scholarly journals Conducting COVID-19-Related Research in Jordan: Are We Ready?

Author(s):  
Balqis Ikhmais ◽  
Alaa M. Hammad ◽  
Waleed Qirim ◽  
Osama H. Abusara ◽  
Jonathan Ling

Abstract The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency of international concern. This pandemic poses a challenge to research and scientific community. In this study, we developed and tested content reliability and content validity of a questionnaire designed for evaluating the readiness and willingness of researchers to participate in virology research in Jordan. The survey was hosted on an online platform, and the link was emailed. A total of 332 participants from universities across Jordan completed the survey. For factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value (KMO) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity were conducted. Furthermore, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with parallel analysis and scree plots were conducted to evaluate the most suitable model for the data. The result of the EFA suggested a five-factor model would fit the survey. Data showed that the lowest means were for researchers’ readiness to conduct virology research and readiness for virology research with means of 2.07 and 2.95, respectively. Moreover, years of experience and specialty had a significant effect on the readiness and willingness of virology research in Jordan. In conclusion, readiness for research and researchers should be addressed and authorities should pay attention to these shortcomings in virology research.

Epidemiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-139
Author(s):  
Andrea Canalella ◽  
Ermanno Vitale ◽  
Francesca Vella ◽  
Paola Senia ◽  
Emanuele Cannizzaro ◽  
...  

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first observed in Wuhan, Hubei Province (China) in December 2019, resulting in an acute respiratory syndrome. Only later was COVID-19 considered a public health emergency of international concern and, on 11 March 2020, the WHO classified it as pandemic. Despite being a respiratory virus, the clinical manifestations are also characterized by cardiological involvement, especially in patients suffering from previous comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, its complications being potentially serious or fatal. Despite the efforts made by the scientific community to identify pathophysiological mechanisms, they still remain unclear. A fundamental role is played by the angiotensin 2 converting enzyme, known for its effects at the cardiovascular level and for its involvement in COVID-19 pathogenesis. The goal of this paper was to highlight the mechanisms and knowledge related to cardiovascular involvement during the first pandemic phase, as well as to emphasize the main cardiological complications in infected patients.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Filipe Rodrigues ◽  
Diogo Monteiro ◽  
Pedro Flores ◽  
Pedro Forte

The aim of the present study was to examine the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ) as a multidimensional instrument, designed to measure individuals’ body image satisfaction. A sample of 790 Portuguese healthy adults (female = 399; male = 391) aged 18 and 49 years old (M = 28.61, SD = 7.97) completed the BISQ. Exploratory factor analysis of the BISQ provided initial psychometric validity for a five-factor model assessing five dimensions of body image, namely, face, upper torso, lower torso, lower body, and overall body appearance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this five-correlated model, in which a bifactor model provided the best fit to the data, defining a body image satisfaction factor and five specific factors. The BISQ clearly distinguished between various dimensions of body image satisfaction and showed satisfactory psychometric quality through factor analyses. This measure may have a broad application for research and practice, as a tool for capturing individual body image satisfaction.


2018 ◽  
pp. 003022281881934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Sofia Ventosa Brás ◽  
Cláudia Isabel Guerreiro Carmo ◽  
Saul Neves de Jesus

Reasons for living are protective factors against suicidal behavior in adolescents. One of the most useful measures to assess them is the Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (RFL-A) developed by Osman et al. The goal of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of its Portuguese version of the RFL-A. To this end, we recruited 512 high school adolescents (mean age = 16.7 years), who completed the RFL-A, a Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and a hopelessness scale. Exploratory factor analysis replicated the original five-factor model and confirmatory factor analysis obtained satisfactory adjustment values. The RFL-A shows good reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) as well as good convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validities. These results indicate that the RFL-A is a valid and reliable measure to study protective factors against suicidal behaviors in Portuguese adolescents.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251097
Author(s):  
Anahita Shokrkon ◽  
Elena Nicoladis

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) epidemic was first detected in China in December 2019 and spread to other countries fast. Some studies have found that COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse mental health consequences. Individual differences such as personality could contribute to people’s behaviors during a pandemic. In the current study, we examine how personality traits of neuroticism and extroversion (using the Five-Factor Model as our framework) are related to the mental health of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from an online survey with 1096 responses, this study performed multiple regression analysis to explore how personality traits of neuroticism and extroversion predict the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of Canadians. The results showed that personality traits of neuroticism and extroversion are associated with the current mental health of Canadians during COVID-19 pandemic, with extroversion positively related to mental health and neuroticism negatively related to it. Results contribute to the management of individual responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and could help public health services provide personality-appropriate mental health services during this pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 2482-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Fischer Grönlund ◽  
Anna Söderberg ◽  
Vera Dahlqvist ◽  
Lars Andersson ◽  
Ulf Isaksson

Background: An ethical climate has been described as a working climate embracing shared perceptions about morally correct behaviour concerning ethical issues. Various ethical climate questionnaires have been developed and validated for different contexts, but no questionnaire has been found concerning the ethical climate from an inter-professional perspective in a healthcare context. The Swedish Ethical Climate Questionnaire, based on Habermas’ four requirements for a democratic dialogue, attempts to assess and measure the ethical climate at various inter-professional workplaces. This study aimed to present the construction of and to test the psychometric properties of the Swedish Ethical Climate Questionnaire. Method: An expert group of six researchers, skilled in ethics, evaluated the content validity. The questionnaire was tested among 355 healthcare workers at three hospitals in Sweden. A parallel analysis (PA), an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Ethical considerations: The participants included in the psychometric analysis were informed about the study, asked to participate in person and informed that they could withdraw at any time without giving any reason. They were also assured of confidentiality in the reporting of the results. Findings: The parallel analysis (PA) recommended one factor as a solution. The initial exploratory factor analysis with a four-factor solution showed low concordance with a four-factor model. Cronbach’s alpha varied from 0.75 to 0.82; however, since two factors only consisted of one item, alpha could not be reported. Cronbach’s alpha for the entire scale showed good homogeneity (α = 0.86). A confirmatory factory analysis was carried out based on the four requirements and showed a goodness-of-fit after deleting two items. After deletion of these items, Cronbach’s alpha was 0.82. Discussion: Based on the exploratory factor analysis, we suggest that the scale should be treated as a one-factor model. The result indicates that the instrument is unidimensional and assesses ethical climate as a whole. Conclusion: After testing the Swedish Ethical Climate Questionnaire, we found support for the validity and reliability of the instrument. We found the 10-item version of Swedish Ethical Climate Questionnaire satisfactory. However, we found no support for measuring different dimensions and, therefore, this instrument should be seen as assessing ethical climate as of whole.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S255-S255
Author(s):  
J.F. Dourado ◽  
A.T. Pereira ◽  
C. Marques ◽  
J. Azevedo ◽  
V. Nogueira ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe Five-Factor Model organizes human personality traits under a comprehensive framework of five dimensions–neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The dimensions are empirical generalizations of enduring differences in behavioural, emotional and cognitive patterns between individuals. The Portuguese version of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-20) is increasingly used as it is the shortest version to evaluate the “Big 5”.ObjectiveTo investigate the reliability and the validity of the Portuguese version of NEO-FFI-20-item (Bertoquini & Pais Ribeiro) in a Portuguese sample, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA).Methods747 participants [417 (55.8%) women; mean age = 42.13 ± 12.349 years] answered an online survey which included the NEO-FFI-20 and socio-demographic questions. The total sample was randomly divided in two sub-samples (sample A, n = 373; sample B, n = 374). Sample A was used to EFA and sample B was used to CFA.ResultsThe Portuguese version of NEO-FFI-20, excluding items 14 and 16, had an acceptable fit to the data (χ2/df = 2.28; TLI = .88; CFI = .90; RMSEA = .06; P = .059). The internal consistency analysis resulted in: Neuroticism, α = .68; Extraversion, α = .62; Openness to Experience, α = .74; Agreeableness, α = .70; and Conscientiousness, α = .74.ConclusionsThe NEO-FFI-20 can be used to reliably and validly evaluate the BIG FIVE in an ongoing research project on traffic psychology to better understand and respond to risky behaviours on the road.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selina Khoo ◽  
Rich Engelhorn

Understanding the motivations for people to volunteer with the management and execution of major sporting events is important for the recruitment and retention of the volunteers. This research investigated volunteer motivations at the first National Special Olympics held in Ames, Iowa, USA in July 2006. A total of 289 participants completed the 28 item Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale. The top motivations related to the purposive incentives of wanting to help make the event a success and to do something good for the community. Factor analysis revealed a five-factor model, with the altruistic factor (purposive) being the most important. A MANCOVA was also used to compare subjects using both gender and experience as independent variables. Small but significant differences in motivation were observed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojana Matejić ◽  
Miodrag Milenović ◽  
Darija Kisić Tepavčević ◽  
Dušica Simić ◽  
Tatjana Pekmezović ◽  
...  

We report findings from a validation study of the translated and culturally adapted Serbian version of Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), for a sample of anesthesiologists working in the tertiary healthcare. The results showed the sufficient overall reliability (Cronbach’sα= 0.72) of the scores (items 1–22). The results of Bartlett’s test of sphericity (χ2= 1983.75, df = 231,p<0.001) and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (0.866) provided solid justification for factor analysis. In order to increase sensitivity of this questionnaire, we performed unfitted factor analysis model (eigenvalue greater than 1) which enabled us to extract the most suitable factor structure for our study instrument. The exploratory factor analysis model revealed five factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.0, explaining 62.0% of cumulative variance. Velicer’s MAP test has supported five-factor model with the smallest average squared correlation of 0,184. This study indicated that Serbian version of the MBI-HSS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure burnout among a population of anesthesiologists. Results confirmed strong psychometric characteristics of the study instrument, with recommendations for interpretation of two new factors that may be unique to the Serbian version of the MBI-HSS.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert R. McCrae ◽  
Antonio Terracciano ◽  
Paul T. Costa ◽  
Daniel J. Ozer

To investigate recent hypotheses of replicable personality types, we examined data from 1540 self‐sorts on the California Adult Q‐Set (CAQ). Conventional factor analysis of the items showed the expected Five‐Factor Model (FFM). Inverse factor analysis across random subsamples showed that none of the previously reported person‐factors were replicated. Only two factors were replicable, and, most importantly, these factors were contaminated by mean level differences in item endorsement. Results were not due to sample size or age heterogeneity. Subsequent inverse factor analysis of standardized items revealed at least three replicable factors; when five person‐factors were extracted, they could be aligned precisely with the dimensions of the FFM. The major factors of person similarity can be accounted for entirely in terms of the FFM, consistent with the hypothesis that there are no replicable personality types in the CAQ. Published in 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


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