Diet quality in bipolar disorder in a population-based sample of women

Background : Recent epidemiological evidence has indicated a role for diet quality in unipolar depressive illness. This study examined the association between diet quality and bipolar disorder (BD) in an epidemiological cohort of randomly selected, population-based women aged 20–93 years.

Methods : An a priori diet quality score was derived from food frequency questionnaire data, a factor analysis identified habitual dietary patterns and glycemic load was assessed. Mental health was assessed using the SCID-I/NP.

Results : BD was identified in 23 women and there were 691 participants with no history of psychopathology. Compared to those with no psychopathology, those with BD had a higher glycemic load (p = 0.06) and higher scores on a ‘western’ dietary factor (p = 0.03) and the ‘modern’ dietary factor (p = 0.02). For each standard deviation increase in a ‘western’ and ‘modern’ dietary pattern and glycemic load, the odds ratios for BD were increased (‘western’ OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.33–2.65; ‘modern’ OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.14–2.39; GL OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.13–2.14). Conversely, a ‘traditional’ dietary pattern was associated with reduced odds for BD (OR = 0.53 95% CI 0.32–0.89) after adjustments for overall energy intake.

Limitations : The small sample size did not allow for multivariate analyses and the cross-sectional study design precludes any determinations regarding the direction of the relationships between diet quality and BD.

Conclusion : These data are largely concordant with results from dietary studies in unipolar depression. However, clinical recommendations cannot be made until the direction of the relationship between diet quality and BD is determined. Longitudinal studies are warranted.

Measuring customer satisfaction in tourist service encounters

This paper sets out to model quality and satisfaction judgements of college students within four distinct tourist encounters. A novel approach is used where respondents rated an entire service setting by proxy when evaluating a picture in which certain quality variables had been manipulated. Each picture contained separate ôobjectsö of the service that we claim would be evaluated on a cognitive plane along different dimensions for the relevant attributes of each encounter. The scores were then used to develop regression models to estimate the influence of distinct quality factors on overall satisfaction

A review of mathematical equations to assign individual marks from a team mark

BACKGROUND : Team-based learning is an integral part of engineering education today. Development of team skills is now a part of the curriculum at universities as employers demand these skills on graduates. Higher education institutions enforce academic staff to teach, practise and assess team skills, and at the same time, they ask academic staff to supply individual marks and/or grades. Allocating individual marks from a team mark is a very complex and sensitive task that may adversely affect both individual and team performance. A number of both qualitative and quantitative methods are available to address this issue. Quantitative mathematical methods are favoured over qualitative subjective methods as they are more straightforward to explain to the students and they may help minimise conflicts between assessors and students. PURPOSE : This study presents a review of commonly used mathematical equations to allocate individual marks from a team mark. Quantitative analytical equations are favoured over qualitative subjective methods because they are more straightforward to explain to the students and if explained to the students in advance, they may help minimise conflicts between assessors and students. Some of these analytical equations focus primarily on the assessment of the quality of teamwork product (product assessment) while the others put greater emphasis on the assessment of teamwork performance (process assessment). The remaining equations try to strike a balance between product assessment and process assessment. The primary purpose of this study is to discuss the qualitative aspects of quantitative equations. DESIGN/METHOD : This study simulates a set of scenarios of team marks and individual contributions that collectively cover all possible teamwork assessment environments. The available analytical equations are then applied to each case to examine their relative merits with respect to a set of evaluation criteria with exhaustive graphical plots. RESULTS : Although each analytical equations discussed and analysed in this study has its own merits for a particular application scenario, the recent methods such as knee formula in SPARKPLUS and cap formula, are relatively better in terms of a number of evaluation criteria such as fairness, teamwork attitude, balance between process and product assessments etc. In addition to having all favourable properties of knee formula, cap formula explicitly considers the quality of teamwork (i.e., team mark) while allocating individual marks. Cap formula may, however, be difficult to explain to the students due to relatively complex mathematical equations involved. CONCLUSIONS : Not all existing analytical equations that allocate individual marks from a team mark have similar characteristics. Recent methods, knee formula and cap formula, are advantageous in terms of a number of evaluation criteria and are recommended to apply in practice. However, it is important to examine these equations with respect to enhancing students’ learning achievements rather than the students and academic staff’s preferences.

Performance of the assessment of quality of life measure in people with hip and knee joint disease and implications for research and clinical use

Objective
To comprehensively evaluate the performance of the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with hip and knee joint disease (arthritis or osteoarthritis).

Methods
Data from 237 individuals were available for analysis from a national cross-sectional, population-based study of hip and knee joint disease in Australia. AQoL-4D data were evaluated using Rasch analysis. A range of measurement properties was explored, including model and item fit, threshold ordering, differential item functioning, and targeting.

Results
Good overall fit of the AQoL with the Rasch model was demonstrated across a range of tests, supporting internal validity. Only 1 item (relating to hearing) showed evidence of misfit. Most AQoL items showed logical sequencing of response option categories, with threshold disordering evident for only 2 of the 12 items (items 4 and 9). Minor issues with potential clinical and research implications include limited options for reporting pain and some evidence of measurement bias between demographic subgroups (including age and sex). Participants' HRQOL was generally better than that represented by the AQoL items (mean ± SD for person abilities −2.15 ± 1.39, mean ± SD for item difficulties 0.00 ± 0.67), indicating ceiling effects that could impact the instrument's ability to detect HRQOL improvement in population-based studies.

Conclusion
The AQoL is a competent tool for assessing HRQOL in people with hip and knee joint disease, although researchers and clinicians should consider the caveats identified when selecting appropriate HRQOL measures for future outcome assessment involving this patient group.

The graduate teacher workforce : shaping teacher quality in Australia

Studying the Effectiveness of Teacher Education (SETE) is a four-year, mixed-method, longitudinal study investigating graduate teachers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of teacher education. The main target population were new teacher education graduates (those who graduated in 2010/2011) registered as teachers in Victoria and Queensland. The secondary target population were the school principals in those schools where the graduate teacher was employed. Identification of the main target population is drawn from Teacher Registration Authority databases. The quantitative component of the SETE project involves tracking teacher education graduates through a series of four surveys, collecting data on the influence of initial teacher education on graduate teachers’ perceptions of their preparation and effectiveness across key areas and in diverse school settings.

The development of a medication calculation competency and quality use of renal medicine e-learning program.

Medication calculation and administration are commonly performed nursing tasks. A consequence of this frequency is thepotential for a higher incidence of medication-related errors. One strategy to assess proficiency in medication calculation is an annual medication calculation competency quiz. Traditionally, these quizzes are done in paper form at an institutional level and require educators or managers to administer and mark the quiz manually by hand. This paper discusses the rationale, challenges and peer-review process associated with the development of an e-learning programme designed to assess proficiency in medication calculation and the quality use of renal medicines.

Effects of season period, team quality, and playing time on basketball players' game-related statistics

The aim of this study was to identify within-season differences in basketball players' game-related statistics according to team quality and playing time. The sample comprised 5309 records from 198 players in the Spanish professional basketball league (2007-2008). Factor analysis with principal components was applied to the game-related statistics gathered from the official box-scores, which limited the analysis to five factors (free-throws, 2-point field-goals, 3-point field-goals, passes, and errors) and two variables (defensive and offensive rebounds). A two-step cluster analysis classified the teams as stronger (69 ± 8 winning percentage), intermediate (43 ± 5 winning percentage), and weaker teams (32 ± 5 winning percentage); individual players were classified based on playing time as important players (28 ± 4 min) or less important players (16 ± 4 min). Seasonal variation was analysed monthly in eight periods. A mixed linear model was applied to identify the effects of team quality and playing time within the months of the season on the previously identified factors and game-related statistics. No significant effect of season period was observed. A team quality effect was identified, with stronger teams being superior in terms of 2-point field-goals and passes. The weaker teams were the worst at defensive rebounding (stronger teams: 0.17 ± 0.05; intermediate teams: 0.17 ± 0.06; weaker teams: 0.15 ± 0.03; P = 0.001). While playing time was significant in almost all variables, errors were the most important factor when contrasting important and less important players, with fewer errors being made by important players. The trends identified can help coaches and players to create performance profiles according to team quality and playing time. However, these performance profiles appear to be independent of season period.

Child AD/HD severity and psychological functioning in relation to divorce, remarriage, multiple transitions and the quality of family relationships

Both Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and divorce are very prevalent in western societies, and they may occur together. AD/HD is generally viewed as a neurobiological disorder, which has led to a commonly held belief that social-environmental factors play little role in the symptom profile of children diagnosed with the disorder. This study investigated the association between parental divorce, remarriage, multiple transitions, the quality of relationships with family members and the psychological well-being of children and adolescents with AD/HD. First, differences in children’s AD/HD symptom profiles in relation to parents’ divorce status (single/multiple divorce) and family composition (single parent/stepfamily) were examined. Second, the association between the quality of children’s relationships with each family member and parents’ marital status (divorced/non-divorced) and family composition was investigated. In addition, age, gender and AD/HD subtype differences were assessed. Third, the association between the quality of children’s interactions with family members and children’s AD/HD symptom profile was explored. No significant differences in children’s behavioural profiles were found in terms of parents’ divorce status. Living in stepfamilies was associated with greater AD/HD severity and social malfunctioning. Disruptive parent–child and sibling relationships were found to be related to children’s age, gender, AD/HD subtype and parents’ marital status. Further, poor interactions with family members correlated with children’s AD/HD severity and psychological well-being. In summary, divorce, remarriage and the quality of relationships with family members are important correlates of the symptom profile of children with AD/HD, and this emphasises the need for special treatment modules for these families.