancasila education subjects and citizenship in Pancasila and Citizenship Education in SMA Negeri 3 Surakarta: a) Teacher need to learn and understand about the components development and characteristics of self learning activities ; b) The teacher makes a learning activity by displaying questions of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS); c) The teacher makes the look of self learning activity; and d) The teacher designed the planning, implementation, and evaluation activities. 2) The teacher's supporting factor in student’s critical thinking learning using self learning in Pancasila Education and Citizenship course includes: a) schools facilities; b) The positive response from the students with the self learning activity; c) Learning activities in the self learning activities lead to the growing Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) that support critical thinking skills; d) Self learning activities as a self-learning strategy that helps learners achieve learning submission. The inhibitory factor includes internal factors: a) The feeling of fear of self-learners; b) lack of ability to communicate students; and c) lack of motivation in the students in the interest of the study of Pancasila and the citizenship. External factors include: a) The responses of nearby friends who often laugh at other learners when they wrong answer; b) Limited time allocation; c) Learners who have completed self learning activity of Pancasila and Citizenship Education must wait for other learners to get new material taught by the teacher and; d) Find it difficult to print the modul for the self learning activity of Pancasila and Citizenship Education because of the limited fund of the school.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keywords&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;: Strategies, Critical Thinking, Self Learning Activity, Pancasila Education and Citizenship&lt;/em&gt;

Physician's Knowledge of Appropriate Prescribing for the Elderly-A Survey Among Family and Internal Medicine Physicians in Nigeria.

Background: Prescription and use of inappropriate medications have been identified as a major cause of morbidity among the elderly. Several screening tools have been developed to identify inappropriate medications prescribed for elderly patients. There is dearth of information about the knowledge of Nigerian physicians regarding these screening tools and appropriate prescribing for the elderly in general. The primary objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of Nigerian physicians about these screening tools and appropriate prescribing of medications for the elderly. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among physicians working in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine departments of four tertiary health care facilities in Nigeria. The questionnaire consisted of sections on general characteristics of respondents and their knowledge of four selected screening tools for inappropriate medications in the elderly. Ten clinical vignettes representing different therapeutic areas (using the best option type questions) about medicine use in the elderly were included with a score of 1 and 0 for correct and wrong answers, respectively. The knowledge of respondents was classified as (total score, over 10): poor (score, < 5), average (score, 5-6), and good (score, 7-10). Results: One hundred and five physicians returned completed questionnaires. Twenty percent of respondents knew about Beers criteria, whereas 15.6% were familiar with the STOPP criteria. Majority (83; 84.7%) of the respondents were confident of their ability to prescribeappropriately for elderly patients. The mean knowledge score was 5.3 ± 2.0 with 32 (30.5%), 41 (39%), and 32 (30.5%) having low, average, and good scores, respectively. The association between the knowledge score, duration of practice, and seniority was statistically significant (OR, 3.6, p = .004 and OR, 3; p = .012), respectively. Conclusion: There are significant gaps in the knowledge of Nigerian physicians about screening tools for inappropriate medications. There is a need for stakeholders involved in the care of elderly Nigerian patients to develop new strategies to improve services being offered. These may include introduction of modules on appropriate prescribing in the curriculum of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and the routine use of some screening tools for inappropriate medications in daily clinical practice.

INVESTIGATION OF MEASUREMENT PRECISION OF LATENT VARIABLES DEPENDING ON THE NOISE TEST RESULTS

Measurement precision is an important aspect of experimental studies because it affects the effectiveness of decisions. The precision of measurements is influenced by many factors, including the quality of the original data or how the data was obtained. When measuring a latent variable, one of these factors is the precision of the indicators. For example, there may be situations in which, for various reasons, the subject gave the wrong answer instead of the correct answer and vice versa. This fully applies to conducting surveys. In general, we are talking about the noise of the original data. The aim of the work is to analyze the precision of measurement of the latent variable depending on the degree of noise of the original data. The results of the simulation experiment are used as initial data, which allows to simulate the necessary experimental situations. The analysis is conducted within the framework of the theory of latent variables, which allows to obtain estimates of the latent variable on a linear scale. The measurement precision of the latent variable is determined on the basis of absolute error. The noise level of the original data varies from 0 to 0.10%. It is shown that even minor noise of the original data significantly reduces the precision of the measurement of the latent variable.

Facial Emotion Recognition and Persecutory Ideation in Paranoid Schizophrenia.

The recognition of facial signals has a crucial role in social interaction. It is well known that people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia have problems in the social domain, predominantly related to misinterpreting the intentions, emotions, and actions of others. The aim of this study was to examine whether there are differences in facial emotion recognition between people with paranoid schizophrenia and healthy controls. In addition, we examined the correlation between facial emotion recognition and the expression of persecutory ideation in people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. The study involved 60 participants, 30 of whom suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls, equalized by gender, age, and education. The following instruments were used: Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion and Neutral Faces and the Persecutory Ideation Questionnaire. Compared with the controls, people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia were significantly less accurate in recognizing the following emotions: surprise, contempt, sadness, disgust, and emotionally neutral faces. Since the attribution of emotions to emotionally neutral faces is an important finding that could be linked with the social (dis)functionality of people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, we analyzed and compared the wrong answers given by the two groups and found some differences between them. The results show that persecutory ideation has a statistically significant negative correlation with the successful recognition of emotionally neutral faces. All of the findings lead to the conclusion that paranoid schizophrenia, and within it the existence of persecutory ideation, leads to problems in recognizing the basic facial signals that form the foundation of everyday social interaction.