Warning Against Faking: Boon or Bane? Effects on Test Score Validity

Previous research found personality test scores to be inflated on average among individuals who were motivated to present themselves in a desirable fashion in high stakes situations, such as during the employee selection process. One apparently effective way to reduce the undesirable test score inflation in such situations was to warn participants against faking. This research set out to investigate whether warning against faking would indeed affect personality test scores in the theoretically expected fashion. Contrary to expectations, the results did not support the hypothesized causal chain. Results across three studies show that while a warning may lower test scores in participants motivated to respond desirably (i.e., to fake), the effect of warning on test scores was not fully mediated by: a reduction in motivation to do well and self-reports of exaggerated responses in the personality test. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Determinación de la eficacia del score diagnóstico de apendicitis en el departamento de emergencia del Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso de Cuenca en el período febrero - julio 2007

Se realizó un estudio trasversal en una población de 306 pacientes con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo no traumático, validación de la prueba diagnóstica y factores asociados en 129 con diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda; el grupo de estudio estuvo conformado por pacientes de edad comprendida entre los 16 y 75 años. Los datos fueron recolectados, por los autores, en un formulario estructurado y analizados con el software SPSS. Resultados: la prevalencia de apendicitis aguda, en la población de 306 pacientes, fue del 42(IC 9533.5-50.5). En los 129 con diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda, el Score dio positivo en el 92.2de los casos comparado con el resultado de anatomía patológica. La asociación entre apendicitis aguda con el sexo dio una razón de prevalencia (PR) de 0.98 IC 950.89-1.08), p=1.00; con el antecedente familiar de apendicitis una RP 0.94 (IC 950.78-1.14) p=0.36 y con alimentación de frutas con semilla RP 1.088 (IC 951.03-1.15) p=1.000 (test exacto de Fisher). La sensibilidad para la prueba diagnóstica, score para apendicitis, fue del 94.96, la especificidad del 60, el valor predictivo positivo del 96.6, el valor predictivo negativo del 50y el índice de Kappa del 0.5 con una p=0.000. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de apendicitis fue del 42; se encontró asociación significativa con alimentación con frutas con semilla. La sensibilidad del score para apendicitis fue del 94.96y la especificidad del 60

Comparison between CDC and WHO BMI z-score and their relation with metabolic risk markers in Northern Portuguese obese adolescents

Growth-curves are an important tool for evaluating the anthropometric development in pediatrics. The different growth-curves available are based in different populations, what leads to different cut-offs. Pediatric obesity tracks into adulthood and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The accurate assessment of a child nutritional status using growth-curves can indicate individuals that are either obese or in risk of becoming obese, allowing an early intervention. Moreover, the association between the data obtained from growth-curves with specific metabolic risk factors further highlights the importance of these charts. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between body mass index z-score (BMIzsc), determined using the growth-curves from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the World Health Organization (WHO), with cardiovascular risk factors, represented here by metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin resistance (IR) related parameters. The study involved 246 obese adolescents (10-18 years, 122 females). MS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation. IR was considered for HOMA-IR greater than 2.5.

“Enjoy your baby” Internet-based CBT for mothers with babies: a feasibility randomised control trial

Background: Postnatal depression is a global health problem with lasting effects on the family. Government policy is focussed on early intervention and increasing access to psychological therapies. There is a growing evidence base for the use of computerised CBT packages and this study investigated the feasibility of a CBT-based self-help internet intervention for new mothers. Objective: To assess the ability to recruit mothers, deliver an internet course, obtain follow-up data and evaluate what mothers think of the course. Design: A feasibility randomised control design was used to compare a waiting list control group (delayed access= DA) to the Enjoy Your Baby course (immediate access= IA). Measures were administered at baseline and 8 week follow-up. Methods: Adverts were placed in the Metro freesheet, on charity web pages, on social media, posters were put up in the community, and leaflets were handed out at mother and baby groups. Participants had to be 18 years old or over with a child less than 18 months old. The IA arm was given access to the course straight away. After 8 weeks all participants were asked to recomplete the original measures and those in the IA arm also gave feedback on the course. Participants in the DA arm were given access after recompleting the questionnaires. Due to a lack of follow-up data a small discussion group was conducted. Intervention: The course contains 4 core modules including helping mothers understand why they feel the way they do and helping them build closeness to their babies. Additional modules, worksheets and homework tasks were available. The DA group were given a list of additional support resources and services, and encouraged to seek additional help if required. All participants received weekly automated emails for 12 weeks as they worked through the course. It was not possible to deliver individualised support. 34 Results: Despite using a number of recruitment strategies, recruitment was lower and slower than anticipated, and attrition was high. 41 women, primarily recruited via the internet, were randomised (IA n=21, DA n=20). No significant differences were observed between participants in either arm at baseline and no statistically significant differences were identified when the demographics and baseline measures of participants who logged-on to the course were compared to those who did not, or when participants who completed follow-up measures were compared to those who did not. Pre and post intervention scores on the EPDS approached statistical significance (P=.059, r=.444) favouring the intervention arm. The discussion group suggested strengths of the course and recommended areas for improvement, including making the course more mobile friendly. Conclusion: Internet interventions show promise; however it is difficult to recruit mothers, engagement is low and attrition high. A number of recommendations are made and a further pilot or an internal pilot of a larger substantive study should be conducted to confirm recruitment and retention. Trial ID: ISRCTN90927910.

Validación de un score de neumonía bacteriana como métodos para predecir etiología en pacientes de 1 mes a 8 años de edad, ingresados en Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom, Mayo - Diciembre 2009.

Determinar la etiología de las neumonías para decidir su tratamiento, no es simple, sin una prueba confirmatoria los médicos se apoyan de evaluaciones clínicas, radiológicas, de laboratorio y edad de pacientes, es por ello, que se estudió una regla de predicción clínica que combinó varios elementos que incrementaron la capacidad diagnóstica de dicha patología. Objetivo: Se evaluó la capacidad diagnóstica de una escala de puntaje para predecir etiología en niños con neumonía (Bacterial Pneumonia Score), y otras variables no incluidas en el score que resultaron asociadas a las neumonías. Estudio descriptivo, transversal, retrospectivo de evaluación de prueba diagnóstica, en Hospital Benjamin Bloom, desde mayo a diciembre 2009, incluyendo ≥1 mes a 8 años de edad, hospitalizados por neumonía, con datos de temperatura, radiografía torácica, hemograma, hisopado nasofaríngeo, se excluyeron los pacientes que necesitaron cuidados en UCI o intermedios, con patologías respiratorias crónicas, cuerpo extraño o aspiración, enfermedades oncológicas, inmunodeficiencias o neumonía con radiografía 8 semanas previo al ingreso en estudio. Resultados: Se incluyeron 275 pacientes, de ellos 120 diagnosticados con patología viral y 180 con etiología bacteriana, se registraron datos del expediente clínico a través de un cuestionario que contempló variables del BPS además de otras que resultaron estadísticamente asociadas por Chi cuadrado. Según el score ≥ 4 puntos se calculó una sensibilidad de 79% (IC 95%: 75-82), especificidad de 91% (IC 95%: 85-96), valor predictivo positivo de 94% (IC 95% 90-97) y valor predictivo negativo de 69% (IC %: 61-78).y una eficacia diagnostica bajo curva ROC de 0.88. Conclusión: El BPS resultó tener buena capacidad para identificar la mayoría de pacientes con neumonía acteriana, pero se mostró más preciso para descartarla.

Modelação matemática para identificar o valor de T-Score

A osteoporose é uma patologia esquelética sistémica, caracterizada pela diminuição da massa óssea, provocando uma diminuição da resistência do osso e, consequentemente um aumento do risco de fraturas no indivíduo. Neste estudo pretende-se prever o valor que permite determinar se um paciente tem ou não osteoporose, denominado de T-Score. Normalmente este valor é obtido através de um exame de densitometria óssea, a absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DEXA). Além disso, pretendeu-se converter os valores de T-Score e a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) (ou bone mineral density - BMD) para os vários equipamentos existentes para este exame. Para finalizar, criou-se um documento PDF com as previsões e as conversões alcançadas.

Rendimiento del score PIM 2 en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos

Objetivo: evaluar el rendimiento del score de predicción de mortalidad PIM 2 en una población de pacientes pediátricos críticos. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo, entre el 01 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2013. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con una edad comprendida entre 29 días y 14 años que ingresaron a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (CIP) de la Asociación Española. Fueron excluidos aquellos pacientes que fallecieron antes de las 12 horas, los que ingresaron para monitorización u observación luego de procedimientos endoscópicos o quirúrgicos menores o para realización de vías y los neonatos. Para evaluar el rendimiento del score PIM 2 se analizó tanto su calibración, como su discriminación, mediante la aplicación del test de bondad de ajuste de Hosmer-Lemeshow y la construcción de la curva ROC y el cálculo del área bajo la curva. Resultados: se incluyeron 184 pacientes para el análisis. La tasa de mortalidad de esta población fue de 5,4% (IC95% 1,88-8,98). La media de internación fue de 8,3 días (rango 12 horas a 27 días) y en el caso de los fallecidos fue de 11.3 días (rango 1-20). La aplicación del test de Hosmer-Lemeshow arrojó un valor de Chi cuadrado de 5,37 (p=0,71). El área bajo la curva ROC fue de 0,90. Para un punto de corte de 0,5 el rendimiento de la prueba evidenció una validez global del 96,7% (IC 95% entre 93,77-99,57), un valor predictivo positivo del 100% (87,50-100) y un valor predictivo negativo de 96,67% (93,77-99,57). La sensibilidad para este corte fue del 40% (4,64-75,36) y una especificidad del 100% (99,71-100). Conclusiones: el score PIM 2 ha presentado en la población estudiada una adecuada calibración y discriminación global. Por tanto, su utilidad como instrumento para medición y evaluación de la calidad asistencial permanece vigente. Pese a ello, su aplicabilidad práctica fue limitada en pacientes asignados a deciles de riesgo “bajo” en donde el score presentó problemas de discriminación y una alta tasa de falsos negativos.

Relação entre o score de adesão à dieta mediterrânica e a hemoglobina glicosilada em pessoas com diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Poster apresentado no XIV Congresso de Nutrição e Alimentação. Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, 21-22 Maio de 2015

Hospital Care for Newborn Babies: Quality Assessment, A Systematic Review

Context: Neonatal mortality rate is declining globally. The aim of the present study is to identify relevant indicators for assessing newborn care in hospitals by a systematic review. Evidence Acquisition: A search on electronic data base and manual searches of personal files for studies on quality indicators of newborn care were carried out. Searching 9 bibliographic databases, we found 85 articles of which 22 exactly related ones were selected and studied. Hand search yielded 1 record were also searched and 2 records were included. Results: A list of 87 structure, process and outcome indicators was formulated from the articles. Also 26 excess measures were identified in gray literature. After removing duplicates, and categorizing in 3 domains, 18 measures were input, 41 process and 34 outcome measures. Conclusions: These 93 indicators provide a framework for assessing how well the hospitals are providing neonatal care. These measures should be discussed in each context expert panels to address nationally applicable indices of neonatal care and may be adapted for local health settings.

Development of an activity disease score in patients with uveitis (UVEDAI)

To develop a disease activity index for patients with uveitis (UVEDAI) encompassing the relevant domains of disease activity considered important among experts in this field. The steps for designing UVEDAI were: (a) Defining the construct and establishing the domains through a formal judgment of experts, (b) A two-round Delphi study with a panel of 15 experts to determine the relevant items, (c) Selection of items: A logistic regression model was developed that set ocular inflammatory activity as the dependent variable. The construct “uveitis inflammatory activity” was defined as any intraocular inflammation that included external structures (cornea) in addition to uvea. Seven domains and 15 items were identified: best-corrected visual acuity, inflammation of the anterior chamber (anterior chamber cells, hypopyon, the presence of fibrin, active posterior keratic precipitates and iris nodules), intraocular pressure, inflammation of the vitreous cavity (vitreous haze, snowballs and snowbanks), central macular edema, inflammation of the posterior pole (the presence and number of choroidal/retinal lesions, vascular inflammation and papillitis), and global assessment from both (patient and physician). From all the variables studied in the multivariate model, anterior chamber cell grade, vitreous haze, central macular edema, inflammatory vessel sheathing, papillitis, choroidal/retinal lesions and patient evaluation were included in UVEDAI. UVEDAI is an index designed to assess the global ocular inflammatory activity in patients with uveitis. It might prove worthwhile to motorize the activity of this extraarticular manifestation of some rheumatic diseases.

Asfixia perinatal y proteína S100B

La asfixia perinatal es la principal causa de muerte en la primera semana de vida la nivel mundial, los niños que sufren esta complicación y sobreviven pueden presentar trastornos neurológicos de diferente nivel de compromiso que inciden en su desarrollo personal y social. Las cifras de muerte por este problema de salud han disminuido de manera importante, sin embargo en el reporte de la Organización Mundial de Salud (OPS) del 2010, la asfixia perinatal es causa del 29% de muertes infantiles en los países de América Latina y el Caribe 2. Es necesario conocer además la extensión del daño neurológico que sufren estos niños, con este fin se desarrolló un estudio piloto en el Hospital Universitario Mayor Mederi de Bogotá, en el cual se determinó la concentración de un marcador metabólico de daño cerebral, la proteína S100B en suero de 60 recién nacidos sanos, con el objetivo de analizar la asociación del mismo con el peso al nacer, la edad gestacional y el diagnóstico. Los resultados no mostraron diferencias significativas entre este marcador y las variables analizadas que puede asociarse al pequeño número de pacientes, sin embargo han sentado las bases para el desarrollo de un estudio que incluya varios hospitales de Bogotá y sobre todo la determinación del mismo en recién nacidos con diagnóstico de hipoxia en el período perinatal, lo cual aportará información del grado de la alteración que puedan tener a nivel cerebral y contribuya al mejor manejo evolutivo con la aplicación de medidas de intervención en estadios tempranos de la vida.

Correlacion entre hemoglobina glicosilada con hallazgos sintax score ii en pacientes con sospecha clínica de enfermedad coronaria, hospitalizados en la unidad coronaria del hospital San José centro en enero a septiembre del año 2015

Se realiza un estudio de corte transversal en el periodo de enero a septiembre del año 2016 en la unidad coronaria del Hospital San José Centro de la Ciudad de Bogotá; en pacientes con sospecha de enfermedad coronaria (Síndrome coronario agudo y angina estable) y antecedente de Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2, se recolectaron 42 pacientes con los criterios de inclusión a quienes se realizó angiografía coronaria como parte del protocolo de estudio y manejo de la unidad, el objetivo primario fue demostrar la posible correlación entre niveles de hemoglobina glicosilada y la escala de severidad SYNTAX Score I y II de enfermedad coronaria, como objetivos secundarios; caracterizar las variables sociodemográficas, comorbilidades y posible relación con el tipo de presentación de enfermedad coronaria. Como hallazgos relevantes no se encontró correlación importante ni significativa entre niveles de hemoglobina glicosilada y la escala Syntax score II ni Syntax score I, a pesar de que la mayoría de pacientes mostraban mal control crónico de su diabetes mellitus tipo 2, con niveles mayores > 7%, como hallazgo positivo se encontro asociación estadísticamente significativa con niveles de LDL y las diferentes formas de presentación de enfermedad coronaria, a mayor niveles de LDL mayor probabilidad de IAM e IAM con elevación del segmento ST. Se considera que con estudios multicentricos en diferentes ciudades y unidades de cuidado cardiovascular con diferentes niveles de riesgo, se podría demostrar la posible correlación entre niveles de hemoglobina glicosilada y los grados de severidad de enfermedad coronaria representados por las escalas Syntax score I y II.

Proposal and Validation of a Scale of Composite Measure Reactivity Score to Characterize the Reactivity in Horses During Handling

This study aimed to identify the parameters related to the expression of the reactivity in horses during handling and based on that proposed and validated a scale of composite measure reactivity score to characterize horse's reactivity. To this end, the first stage (S1) proposed the scale and the second (S2) validated it. In S1, 364 Lusitano horses were evaluated, 188 were adult breeding mares (4–12 years old), and 176 were foals (males/females, aged from 2 months to 2 years). During hooves trimming, vermifuge application, palpation scores were assigned to behaviors of movement, ears and eyes position, breathing, vocalization, and urination. A response parameter called reactivity was attributed to each animal, ranging from score 1 (nonreactive/calm) to score 4 (very reactive/aggressive). The verification of the possible parameters (age, behavior), which explains the response parameter (reactivity), was taken using ordinal proportional odds model. Movement, breathing, ears and eyes position, vocalization, and age appear to explain the reactivity of horses during handling (P < .01). Therefore, based on these parameters, it was possible to propose two scales of composite measure reactivity score: one to characterize the mares and another the foals. On S2, the proposed scale was validated by the simultaneous application of Forced Human Approach Test, another commonly used test to evaluate the reactivity in horses, with a correlation of 0.97 (P < .05). The assessment of the reactivity of horses during handling by a composite measure reactivity score scale is valid, and easy to apply, without disrupting daily routine and override the impact of individual differences.

Portuguese Version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised: Validation Data and the Establishment of a Cut-Score for Screening Purposes

The aim of the present study is to provide validation data regarding the Portuguese version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire Revised in nonclinical individuals. Two studies were undertaken with two different nonclinical samples in order to demonstrate reliability, concurrent, predictive, and construct validity, and in order to establish an appropriate cut-score for nonclinical individuals. A sample of 810 community adults participated in Study 1. Results from this study provided information regarding scale internal consistency, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis established a cut-off score to be used for screening purposes with nonclinical individuals. A sample of 440 young adults participated in Study 2, which demonstrated scale score internal consistency and 5-month predictive validity. Further, 5-month test-retest reliability was also evaluated and the correlations of SBQ-R scale scores with two other measures that assess constructs related to suicidality, depression and psychache, were also performed. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken to demonstrate the robustness of the result obtained in Study 1. Overall, findings supported the psychometric appropriateness of the Portuguese Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revise

Development and validation of an echocardiography score for diagnosis of cardiac masses

Background Echocardiography is the cornerstone in the evaluation of cardiac masses and provides accurate characterization. Despite, its accuracy in diagnosis of cardiac masses (CM) remains challenging and, up to date, no validated diagnostic algorithm is validated. Purpose The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography, to identify the echocardiographic predictors of malignancy and to develop and then validate a multiparametric echocardiographic score that could be used to estimate the likelihood of the histological nature of a CM. Materials and methods The final sample consisted of 273 consecutive patients who had a 2D-echocardiographic evaluation and a histologic diagnosis. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the ability of echocardiographic findings to discriminate benign versus malignant masses, then a scoring system was developed and validated in a separate test cohort. Results Of the 322 patients initially included in the Bologna Cardiac Masses Registry, 13 with a poor acoustic window, 27 with no histological examination patients and 9 extra-cardiac masses were excluded. In the remaining 273 patients, classical 2-D echocardiogram identified 249 masses with a diagnostic accuracy of 88%. A weighted score [Diagnostic Echocardiographic Mass (DEM) Score] ranging from 0 to 9 was obtained from 6 variables: infiltration, polylobate mass, moderate-severe pericardial effusion. The AUC for the score was 0.965 (95% CI [0.938-0.993]). In a logistic regression analysis using the DEM score as a predictor, the likelihood of malignant CM increased more than 4 times for a 1-unit increase in the score (OR=4.468; 95% CI 2.733-7.304). A score < 3 denoted a high probability of a benign diagnosis, and a score ≥ 5 points corresponded to a higher risk of malignancy. Conclusion 2D-Echocardiography provides a high diagnostic accuracy in identifying cardiac masses and our multiparametric echocardiographic score could be useful to predict the histological nature of cardiac masses.