Scree plot of the Arabic MAPP-QOL.

The first five points above the curve’s “elbow” have Eigen values above 1.The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an “elbow” shape, with the number of points above the “elbow” considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an “elbow” shape, with the number of points above the “elbow” considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an “elbow” shape, with the number of points above the “elbow” considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.</p

Participants’ baseline characteristics (N = 485).

BackgroundThe postpartum period is an important phase in a woman’s life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire.MethodsThis instrument validation cohort study tested an adapted Arabic version of the MAPP-QOL questionnaire on a convenience sample of 485 healthy Lebanese postpartum women. The MAPP-QOL reliability and validity were investigated by conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis using Principal Component Analysis, and by correlating the participants’ MAPP-QOL scores with their scores on the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A), age, and education. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how well the original factor structure of MAPP-QOL fits with our observed data using STATA 14. All other statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 23.ResultsThe Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MAPP-QOL was 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following five components: Functioning (11 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82), Socioeconomic (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81), Relational (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75), Psychological (4 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74), and Health (6 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.59). The overall Arabic MAPP-QOL score was positively but weakly correlated with the MBFES-A score (r = 0.177, p r = 0.108, p = 0.023), and Lifestyle/Body Image subscale score (r = 0.286, p p = 0.932). Similarly, the Arabic MAPP-QOL score was not correlated with the participant’s age (r = 0.043, p = 0.362) or education (p = 0.451). After modification of indices, Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the goodness of fit indices corresponding to the 5-factor model in the original questionnaire indicate a reasonable fit with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.847 and SRMR = 0.062.ConclusionsThe Arabic MAPP-QOL has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for clinicians and researchers interested in measuring maternal postpartum quality of life. Further replication of our findings in other Arab contexts is needed.</div

Flow diagram.

Participants’ flow through the study. The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an "elbow" shape, with the number of points above the "elbow" considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an "elbow" shape, with the number of points above the "elbow" considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.The plot shows the eigenvalues, usually displaying a curve with an "elbow" shape, with the number of points above the "elbow" considered as an estimate of the number of factors to retain.</p

Eigen values for the 5 components of the scale and the total variance.

Eigen values for the 5 components of the scale and the total variance.</p

Minimal dataset.

BackgroundThe postpartum period is an important phase in a woman’s life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire.MethodsThis instrument validation cohort study tested an adapted Arabic version of the MAPP-QOL questionnaire on a convenience sample of 485 healthy Lebanese postpartum women. The MAPP-QOL reliability and validity were investigated by conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis using Principal Component Analysis, and by correlating the participants’ MAPP-QOL scores with their scores on the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A), age, and education. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how well the original factor structure of MAPP-QOL fits with our observed data using STATA 14. All other statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 23.ResultsThe Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MAPP-QOL was 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following five components: Functioning (11 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82), Socioeconomic (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81), Relational (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75), Psychological (4 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74), and Health (6 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.59). The overall Arabic MAPP-QOL score was positively but weakly correlated with the MBFES-A score (r = 0.177, p r = 0.108, p = 0.023), and Lifestyle/Body Image subscale score (r = 0.286, p p = 0.932). Similarly, the Arabic MAPP-QOL score was not correlated with the participant’s age (r = 0.043, p = 0.362) or education (p = 0.451). After modification of indices, Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the goodness of fit indices corresponding to the 5-factor model in the original questionnaire indicate a reasonable fit with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.847 and SRMR = 0.062.ConclusionsThe Arabic MAPP-QOL has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for clinicians and researchers interested in measuring maternal postpartum quality of life. Further replication of our findings in other Arab contexts is needed.</div

The Arabic MAPP-QOL.

BackgroundThe postpartum period is an important phase in a woman’s life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire.MethodsThis instrument validation cohort study tested an adapted Arabic version of the MAPP-QOL questionnaire on a convenience sample of 485 healthy Lebanese postpartum women. The MAPP-QOL reliability and validity were investigated by conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis using Principal Component Analysis, and by correlating the participants’ MAPP-QOL scores with their scores on the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A), age, and education. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how well the original factor structure of MAPP-QOL fits with our observed data using STATA 14. All other statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 23.ResultsThe Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MAPP-QOL was 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following five components: Functioning (11 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82), Socioeconomic (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81), Relational (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75), Psychological (4 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74), and Health (6 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.59). The overall Arabic MAPP-QOL score was positively but weakly correlated with the MBFES-A score (r = 0.177, p r = 0.108, p = 0.023), and Lifestyle/Body Image subscale score (r = 0.286, p p = 0.932). Similarly, the Arabic MAPP-QOL score was not correlated with the participant’s age (r = 0.043, p = 0.362) or education (p = 0.451). After modification of indices, Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the goodness of fit indices corresponding to the 5-factor model in the original questionnaire indicate a reasonable fit with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.847 and SRMR = 0.062.ConclusionsThe Arabic MAPP-QOL has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for clinicians and researchers interested in measuring maternal postpartum quality of life. Further replication of our findings in other Arab contexts is needed.</div

Factor loadings for the 5-components and communalities of the Arabic MAPP-QOL with all 39 items.

Factor loadings for the 5-components and communalities of the Arabic MAPP-QOL with all 39 items.</p

Students’ Perceptions of Peer-Organized Extra-Curricular Research Course during Medical School: A Qualitative Study

<div><p>Early integration of research education into medical curricula is crucial for evidence-based practice. Yet, many medical students are graduating with no research experience due to the lack of such integration in their medical school programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a peer-organized, extra-curricular research methodology course on the attitudes of medical students towards research and future academic careers. Twenty one medical students who participated in a peer-organized research course were enrolled in three focus group discussions to explore their experiences, perceptions and attitudes towards research after the course. Discussions were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, and were transcribed and thematically analyzed for major and minor themes identification. Our findings indicate that students’ perceptions of research changed after the course from being difficult initially to becoming possible. Participants felt that their research skills and critical thinking were enhanced and that they would develop research proposals and abstracts successfully. Students praised the peer-assisted teaching approach as being successful in enhancing the learning environment and filling the curricular gap. In conclusion, peer-organized extra-curricular research courses may be a useful option to promote research interest and skills of medical students when gaps in research education in medical curricula exist.</p></div

Roles of student organizers and faculty in the research course.

<p>Roles of student organizers and faculty in the research course.</p

List of course topics.

<p>List of course topics.</p