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Comparing Scores (comparing + score)
Selected AbstractsPROD-screen , a screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003M. Heinimaa Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the PROD-screen, an instrument for screening prodromal symptoms indicating risk for psychotic conversion in the near future. PROD-screen consists of 29 questions assessing performance and symptoms. Clinical construct validity was tested by comparing scores from the unselected general population (GP, n = 64) with those of general psychiatric patients from a community mental health centre (CMHC, n = 107). The concordant validity of PROD-screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosis was assessed in a large epidemiologically mixed sample of research subjects (n = 132) by comparing PROD-screen scores with the prodromal diagnosis made by Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms as a gold standard. Using the cut-off point of 2/12 specific symptoms, PROD-screen gave correct classification of prodromal status in 77% of cases, distinguishing prodromal from non-prodromal subjects with reasonable sensitivity (80%) and specificity (75%) in the epidemiologically mixed sample. According to subsample analysis PROD-screen functions well with first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients and probably also with general population samples, but not with psychiatric outpatients. In conclusion, PROD-screen is a useful tool for screening prodromal symptoms of psychosis and selecting subjects for more extensive research interviews. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Improving Medical Student Attitudes Toward Older Patients Through a "Council of Elders" and Reflective Writing ExperienceJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 2 2009Glenda R. Westmoreland MD In an effort to reduce "agism" which is prevalent among medical trainees, a new geriatrics educational experience for medical students aimed at improving attitudes toward older patients was developed. Each 90-minute Older Adult Session included four components: initial reflective writing exercise; introduction to the session; 75-minute dialogue with the "Council of Elders," a group of active, "well" older adults; and final reflective writing exercise. The new session was provided to 237 first- and second-year medical students during the 2006/07 academic year at Indiana University School of Medicine. Session evaluation included comparing scores on the 14-item Geriatrics Attitude Scale administered before and after the session, identifying attitude changes in the reflective writing exercises, and a student satisfaction survey. Student responses on the Geriatrics Attitude Scale after the session were significantly improved in seven of 14 items, demonstrating better attitudes toward being with and listening to older people and caring for older patients. Analysis of the reflective writings revealed changing of negative to positive or reinforced positive attitudes in 27% of medical students, with attitudes not discernable in the remaining 73% (except one student, in whom positive attitudes changed to negative). Learner satisfaction with the Older Adult Session was high, with 98% agreeing that the session had a positive effect on insight into the care of older adults. A Council of Elders coupled with a reflective writing exercise is a promising new approach to improving attitudes of medical students toward their geriatric patients. [source] Development of measures of online privacy concern and protection for use on the InternetJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Tom Buchanan As the Internet grows in importance, concerns about online privacy have arisen. The authors describe the development and validation of three short Internet-administered scales measuring privacy-related attitudes (Privacy Concern) and behaviors (General Caution and Technical Protection). In Study 1, 515 people completed an 82-item questionnaire from which the three scales were derived. In Study 2, scale validity was examined by comparing scores of individuals drawn from groups considered likely to differ in privacy-protective behaviors. In Study 3, correlations between the scores on the current scales and two established measures of privacy concern were examined. The authors conclude that these scales are reliable and valid instruments suitable for administration via the Internet, and present them for use in online privacy research. [source] Development of a Brief Waiting Room Observation for Behaviours Typical of Reactive Attachment DisorderCHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2010Alexis McLaughlin Objective:, To develop a brief standardised observational schedule for Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in school-age children to aid clinician recognition of these behaviours. Design:, A new structured observational schedule for symptoms of RAD was developed using unstructured observation of children in a clinic waiting room setting. The measure's ability to discriminate between a sample of children with RAD and a normative sample was established by comparing scores in these two groups. Method:, Children aged 5,8 years (n = 77 [38 RAD cases and 39 controls]) were observed with their primary caregiver in a standardised waiting room setting. A structured observational tool was developed that tested the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of each item. Results:, The schedule has good internal consistency (0.75). The individual items on the observational schedule were predominantly highly discriminatory between cases and comparisons, showing both reasonable sensitivity and excellent specificity. Certain questions were dropped due to poor discrimination and/or poor inter-rater reliability. Conclusion:, The 10-item observational schedule for RAD in school-age children provides a promising tool for assessment, although further research will be required to evaluate its ability to discriminate between RAD and other disorders. [source] | ||||||||||