EMPLOYING THE FUZZY DELPHI METHOD TO VALIDATE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AMONG ENGINEERING GRADUATES

Delphi strategy may be a method and organized approach utilized to audit and collect suppositions of a gather of specialists, be that as it may, has it possess shortcomings. The Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), which is based on a variation of the Delphi method, has been demonstrated to be more successful in showing human phonetic knowledge in numerous tests (which is the signature of the Delphi Procedure). The Fuzzy Delphi Method was used to assess the content of communication abilities among engineering graduates in this article. This stage of development could be part of a larger project to develop a Malaysian employability aptitude system. This stage includes the view of 10 specialists who are experienced and have profound information in designing. It may be a thorough factual examination to approve the legitimacy of the theoretical concept of communication skills. The results of the experts' analysis were presented in the study, as well as the usefulness of the Fuzzy Delphi Method as a tool for gathering information about the validity of communication abilities content. Experts' recognitions have appeared disjointed about communication and get it more than one dialect among engineers. The specialists concurred with building graduates it can be donated by a clear heading, tune in and inquire address in their employability aptitudes capability.

A delphi procedure on rehabilitation outcome for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury; first phase of the Neurotraumatology Quality Registry (NET-QURE)

Objective: To select a set of rehabilitation outcome instruments for a national Neurotrauma Quality Registry (Net-QuRe) among professionals involved in the care of patients with traumatic brain injury. Design: A 3-round online Delphi procedure. Subjects: Eighty professionals from multiple disciplines working in 1 of the 8 participating rehabilitation centres were invited to participate. The response rate varied from 70% to 76% per round. Methods: For the Delphi procedure, multiple outcome categories were defined based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with concomitant measurement instruments. For each category we strived for consensus on one instrument of at least 75%. Results: After the first round, consensus was reached for the category subjective cognitive functioning. After the second round for quality of life, pain, general functioning, anxiety and depression, general psychological functioning, communication (impairment), and personal factors. Finally, after the third round, consensus was reached for activities of daily living, participation, self-awareness, and aphasia. No consensus was reached for the categories motor function, cognitive function, comorbidity, fatigue, and employment status. Conclusion: Consensus was reached in 12 out of 17 outcome categories. A Delphi procedure seems to be a feasible method to collectively select measurement instruments for a multicentre study.

Nine Forward–Backward Translations of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 With Cultural Checks

Introduction: The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) is an effective, reliable, and ergonomic tool that can be used for depression diagnosis and monitoring in daily practice. To allow its broad use by family practice physicians (FPs), it was translated from English into nine European languages (Greek, Polish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Catalan, Galician, Spanish, Italian, and French) and the translation homogeneity was confirmed. This study describes this process.Methods: First, two translators (an academic translator and an FP researcher) were recruited for the forward translation (FT). A panel of English-speaking FPs that included at least 15 experts (researchers, teachers, and practitioners) was organized in each country to finalize the FT using a Delphi procedure.Results: One or two Delphi procedure rounds were sufficient for each translation. Then, a different translator, who did not know the original version of the HSCL-25, performed a backward translation in English. An expert panel of linguists compared the two English versions. Differences were listed and a multicultural consensus group determined whether they were due to linguistic problems or to cultural differences. All versions underwent cultural check.Conclusion: All nine translations were finalized without altering the original meaning.

Irremediable psychiatric suffering in the context of physician assisted death: a Delphi-study

Background Patients with a psychiatric disorder (PPD) are eligible to request physician assisted death (PAD) in a small but growing number of jurisdictions, including the Netherlands and Belgium. For this request to be granted, most of these jurisdictions demand that the patient is competent in her request, and that the suffering experienced is unbearable and irremediable. Especially the criterion of irremediability is challenging to establish in patients with psychiatric disorders. Aims To establish what criteria Dutch and Belgian experts agree to be essential in characterising irremediable psychiatric suffering (IPS) in the context of PAD. Method A two round Delphi procedure among psychiatrists with relevant experience. Results Thirteen consensus-criteria were established: five diagnostic and eight treatment-related criteria. Diagnostically, the participants deem a narrative description and attention to contextual and systemic elements necessary. Also, a mandatory second opinion is required. The criteria concerning treatment show that extensive biopsychosocial treatment is needed, and the suffering must be present for several years. Finally, in the case of treatment refusal, the participants agree that there are limits to the number of diagnostic procedures or treatments a patient must undergo. Conclusions Consensus was found among a Dutch and Belgian expert group on essential criteria for establishing IPS in the context of PAD. These criteria can be used in clinical decision making and can inform future procedural demands and research.

Identifying challenges in neurofibromatosis: a modified Delphi procedure

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis (SWN) are rare conditions with pronounced variability of clinical expression. We aimed to reach consensus on the most important manifestations meriting the development of drug trials. The five-staged modified Delphi procedure consisted of two questionnaires and a consensus meeting for 40 NF experts, a survey for 63 patient representatives, and a final workshop. In the questionnaires, manifestations were scored on multiple items on a 4-point Likert scale. The highest average scores for NF experts deciding the ‘need for new treatment’ were for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) (4,0) and high grade glioma (HGG) (3,9) for NF1; meningioma (3,9) for NF2 and pain (3,9) for SWN. The patient representatives assigned high scores to all manifestations, with plexiform neurofibroma being highest in NF1 (4,0), vestibular schwannoma in NF2 (4,0), and pain in SWN (3,9). Twelve experts participated in the consensus meeting and prioritised manifestations. MPNST was ranked the highest for NF1, followed by benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours. Tumour manifestations received highest ranking in NF2, and pain was the most prominent problem for SWN. Patient representative ratings for NF1 were similar to the experts’ opinions, except that they ranked HGG as the most important manifestation. For NF2 and SWN, the patient representatives agreed with the experts. We conclude that NF experts and patient representatives consent to prioritise development of drug trials for MPNST, benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours, cutaneous manifestations and HGG for NF1; tumours for NF2; and pain for SWN.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome

Objective:To develop evidence-informed, expert consensus research diagnostic criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES), the clinical disorder associated with neuropathologically diagnosed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).Methods:A panel of 20 expert clinician-scientists in neurology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation, from 11 academic institutions, participated in a modified Delphi procedure to achieve consensus, initiated at the First NINDS Consensus Workshop to Define the Diagnostic Criteria for TES, April, 2019. Prior to consensus, panelists reviewed evidence from all published cases of CTE with neuropathological confirmation and they examined the predictive validity data on clinical features in relation to CTE pathology from a large clinicopathological study (n = 298).Results:Consensus was achieved in 4 rounds of the Delphi procedure. Diagnosis of TES requires: 1) substantial exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) from contact sports, military service, or other causes; 2) core clinical features of cognitive impairment (in episodic memory and/or executive functioning) and/or neurobehavioral dysregulation; 3) a progressive course; and 4) that the clinical features are not fully accounted for by any other neurologic, psychiatric, or medical conditions. For those meeting criteria for TES, functional dependence is graded on 5 levels, ranging from independent to severe dementia. A provisional level of certainty for CTE pathology is determined based on specific RHI exposure thresholds, core clinical features, functional status, and additional supportive features, including delayed onset, motor signs, and psychiatric features.Conclusions:New consensus diagnostic criteria for TES were developed with a primary goal of facilitating future CTE research. These criteria will be revised as updated clinical and pathological information and in vivo biomarkers become available.

Development of an instrument for measuring adolescent health compromising behaviours among rural students: a Delphi study

Background: There is an increasing trend of health compromising behaviors in adolescents worldwide. As behavioral determinants are extremely culture specific, person specific and as such least instruments have been developed in West Bengal. The aim of this study was to develop a specific instrument with strong content validity for measuring adolescent health compromising behavior of adolescent students of rural area.Methods: Face and content validity were evaluated in three round Delphi procedure by a panel of 15 experts who had extensive experience and knowledge of adolescent health compromising behavior. To ensure good cultural fit of the instrument with the rural context, modified Delphi procedure conducted among five stakeholders: medical and nursing, psychologist, sociologist, education experts, and parents. Reliability testing done among 100 students through test retest method with one-week interval.Results: A 85 questions-based instrument was developed reflecting 5 areas of health compromising behaviors; physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, unhealthy eating, poor dental hygiene, tobacco use and their multi-dimensional correlates. After round 3 Delphi, the final instrument had overall S–CVI/Ave of 99.05% and found to be reliable as evident by Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) for the scoring questions ranged from 0.72 to 0.84 and Cohen’s kappa coefficient (k) for nominal data, ranged from 0.8-1.Conclusions: The instrument has similarities as well as differences compared with instruments of Western origin. The instrument was valid and reliable and can be applied in both research and practice for measuring adolescent health compromising behaviors.