Mediating Role of Rumination between Neuroticism and Depression among the Married and Unmarried Nurses of Multan

The present research was directed to study the mediating role of rumination between neuroticism and depression among the married and unmarried nurses of Multan. Data was taken from (n=150) nurses through a stratified proportional sampling method. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Ruminative Response Scale and Big Five Inventory were utilized as an assessment measure in the present research. SPSS-21 version was used in the current research. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis revealed that rumination and neuroticism have a significant positive (P = .05) relationship with depression. However, hierarchical regression analysis by Baron and Kenny method shows that rumination shows a significant mediating (P = .05) role between neuroticism and depression. Consequences determined that a higher level of ruminating thoughts and neuroticism would lead to depression. The present study will help to understand the consequences of depression, especially among nurses. Existing policies and coping strategies could be inquired and could probably to improve to better help this population. Based on this study, it is not only particular for professionals or nurses to be aware of depression toward a better life in the Pakistani society but also to be educated on the culture itself and clinical area.

The Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA): Development of a New Adapted Assessment Measure for Remote Telehealth Administration Through COVID-19 and Beyond

Interest in telehealth assessment for autism has increased due to COVID-19 and subsequent expansion of remote psychological services, though options that are easy for clinicians to adopt and available through the lifespan are limited. The Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) provides a social context with standardized materials and activities that can be coded by clinicians trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. The current project examined psychometric properties to determine optimal use for each BOSA version. Three hundred and seven participants with 453 BOSAs were included to determine best performing items for algorithms, validity, sensitivity, specificity, recommended cut-offs, and proposed ranges of concern. While preliminary, the BOSA provides a promising new option for telehealth-administered assessment for autism.

To determine the association between asthma severity and hospital admission measured by Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, 2020-2021

Objectives: To determine the association between asthma severity and the likelihood of hospitalization by using Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score for pediatric patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with mild, moderate or severe asthma exacerbations and those who received standard intensive asthma therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in children aged between 2 to 14 years. The data was entered and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. To be included in the study, the children must have received “intensive asthma therapy” defined as administration of systemic corticosteroids with three albuterol treatments and ipratropium. Results: A total of 437 patients were enrolled in the study out of which 250 were male and 187 were female. The mean age was 6.1 ± 3.4 years with a minimum age of two and a maximum age of 14 years. The 4-hour PRAM score (AUC = 0.88) overall significantly improved the predictive value of admission (p value <0.001) as compared to the PRAM score calculated at triage (AUC = 0.81). Conclusion: The 4-hour PRAM score is the best predictor for the need of hospitalization. It is suggested that these results are applied clinically in the pediatric ED to improve patient flow and to better facilitate intensive therapy of patients at triage to decrease the need for hospitalization. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5783 How to cite this:Kazi U, Gul Rukh S, Zawawi S, Laila S, Fareeduddin M, Saleem SG. To determine the association between asthma severity and hospital admission measured by Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, 2020-2021. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(2):345-350. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5783 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA): Development of a New Adapted Assessment Measure for Remote Telehealth Administration through COVID-19 and Beyond

Interest in telehealth assessment for autism has increased due to COVID-19 and subsequent expansion of remote psychological services, though options that are easy for clinicians to adopt and available through the lifespan are limited. The Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) provides a social context with standardized materials and activities that can be coded by clinicians trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). The current project examined psychometric properties to determine optimal use for each BOSA version. Three hundred and seven participants with 453 BOSAs were included to determine best performing items for algorithms, validity, sensitivity, specificity, recommended cut-offs, and proposed ranges of concern. While preliminary, the BOSA provides a promising new option for telehealth-administered assessment for autism.

Evaluating & Approving CMT Test Questions

Getting an ISO/IEC 17024 testing accreditation for a Certified Metrology Technician is no trivial matter. Much like a 17025 accreditation, which we are all familiar with, 17024 has a long list of requirements and procedures in place to get accredited. Not only do you need to create testing criteria, but the results also have to be statistically evaluated for reliability and validity. Creating a test that is both valid and reliable is an extensive and robust process. A valid and reliable test will certify that the education and training have properly prepared the technician to take the test and the test accurately measures the competencies and standards set forth by the accreditation body. More importantly passing the test will show that a certified technician has the required knowledge and capacity to enter the metrology field. Ensuring the process is robust has several significant components and procedures that must be followed. Psychometricians are trained professionals that ensure the efficacy and integrity of certified tests are met and maintained. Psychometricians use quantitative data and analysis procedures to determine the reliability, validity, and fairness of an assessment measure. This paper will cover the 17024 requirements and how psychometricians evaluate tests for reliability and validity. Additionally, this paper will discuss the process to follow for creating test questions, assessing their quality, and developing rigorous assessment methods that align with accreditation standards and education content.

The Distinguishing Characteristic of Task-based Language Assessment

Since its advent, the principles of Task-Based Language Teaching have been extended to assessment giving rise to Task-Based Language Assessment. Despite the growing body of research on the efficacy of Task-Based Language Teaching in instruction, the application of the assessment based on the tenets of Task-Based Language Teaching has been mainly neglected in some studies owing to their lack of use of Task-Based Language Assessment to measure the effectiveness of Task-Based Language Teaching (viz., Li, et al., 2016). The present study emphasizes the importance of Task-Based Language Assessment and highlights the feature that distinguishes this type of assessment from other assessments. The study concludes that while the performance-referenced feature of Task-Based Language Assessment is an essential characteristic thereof, it is, in fact, the holistic and direct feature of Task-Based Language Assessment that distinguishes it from other assessments. The more the assessment measure is incorporated in the performance of assessment tasks, the more the assessment tasks are based on the tenets of Task-Based Language Assessment. Therefore, the holistic and contextualized assessment tasks improve the confidence with which language teachers could generalize the results of the assessment tasks to real-life situations.

Family Functioning in Families Affected by Parental Mental Illness: Parent, Child and Clinician Ratings

Family functioning is often impaired in families with a parent with mental illness and is linked to child mental health. This study aims to gain a better understanding of family functioning in affected families by comparing ratings among family members and by analyzing associations with clinician-rated family functioning. The cross-sectional sample comprised 210 families with ratings of 207 patients, 139 partners, and 100 children. Parents with a mental illness as well as their partners and children completed the German version of the Family Assessment Measure (FAM). Clinician ratings were obtained by the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning Scale (GARF). We conducted several mixed models to compare ratings of family functioning while accounting for family cluster. Family dysfunction was consistently elevated compared to a normative sample. On several domains, parents with a mental illness perceived family functioning to be worse compared to their partners and children. Partners and children did not differ in their perceptions of family functioning. Ratings of family members were moderately associated with clinician ratings. We discuss the importance of multi-informant assessment of family functioning and the implementation of family-based interventions for families with a parent with mental illness.

The Functional Independence Measure and the Functional Assessment Measure (FIM + FAM) as an effective tool for the evaluation of functional status in stroke rehabilitation

The Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM + FAM) is an effective, efficient, and objective tool for tracking changes in the motor, cognitive, and psychosocial functions of patients over the entire treatment and rehabilitation period. It is estimated that in the Czech Republic (CR), stroke is the third most common cause of death and the most common cause of adult disability. To develop faster, better, and more cost‑effective stroke treatments and reduce or mitigate functional losses and restrictive situations, it is very important that patients be objectively evaluated, relative to their functional abilities, as soon as possible after a stroke. A critical part of stroke treatment is to calculate the length of in‑hospital treatment and estimate the length of the rehabilitation period after the stroke. Contemporary methods for evaluating and analyzing a patient’s condition are based on test results and evidence.The FIM offers a more sensitive rating scale compared to BI due to the presence of cognitive items and is used worldwide for assessment during the acute stage of the disease. Thus, it is an efficient instrument for setting therapy goals and evaluating the effects of rehabilitation. Not only can it assist the therapist in clinical decision making, but it also functions as a tool for evaluating rehabilitation outcomes. Based on this test, short‑term and long‑term rehabilitation plans can be determined. At the end of the rehabilitation process, assessing the patient’s functional condition helps to predict the specific long‑term rehabilitation services the patient will need as they return to society and regain their quality of life.

Decision making and the bedside assessment: The Speech Language Therapists’ thinking when making a diagnosis at the bed

Background: The bedside assessment is often seen as a screener because of its high variability in sensitivity and specificity, whilst the instrumental measures are viewed as gold standards because of the ability of speech-language therapist (SLT) to visualise the swallow more objectively.Objectives: This research article explores how the value needs to be placed on the decision-making abilities of the SLT rather than on the assessment measure itself.Method: A mixed methodology concurrent triangulation design was employed to collect data in two phases: the first phase included observing seven SLTs conducting assessments using a standardised bedside measure together with pulse oximetry and cervical auscultation. The second phase was a focus group discussion based on the findings from the first phase. Data were analysed thematically using a bottom-up approach.Results: The following factors were found to influence the decision-making process at the bedside: bedside assessment data sets, patient, multidisciplinary team, context and then SLT. The availability of more data from the assessment from different data sets improved the confidence of the SLT at the bedside when needing to make clinical decisions. Clinical instincts are developed through experience and observation of those more experienced. These skills need to be developed from junior years.Conclusion: This research study showed that a bedside assessment can provide valuable information that will allow for diagnostic decisions to be made at the bedside. This study also highlighted the importance of critical thinking using clinical instincts, and that these are the factors that need to be valued and emphasised rather than the assessment measures themselves.

Knowledge Formation in Systemic Counselling Trainees from Germany: A Pilot Study from a Competence-Based Perspective

This pilot study has two areas of focus. It examines how the knowledge and competences of twelve Master’s-level systemic counselling trainees are connected, and how well their own assessment of their competence corresponds to external assessment. Methodologically, three instruments were used: first, an instrument to measure their explicit knowledge; second, videos of consultations with simulated clients to measure their competence in practice; third, a self-assessment measure to explore how externally assessed competence corresponds to self-assessment. The results show no indication that knowledge is related to externally assessed competence. Furthermore, their self-assessment did not show any systematic connection to the external assessment. The study concludes that the development of systemic counselling skills is a long-term process of theory acquisition, practise, and reflection. Important reflection processes can be stimulated by self-assessment. However, such assessments are not sufficient to capture the quality and scope of competence.