THE EXPERIENCE OF INFERTILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN UNDERGOING THE IVF PROCESS – A STUDY IN SERBIA

"Studies have shown that women facing infertility and undergoing the IVF process generally belong to the mentally healthy group of the population. However, their stress level and emotional reactions vary significantly. Besides, there are women who report higher anxiety and/or depression levels up to six months after an (unsuccessful) IVF process. The aim of this study is to determine the perception of the infertility experience and the functioning of domains particularly affected by overcoming infertility through IVF. Fourteen women were excluded from the study sample due to their secondary infertility: 9 women had already had a child conceived though IVF and 5 had conceived naturally – these respondents have a successful experience of overcoming infertility, as they do not face the possibility of remaining involuntarily childless. The final sample was comprised of 149 women, 23 to 45 years of age (M=35,50, SD=4,48). For 83,9% of the women, the ongoing IVF procedure was the first (38,3), the second (25,5) or the third (20,1) attempt, while the rest of respondents were going though IVF for the fourth to the eighth time. Infertility is considered the worst experience of their life by 67,8% of the respondents. 95,3% of the respondents in the study want psychological counseling, which is not an integral part of the IVF process in Serbia and thus not covered by the national health insurance. The “Fertility quality of Life” (FertiQoL; Boivin, Takefman and Braverman, 2011) Questionnaire was used for the assessment of quality of life. A one sample t-test shows statistically significant differences in experiencing difficulties in the observed domains. The respondents have the lowest scores on the Emotional subscale, meaning that the most pronounced feature is the impact of negative emotions (e.g., jealousy and resentment, sadness, depression) on quality of life. The score on the Social subscale is highest, which means that social interactions have not significantly been affected by fertility problems. In conclusion, the infertility experience is highly stressful for a significant number of women and they are in need of psychological support, especially for overcoming negative emotions. This can be done by defining a new way of life filled with contentment, one that is in accordance with their value systems, despite their experience of infertility."

Psychometric Analysis of a Microenvironment Secondhand Smoke Exposure Questionnaire

Background: We conducted a psychometric analysis of an adapted secondhand smoke (SHS) questionnaire by testing the three-component structure of the original scale that measures SHS exposure in home, work and social environments. Methods: The 15-item questionnaire was administered to 839 daily smokers participating in a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Following parallel analysis, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis specifying a three-factor structure. Cronbach’s alphas and fit indices were calculated to assess internal consistency. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the Social environments subscale to the Brief Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives Social/Environmental Goads subscale. Predicative validity of the questionnaire was assessed using linear regressions and tobacco biomarkers of harm; NNAL, expired carbon monoxide and total cotinine. Results: Five items did not load onto any factor and were dropped, resulting in a 10-item questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alphas were (0.86), (0.77) and (0.67) for the Work, Social, and Home subscales, respectively. The WISDM subscale was moderately correlated with scores on the Social subscale (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). The questionnaire demonstrated predictive validity of smoke exposure above individual’s own reported use as measured by cigarettes smoked per day. Conclusions: Three constructs emerged; results indicate that a shortened 10-item scale could be used in future studies.

The Etiology of Infertility Affects Fertility Quality of Life of Males Undergoing Fertility Workup and Treatment

This panel study explored the effects of male, female, mixed, or idiopathic factor of infertility on the fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) in involuntarily childless males undergoing fertility workup for the first time. A convenience sample of 255 married males (age range = 22–51 years, mean = 30.24 years), 254 (99.6%) of whom suffered from primary infertility were assessed (1) at the baseline, before their initial fertility evaluation (T1); (2) before their second andrological appointment, 2–3 months after diagnostic disclosure (T2); and (3) before subsequent treatment-related/ follow-up appointments (T3, T4). The timing of psychological assessment was strictly related to andrological appointments and routine medical procedures. Respondents completed Emotional, Mind–Body, Relational, and Social subscales of the Polish version of FertiQoL and a baseline demographic survey. The research demonstrated that the FertiQoL scores across the Emotional, Mind–Body, and Relational subscales markedly decreased after the diagnostic disclosure, particularly in the subgroups with male and concurrent male and female factor. Social subscale scores in all subgroups remained stable after the diagnostic disclosure (at T2) but significantly decreased in the follow-up (at T3 and T4). Significant differences in FertiQoL scores associated with respondents’ infertility factor could be demonstrated at each time point. The study identifies the FertiQoL in unintentionally childless males is significantly affected by their factor of infertility and evolves across the pathway of treatment-related/follow-up appointments.

Developing a Persian Version of the Checklist of Pragmatic Behaviors and Assessing Its Psychometric Properties: A Preliminary Study

Objective: Pragmatic assessment is critical because of its effective role in social and academic success. It can provide early intervention if the evaluations are made early in childhood. In this regard, an appropriate tool is necessary for the pragmatic evaluation of preschool children in Iran. The checklist of pragmatic behaviors (CPB) is an observational tool for assessing pragmatics in children aged 3-5 years. This study aims to develop a Persian version of the CPB and evaluate its psychometric properties. Materials & Methods: This is a methodological study conducted in 2018. The participants were 63 children in three age groups of 3, 4, and 5 years selected from kindergartens in Isfahan City, Iran, using a cluster sampling technique. The inclusion criteria were being 3-5 years old and Persian speaker. This study was conducted in two steps; translation and localization of the CPB to Persian and evaluating the validity and reliability of the Persian CPB. The studied variables were 25 pragmatic behaviors mentioned in the CPB. The test-retest reliability was estimated using 15 children (5 from each age group) in a 2-week interval. Scoring was based on the presence (verbal, nonverbal) or absence of the behavior. The internal consistency was estimated using the Cronbach α coefficient; discriminant validity was assessed concerning age, and criterion validity by measuring the CPB’s correlation with the ages and stages questionnaire (personal-social subscale) and the behavioral problem questionnaire. Nonparametric tests were used for factor analysis and estimating inter-rater agreement and test-retest reliability. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 21 and AMOS applications. Results: The Persian CPB’s total score significantly increased with the increase of age (P≤0.001). Factor analysis reported four factors for the Persian CPB. Criterion validity evaluation showed the moderate significant correlation of the CPB (r=0.58) with the personal-social subscale of age and stages questionnaire (ASQ), and its weak negative significant correlation (r=-0.28) with the behavior problem questionnaire. A Cronbach α of 0.83 was obtained for internal consistency, and a correlation coefficient of 0.665 (P=0.007) was reported for test-retest reliability. Conclusion: The Persian version of the CPB has acceptable psychometric properties. The differences in some items of this version compared to other versions may be because of differences in culture and language.

Values of College Students in Iran and the United States Who Admire Celebrities

This study had two goals. The first goal was to compare scores on the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) and values of college students in Iran and the United States on how they differ in their admiration for their favorite celebrities. The second goal was to examine additional psychometric data on the Twenty Item Values Inventory (TWIVI). We administered the TWIVI, the CAS, and demographic items to 200 students at a university in Iran, and 199 students at one university and two colleges in the United States. The results revealed that Iranian students scored about the same as American students on the CAS, and both samples scored higher per item on Celebrity Attitude Scale Entertainment-Social, the entertainment or social subscale as compared with the two more problematic subscales of the CAS. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that Hedonism and Power predicted total CAS scores for Americans and Tradition and Stimulation predicted total CAS scores for Iranians. We found that the TWIVI performed reasonably well given its brevity. That is, predictions stemming from Schwartz’s values theory were generally confirmed in both samples by data obtained from the TWIVI.

P.049 Quality of life in children with absence epilepsy

Background: Childhood absence epilepsy is a common generalized epilepsy in pediatric patients. Although this was considered a “benign” syndrome, new data suggests there are associated neurocognitive effects. This is the first study comparing quality of life and social functioning in those with absence epilepsy to those with other types of epilepsy. Methods: This observational study recruited patients from six Canadian academic centers. 106 patients had absence seizures, and 219 had other seizures. Established measures of depression, anxiety, social skills, social support, participation, quality of life, and epilepsy severity were assessed. MANCOVA was used to evaluate differences in social function, quality of life, and epilepsy severity measures, while accounting for age and gender. Results: This yielded a statistically significant result (Wilk’s lambda &lt;0.05), with partial eta squared of 0.163. Follow up of between subjects tests revealed lower health related quality of life interpersonal/ social subscale and close friend social support scores in those with absence epilepsy, while other measures were not significant. Conclusions: Children with absence epilepsy have similar social function, quality of life and epilepsy severity measures compared to those with other types of epilepsy. This indicates that any dysfunction in these domains is similar to those with other types of epilepsy.

The MacNew heart disease health-related quality of life questionnaire: Updated reference data for users

Background: The key to interpreting patient-reported health-related quality of life [HRQL] scores for use in person-centered healthcare approaches in clinical practice is having normative reference data to place the scores in the context of a meaningful reference group. The purpose of this analysis is to update and extend existing norms for the MacNew HRQL questionnaire.Methods: Patients with angina, myocardial infarction, or heart failure enrolled in the HeartQoL Project provided MacNew HRQL Global scale and Physical, Emotional and Social subscale data from which norms have been generated.Results: Patients (n=6,130; angina, 32.4%; myocardial infarction, 37.5% and heart failure, 30.1%) living in 22 different countries provided MacNew HRQL scores. Mean MacNew Global HRQL in the total group was 5.04 (±1.1); Global scale and Physical, Emotional, and Social subscale scores were higher in patients with MI than in patients with either angina or heart failure (p<0.001) and higher in patients with angina than in patients with heart failure (p<0.001). Mean Physical subscale scores were lower than either Emotional or Social subscale scores. Mean MacNew Global scale and subscale scores were higher in males and older patients than females and younger patients. The minimal important difference of 0.5 points on the 7-point MacNew was consistent with a 0.5 standard deviation around the mean MacNew scores in each diagnosis. Conclusion: Norms for the MacNew questionnaire have been updated permitting meaningful interpretation of HRQL for an individual patient or for groups of patients with angina, myocardial infarction or heart failure.

Relationship between Child and Parental Dental Anxiety with Child's Psychological Functioning and Behavior during the Administration of Local Anesthesia

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine: 1) the relationship between children's psychological functioning, dental anxiety and cooperative behavior before and during local anesthesia, 2) the relationship of parental dental anxiety with all the above child characteristics. Study design: There was a convenient sample of 100 children (4–12 years). Child dental anxiety and psychological functioning were measured using the “Children's Fear Survey Schedule” (CFSS-DS) and the “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” (SDQ) respectively. Parental dental anxiety was measured using the “Modified Dental Anxiety Scale” (MDAS). All questionnaires were completed by parents. Before and during local anesthesia, the child behavior was scored by one experienced examiner, using the Venham scale. Non-parametric tests and correlations (Mann-Whitney, Spearman's rho) were used for the analysis. Results: The mean SDQ score was 10±5.6 for boys (n=60) and 8.3±4.8 for girls (n=40) (p=0.038), but there was no correlation with children's age. The mean CFSS-DS score was 33.1±11.86 and there was no correlation with age or gender. Children with higher levels in the pro-social subscale of the SDQ had significantly less anxiety and better behavior before local anesthesia. Higher mean CFSS-DS scores were significantly associated with uncooperative behavior during local anesthesia (p=0.04). There was no correlation between parents' and their children's dental anxiety, psychological functioning and behavior. 46% of the children had previous dental experience in the last 6 months. As time since the last dental treatment increased, an improvement was found in children's behavior during local anesthesia. Conclusions: Child psychological functioning was related to dental anxiety and behavior during dental appointment involving local anesthesia.

The role of early visual attention in social development

Faces convey important information about the social environment, and even very young infants are preferentially attentive to face-like over non-face stimuli. Eye-tracking studies have allowed researchers to examine which features of faces infants find most salient across development, and the present study examined scanning of familiar (i.e., mother) and unfamiliar (i.e., stranger) static faces at 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Infants showed a preference for scanning their mother’s face as compared to a stranger’s face, and displayed increased attention to the eye region as compared to the mouth region. Infants also showed patterns of decreased attention to eyes and increased attention to mouths between 6 and 12 months. Associations between visual attention at 6, 9, and 12 months and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales DP (CSBS-DP) at 18 months were also examined, and a significant positive relation between attention to eyes at 6 months and the social subscale of the CSBS-DP at 18 months was found. This effect was driven by infants’ attention to their mother’s eyes. No relations between face scanning in 9- and 12-month-olds and social outcome at 18 months were found. The potential for using individual differences in early infant face processing to predict later social outcome is discussed.