The integration of mixed methods data to develop the quality of life – aged care consumers (QOL-ACC) instrument

Background This paper describes the collection and integration of mixed methods data to facilitate the final selection of items for the Quality of Life – Aged Care Consumers (QOL-ACC) instrument. The aim of the wider project is to develop a preference-based quality of life instrument that can be used for quality assessment and economic evaluation. Older people have been involved at every stage of the development of the QOL-ACC to ensure that the final instrument captures their perspectives and preferences. Methods Mixed methods data was collected on draft items for the QOL-ACC instrument across six key quality of life dimensions (mobility, pain management, emotional well-being, independence, social connections, and activities). Qualitative face validity data was collected from older people (aged 66 to 100 years) living in the community and in residential aged care via semi-structured interviews (n = 59). Quantitative data was collected from older people (aged 65 to 91 years) receiving aged care services in the community via an online survey (n = 313). A traffic light pictorial approach was adopted as a practical and systematic way to categorise and present data in a meaningful way that was easy for non-academic workshop members to understand and to be able to discuss the relative merits of each draft item. Results The traffic light approach supported the involvement of consumer and aged care provider representatives in the selection of the final items. Six items were selected for the QOL-ACC instrument with one item representing each of the six dimensions. Conclusions This methodological approach has ensured that the final instrument is psychometrically robust as well as meaningful, relevant and acceptable to aged care consumers and providers.

Can the design of the instruments used for undersized osteotomies influence the initial stability of implants installed in low-density bone? An in vitro pilot study

Objectives The aims of this study were to compare the initial implant stability obtained using four different osteotomy techniques in low-density synthetic bone, to evaluate the instrument design in comparison to the implant design, and to determinate a possible correlation between the insertion torque and initial stability quotient (ISQ). Materials and methods Four groups were identified in accordance with the osteotomy technique used (n = 10 implants per group): group G1, osteotomy using the recommended drilling sequence; group G2, osteotomy using an undersized compactor drill; group G3, osteotomy using an undersized drill; and group G4, osteotomy using universal osseodensification drills. Two polyurethane blocks were used: block 1, with a medullary portion of 10 pounds per cubic foot (PCF 10) and with a 1 mm cortical portion of PCF 40, and block 2, with a medullary of PCF 15 and with a 2 mm cortical portion of PCF 40. Tapered implants of 4 mm in diameter and 11 mm in length were used. The insertion torque (IT) and ISQ were measured. The dimensions of the final instrument used in each group and the dimensions of the implant were used to calculate the total area of each part, and these data were compared. Results Differences between the four groups were found for IT and ISQ values depending on the technique used for the osteotomy in the two synthetic bone models (p < 0.0001). All groups showed lower values of initial stability in block 1 than in block 2. Conclusions Undersized osteotomies with instruments designed according to the implant body significantly increased the initial stability values compared to beds prepared with universal drills and using the drilling sequence standardized by the manufacturer.

Instrument to evaluate the knowledge of patient with cirrhosis on his disease: construction and validity

Background The application of measurement instruments is a strategy to evaluate the patient's knowledge about the disease. This study aims to build an instrument that evaluates the patient's knowledge about liver cirrhosis. Method This study includes three phases. The first one was the construction of the instrument based on a literature review. In the second phase, five experts were participated in the evaluation of the instrument, to check the validity of the content. Quantitative and qualitative analyzes were made. The tool used was the CVI (Content Validity Index) and it was used the semantic study of the questions. The third phase was the process of the restructuring the instrument. Results The final version of the instrument consisted of 36 questions. The instrument was evaluated in 91.7 by the average CVI and 94.4% by the universal CVI. Conclusions The questions are properly structured and clear, therefore, understandable. Thus, the final instrument presented satisfactory content validity, so that, it reached the aim of this study.

Collecting Cultural Feedback on Ethiopian Views on Girls, Sport, and Voice

This qualitative study used data collected from five interviews conducted to gather cultural and linguistic feedback on a 21-question instrument created for a future study focused on Ethiopian girl athletes. Participants met the following criteria: (a) native to Ethiopia (b) at least 15 years old and (c) proficient English reading and speaking skills. Participants did not complete the questionnaire, rather, they read it and provided cultural and linguistic feedback on its content. Participants provided feedback via interviews both in person and over the phone during a two-week period. The instrument was designed to collect data from members of Girls Gotta Run Foundation, a non-profit organization in Ethiopia that uses sport to promote gender equity. It consists of questions that focus on girls’ perceptions on the constructs of gender, sport, and voice empowerment. Findings demonstrated the importance of providing greater flexibility in questions that related to age and career goals, while the impact running has on Ethiopian culture was reinforced. Conducting this pilot study demonstrated the importance of testing cross-cultural instruments prior to final instrument administration to gain the most culturally accurate data possible.

Development of the Nurses’ Intention to Use Deep Vein Thrombosis Preventive Measures Questionnaire

Background and PurposeDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition resulting in poor patient outcomes. Therefore, methods to improve nurses’ use of preventive measures for DVT are paramount. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument that captured nurses’ intentions to use DVT preventive measures.MethodsInstrument development occurred in several stages stemming from the recommended formatted structure associated with theory of planned behavior (TPB). Content validity was established with a panel of experts, then the instrument was pilot tested with a sample of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.ResultsThe final instrument consisted of four subscales, each subscale was tested with four items by content validity index (CVI) ranging between 0.8 and 1.0, and an overall S-CVI/Ave of 0.93.ConclusionsThe instrument demonstrated high content validity. Future research will test the instrument for psychometric properties.

Spatial Disorientation Impact on the Precise Approach in Simulated Flight

BACKGROUND: The risks posed by flight illusions impacting pilot spatial orientation have been determined as a safety concern from numerous past aviation accident investigations. Early demonstration of the adverse effects of flight illusions on spatial orientation would be desirable for all pilots, especially at the early training stages to deeply embed good practices for onset detection, flight correction, and response mitigation.METHOD: Simulated flights on a disorientation demonstrator were performed by 19 pilots for 3 conditions: no illusion, somatogyral illusion, and Coriolis illusion. An objective approach for assessing pilot performance degradation due to flight illusions can be done by using a defined flight profile: instrument landing system (ILS) flight trajectory during final instrument approach. Deviations to the standard ILS profile were recorded to measure and evaluate the influence of the demonstrated flight illusion on pilot performance.RESULTS: The results show the expectation that the smallest deviations from the ideal trajectory are caused by pilot tracking error (no illusion), and the greatest deviations are caused by the Coriolis illusion. Results demonstrated a statistically significant effect of illusions on performance. According to statements from pilots, training for flight illusion response is essential to complement training in aircraft regulations and aerodynamics.DISCUSSION: Measuring the influence of vestibular illusions on flight profile with a simulator allows assessment of individual differences and improvement of pilot performance under the conditions of no illusion, the somatogyral illusion, and the Coriolis illusion.Boril J, Smrz V, Blasch E, Lone M. Spatial disorientation impact on the precise approach in simulated flight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):767775.

Development of an instrument measuring Navigation Health Literacy in the Health Literacy Survey 2019

Background Complex and intransparent structures are the main reasons why it is difficult for patients to navigate the healthcare system. Thus, patients need specific competencies to deal with health information related to orientation and finding the right pathways through the healthcare system. The aim was therefore to develop an internationally applicable instrument for measuring Navigation Health Literacy (N-HL) within the European Health Literacy Survey 2019 (HLS19). Methods Item development was conducted by a working group within the HLS19 consortium. It consisted of a scoping review on definitions, concepts and instruments, development of a definition of N-HL, a concept mapping and first item formation. The items were further developed by an evaluation by 6 experts, 4 focus group discussions, and feedback from members of the HLS19 Consortium. Finally, the feedback was integrated into the instrument and pretested in 33 interviews. Results 10 publications providing concepts and instruments assessing navigational aspects were identified, but the process of dealing with information was scarcely considered. Therefore, based on the HL definition by Sørensen et al. (2012) N-HL was defined as difficulties in finding, understanding, appraising and applying health information for navigating the healthcare system. In total, 10 tasks at system, organization and interaction level emerged within this definition, on which the final instrument is based. Of 15 initial items, 3 items were assessed as not relevant by experts. The feedback from focus group and HLS19 discussions lead to further revision and addition of items. The final instrument consists of 12 items which proved to be applicable in the pretest. Conclusions The instrument can be used to assess N-HL in international population studies and has been used within the HLS19 study to generate internationally comparable data on N-HL for the first time. By that it can form a basis for intervention development and monitoring. Key messages An instrument for measuring navigation health literacy (N-HL) is important to assess and monitor difficulties of patients to navigate the healthcare system and to underpin intervention development. The N-HL instrument of HLS19 can be used to assess N-HL in international population studies and provides internationally comparable data.

Diseño y validación de un instrumento para evaluar el acoso escolar al término de la Educación Primaria

RESUMENEn este artículo se presenta el proceso seguido para diseñar, construir y validar el instrumento “CAES”, Cuestionario de evaluación de Acoso Escolar, dirigido a alumnado de 6º de Educación Primaria, 11-13 años. Con él se pretende valorar cómo comprenden los escolares los conceptos de acoso escolar y ciberacoso, qué percepciones tienen los estudiantes como alumnado agresor, víctima o espectador y, por último, qué habilidades para la resolución de conflictos poseen, ya sean de índole personal y/o social. Se ha partido de un amplio marco conceptual, incluyendo normas legales y aspectos prácticos de las dinámicas relacionales en educación. El instrumento final ha quedado conformado por 40 ítems y ha sido administrado a 494 escolares. Desde el proceso de diseño hasta su validación se han utilizado diferentes herramientas estadísticas, caso de realización de un juicio de expertos, el desarrollo de un análisis factorial exploratorio y el cálculo del índice Alpha de Cronbach. Los estadísticos calculados han mostrado elevados índices de validez, caso de un índice medio de validez de contenido de .86, y fiabilidad, índice de .76. La utilidad de contar con instrumentos en los centros educativos como el presentado en esta investigación es trascendental, especialmente cuando, desafortunadamente, el acoso escolar es una realidad existente en las prácticas escolares. Prestar atención al clima relacional y a las interacciones entre el alumnado constituye una tarea clave de los profesionales de la educación, más si cabe en los cambios de nivel de escolarización y etapa educativa. Instrumentos como el presentado contribuyen a tal fin, facilitando la labor docente y orientadora.ABSTRACT This article presents the process followed to design, build and validate the “CAES” instrument, School Bullying Assessment Questionnaire, aimed at students in 6th grade of Primary Education, 11-13 years. It is intended to assess how schoolchildren understand the concepts of bullying and cyberbullying, what perceptions students have as aggressors, victims or spectators and, finally, what skills for conflict resolution they possess, whether personal or social It has started from a broad conceptual framework, including legal norms and practical aspects of relational dynamics in education. The final instrument has been made up of 40 items and has been administered to 494 students. From the design process to its validation, different statistical tools have been used, in the case of an expert trial or the development of an exploratory factor analysis and the calculation of Cronbach's Alpha index. The calculated statistics have shown high rates of validity, case of an average content validity index of .86, and reliability, index of .76. The usefulness of having instruments in educational centers such as the one presented in this research is transcendental, especially if, unfortunately, bullying is an existing reality in school practices. Paying attention to the relational climate and interactions among students is a key task of education professionals, but it does fit the changes in the level of schooling and educational stage. Instruments such as the one presented contribute to this end, facilitating teaching and guidance work.

Safety Implications of GNSS Signal Interference at Zilina Airport

The paper deals with the issue of GNSS interference and its subsequent impact on airport approach procedures. It discusses the problem of GNSS signal interference and interference identification on a practical example of a small regional airport in Zilina, located close to the highway, through research aimed at its identification, a proposal for the location of a monitoring station and subsequent practical verification. The paper seeks to analyse and provide recommendations for enhancing safety and reliability in GNSS approaches. Given the need to develop the air transport, it is important to ensure the safety and continuity of service provision at small regional airports. The GNSS approach at airports with insufficiently equipped navigation infrastructure seems to be one of the most suitable. Introduction of the GNSS interference monitoring in the final instrument approach phase would increase the safety and reliability of the flight.