Factors that influence infertile couples’ selection of reproductive medicine centers---A cross-sectional questionnaire study

ObjectiveThe number of infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles has increased annually. Due to this competitive environment, we designed a questionnaire and aimed to investigate factors affecting the choice of reproductive medicine center among infertile couples.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study that analyzed questionnaires provided by the reproductive medicine center of the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital from January 2018 to June 2018. In the questionnaire, there are six categories (environment and equipment, service quality, patient safety, medical quality, information acquisition channel and other) and 36 items. The identified factors were scored and then weighted using principal component analysis.ResultsMost of the 100 identified infertile women were aged 31–35 years, were married 1–3 years, and had a university education level. In the weight analysis, “Clean outpatient clinic and medical equipment” had the greatest weight in the dimension of environment and equipment. The item with the greatest weight in the dimension of service quality was “Waiting time for registration, charging, and receiving medicine”. In the dimension of patient safety, “Privacy is highly respected by medical personnel” had the highest weight. The item with the greatest weight in the dimension of medical quality was “Success rate of reproductive medicine center”. The three items with the highest weights in the dimension of information acquisition channel were “Newspapers and magazines”, “TV media”, and “Facebook page and website of our hospital”. In the other dimensions, the two with the greatest weights were “Reputation of the hospital” and “Reputation of physicians”.ConclusionIn the infertile couples' view, optimal reproductive medicine centers should have a high success rate and great reputation on the internet and in mass media. Additionally, a short waiting time and high levels of privacy and confidentiality are also imperative.     

Congress On Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation September 23-26, 2009 Sheraton Dallas Hotel Dallas,Texas Platform Abstracts

Abstract

Objective

To examine the psychometric properties of the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) in large samples of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design

Longitudinal 12-month survey study.

Setting

Nation-wide, community dwelling.

Participants

Adults with SCI: 627 at Time 1, 494 at Time 2.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Outcome measures

The CIQ is a 15-item measure developed to measure three domains of community integration in individuals with traumatic brain injury: home integration, social integration, and productive activity. SCI consumer input suggested the need for two additional items assessing socializing at home and internet/email activity.

Results

Exploratory factor analyses at Time 1 indicated three factors. Time 2 confirmatory factor analysis did not show a good fit of the 3-factor model. CIQ scores were normally distributed and only the Productive subscale demonstrated problems with high (25%) ceiling effects. Internal reliability was acceptable for the Total and Home scales, but low for the Social and Productive activity scales. Validity of the CIQ is suggested by significant differences by sex, age, and wheelchair use.

Conclusions

The factor structure of the CIQ was not stable over time. The CIQ may be most useful for assessing home integration, as this is the subscale with the most scale stability and internal reliability. The CIQ may be improved for use in SCI by including items that reflect higher levels of productive functioning, integration across the life span, and home- and internet-based social functioning.     

浙江省中医护理技术分级的现状调查

目的 了解浙江省中医护理技术分级的现状,为中医护理技术的培训、管理及相关政策制订提供依据。方法 2020年8月—9月采用自行设计的中医护理技术分级开展情况调查表对浙江省中医医疗机构进行调查。调查内容包括技术分级方法、原则和具体技术分级情况。 结果 共调查94所中医医疗机构,回收有效问卷92份。结果显示,72所（78.26%）中医医疗机构实施了中医护理技术分级,分级方法有6种,按一类、二类、三类技术进行分级是主要分级方法（52.78%）。各医疗机构的技术分级原则不统一,技术分级存在不一致现象,部分技术的分级存在较大差别。 结论 浙江省各级中医医疗机构重视中医护理技术的分级管理,但缺乏同质性,建议制订分级管理策略,明确分级方法与原则,统一各项技术的分级,提高技术应用的规范性。     

Repeatability and reliability of the diabetic foot self-care questionnaire in Arabic patients: A transcultural adaptation

PurposeThe diabetic foot self-care questionnaire is considered a self-care evaluation tool with 16 questions for assessing diabetic foot health disorders. To date, the DFSQ has been validated in different languages, but an Arabic version was lacking. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to translate and validate the Arabic version of the DFSQ (DFSQ-AR).MethodA suitable method was developed for the translation protocol and cross-cultural validation from Spanish to Arabic. Regarding the total marks from each sub-scale, agreement degrees and confidence were analyzed using Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. In addition, the mean ± standard deviation differences between pre and post-tests were calculated and completed using Bland-Altman distribution plots.ResultsExcellent agreement between the two versions was demonstrated based on Cronbach's α. Three sub-scales consisting of knowledge of foot hygiene, the appropriate use of footwear and socks, and podiatric self-care were added together to obtain the total score. Excellent retest reliability was shown for the total score. Test/retest reliability was excellent for the self-care and shoe and socks sub-scales. There were no significant differences among any domains (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences (P = 0.000) for the mean ± standard deviations (SD) between pre- and post-tests (98.09 ± 15.42) [93.75–102.43] and 97.96 ± 13.88 [94.5–101.86] points, respectively). Bland-Altman plots or clinically pertinent variations were not statistically significantly different.ConclusionsThe DFSQ-AR is considered a strong and valid questionnaire with adequate repeatability in the Arabic language population.     

A nationwide surveillance of surgical site infection after mid-urethral slings in Japan

We performed a questionnaire-based, retrospective, nationwide survey on perioperative management and antimicrobial prophylaxis for mid-urethral sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence in Japan to realize the clinical practice and risk factors for SSI.Records of women receiving transobturator tape (TOT) and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgeries from 2010 to 2012 were obtained from hospitals belonging to the Japanese Society of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery. The questionnaire addressed hospital volume, perioperative management, and SSI. Risk factors for SSI were investigated by comparing cases with and without SSI.The data from 97 hospitals and a total 1627 TOT and 1045 TVT surgeries were analyzed. Mean case volumes of TOT and TVT surgeries were 7.3 ± 14.9 and 7.1 ± 17.8 cases per year, respectively. Preoperative hair removal, bowel preparation, and urine culture were routinely performed at 44 (45.3%), 31 (32.0%), and 22 (22.7%) hospitals, respectively. First-generation (51.5%) or second-generation (34.0%) cephalosporin was mostly used for antimicrobial prophylaxis. SSI was reported only in 6 patients (0.22%) and none of them developed abscesses. None of the factors we could evaluate from the questionnaire were found to be significantly associated with SSI.SSI after mid-urethral slings rarely occurred in Japan (0.22%) and no parameters about perioperative managements significantly increased SSI. However, further studies with more detail information of each patient and operation are required to confirm their appropriate perioperative managements for mid-urethral slings.     

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Biological Rhythms Interview of assessment in neuropsychiatry-self report for delayed sleep-wake phase disorder

ObjectiveThe Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) might be applicable for assessing delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD). We aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the BRIAN self-report (J-BRIAN-SR) in DSWPD patients and determine a cutoff score to identify the presence of the disorder.MethodsWe enrolled 60 newly diagnosed DSWPD outpatients and 64 age-matched healthy controls. We used Cronbach's alpha for internal reliability to evaluate J-BRIAN-SR. We confirmed the reliability of the A test and re-test using Pearson's correlation coefficient in the controls. We used confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the factor structure of J-BRIAN-SR and referenced the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) to check concurrent validity. We analyzed the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to determine the J-BRIAN-SR cutoff point for the presence of DSWPD.ResultsThe 18-component scores of the J-BRIAN-SR had an overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of 0.82. We confirmed a high test-retest reliability using an intraclass correlation coefficient (r = 0.84). The correlation between J-BRIAN-SR and MEQ was 0.38 (p = 0.003). The J-BRIAN-SR that we extracted by exploratory factor analysis consisted of three factors. A score of 40 points provided a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 75.6% for the positivity of DSWPD.ConclusionsThe results of the present study revealed that J-BRIAN-SR is a valid and reliable instrument for screening and evaluating the severity of DSWPD. Our findings will be useful to physicians and patients in Japan and those in clinical settings.     

A Rasch analysis of a questionnaire designed to evaluate psychiatric patient attitudes and knowledge after attending a pharmacist-led patient medication education group

BackgroundThere are many barriers that prevent persons with mental health disorders from achieving remission, including medication nonadherence. Research on the impact of pharmacist-led patient medication education groups on patient attitudes, knowledge and adherence is limited.ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of the Medication Attitudes and Knowledge Questionnaire (MAKQ).MethodsA retrospective pre-post questionnaire was distributed to patients. Variables collected included: patient self-reported medication knowledge and attitudes, patient demographics, number of previous psychiatric hospitalizations, whether the patient attended the whole meeting or only a portion, and outpatient pharmacist relationships. Knowledge and attitude items were measured on a 4-point scale with a range of options from “Agree” to “Disagree.” Rasch analysis was conducted to ensure all items measured the same construct and to assess scale and item reliability and validity. Additionally, the Rasch technique evaluated the change in each person's self-perceived attitudes, knowledge, and confidence in self-managing medications from pre- to post-intervention if the data fit the model. A z-test was used to evaluate gaps in content validity.ResultsSixty patients responded to the MAKQ over the 16-week data collection period. Analysis showed that the 4-point rating scale was not useful and that negatively worded items should be eliminated. Gaps identified in instrument item content were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), indicating comprehensive content validity.ConclusionsMedication attitudes and knowledge items on the retrospective pre-post questionnaire were valid and reliable.