Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale: Development and Preliminary Psychometric Properties

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) accounts for about 10 percent of dementia cases and is a common cause of early-onset dementia. Although knowledge about the symptoms and course of FTD has expanded in the past decade, there exists no well-validated instrument to measure FTD knowledge. As a step toward that goal, this study sought to create a scale to measure knowledge of FTD based on contemporary understanding of the disease. Standard scale development methods were used to create items, and their psychometric properties were evaluated in a sample of 174 healthcare providers and caregivers of people with FTD. The resulting scale (Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale; FTDKS) contains 18 items and takes approximately five minutes to complete. The FTDKS displays good psychometric properties in terms of reliability (internal consistency and split-half reliability) and validity (content, predictive, concurrent, convergent, and divergent) in the current sample. The FTDKS can be used with healthcare providers and caregivers of people with FTD to assess their knowledge in clinical care and program evaluation. Further research is needed to examine the psychometric properties in more diverse samples and to evaluate its utility in educational initiatives

Alien Registration- Wynn, Matthew J. (Arrowsic, Sagadahoc County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/8504/thumbnail.jp

Polarized X-rays from Magnetized Neutron Stars

We review the polarization properties of X-ray emission from highly magnetized neutron stars, focusing on emission from the stellar surfaces. We discuss how x-ray polarization can be used to constrain neutron star magnetic field and emission geometry, and to probe strong-field quantum electrodynamics and possibly constrain the properties of axions.Comment: to appear in "X-ray Polarimetry: A New Window in Astrophysics", edited by R. Bellazzini, E. Costa, G. Matt and G. Tagliaferri (Cambridge University Press

Perceptions and digitalisation of outbreak management in UK health services: A cross-sectional survey

Background Global challenges arise from infectious diseases which represent significant challenges to the provision of healthcare, requiring efficient management procedures to limit transmission. Evaluating current outbreak management processes within UK healthcare services is essential for identifying strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements. Objectives This study aimed to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) practitioners' access to outbreak management (OM) data. Secondary objectives involved determining IPC practitioners’ perceptions of outbreak management processes and the state of digitalisation of OM in the UK. Methods National cross-sectional survey data were collected to evaluate current outbreak management approaches. To supplement this, information requests were sent to the 10 largest teaching and research NHS hospital trusts in England. Findings The survey received 55 responses with 53 considered for analysis. Out of 10 NHS trusts, nine provided completed FOI responses, while one was unable to provide data. Discussion The study offers unique insights into prevailing outbreak management practices within UK health services. Although positive perceptions surround key outbreak management stages, concerns arise, including varying confidence levels in surveillance processes' robustness, efficacy of management interventions, and communication effectiveness. Conclusions The study highlights challenges with OM processes in the UK, including issues like poor surveillance and delayed outbreak detection. Positive practitioner perceptions contrast with concerns over data collection, follow-up, and limited digitalisation, relying on basic tools like Excel and Word, hindering retrospective learning

Online spaces and the control of communicable diseases: implications for nursing practice.

The digital revolution has significantly altered healthcare, including communicable disease control, with online spaces emerging as vital tools in preventing, identifying and controlling the spread of diseases. However, healthcare professionals, including nurses, need to find a balance between harnessing the benefits of mass communication and mitigating the potentially harmful effects of online misinformation. This article explores the benefits and challenges of using online spaces such as social media platforms in the control of communicable diseases and discusses the potential use of telehealth in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance. The author also describes a framework that nurses can use to explore potential roles and practice in the context of communicable disease control in online spaces. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.

An Online Vignette Study to Examine the Outcomes of a Preclinical Alzheimer Disease Diagnosis

As Alzheimer disease research forges ahead, and new potential treatments are developed, a conceptualization is emerging of a presymptomatic disease stage. This stage, known as preclinical Alzheimer disease, is characterized by the buildup of amyloid beta and tau proteins in the brain to abnormal levels in a cognitively normal person. There are unknown potential risks and benefits of communicating biological marker risk information for Alzheimer disease using the preclinical Alzheimer disease diagnostic label. The current study uses a vignette methodology to measure older adults’ understanding of risk information when presented with information regarding their risk for developing Alzheimer dementia. Participants (n = 300) were randomized to receive biomarker results and risk information (with or without the preclinical disease label) pertaining either to heart disease or Alzheimer disease. Participants then reported on their individual perceptions, based on the Health Belief Model, and declared their behavioral intentions in response to this information. Results support the idea that the addition of a preclinical Alzheimer disease label does not influence perception of the disease or behavioral intentions. Results also highlight differences in individual perceptions of Alzheimer disease versus heart disease such that participants in the Alzheimer disease conditions perceived their risk information as implying a more severe condition, perceived fewer benefits to knowing their risk, and reported lower self-efficacy about doing anything to address that risk. Despite these perceptions, older adults who received risk information for Alzheimer disease maintained interest in undertaking behavioral changes that may improve their quality-of-life. These findings have implications for the development of empirically supported disclosure processes for preclinical Alzheimer disease