Measurement of alcohol craving

Despite considerable research activity and application in treatment, the construct of craving remains poorly understood. We propose that cravings and urges are cognitive–emotional events in time, characterised by frequency, duration, intensity and salience. Commonly used measures of alcohol craving are reviewed, and their strengths and weaknesses identified. Most measures confound craving with behaviours, or with separable cognitive phenomena such as expectancies, intentions, or perceived behavioural control. These confounds have limited our advances in understanding the determinants and consequences of craving. Based on the criteria applied in this review, among the better performing multi-item measures are the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and Obsessive subscale of the Obsessive–Compulsive Drinking Scale. Optimal assessment strategies are likely to involve daily assessments of peak intensity of cravings, desires or urges and of the frequency and duration of craving episodes. Of particular interest are measures of intensity at times when individuals are at risk of drinking or of other functional impacts from craving.     

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the cross-cultural validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Abbreviated Profile of the Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire (APHAB-CH). Design: A convenience sampling method was used to identify and recruit subjects. The subjects completed a history form seeking demographic data, the APHAB-CH, and a questionnaire seeking a subjective rating of hearing aid performance and overall satisfaction with their hearing aid. Study Sample: The subjects were 134 experienced hearing aid users. Results: The APHAB-CH had a good internal consistency reliability estimate (α = 0.85) comparable to that of the original version. Significant correlation was observed between the APHAB-CH scores and other subjective ratings for hearing aid performance and the overall satisfaction measure. A high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84) was observed. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the APHAB-CH had a two-factor structure comprising “hearing disability” and “averviseness.” Normative data in terms of equal-percentile profiles were dervied for the APHAB-CH. Conclusion: The results suggest that the APHAB-CH is a reliable and valid measure of the outcomes of hearing aid fitting

Sumario

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la validez y confiabilidad transcultural de la versión china del Cuestionario de Perfil Abreviado de Beneficios del Auxiliar Auditivo (APHAB-CH). Diseño: Se usó un método conveniente de muestreo para identificar y reclutar sujetos. Los sujetos completaron un formulario de historia para obtener datos demográficos, el APHAB-CH, y un cuestionario para encontrar los rangos subjetivos de rendimiento del auxiliar auditivo y de satisfacción general con el mismo. Muestra de Estudio: Los sujetos fueron 134 usuarios experimentados en el uso de auxiliar auditivo. Resultados: El APHAB-CH tuvo un estimado de confiabilidad con buena consistencia interna (α = 0.85) comparable con la de la versión original. Se observó una correlación significativa entre las puntuaciones del APHAB-CH con otras puntuaciones subjetivas de rendimiento del auxiliar auditivo y de mediciones de satisfacción general. Se observó una alta confiabilidad test-retest (coeficiente de correlación interno = 0.84). El análisis de factor de confirmación reveló que el APHAB-CH tuvo una estructura de dos factores que comprendía la “discapacidad auditiva” y la “aversión” Los datos normativos en términos de perfiles de igual percentil, se derivaron del APHAB-CH. Conclusion: Los resultados sugieren que el APHAB-CH es una medida válida y confiable de los resultados de la adaptación de auxiliares auditivos.     

无法忍受不确定性量表中文版的修订及信效度分析

目的探讨无法忍受不确定性量表（IUS）中文修订版的信度和效度。方法采用中文版IUS先后共测量了930名大学生,选取45名大学生3周后进行重测。采用焦虑自评量表和自评抑郁量表作为效标。结果修订后的IUS共21个项目,探索性因素分析得到一个两因子结构,分别命名为“消极信念和情绪”与“消极行为和自我参照”,累积解释率为42．09％。验证性因素分析结果（X。／af=2．82,GFI=0．90,TLI=0．90,CFI：0．91,RMSEA=0．065）表明两因子结构较为理想。总量表及两个分量表的内部一致性信度分别为0．929,0．885和0．864,重测信度分别为0．782,0．766和0．714。IUS总分及其2个因子分均与焦虑、抑郁得分显著正相关（r=0．489～0．575,P〈0．01）。结论IUS中文修订版具有较好的信度和效度,可作为我国成人无法忍受不确定性的有效评估工具。     

Development and validation of the incontinence associated dermatitis knowledge,attitude and practice questionnaire

AimThis study aimed to develop and test the validity and reliability of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Incontinence-associated Dermatitis Questionnaire (KAP-IAD-Q) for Nurses.MethodsA psychometric validation design was employed. Phase I of the study entailed the development of items through an extensive literature review and a double Delphi procedure with 11 experts specialised in wound, ostomy and continence to examine content validity of the KAP-IAD-Q. Phase II involved administering the KAP-IAD-Q to a convenience sample of 263 Registered Nurses from a public hospital in Singapore to evaluate its construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability.ResultsThe instrument showed acceptable content validity (S-CVI = 0.85). Exploratory factor analysis showed all 22 items demonstrated strong factor loadings >0.4 and the four factors KAP-IAD-Q explained 58.1% of total variance. The four factors were☹1) knowledge om IAD aetiology and identification, (2) knowledge on IAD risk factors; (3) attitudes, and (4) practices. The overall internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.913). The KAP-IAD-Q showed good overall test-retest reliability as well (ICC = 0.89 (95% CI 0.69–0.96, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe KAP-IAD-Q demonstrated good psychometric properties and is effective in measuring levels of IAD-related KAP among nurses. Further confirmation of the proposed factor structure is recommended. Future research should explore determinants of nurses’ KAP and associations between IAD knowledge, attitudes and practices.     

Neuronal correlates of perceptual amplitude-modulation detection

The goal of the present paper is to relate the coding of amplitude modulation (AM) in the auditory pathway to the behavioral detection performance. To address this issue, the detectability of AM was estimated by modelling a single neuron located in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC). The computational model is based on cochlear nucleus responses and a coincidence detection mechanism. The model replicated the main feature of the neuronal AM transfer function, namely a bandpass function. The IC-unit model was initially tuned to a 200-Hz modulation frequency. A single neurometric function for AM detection at this modulation frequency was generated using a 2-interval, 2-alternative forced-choice paradigm. On each trial of the experiments, AM was taken to be correctly detected by the model if the humber of spikes in response to the modulated signal exceeded the number of spikes in an otherwise identical interval that contained an unmodulated signal. Psychometric functions for 4 human subjects were also measured under the same stimulus conditions. Comparison of the simulated neurometric and psychometric functions suggested that there was sufficient information in the rate esponse of an IC neuron well-tuned in the modulation-frequency domain to support behavioral detection performance.     

Instruments measuring community pharmacist role stress and strain measures: A systematic review

BackgroundWhile macro and meso approaches to implementing public health initiatives in community pharmacies have been studied, the micro perspective of their pharmacist providers requires more inspection. Community pharmacists report increasing stress, overload, and limited control over facets of their work.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Social exchange principles, e.g. role price, may help to typify pharmacist work decisions so problematic situations can be modified, thus protecting workforce health. To do so, the underlying pressures of the pharmacist role (i.e. role stresses) and indicators of systemically-caused strain (i.e. role strains) should be measurable.ObjectivesTo summarise validated and reliable instruments used to measure role stress and strain among community pharmacists and evaluate compatibility in testing a theoretically-derived framework.MethodsIn April 2020, journal articles describing reliable and validated instruments measuring role stress and strain responses among community pharmacists were identified from an online search via Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed. English-language articles after 1990 were selected; duplicates were deleted. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen title/abstracts and full texts. Reference lists were manually searched. Resultant instruments were analysed for theoretical compatibility.ResultsAfter review, 26 separate instruments were found: seven psychological strain instruments, 14 social strain response instruments, and five role stress instruments. Role stresses were often present as facet-specific dimensions in psychological and social strain instruments. Strain instruments measuring individual evaluation of work were compatible with a social exchange approach.ConclusionsTwenty-six reliable and validated instruments measuring role stress and role strain were found to measure negative role outcomes from the micro community pharmacist perspective. Structural measurement of role stress and resultant negative responses enable detailed examination into pharmacist roles and insights into pharmacist behaviour. Further research is required to develop additional role stress and strain instruments, and to discover pharmacist role benefits and their influence.