Portuguese validation of the Internet Addiction Test: An empirical study

Abstract Background and aims Research into Internet addiction (IA) has increased greatly over the last decade. Despite its various definitions and general lack of consensus regarding its conceptualisation amongst researchers, instruments for measuring this phenomenon have proliferated in a number of countries. There has been little research on IA in Portugal and this may be partly due to the absence of standardised measurement tools for assessing IA. Methods This study attempted to address this issue by adapting a Portuguese version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) via a translation-back translation process and Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a sample of 593 Portuguese students that completed a Portuguese version of the IAT along with questions related to socio-demographic variables. Results The findings suggested that the IAT appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring IA among Portuguese young adults as demonstrated by its satisfactory psychometric properties. However, the present findings also suggest the need to reword and update some of the IAT's items. Prevalence of IA found in the sample was 1.2% and is discussed alongside findings relating to socio-demographic correlates. Limitations and implications of the present study are also discussed. Conclusions The present study calls for a reflection of the IAT while also contributing to a better understanding of the basic aspects of IA in the Portuguese community since many health practitioners are starting to realise that Internet use may pose a risk for some individuals

Development prediction of sagittal itermaxillary relations in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate during puberty

The main objective was to find a predictive model for the development of the jaw in patients with the most frequent facial cleft malformation, i.e. complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLPc) by means of multivariate methods. This prediction is urgently needed from the clinical aspect. It will make it possible to provide early detection for patients at risk of adverse development. The study is based on a long-term X-ray cephalometric follow-up of 73 boys with UCLPc during puberty. Prediction was performed by methods of multiple regression and regression partitioning trees. The best equation predicts the intermaxillary relations at 15 years of age with high reliability (determination coefficient R2 = 0.822). The model was successfully verified statistically. In clinical practice, we suggest the use of a simple method of regression partitioning trees where the measurement of only 1 to 4 dimensions in a ten-year-old patient would suffice to achieve a reliable reading of the ANB angle at 15 years of age from a tree diagram

Analysis of facial skeleton shape in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate: geometric morphometry

The study is based on a longitudinal cephalometric follow-up of X-ray films of patients with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate during puberty. Carthesian x, y coordinates of the total of 22 landmarks on the lateral films of 25 patients with the same diagnosis and therapy were established, which served as outcome data for shape analysis. The changes in facial shape experienced by patients between their 10th and 15th year were evaluated by the thin-plate splines (TPS) method. We used the TPS method to find a function which transforms the shape of the face at the age of 10 as well as the square TPS grid into the facial shape at the age of 15 years with the deformed TPS grid. With the help of Geometric PCA for Bookstein's coordinates we found individuals with different shapes who develop abnormally during puberty and whose development is not well predictable. During puberty the face becomes relatively elongated. The most pronounced deformation is caused by the shift of the first permanent molar anteriorly, or a relative shortening of the frontal part of the dental arch. In the anterior direction the position of landmarks changed only in the area of nose; the alveolar process shows retrusion. The position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla change mainly in the inferior direction; the mandibular angle shifts posteriorly. The shape of skeletal profile was compared with a group of patients with the same diagnosis who underwent different therapy