The thermoelastic martensite transformation in copper-aluminium-nickel alloys

Imperial Users onl

Measurement equivalence of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R): further evidence of construct validity

Objective and background The 10-item Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) is being increasingly used internationally, including the development of translated versions of the tool. However, to date, a direct comparison between the original version of the tool and a non-English language translated version has yet to be conducted. Recognising that measurement equivalence is critical in order to be able to meaningfully compare scores on the measure between different versions, the current study sought to evaluate the measurement invariance characteristics of the BSS-R within this context. Methods: A secondary analysis of two data sets. The study used a measurement invariance testing approach to determine the relative equivalence between the original UK English-language version and the Greek-translated version of the BSS-R. Participants were a convenience sample of UK (n = 228) and Greek (n = 162) postnatal women. Results: The BSS-R was found to offer an excellent model fit with pooled data, a robust configural model and metric-level invariance between English- and Greek-language versions. The BSS-R was also found to demonstrate partial scalar invariance, with 80% of item intercepts non-invariant between both versions. Two non-invariant items at the scalar level are likely to represent real differences between participant groups in terms of birth satisfaction as an artefact of service delivery type and relative difference in delivery mode. Conclusion: The BSS-R is both conceptually and statistically comparable between different versions of the tool suggesting the utility of the measure for international comparative studies

Construct and content validity of the Greek version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale (G-BSS)

Background: ‘Birth Satisfaction’ is a term that encompasses a woman’s evaluation of her birth experience. The term includes factors such as her appraisal of the quality of care she received, a personal assessment of how she coped, and her reconstructions of what happened on that particular day. Her accounts may be accurate or skewed, yet correspond with her reality of how events unfolded. Objective: To evaluate properties of an instrument designed to measure birth satisfaction in a Greek population of postnatal women. Study design: We assessed factor structure, internal consistency, divergent validity and known-groups discriminant validity of the 30-item Greek Birth Satisfaction Scale – Long Form (30-item G-BSS-LF) and its revised version the 10-item Greek-BSS-Revised (10-item-G-BSS-R), using survey data collected in Athens. Participants: A convenience sample of healthy Greek postnatal women (n = 162) aged 22–46 years who had delivered between 34 and 42 weeks’ gestation. Results: The 30-item-G-BSS-LF performed poorly in terms of factor structure. The short-form 10-item-G-BSS-R performed well in terms of measurement replication of the English equivalent version as a multidimensional instrument. The short-form 10-item-G-BSS-R comprises three subscales which measure distinct but correlated domains of: (1) quality of care provision (4 items), (2) women’s personal attributes (2 items), and (3) stress experienced during labour (4 items). Key conclusions: The 10-item-G-BSS-R is a valid and reliable multidimensional psychometric instrument for measuring birth satisfaction in Greek postnatal women

Professional issues. Knowledge about attitudes can help change behaviour.

This paper addresses the issue of social attitudes. The purpose is to facilitate understanding of attitude structures and the application of this knowledge to midwifery practice. Attitudes have been defined and their development within individuals described. The above information has been applied to midwifery practice emphasizing the issue of respect for a client's attitudes and opinions which may differ considerably from our own. Attitude change has been addressed in relation to helping women change behaviours which promote obstetric damage. An explanation has been given to assist midwives' understanding of why women continue with damaging behaviour

Comment: "Fathers at the birth?"

In the West there is a contemporary expectation that fathers should be present at the birth of their babies (Longworth and Kingdon 2011), with many unclear of their job description(Vehvilainen-Julkunen and Liukkkonnen 1998). A former Royal College of Midwives (RCM) survey established that roughly 98 per cent of UK fathers were inclined to participate at the birth (Reid 1994), with around 97 per cent embracing positive attitudes towards the impending event (Hollins Martin 2008a). Longworth and Kingdon (2011) identified that some fathers were unsure about their role and how to involve themselves more

A narrative literature review of the therapeutic effects of music upon childbearing women and neonates.

Therapeutic effects of music are well recognised within the literature, with benefits for a variety of healthproblems documented. This narrative review summarises benefits in terms of reducing stress, anxiety,labour pain and depression in childbearing women. For neonates, music has been shown to reducenumber of days to discharge, reduce pain response behaviours, increase weight gain, improve Brazeltonscores, improve parent/infant intimacy, improve oxygen saturation, increase formula intake, stabilizevital signs and increase parental reports of calmed infants. The main criticism of the studies reviewed is lack of categorisation of the particulars of the variables within the music that directly influenced outcome variables. A recommendation is made that a music package be developed and relationships with variables rigorously evaluated. The validated product may then be made available for use. Since evidence supports advantages from listening to music, it is suggested that maternity professionals use it in more creative ways

Obedience: would you do as I say?

Most people will have observed the often impressive synchrony of the behaviour of fish in a school or birds in a flock. The fact that the behaviour of a fish is so well matched to that of the behaviour of others is straightforward: perception directly affects behaviour. When a fish perceives a change of direction in another fish it simply matches this change in direction. This direct link between perception and behaviour can be easily witnessed in humans as well. We too match the behaviour of others and we do this simply because perception directly affects action. The specific behavioural changes perception can bring about differ between humans and fish, but the underlying mechanism is essentially the same. Perhaps we share this important psychological mechanism with a haddock (Dijksterhuis 2001, p 105)

An analysis of social influence in midwifery practice

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