The vestibular system connects the inner ear to the midbrain and subcortical structures and can affect cognition. Patients with vertigo often experience cognitive symptoms such as attention deficits, memory problems, ...The vestibular system connects the inner ear to the midbrain and subcortical structures and can affect cognition. Patients with vertigo often experience cognitive symptoms such as attention deficits, memory problems, and spatial perception difficulties. This study aimed to explore the cognitive impairments associated with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV) and Meniere's Disease(MD). A non-experimental group comparison design was used with 107 participants divided into three groups: Group I(clinically normal), Group II(BPPV), and Group III(MD). Participants completed a questionnaire with 10 cognition-related questions, and their responses were scored. The data were found to be non-normally distributed. The analysis revealed a significant difference in scores between Group I and both Group II and Group III. Chi-square tests showed that the responses to cognition-related questions varied among the groups, with Group II exhibiting more cognitive problems. Associated conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and hearing loss did not significantly influence the responses within each group. This study suggests a significant relationship between cognitive problems and patients with BPPV and MD. However, there was no association found between the cognitive problems experienced in BPPV and MD patients. These findings align with previous research indicating that vestibular disorders can lead to deficits in spatial memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. By understanding the link between cognition and vestibular disorders, we can improve diagnosis and rehabilitation services to enhance the quality of life for these patients.展开更多
AIM:To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a knowledge,attitude,and practice questionnaire related to vision screening(KAP-VST)among preschool teachers in Malaysia.METHODS:The questionnaire was develo...AIM:To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a knowledge,attitude,and practice questionnaire related to vision screening(KAP-VST)among preschool teachers in Malaysia.METHODS:The questionnaire was developed through a literature review and discussions with experts.Content and face validation were conducted by a panel of experts(n=10)and preschool teachers(n=10),respectively.A pilot study was conducted for construct validation(n=161)and test-retest reliability(n=60)of the newly developed questionnaire.RESULTS:Based on the content and face validation,71 items were generated,and 68 items were selected after exploratory factor analysis.The content validity index for items(I-CVI)score ranged from 0.8-1.0,and the content validity index for scale(S-CVI)/Ave was 0.99.Internal consistency was KR^(2)0=0.93 for knowledge,Cronbach’s alpha=0.758 for attitude,and Cronbach’s alpha=0.856 for practice.CONCLUSION:The KAP-VST is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing knowledge,attitude,and practice in relation to vision screening among preschool teachers in Malaysia.展开更多
Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorders worldwide.Insomnia in older adults is a social and public health problem.Insomnia affects the physical and mental health of elderly hospitalized patients and can aggra...Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorders worldwide.Insomnia in older adults is a social and public health problem.Insomnia affects the physical and mental health of elderly hospitalized patients and can aggravate or induce physical illnesses.Understanding subjective feelings and providing reasonable and standardized care for elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia are urgent issues.AIM To explore the differences in self-reported outcomes associated with insomnia among elderly hospitalized patients.METHODS One hundred patients admitted to the geriatric unit of our hospital between June 2021 and December 2021 were included in this study.Self-reported symptoms were assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7(GAD-7),Geriatric Depression Scale-15(GDS-15),Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness(MUNSH),Barthel Index Evaluation(BI),Morse Fall Scale(MFS),Mini-Mental State Examination,and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire(SF-36).Correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between sleep quality and self-reported symptoms.Effects of insomnia was analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.RESULTS Nineteen patients with AIS≥6 were included in the insomnia group,and the incidence of insomnia was 19%(19/100).The remaining 81 patients were assigned to the non-insomnia group.There were significant differences between the two groups in the GDA-7,GDS-15,MUNSH,BI,MFS,and SF-36 items(P<0.05).Patients in the insomnia group were more likely to experience anxiety,depression,and other mental illnesses,as well as difficulties with everyday tasks and a greater risk of falling(P<0.05).Subjective well-being and quality of life were poorer in the insomnia group than in the control group.The AIS scores positively correlated with the GAD-7,GDS-15,and MFS scores in elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that GDS-15≥5 was an independent risk factor for insomnia in elderly hospitalized patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The number of self-reported symptoms was higher among elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia.Therefore,we should focus on the main complaints of patients to meet their care needs.展开更多
AIM:To compare and analyse the diagnostic efficacy of the College of Optometrists Vision Development Quality of Life Questionnaire(COVD-QOL)and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey(CISS)in detecting convergenc...AIM:To compare and analyse the diagnostic efficacy of the College of Optometrists Vision Development Quality of Life Questionnaire(COVD-QOL)and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey(CISS)in detecting convergence insufficiency and to compare their diagnostic value in clinical applications.METHODS:Using the diagnostic test method,62 adult patients with convergence insufficiency(age:24.74±3.75y)and 62 normal participants(age:23.61±3.13y)who visited the Optometry Clinic of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2021 to January 2023 were included.All subjects completed the CISS and COVD-QOL.Statistical analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the CISS and COVD-QOL and comparison and joint experimental analysis of their diagnostic efficacy were performed.RESULTS:The sensitivity of the CISS and COVD-QOL for convergence insufficiency was 64.5%and 71.0%,respectively,while the specificity was 96.8%and 67.7%,respectively.Compared to the CISS alone,the combination of the CISS and COVD-QOL demonstrated lower sensitivity and specificity.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CISS,COVD-QOL and CISS combined with COVD-QOL were 0.806,0.694 and 0.782,respectively.CONCLUSION:Considering the low sensitivity of the CISS and the low specificity of the COVD-QOL,it is recommended to supplement these questionnaires with other screening tests for the detection of convergence insufficiency.展开更多
BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation leads to continuous improvement in the survival rates of kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and has been established as the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney disea...BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation leads to continuous improvement in the survival rates of kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and has been established as the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney disease.Health-related quality of life(HRQoL)has become an important outcome measure.It is highly important to develop reliable methods to evaluate HRQoL with disease-specific questionnaires.AIM To translate the disease-specific instrument Kidney Transplant Questionnaire 25(KTQ-25)to the Greek language and perform a cross-cultural adaptation.METHODS The translation and adaptation of the original English version of the KTQ-25 to the Greek language were performed based on the International Quality of Life RESULTS Eighty-four KTRs(59 males;mean age 53.5±10.7 years;mean estimated glomerular filtration rate 47.7±15.1 mL/min/1.73 m2;mean transplant vintage 100.5±83.2 months)completed the Greek version of the KTQ-25 and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey,and the results were used to evaluate the reliability of the Greek KTQ-25.The Cronbach alpha coefficients for all the KTQ-25 dimensions were satisfactory(physical symptoms=0.639,fatigue=0.856,uncertainty/fear=0.661,appearance=0.593,emotions=0.718,total score=0.708).The statistically significant correlation coefficients among the KTQ-25 dimensions ranged from 0.226 to 0.644.The correlation coeffi-cients of the KTQ-25 dimensions with the SF-36 physical component summary(PCS)ranged from 0.196 to 0.550;the correlation coefficients of the KTQ-25 with the SF-36 mental component summary(MCS)ranged from 0.260 to 0.655;and the correlation coefficients of the KTQ-25 with the total scores with the SF-36 PCS and MCS were 0.455 and 0.613,respectively.CONCLUSION According to the findings,the Greek version of the KTQ-25 is valid and reliable for administration among kidney transplant patients in Greece.展开更多
The use of voice to perform biometric authentication is an importanttechnological development,because it is a non-invasive identification methodand does not require special hardware,so it is less likely to arouse user...The use of voice to perform biometric authentication is an importanttechnological development,because it is a non-invasive identification methodand does not require special hardware,so it is less likely to arouse user disgust.This study tries to apply the voice recognition technology to the speech-driveninteractive voice response questionnaire system aiming to upgrade the traditionalspeech system to an intelligent voice response questionnaire network so that thenew device may offer enterprises more precise data for customer relationshipmanagement(CRM).The intelligence-type voice response gadget is becominga new mobile channel at the current time,with functions of the questionnaireto be built in for the convenience of collecting information on local preferencesthat can be used for localized promotion and publicity.Authors of this study propose a framework using voice recognition and intelligent analysis models to identify target customers through voice messages gathered in the voice response questionnaire system;that is,transforming the traditional speech system to anintelligent voice complex.The speaker recognition system discussed hereemploys volume as the acoustic feature in endpoint detection as the computationload is usually low in this method.To correct two types of errors found in the endpoint detection practice because of ambient noise,this study suggests ways toimprove the situation.First,to reach high accuracy,this study follows a dynamictime warping(DTW)based method to gain speaker identification.Second,it isdevoted to avoiding any errors in endpoint detection by filtering noise from voicesignals before getting recognition and deleting any test utterances that might negatively affect the results of recognition.It is hoped that by so doing the recognitionrate is improved.According to the experimental results,the method proposed inthis research has a high recognition rate,whether it is on personal-level or industrial-level computers,and can reach the practical application standard.Therefore,the voice management system in this research can be regarded as Virtual customerservice staff to use.展开更多
Despite the well-established benefits of regular physical activity(PA)on health,a large proportion of the world population does not achieve the recommended level of regular PA.Although affective experiences toward PA ...Despite the well-established benefits of regular physical activity(PA)on health,a large proportion of the world population does not achieve the recommended level of regular PA.Although affective experiences toward PA may play a key role to foster a sustained engagement in PA,they have been largely overlooked and crudely measured in the existing studies.To address this shortcoming,the Affective Exercise Experiences(AFFEXX)questionnaire has been developed to measure such experiences.Specifically,this questionnaire was developped to assess the following three domains:antecedent appraisals(e.g.,liking vs.disliking exercise in groups),core affective exercise experiences(i.e.,pleasure vs.displeasure,energy vs.tiredness,and calmness vs.tension),and exercise motivation(i.e.,attraction vs.antipathy toward exercise).The current study aimed to validate a Chinese version of the AFFEXX questionnaire(AFFEXX-C).In study 1,722 Chinese college students provided data for analyses of factorial,convergent,discriminant,criterion validity,and test-retest reliability of the AFFEXX-C.In addition,1,300 college students were recruited in study 2 to further validate its structural model.Results showed that the AFFEXX-C demonstrates a goodfit and reliability.Additionally,results further supported the hypothesized model based on previous research:antecedent appraisals predicted core affective exercise experiences,which in turn predicted attraction-antipathy toward physical exercise.The AFFEXX-C was found to be a reliable and valid measure of affective exercise experiences in a population of Chinese college students.展开更多
AIM:To develop the 17-item Asthenopia Survey Questionnaire(ASQ)-17 by Rasch analysis,and to generate a predictiveness score.METHODS:Totally 739 participants were recruited and 680 were involved in the result analysis ...AIM:To develop the 17-item Asthenopia Survey Questionnaire(ASQ)-17 by Rasch analysis,and to generate a predictiveness score.METHODS:Totally 739 participants were recruited and 680 were involved in the result analysis in this prospective,cross-sectional study.Three rounds of Rasch analysis were used to analyze the psychometric characteristics of items and options.RESULTS:Phase 1 assessed the original ASQ-19,adjusted the item scoring mode to a four-point Likert response rating scale and combined the 18th and 19th items into a new item.Phase 2 deleted the 11th item.Phases 3 and 4 assessed the new ASQ-17.All the evaluation indexes of ASQ-17 were acceptable.The Infit and Outfit MnSq values of items were 0.67-1.48,the variance explained by the principal component and the unexplained variance explained by the first contrast were 53.90%-59.40%and 1.50-1.80 in three dimensions.The curve peaks of scores in each dimension were separated and in the same order.The PSR and PSI values were 2.80 and 0.89,respectively.The mean scores of dimensions A(9.5±4.1 vs 3.5±3.2),B(7.3±3.3 vs 2.5±2.7),C(4.3±2.2 vs 1.4±2.0)and total(21.1±8.1 vs 7.4±7.0)in asthenopia participants were significantly higher than those without asthenopia(all P<0.001).The area under the curve in two groups was 0.899(P<0.001).Youden’s index was up to the maximum value of 0.784 when the cut-off value was 12.5.CONCLUSION:ASQ-17 has stronger option sorting and suitability than ASQ-19.It is an effective assessment tool for asthenopia with an optimal cut-off threshold value of 12.5,which is suitable for diagnosis and curative effect evaluation.展开更多
Background:Subjective measures of auditory development are equally important as objective measures to obtain a realistic image of the hearing status in infants and toddlers.Objectives:The objectives of the current stu...Background:Subjective measures of auditory development are equally important as objective measures to obtain a realistic image of the hearing status in infants and toddlers.Objectives:The objectives of the current study were to translate and validate the LittleEARS questionnaire into the Hindi language,to calculate its psychometric properties and establish a regression curve of the scores obtained as a function of age,to calculate the inter-test and test retest reliability of the same.The secondary objectives were to compare the scores obtained by the normal hearing children and those with hearing impairment and to plot a regression curve of total scores obtained by the hearing-impaired children as a function of the duration of auditory training attended since their first fit of the device.Materials and methods:The procedures involved conventional translation,reverse translation,and content validation before administering the questionnaire.The translated version was administered to parents of 59 children with normal hearing and 41 children with hearing impairment.Results:The finalized version had good reliability and efficient internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.96.The mean scores obtained by the normal hearing children showed a progressive pattern as a function of age.Conclusion:The LittleEARS questionnaire has been successfully translated and validated into the Hindi language with excellent validity and reliability and can be used for screening and early identification of hearing impairment and in evaluating the outcome of audiological treatment approaches.展开更多
How to comprehensively,scientifically,objectively and impartially evaluate the multiple learning achievements of the PBL model should be highlighted when PBL is introduced and applied.A questionnaire of a total of 23 ...How to comprehensively,scientifically,objectively and impartially evaluate the multiple learning achievements of the PBL model should be highlighted when PBL is introduced and applied.A questionnaire of a total of 23 items involving such dimensions of language proficiency,subject contents and 21 st Century skills was designed.Its reliability and validity were tested and well-met with the statistical requirements.展开更多
AIM:To develop and test an Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25(NEI-VFQ-25).METHODS:NEI-VFQ-25 was translated into Arabic according to WHO translation guidelines. We enrolled a...AIM:To develop and test an Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25(NEI-VFQ-25).METHODS:NEI-VFQ-25 was translated into Arabic according to WHO translation guidelines. We enrolled adult consenting patients with bilateral chronic eye diseases who presented to 14 hospitals across Egypt from October to December 2012, and documented their clinical findings. Psychometric properties were then tested using STATA.RESULTS:We recruited 379 patients, whose mean age was(54.5±15)y. Of 46.2% were males, 227 had cataract,31 had glaucoma, 23 had retinal detachment, 37 had diabetic retinopathy, and 61 had miscellaneous visual defects. Non-response rate and the floor and ceiling numbers of the Arabic version(ARB-VFQ-25) were calculated. Internal consistency was high in all subscales(except general health), with Cronbach-α ranging from0.702-0.911. Test-retest reliability was high(intraclass correlation coefficient 0.79).CONCLUSION:RB-VFQ-25 isareliableandvalidtool for assessing visual functions of Arabic speaking patients. However, some questions had high non-response rates and should be substituted by available alternatives. Our results support the importance of including self-reported visual functions as part of routine ophthalmologic examination.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: Even in secular societies, a small portion of patients find their spirituality to help cope with illness. But for the majority of patients, psychosocial and spiritual needs are neither addressed nor even c...OBJECTIVE: Even in secular societies, a small portion of patients find their spirituality to help cope with illness. But for the majority of patients, psychosocial and spiritual needs are neither addressed nor even considered a relevant factor by health care professionals. To measure such specific needs, the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) was developed. The aim of this study was to validate the Chinese version of the SpNQ (SpNQ-Ch) and thus to measure psychosocial and spiritual needs of Chinese patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 168 patients with chronic diseases who were recruited in the Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China using standardized questionnaires. We performed reliability and factor analyses, as well as analyses of variance, first order correlations and regression analyses. RESULTS: The 17-item SpNQ-Ch had a similar factorial structure as the original version with two main and three minor factors which accounted for 64% of variance, and internal consistency estimates (Cronbach's a) ranging from 0.51 to 0.81. Included were the 4-item scale Inner Peace Needs, the 5-item scale Giving/Generativity (with 2 sub-constructs, Praying and Sources), and a Needs, the 5-item scale Religious Needs 3-item scale Reflection/Release Needs. In Chinese patients with cancer (63%), pain affections (10%), or other chronic conditions (23%), the needs for Giving/Generativity (which refer to categories of Connectedness and Meaning) and Inner Peace Needs scored highest, while Religious Needs and the Reflection/Release Needs scored lower. CONCLUSION: The SpNQ-Ch is congruent with its primary version, and can be used in future studies with the mostly nonreligious patients from China. First findings indicate specific psychosocial and spiritual needs which should be addressed by health care professionals to support patients in their struggle with chronic illness in terms of psycho-emotional stabilization, finding hope and meaning, and thus achieving peaceful states of mind despite chronic illness.展开更多
Objective The primary objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) among Chinese children aged 12-17 years. Methods A semi-quantitative 7...Objective The primary objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) among Chinese children aged 12-17 years. Methods A semi-quantitative 72-food item FFQ was developed for children aged 12-17 years. The reliability and validity of this FFQ were evaluated against 24-h dietary recalls(24 h DRs) to measure the consumption of foods and nutrients. We administered two FFQs and three DRs to children(N = 160) over a period of 1 month to evaluate the reliability and validity. Reliability was examined by quartile agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs), and validity was examined by quartile agreement, Bland-Altman plots and correlation with DRs. Results For reliability, the ICCs between the two FFQs ranged from 0.21 to 0.76 for foods and nutrients, and the quartile agreement ranged from 70.0% to 95.0% in the same or adjacent quartiles. Spearman’s correlation coefficients of foods and nutrients between the second FFQ and the 24 h DRs ranged from-0.04 to 0.59. The Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement across the range of intakes among nutrients. The quartile agreement ranged from 50.0% to 100.0%, with infrequent misclassification. Conclusion The FFQ assessment of dietary intakes demonstrated acceptable relative validity and high reproducibility for Chinese children aged 12-17 years.展开更多
Objective This study is aimed to report the development,the reliability and validity of the Chinese Children Physical Activity Questionnaire(CCPAQ)which was designed for the assessment of physical activity pattern in ...Objective This study is aimed to report the development,the reliability and validity of the Chinese Children Physical Activity Questionnaire(CCPAQ)which was designed for the assessment of physical activity pattern in young population in China.Methods The CCPAQ was administered for two times in 119 children(mean age 13.1±2.4 years;boys 47%)to examine reliability by using intraclass correlation coefficients.Validity was determined in 106 participants by agreement with the CCPAQ measures and the objective method,the ActiGraph accelerometer.Data on physical activity patter n including time spe nt on d iff ere nt intensi ties and total physical activity,sedentary behavior as well as physical activity energy expenditure were used to assess the validity with Spearman's correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plots.Results The reliability coefficient of the CCPAQ ranged from 0.63-0.93(Intra-class correlation coefficient).Spearman's correlation coefficient for validity of time spent on total physical activity and sedentary behavior were all 0.32(P<0.001),and for physical activity energy expenditure was 0.58(P<0.001).Time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and light physical activity showed a relatively low correlation with the accelerometer(rho=0.20,P=0.040;rho=0.19,P=0.054).Conclusion The CCPAQ appears to be a promising and feasible method to assess physical activity pattern in Chinese children.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate psychometrics of the Chinese (mainland) chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 460 Chinese patients with CHB was se...AIM: To evaluate psychometrics of the Chinese (mainland) chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 460 Chinese patients with CHB was selected from the Outpatient Department of the Eighth Hospital of Xi'an, including CHB (CHB without cirrhosis) (n = 323) and CHB-related cirrhosis (n = 137). The psychometrics includes reliability, validity and sensitivity. Internal consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach's α. Convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated by item-scale correlation. Factorial validity was explored by principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Sensitivity was assessed using Cohen's effect size (ES), and independent sample t test between CHB and CHB-related cirrhosis groups and between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normal and abnormal groups after stratifying the disease (CHB and CHB-related cirrhosis).RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability of the CLDQ was 0.83 (range: 0.65-0.90). Most of the hypothesized item-scale correlations were 0.40 or over, and all of such hypothesized correlations were higher than the alternative ones, indicating satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Six factors were extracted after varimax rotation from the 29 items of CLDQ. The eligible Cohen's ES with statistically significant independent sample t test was found in the overall CLDQ and abdominal, systematic, activity scales (CHB vs CHBrelated cirrhosis), and in the overall CLDQ and abdominal scale in the stratification of patients with CHB (ALT normal vs abnormal). CONCLUSION: The CLDQ has acceptable reliability, validity and sensitivity in Chinese (mainland) patients with CHB.展开更多
Background: It is crucial for the army to know the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) syndrome in activeduty army personnel. Little information has been reported on the prevalence of OSA and clinical features ...Background: It is crucial for the army to know the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) syndrome in activeduty army personnel. Little information has been reported on the prevalence of OSA and clinical features in activeduty army personnel. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of snoring and risk of developing OSA in activeduty army personnel in Thailand and to identify the co-morbidities of OSA. In total, 1107 participants who were aged20–60 years and were deployed to the three southernmost provinces of Thailand were enrolled. All the participants completed the Phramongkutklao(PMK) Hospital OSA Questionnaire that was modified and validated from the Berlin Questionnaire and underwent physical examination. The participants were 1107 active-duty army personnel in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand, both males and females, aged 20–60 years.Methods: The PMK OSA Questionnaire was used to assess the risk of OSA together with interviewing for snoring,fatigue, falling asleep and day-time sleepiness. Physical examination of the neck, chest and hip circumference,and height was performed. Information concerning physical training, co-morbid diseases, smoking and alcoholic consumption was collected.Results: The prevalence of snoring was 58.5, and 4.8% met the PMK OSA Questionnaire criteria, thus indicating a high risk of OSA. The information obtained indicated that laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR), current smoking and alcoholic consumption were significantly higher in the high-risk OSA group.Conclusions: Early detection and treatment of OSA in active-duty army personnel are imperative. Physical examination and polysomnography can be used to reveal the high-risk group. High body mess index(BMI), laryngopharyngeal reflux, current smoking and alcoholic consumption are modifiable factors for OSA and are avoidable. A policy to decrease the BMI and risk of LPR, as well as to stop smoking and alcoholic consumption, should be applied.展开更多
AIM:To translate into Greek and validate the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).METHODS:Two hundred and six consecutive adult patients with the diagnosis of a chronic liver disease from 2 general hospitals in ...AIM:To translate into Greek and validate the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).METHODS:Two hundred and six consecutive adult patients with the diagnosis of a chronic liver disease from 2 general hospitals in Athens were enrolled in the study from May to September 2008.In order to assess their quality of life (QOL) the CLDQ was applied.The instrument was translated from English,back translated and reviewed in focus groups within the framework of a large multicenter study.The measurements that were performed included:2 independent sample t tests,oneway analysis of variance,reliability coefficients,explanatory factor analysis using a varimax rotation and the principal components method.RESULTS:One hundred and twenty five (61%) patients were men,half were aged 40-59 years and > 33% were > 60 years old.Among the patients,48 (23%) were hospitalized and 97 (47%) were cirrhotic according to the Child-Pugh score.The internal consistency of the Greek CLDQ version using Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.93.Exploratory factor analysis identified 7 domains accounting for 65% of the variance of CLDQ items and only partially overlapping with those found in the original version.The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was calculated at 0.813 and the logistic estimate for the threshold score of 167.50 provided a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 71.6% for the model.CONCLUSION:Our data confirmed the validity of the Greek version of the CLDQ in identifying the QOL among patients with chronic liver disease.展开更多
AIM To verify the current status of super-extended lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer according to a questionnaire survey.METHODS One-hundred and five institutions responded to the questionnaire.The sur...AIM To verify the current status of super-extended lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer according to a questionnaire survey.METHODS One-hundred and five institutions responded to the questionnaire.The survey included the following items: Number of experiences,whether performed prophylactically and/or therapeutically,whether preoperative chemotherapy was provided,number of preoperative chemotherapy rounds,and therapeutic options after chemotherapy.RESULTS Eighty-seven of the 105 institutions(83%) had performed D3 gastrectomy in the past or continued to perform D3 gastrectomy at present.However,D3 gastrectomy was rarely performed prophylactically in clinical practice.Seventy-eight institutions(74%) indicated that preoperative chemotherapy with curative intent was required for patients suspected of having para-aortic node(PAN) metastases.After chemotherapy,a D3 gastrectomy was scheduled for patients with a complete or partial response,stable disease,and progressive disease at 36(46%),28(36%),and 13(17%) of the institutions,respectively.CONCLUSION For patients with apparent PAN metastasis,a D3 gastrectomy is typically planned if a few courses of preoperative chemotherapy yield at least a stable disease condition.展开更多
文摘The vestibular system connects the inner ear to the midbrain and subcortical structures and can affect cognition. Patients with vertigo often experience cognitive symptoms such as attention deficits, memory problems, and spatial perception difficulties. This study aimed to explore the cognitive impairments associated with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV) and Meniere's Disease(MD). A non-experimental group comparison design was used with 107 participants divided into three groups: Group I(clinically normal), Group II(BPPV), and Group III(MD). Participants completed a questionnaire with 10 cognition-related questions, and their responses were scored. The data were found to be non-normally distributed. The analysis revealed a significant difference in scores between Group I and both Group II and Group III. Chi-square tests showed that the responses to cognition-related questions varied among the groups, with Group II exhibiting more cognitive problems. Associated conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and hearing loss did not significantly influence the responses within each group. This study suggests a significant relationship between cognitive problems and patients with BPPV and MD. However, there was no association found between the cognitive problems experienced in BPPV and MD patients. These findings align with previous research indicating that vestibular disorders can lead to deficits in spatial memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. By understanding the link between cognition and vestibular disorders, we can improve diagnosis and rehabilitation services to enhance the quality of life for these patients.
文摘AIM:To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a knowledge,attitude,and practice questionnaire related to vision screening(KAP-VST)among preschool teachers in Malaysia.METHODS:The questionnaire was developed through a literature review and discussions with experts.Content and face validation were conducted by a panel of experts(n=10)and preschool teachers(n=10),respectively.A pilot study was conducted for construct validation(n=161)and test-retest reliability(n=60)of the newly developed questionnaire.RESULTS:Based on the content and face validation,71 items were generated,and 68 items were selected after exploratory factor analysis.The content validity index for items(I-CVI)score ranged from 0.8-1.0,and the content validity index for scale(S-CVI)/Ave was 0.99.Internal consistency was KR^(2)0=0.93 for knowledge,Cronbach’s alpha=0.758 for attitude,and Cronbach’s alpha=0.856 for practice.CONCLUSION:The KAP-VST is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing knowledge,attitude,and practice in relation to vision screening among preschool teachers in Malaysia.
文摘Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorders worldwide.Insomnia in older adults is a social and public health problem.Insomnia affects the physical and mental health of elderly hospitalized patients and can aggravate or induce physical illnesses.Understanding subjective feelings and providing reasonable and standardized care for elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia are urgent issues.AIM To explore the differences in self-reported outcomes associated with insomnia among elderly hospitalized patients.METHODS One hundred patients admitted to the geriatric unit of our hospital between June 2021 and December 2021 were included in this study.Self-reported symptoms were assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7(GAD-7),Geriatric Depression Scale-15(GDS-15),Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness(MUNSH),Barthel Index Evaluation(BI),Morse Fall Scale(MFS),Mini-Mental State Examination,and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire(SF-36).Correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between sleep quality and self-reported symptoms.Effects of insomnia was analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.RESULTS Nineteen patients with AIS≥6 were included in the insomnia group,and the incidence of insomnia was 19%(19/100).The remaining 81 patients were assigned to the non-insomnia group.There were significant differences between the two groups in the GDA-7,GDS-15,MUNSH,BI,MFS,and SF-36 items(P<0.05).Patients in the insomnia group were more likely to experience anxiety,depression,and other mental illnesses,as well as difficulties with everyday tasks and a greater risk of falling(P<0.05).Subjective well-being and quality of life were poorer in the insomnia group than in the control group.The AIS scores positively correlated with the GAD-7,GDS-15,and MFS scores in elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that GDS-15≥5 was an independent risk factor for insomnia in elderly hospitalized patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The number of self-reported symptoms was higher among elderly hospitalized patients with insomnia.Therefore,we should focus on the main complaints of patients to meet their care needs.
文摘AIM:To compare and analyse the diagnostic efficacy of the College of Optometrists Vision Development Quality of Life Questionnaire(COVD-QOL)and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey(CISS)in detecting convergence insufficiency and to compare their diagnostic value in clinical applications.METHODS:Using the diagnostic test method,62 adult patients with convergence insufficiency(age:24.74±3.75y)and 62 normal participants(age:23.61±3.13y)who visited the Optometry Clinic of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2021 to January 2023 were included.All subjects completed the CISS and COVD-QOL.Statistical analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the CISS and COVD-QOL and comparison and joint experimental analysis of their diagnostic efficacy were performed.RESULTS:The sensitivity of the CISS and COVD-QOL for convergence insufficiency was 64.5%and 71.0%,respectively,while the specificity was 96.8%and 67.7%,respectively.Compared to the CISS alone,the combination of the CISS and COVD-QOL demonstrated lower sensitivity and specificity.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CISS,COVD-QOL and CISS combined with COVD-QOL were 0.806,0.694 and 0.782,respectively.CONCLUSION:Considering the low sensitivity of the CISS and the low specificity of the COVD-QOL,it is recommended to supplement these questionnaires with other screening tests for the detection of convergence insufficiency.
文摘BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation leads to continuous improvement in the survival rates of kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and has been established as the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage kidney disease.Health-related quality of life(HRQoL)has become an important outcome measure.It is highly important to develop reliable methods to evaluate HRQoL with disease-specific questionnaires.AIM To translate the disease-specific instrument Kidney Transplant Questionnaire 25(KTQ-25)to the Greek language and perform a cross-cultural adaptation.METHODS The translation and adaptation of the original English version of the KTQ-25 to the Greek language were performed based on the International Quality of Life RESULTS Eighty-four KTRs(59 males;mean age 53.5±10.7 years;mean estimated glomerular filtration rate 47.7±15.1 mL/min/1.73 m2;mean transplant vintage 100.5±83.2 months)completed the Greek version of the KTQ-25 and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey,and the results were used to evaluate the reliability of the Greek KTQ-25.The Cronbach alpha coefficients for all the KTQ-25 dimensions were satisfactory(physical symptoms=0.639,fatigue=0.856,uncertainty/fear=0.661,appearance=0.593,emotions=0.718,total score=0.708).The statistically significant correlation coefficients among the KTQ-25 dimensions ranged from 0.226 to 0.644.The correlation coeffi-cients of the KTQ-25 dimensions with the SF-36 physical component summary(PCS)ranged from 0.196 to 0.550;the correlation coefficients of the KTQ-25 with the SF-36 mental component summary(MCS)ranged from 0.260 to 0.655;and the correlation coefficients of the KTQ-25 with the total scores with the SF-36 PCS and MCS were 0.455 and 0.613,respectively.CONCLUSION According to the findings,the Greek version of the KTQ-25 is valid and reliable for administration among kidney transplant patients in Greece.
文摘The use of voice to perform biometric authentication is an importanttechnological development,because it is a non-invasive identification methodand does not require special hardware,so it is less likely to arouse user disgust.This study tries to apply the voice recognition technology to the speech-driveninteractive voice response questionnaire system aiming to upgrade the traditionalspeech system to an intelligent voice response questionnaire network so that thenew device may offer enterprises more precise data for customer relationshipmanagement(CRM).The intelligence-type voice response gadget is becominga new mobile channel at the current time,with functions of the questionnaireto be built in for the convenience of collecting information on local preferencesthat can be used for localized promotion and publicity.Authors of this study propose a framework using voice recognition and intelligent analysis models to identify target customers through voice messages gathered in the voice response questionnaire system;that is,transforming the traditional speech system to anintelligent voice complex.The speaker recognition system discussed hereemploys volume as the acoustic feature in endpoint detection as the computationload is usually low in this method.To correct two types of errors found in the endpoint detection practice because of ambient noise,this study suggests ways toimprove the situation.First,to reach high accuracy,this study follows a dynamictime warping(DTW)based method to gain speaker identification.Second,it isdevoted to avoiding any errors in endpoint detection by filtering noise from voicesignals before getting recognition and deleting any test utterances that might negatively affect the results of recognition.It is hoped that by so doing the recognitionrate is improved.According to the experimental results,the method proposed inthis research has a high recognition rate,whether it is on personal-level or industrial-level computers,and can reach the practical application standard.Therefore,the voice management system in this research can be regarded as Virtual customerservice staff to use.
基金supported by the Start-Up Research Grant of Shenzhen University[20200807163056003]the Start-Up Research Grant[Peacock Plan:20191105534C].
文摘Despite the well-established benefits of regular physical activity(PA)on health,a large proportion of the world population does not achieve the recommended level of regular PA.Although affective experiences toward PA may play a key role to foster a sustained engagement in PA,they have been largely overlooked and crudely measured in the existing studies.To address this shortcoming,the Affective Exercise Experiences(AFFEXX)questionnaire has been developed to measure such experiences.Specifically,this questionnaire was developped to assess the following three domains:antecedent appraisals(e.g.,liking vs.disliking exercise in groups),core affective exercise experiences(i.e.,pleasure vs.displeasure,energy vs.tiredness,and calmness vs.tension),and exercise motivation(i.e.,attraction vs.antipathy toward exercise).The current study aimed to validate a Chinese version of the AFFEXX questionnaire(AFFEXX-C).In study 1,722 Chinese college students provided data for analyses of factorial,convergent,discriminant,criterion validity,and test-retest reliability of the AFFEXX-C.In addition,1,300 college students were recruited in study 2 to further validate its structural model.Results showed that the AFFEXX-C demonstrates a goodfit and reliability.Additionally,results further supported the hypothesized model based on previous research:antecedent appraisals predicted core affective exercise experiences,which in turn predicted attraction-antipathy toward physical exercise.The AFFEXX-C was found to be a reliable and valid measure of affective exercise experiences in a population of Chinese college students.
基金Supported by Wenzhou Science and Technology Bureau Project(No.Y2020036)the National Science Foundation of China(No.82000861)National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFC2008200).
文摘AIM:To develop the 17-item Asthenopia Survey Questionnaire(ASQ)-17 by Rasch analysis,and to generate a predictiveness score.METHODS:Totally 739 participants were recruited and 680 were involved in the result analysis in this prospective,cross-sectional study.Three rounds of Rasch analysis were used to analyze the psychometric characteristics of items and options.RESULTS:Phase 1 assessed the original ASQ-19,adjusted the item scoring mode to a four-point Likert response rating scale and combined the 18th and 19th items into a new item.Phase 2 deleted the 11th item.Phases 3 and 4 assessed the new ASQ-17.All the evaluation indexes of ASQ-17 were acceptable.The Infit and Outfit MnSq values of items were 0.67-1.48,the variance explained by the principal component and the unexplained variance explained by the first contrast were 53.90%-59.40%and 1.50-1.80 in three dimensions.The curve peaks of scores in each dimension were separated and in the same order.The PSR and PSI values were 2.80 and 0.89,respectively.The mean scores of dimensions A(9.5±4.1 vs 3.5±3.2),B(7.3±3.3 vs 2.5±2.7),C(4.3±2.2 vs 1.4±2.0)and total(21.1±8.1 vs 7.4±7.0)in asthenopia participants were significantly higher than those without asthenopia(all P<0.001).The area under the curve in two groups was 0.899(P<0.001).Youden’s index was up to the maximum value of 0.784 when the cut-off value was 12.5.CONCLUSION:ASQ-17 has stronger option sorting and suitability than ASQ-19.It is an effective assessment tool for asthenopia with an optimal cut-off threshold value of 12.5,which is suitable for diagnosis and curative effect evaluation.
文摘Background:Subjective measures of auditory development are equally important as objective measures to obtain a realistic image of the hearing status in infants and toddlers.Objectives:The objectives of the current study were to translate and validate the LittleEARS questionnaire into the Hindi language,to calculate its psychometric properties and establish a regression curve of the scores obtained as a function of age,to calculate the inter-test and test retest reliability of the same.The secondary objectives were to compare the scores obtained by the normal hearing children and those with hearing impairment and to plot a regression curve of total scores obtained by the hearing-impaired children as a function of the duration of auditory training attended since their first fit of the device.Materials and methods:The procedures involved conventional translation,reverse translation,and content validation before administering the questionnaire.The translated version was administered to parents of 59 children with normal hearing and 41 children with hearing impairment.Results:The finalized version had good reliability and efficient internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.96.The mean scores obtained by the normal hearing children showed a progressive pattern as a function of age.Conclusion:The LittleEARS questionnaire has been successfully translated and validated into the Hindi language with excellent validity and reliability and can be used for screening and early identification of hearing impairment and in evaluating the outcome of audiological treatment approaches.
文摘How to comprehensively,scientifically,objectively and impartially evaluate the multiple learning achievements of the PBL model should be highlighted when PBL is introduced and applied.A questionnaire of a total of 23 items involving such dimensions of language proficiency,subject contents and 21 st Century skills was designed.Its reliability and validity were tested and well-met with the statistical requirements.
文摘AIM:To develop and test an Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25(NEI-VFQ-25).METHODS:NEI-VFQ-25 was translated into Arabic according to WHO translation guidelines. We enrolled adult consenting patients with bilateral chronic eye diseases who presented to 14 hospitals across Egypt from October to December 2012, and documented their clinical findings. Psychometric properties were then tested using STATA.RESULTS:We recruited 379 patients, whose mean age was(54.5±15)y. Of 46.2% were males, 227 had cataract,31 had glaucoma, 23 had retinal detachment, 37 had diabetic retinopathy, and 61 had miscellaneous visual defects. Non-response rate and the floor and ceiling numbers of the Arabic version(ARB-VFQ-25) were calculated. Internal consistency was high in all subscales(except general health), with Cronbach-α ranging from0.702-0.911. Test-retest reliability was high(intraclass correlation coefficient 0.79).CONCLUSION:RB-VFQ-25 isareliableandvalidtool for assessing visual functions of Arabic speaking patients. However, some questions had high non-response rates and should be substituted by available alternatives. Our results support the importance of including self-reported visual functions as part of routine ophthalmologic examination.
文摘OBJECTIVE: Even in secular societies, a small portion of patients find their spirituality to help cope with illness. But for the majority of patients, psychosocial and spiritual needs are neither addressed nor even considered a relevant factor by health care professionals. To measure such specific needs, the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ) was developed. The aim of this study was to validate the Chinese version of the SpNQ (SpNQ-Ch) and thus to measure psychosocial and spiritual needs of Chinese patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 168 patients with chronic diseases who were recruited in the Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China using standardized questionnaires. We performed reliability and factor analyses, as well as analyses of variance, first order correlations and regression analyses. RESULTS: The 17-item SpNQ-Ch had a similar factorial structure as the original version with two main and three minor factors which accounted for 64% of variance, and internal consistency estimates (Cronbach's a) ranging from 0.51 to 0.81. Included were the 4-item scale Inner Peace Needs, the 5-item scale Giving/Generativity (with 2 sub-constructs, Praying and Sources), and a Needs, the 5-item scale Religious Needs 3-item scale Reflection/Release Needs. In Chinese patients with cancer (63%), pain affections (10%), or other chronic conditions (23%), the needs for Giving/Generativity (which refer to categories of Connectedness and Meaning) and Inner Peace Needs scored highest, while Religious Needs and the Reflection/Release Needs scored lower. CONCLUSION: The SpNQ-Ch is congruent with its primary version, and can be used in future studies with the mostly nonreligious patients from China. First findings indicate specific psychosocial and spiritual needs which should be addressed by health care professionals to support patients in their struggle with chronic illness in terms of psycho-emotional stabilization, finding hope and meaning, and thus achieving peaceful states of mind despite chronic illness.
基金provided by the Science&Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China [grant number:2017FY101101 and 2017FY101103]
文摘Objective The primary objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) among Chinese children aged 12-17 years. Methods A semi-quantitative 72-food item FFQ was developed for children aged 12-17 years. The reliability and validity of this FFQ were evaluated against 24-h dietary recalls(24 h DRs) to measure the consumption of foods and nutrients. We administered two FFQs and three DRs to children(N = 160) over a period of 1 month to evaluate the reliability and validity. Reliability was examined by quartile agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs), and validity was examined by quartile agreement, Bland-Altman plots and correlation with DRs. Results For reliability, the ICCs between the two FFQs ranged from 0.21 to 0.76 for foods and nutrients, and the quartile agreement ranged from 70.0% to 95.0% in the same or adjacent quartiles. Spearman’s correlation coefficients of foods and nutrients between the second FFQ and the 24 h DRs ranged from-0.04 to 0.59. The Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement across the range of intakes among nutrients. The quartile agreement ranged from 50.0% to 100.0%, with infrequent misclassification. Conclusion The FFQ assessment of dietary intakes demonstrated acceptable relative validity and high reproducibility for Chinese children aged 12-17 years.
基金funded by National Scientific and Technological Basic Resources Investigation Program ‘Research and application of nutrition and health system for children aged 0-18 years in China’[2017FY101100]
文摘Objective This study is aimed to report the development,the reliability and validity of the Chinese Children Physical Activity Questionnaire(CCPAQ)which was designed for the assessment of physical activity pattern in young population in China.Methods The CCPAQ was administered for two times in 119 children(mean age 13.1±2.4 years;boys 47%)to examine reliability by using intraclass correlation coefficients.Validity was determined in 106 participants by agreement with the CCPAQ measures and the objective method,the ActiGraph accelerometer.Data on physical activity patter n including time spe nt on d iff ere nt intensi ties and total physical activity,sedentary behavior as well as physical activity energy expenditure were used to assess the validity with Spearman's correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plots.Results The reliability coefficient of the CCPAQ ranged from 0.63-0.93(Intra-class correlation coefficient).Spearman's correlation coefficient for validity of time spent on total physical activity and sedentary behavior were all 0.32(P<0.001),and for physical activity energy expenditure was 0.58(P<0.001).Time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and light physical activity showed a relatively low correlation with the accelerometer(rho=0.20,P=0.040;rho=0.19,P=0.054).Conclusion The CCPAQ appears to be a promising and feasible method to assess physical activity pattern in Chinese children.
基金Supported by The National TS Major Project of China,No.2008ZX10002-001 and No.2012ZX10002001
文摘AIM: To evaluate psychometrics of the Chinese (mainland) chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 460 Chinese patients with CHB was selected from the Outpatient Department of the Eighth Hospital of Xi'an, including CHB (CHB without cirrhosis) (n = 323) and CHB-related cirrhosis (n = 137). The psychometrics includes reliability, validity and sensitivity. Internal consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach's α. Convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated by item-scale correlation. Factorial validity was explored by principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Sensitivity was assessed using Cohen's effect size (ES), and independent sample t test between CHB and CHB-related cirrhosis groups and between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normal and abnormal groups after stratifying the disease (CHB and CHB-related cirrhosis).RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability of the CLDQ was 0.83 (range: 0.65-0.90). Most of the hypothesized item-scale correlations were 0.40 or over, and all of such hypothesized correlations were higher than the alternative ones, indicating satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Six factors were extracted after varimax rotation from the 29 items of CLDQ. The eligible Cohen's ES with statistically significant independent sample t test was found in the overall CLDQ and abdominal, systematic, activity scales (CHB vs CHBrelated cirrhosis), and in the overall CLDQ and abdominal scale in the stratification of patients with CHB (ALT normal vs abnormal). CONCLUSION: The CLDQ has acceptable reliability, validity and sensitivity in Chinese (mainland) patients with CHB.
基金Sleep Center,Department of Otolaryngology,Phramongkutklao Hospital
文摘Background: It is crucial for the army to know the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) syndrome in activeduty army personnel. Little information has been reported on the prevalence of OSA and clinical features in activeduty army personnel. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of snoring and risk of developing OSA in activeduty army personnel in Thailand and to identify the co-morbidities of OSA. In total, 1107 participants who were aged20–60 years and were deployed to the three southernmost provinces of Thailand were enrolled. All the participants completed the Phramongkutklao(PMK) Hospital OSA Questionnaire that was modified and validated from the Berlin Questionnaire and underwent physical examination. The participants were 1107 active-duty army personnel in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand, both males and females, aged 20–60 years.Methods: The PMK OSA Questionnaire was used to assess the risk of OSA together with interviewing for snoring,fatigue, falling asleep and day-time sleepiness. Physical examination of the neck, chest and hip circumference,and height was performed. Information concerning physical training, co-morbid diseases, smoking and alcoholic consumption was collected.Results: The prevalence of snoring was 58.5, and 4.8% met the PMK OSA Questionnaire criteria, thus indicating a high risk of OSA. The information obtained indicated that laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR), current smoking and alcoholic consumption were significantly higher in the high-risk OSA group.Conclusions: Early detection and treatment of OSA in active-duty army personnel are imperative. Physical examination and polysomnography can be used to reveal the high-risk group. High body mess index(BMI), laryngopharyngeal reflux, current smoking and alcoholic consumption are modifiable factors for OSA and are avoidable. A policy to decrease the BMI and risk of LPR, as well as to stop smoking and alcoholic consumption, should be applied.
文摘AIM:To translate into Greek and validate the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).METHODS:Two hundred and six consecutive adult patients with the diagnosis of a chronic liver disease from 2 general hospitals in Athens were enrolled in the study from May to September 2008.In order to assess their quality of life (QOL) the CLDQ was applied.The instrument was translated from English,back translated and reviewed in focus groups within the framework of a large multicenter study.The measurements that were performed included:2 independent sample t tests,oneway analysis of variance,reliability coefficients,explanatory factor analysis using a varimax rotation and the principal components method.RESULTS:One hundred and twenty five (61%) patients were men,half were aged 40-59 years and > 33% were > 60 years old.Among the patients,48 (23%) were hospitalized and 97 (47%) were cirrhotic according to the Child-Pugh score.The internal consistency of the Greek CLDQ version using Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.93.Exploratory factor analysis identified 7 domains accounting for 65% of the variance of CLDQ items and only partially overlapping with those found in the original version.The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was calculated at 0.813 and the logistic estimate for the threshold score of 167.50 provided a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 71.6% for the model.CONCLUSION:Our data confirmed the validity of the Greek version of the CLDQ in identifying the QOL among patients with chronic liver disease.
文摘AIM To verify the current status of super-extended lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer according to a questionnaire survey.METHODS One-hundred and five institutions responded to the questionnaire.The survey included the following items: Number of experiences,whether performed prophylactically and/or therapeutically,whether preoperative chemotherapy was provided,number of preoperative chemotherapy rounds,and therapeutic options after chemotherapy.RESULTS Eighty-seven of the 105 institutions(83%) had performed D3 gastrectomy in the past or continued to perform D3 gastrectomy at present.However,D3 gastrectomy was rarely performed prophylactically in clinical practice.Seventy-eight institutions(74%) indicated that preoperative chemotherapy with curative intent was required for patients suspected of having para-aortic node(PAN) metastases.After chemotherapy,a D3 gastrectomy was scheduled for patients with a complete or partial response,stable disease,and progressive disease at 36(46%),28(36%),and 13(17%) of the institutions,respectively.CONCLUSION For patients with apparent PAN metastasis,a D3 gastrectomy is typically planned if a few courses of preoperative chemotherapy yield at least a stable disease condition.