The client satisfaction with device: a Rasch validation of the Arabic version in patients with upper and lower limb amputation

BACKGROUND: The Client Satisfaction with Devices (CSD) module of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey is an extensively used questionnaire that measures patients' satisfaction with orthosis and prosthesis. However, the validated version for Arabic speakers (CSD-Ar) is only applicable for orthosis users. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric proprieties of the CSD-Ar for prosthetics users. METHODS: The study used a convenience sample of prosthesis users from Saudi Arabia and Turkey (N\u2009=\u2009183), who completed the CSD-Ar. The collected data were analysed using Rasch analysis to evaluate item fit, reliability indices, item difficulty, local item dependency, and differential item functioning (DIF) using WINSTEPS version 4.6.1. RESULTS: Based on the analysis, the four-response Likert-scale was acceptable, as shown by the category functioning test, All eight items did achieve a fit to the Rasch Model [(infit) and (outfit) mean-square 0.75 to 1.3]. Person separation reliability was 0.76, and item separation reliability was 0.94. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed satisfactory unidimensionality and no local item dependency. The DIF analysis showed no notable dependency among items on participant characteristics in terms of age, gender, duration of use, country, and level of amputation. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the confidence of using CSD-Ar to evaluate users' satisfaction with different prostheses, affirming the need for further refinement of the quality of the outcome measure

Determination of density and concentration from fluorescent images of a gas flow

A fluorescent image analysis procedure to determine the distribution of species concentration and density in a gas flow is proposed. The fluorescent emission is due to the excitation of atoms/molecules of a gas that is intercepted by an electron blade. The intensity of the fluorescent light is proportional to the local number density of the gas. When the gas flow is a mixture of different species, this proportionality can be exploited to extract the contribution associated to the species from the spectral superposition acquired by a digital camera. This yields a method that simultaneously reveals species concentrations and mass density of the mixture. The procedure is applied to two under-expanded sonic jets discharged into a different gas ambient - Helium into Argon and Argon into Helium - to measure the concentration and density distribution along the jet axis and across it. A comparison with experimental and numerical results obtained by other authors when observing under-expanded jets at different Mach numbers is made with the density distribution along the axis of the jet. This density distribution appears to be self-similar.Comment: New figures in portable .eps forma

A systematic review of cognitive function and psychosocial well-being in school-age children with narcolepsy

Introduction: Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness and attacks of muscle weakness which are often precipitated by strong emotions (cataplexy). In August 2010, concerns were raised about an increase in the incidence rate of narcolepsy diagnosis in children and adolescents. It is therefore timely to systematically review the current research that has investigated the consequences of this chronic disorder in childhood on cognitive function and psychosocial well-being. Objective: The review was conducted to assess whether cognitive function and psychosocial well-being is impaired in school-age children with narcolepsy and to assess the quality of the previous research. Data sources: Four electronic databases were searched on 27th June 2015; The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Research primarily concerned with; narcolepsy (and/or cataplexy) and cognitive function and/or psychosocial well-being in children aged between 5-17 years old. Studies matching this criteria, published between 2005-2015 and written in English were included in this review. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the present review. Collectively the results provided evidence to suggest that children who develop narcolepsy are at significant cognitive and psychological risk. The findings suggest that narcolepsy puts children and adolescents at particular risk of cognitive impairment in at least one domain and emotional problems including depression, anxiety and low self-esteem which may consequently lead to poorer quality of life. Conclusions: This review has highlighted that children with narcolepsy are at significant risk of cognitive and psychological impairments. However, current research is limited by small sample sizes and lack of standardised assessments, appropriate controls and longitudinal data. In order to gain further understanding about the cognitive and psychological consequences of childhood narcolepsy, future research must address these limitations so that the results can enable recommendations to be made for any extra support needed at home and at school so that children with narcolepsy are able to achieve their full potential

IFNβ Protects Neurons from Damage in a Murine Model of HIV-1 Associated Brain Injury.

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) causes brain injury. Type I interferons (IFNα/β) are critical mediators of any anti-viral immune response and IFNβ has been implicated in the temporary control of lentiviral infection in the brain. Here we show that transgenic mice expressing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 in their central nervous system (HIVgp120tg) mount a transient IFNβ response and provide evidence that IFNβ confers neuronal protection against HIVgp120 toxicity. In cerebrocortical cell cultures, neuroprotection by IFNβ against gp120 toxicity is dependent on IFNα receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and the β-chemokine CCL4, as IFNAR1 deficiency and neutralizing antibodies against CCL4, respectively, abolish the neuroprotective effects. We find in vivo that IFNβ mRNA is significantly increased in HIVgp120tg brains at 1.5, but not 3 or 6 months of age. However, a four-week intranasal IFNβ treatment of HIVgp120tg mice starting at 3.5 months of age increases expression of CCL4 and concomitantly protects neuronal dendrites and pre-synaptic terminals in cortex and hippocampus from gp120-induced damage. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro data suggests astrocytes are a major source of IFNβ-induced CCL4. Altogether, our results suggest exogenous IFNβ as a neuroprotective factor that has potential to ameliorate in vivo HIVgp120-induced brain injury

Prevalência e Qualidade de Consentimento Informado para Pacientes Submetendo-se a Procedimentos Cosméticos: Um Estudo Transversal

Background: Failure of the physician to disclose potential risks and benefits associated with cosmetic procedures is one of the main causes of legal disputes over informed consent. The objective was to assess the prevalence and quality of the informed consent given by patients who undergone cosmetic procedures and its association with post-procedure adverse events. Methods: It was a cross-sectional, online, questionnaire-based study conducted during September and October 2020. Eligible adult male and female patients who were attending a governmental dermatology clinic at Al-Kharj city (Saudi Arabia) were invited to join the study. Results: A total of 246 patients were included in the study. Out of 246, 111 (45.1%) patients performed at least one cosmetic procedure before, and 89 (80.2%) of them signed an informed consent. 62 (69.7%) of them signed a consent before the procedure, 17 (19.1%) reported post-procedure adverse events, 16 (18.0%) reported dissatisfactions, and 27 (30.3%) reported either. None of the consent characteristics were significantly associated with higher prevalence of post-procedure adverse events or non-satisfactions. Conclusions: The prevalence and the quality of informed consent before cosmetic procedures are inadequate. Urgent corrections are required to protect the patient’s rights and to legally protect the treating physician.Antecedentes: El hecho de que el médico no revele los posibles riesgos y beneficios asociados a los procedimientos estéticos es una de las principales causas de las disputas legales sobre el consentimiento informado. El objetivo fue evaluar la prevalencia y la calidad del consentimiento informado dado por los pacientes sometidos a procedimientos estéticos y su asociación con los eventos adversos posteriores al procedimiento. Métodos: Fue un estudio transversal, online, basado en un cuestionario, realizado durante septiembre y octubre de 2020. Se invitó a participar en el estudio a pacientes adultos de ambos sexos que acudían a una clínica dermatológica gubernamental en la ciudad de Al-Kharj (Arabia Saudí). Resultados: Un total de 246 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio. De los 246, 111 (45,1%) pacientes se habían sometido al menos a un procedimiento cosmético antes, y 89 (80,2%) de ellos firmaron un consentimiento informado. 62 (69,7%) de ellos firmaron un consentimiento antes del procedimiento, 17 (19,1%) informaron de acontecimientos adversos posteriores al procedimiento, 16 (18,0%) informaron de insatisfacciones y 27 (30,3%) informaron de cualquiera de los dos. Ninguna de las características del consentimiento se asoció significativamente con una mayor prevalencia de acontecimientos adversos posteriores al procedimiento o insatisfacciones. Conclusiones: La prevalencia y la calidad del consentimiento informado antes de los procedimientos cosméticos son inadecuadas. Se requieren correcciones urgentes para proteger los derechos del paciente y proteger legalmente al médico tratante.Contexto: A falha do médico em comunicar os potenciais riscos e benefícios associados a procedimentos cosméticos é uma das principais causas de disputas legais sobre consentimento informado. O objetivo foi avaliar a prevalência e qualidade do consentimento informado dado a pacientes que sofreram procedimentos cosméticos e sua associação com eventos adversos pós-procedimento. Métodos: Estudo transversal, online, baseado em questionário, realizado durante setembro e outubro de 2020. Pacientes homens e mulheres, adultos elegíveis, de uma clínica dermatológica governamental da cidade de Al-Kharj (Arábia Saudita) foram convidados a participar do estudo. Resultados: Um total de 246 pacientes foram incluídos no estudo. Dos 246, 111 (45.1%) pacientes realizaram pelo menos um procedimento cosmético anterior e 89 (80.2%) deles assinaram um consentimento informado. 62 (69.7%) deles assinaram um consentimento antes do procedimento, 17 (19.1%) relataram eventos adversos pós-procedimento, 16 (18.0%) relataram insatisfações e 27 (30.3%) relataram ambos. Nenhuma das características do consentimento foram significativamente associadas com mais alta prevalência de eventos adversos pós-procedimento ou não satisfação. Conclusões: A prevalência e a qualidade do consentimento informado antes de procedimentos cosméticos são inadequados. Correções urgentes são requeridas para proteger os direitos dos pacientes e para legalmente proteger o médico responsável

Psychometric Evaluation of The Arabic Version of The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction With Assistive Technology (A-QUEST 2.0) In Prosthesis Users

BACKGROUND: the evaluation of patient satisfaction and perceptions plays a vital role in determining the quality of prosthesis users’ devices and the competency of healthcare services. aiM: to evaluate the psychometric properties of the arabic Quebec user Evaluation of satisfaction with assistive technology (a-QuEst 2.0) with prosthetics users. dEsiGn: a methodological study. sEttinG: saudi arabia, turkey. population: a convenience sample of outpatient prosthesis users (n.=183). MEthods: the a-QuEst 2.0 includes two subscales respectively evaluating the user’s satisfaction with the device and the services provided. The data for each subscale were investigated using Rasch analysis to evaluate the item fit, reliability indices, item difficulty, local item dependency, and differential item functioning (dif). RESULTS: Both subscales met the Rasch criteria for the functioning of rating scale categories. All items showed an acceptable fit to the Rasch model. The person separation indices for the Device and Services subscales were 2.21 (Cronbach’s α=0.90) and 1.72 (Cronbach’s α=0.85), respectively. therefore, the two subscales are sensitive enough to distinguish between at least three different levels of satisfaction. the unidimensionality of each subscale was confirmed, and none of the items displayed differential item functioning across age, gender, location of amputation, country, and duration of use. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings indicate the psychometric evaluation of A-QUEST 2.0 is effective with prosthesis users across different clinical contexts and cultures. thus, the a-QuEst 2.0 allows for a comprehensive understanding of users’ perceptions of prosthesis characteristics, particularly among subjects with lower limb amputations caused by traumatic injuries. clinical rEhabilitation iMpact: our paper provides clinicians dealing with arabic patients a validated outcome measure for satisfaction with prosthesis. besides providing information in the development of new products and service delivery. further studies are necessary to improve the measure’s metric quality in different contexts and for different prosthesis devices

Development of Nursing Research in Saudi Arabia: Implications for Policies and Practice

Background: Nursing research in Saudi Arabia can be evaluated based on productivity as well as the quality of publications. The scope of scientific inquiry in nursing research expands to include clinical, health system, and outcome-based research, education, and administration. Aim: The purpose of this article is to track the development of nursing research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Design: Systematic review. Methods: This study used keywords, databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed to search for published articles on nursing in Saudi Arabia. The search resulted in the identification of 681 publications, from which 360 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results: The highest percentage of studies (56.7% of articles) focused on nursing clinical practice, and 76.0% of the studies were conducted in a hospital setting, followed by an educational setting. Most of the studies were quantitative and non-funded. More than 50.0% of the studies were first authored by Saudi scholars. Conclusions: This study concluded that nursing research in Saudi Arabia is still in its infancy, with notable improvements in the last 5 years. This correlated with an increasing number of nurses holding postgraduate degrees. With the Saudi government’s strong support, the number of scientific research papers published on Saudi nursing has steadily increased over the last year

Investigation of the hydrodynamic behaviour of particles and aggregates by particle image velocimetry (PIV)

The IWA International Conference on Particle Separation (PS2007), Toulouse, France, 9-12 July 2007