Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance of Adolescent Self-Report on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0.

This study evaluated the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL™) among adolescents sampled from Bulgaria, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia, and Turkey. The multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) model was used, which allowed controlling of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, and socioeconomic status). Significant effects of country on scores within the PedsQL™ domains were observed, with up to 17 items showing differential item functioning (DIF) across the countries. We did not find support for cross-cultural measurement invariance hypotheses for scores on the PedsQL™ adolescent self-report in this study. Researchers should use caution in making cross-cultural quality of life comparisons while using the PedsQL.

Online course on basics of management of behavioral addictions involving use of internet: Observations from the first batch of participants.

Problematic internet use has been reported to be high among school students. An online course was developed with an aim to strengthen the capacity of school teachers and counsellors on early identification, detection and intervention for behavioral addictions involving use of internet. The current report presents the observation from the first batch of participants of this course. Of the 28 teachers and counselors who expressed interest by enrollment in the course, a total of 15 participants provided both the pre and post course evaluation forms. The preliminary findings suggest that the online course is feasible, acceptable and effective in strengthening the capacity of school teachers and counsellors on behavioral addictions involving use of internet.

Correlates of Problematic Internet Use among college and university students in eight countries: An international cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Internet use has increased worldwide exponentially over the past two decades, with no up-to-date cross-country comparison of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and its correlates available. The present study aimed to explore the pattern and correlates of PIU across different countries in the European and the Asian continent. Further, the stability of factors associated with PIU across different countries were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An international, cross-sectional study with a total of 2749 participants recruited from universities/colleges of eight countries: Bangladesh, Croatia, India, Nepal, Turkey, Serbia, Vietnam, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants completed the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale -2 (GPIUS2) assessing PIU, and the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) assessing the depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 2643 participants (mean age 21.3 ±â€¯2.6; 63% females) were included in the final analysis. The overall prevalence of PIU for the entire sample was 8.4% (range 1.6% to 12.6%). The mean GPIUS2 standardized scores were significantly higher among participants from the five Asian countries when compared to the three European countries. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were the most stable and strongest factors associated with PIU across different countries and cultures. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The PIU is an important emerging mental health condition among college/university going young adults, with psychological distress being the strongest and most stable correlate of PIU across different countries and cultures in this study. The present study highlighted the importance of screening university and college students for PIU.

Pathways to Care of Alcohol -Dependent Patients: An Exploratory Study From a Tertiary Care Substance Use Disorder Treatment Center.

BACKGROUND: No study from India has examined pathways to care in alcohol using population systematically. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to understand the pathways to care among alcohol-dependent individuals seeking help at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional, observational study. A total of 58 subjects diagnosed with alcohol- dependence syndrome as per DSM-IV-TR were included in the study. Pathways to care were assessed using the world health organization encounter form. RESULTS: For 56.9% of the subjects, first point of contact was with a tertiary care addiction psychiatrist. Traditional healers were consulted by about 5.2% of the patients seeking help for the first time. The mean duration of main problems due to alcohol use was 5.82 ± 4.95 years. The first contact tended to be at place nearer to the patient's residence while further contacts tended to be farther away. Family, friends and neighbours together constituted the single largest group suggesting patients to seek care. CONCLUSIONS: There is a long time lag between the onset of alcohol use related problems and the first help seeking attempt. Of those who do decide to seek help, the proportion of those obtaining specialist help is higher than commonly believed.

A urinalysis-based comparative study of treatment adherence on buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone combination used as opioid substitution therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to explore the difference in treatment adherence to directly supervised buprenorphine and take-home buprenorphine/ naloxone combination for opioid substitution therapy. Urinalysis findings have been used to check treatment adherence on opioid substitution therapy agent. Additionally the study aimed to explore the misuse rate of buprenorphine/naloxone combination based on urinalysis findings. DESIGN: Cross-sectional chart reviewSetting: Laboratory of a tertiary care drug dependence treatment centerParticipants: One-year laboratory urinalysis records of a tertiary care, drug-dependence treatment center in India were analyzed. All the urine samples of subjects on opioid substitution therapy with buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxone combination were included in the study. MEASUREMENTS: Urinalysis using thin layer chromatography for buprenorphine and naloxone. In between group difference for treatment adherence on buprenorphine and buprenorphine/ naloxone combination was done using Mantel-Haenszel test. RESULTS: A higher proportion of samples from subjects on buprenorphine/naloxone tested positive for buprenorphine as compared to subjects on buprenorphine. Twelve (7.6%) urine samples from patients on buprenorphine/naloxone tested positive for naloxone. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study suggest that buprenorphine/naloxone combination has a higher adherence rate as compared to buprenorphine when used for opioid substitution therapy.