Employability assessment of computerized fatigue avoidance tool used with and without actigraphy among naval aircrew.

Background: Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool (FAST) is a computerized fatigue prevention tool, which was developed based on a Bio-mathematical model called SAPTE (Sleep, Activity, Performance and Task Effectiveness). Similarly, actigraphy technology is used as a tool for sleep evaluation. This study was an attempt to assess the employability of FAST (both independently and integrated with actigraphy) for detecting operational fatigue by determining the 'Measures for diagnostic accuracy'. Methods: 103 pre-flight medical checks from 51 aircrew were evaluated to detect fatigue both clinically and by using objective measures (FAST and actigraphy integrated FAST). The 'measures of diagnostic accuracy' namely sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), likelihood ratio positive (LR +ve), likelihood ratio negative (LR -ve) and Youden's Index were determined and compared. Results: The diagnostic measures for FAST were: sensitivity (68.4%), specificity (92.8%), PPV (68.4%), NPV (92.8%), LR+ve (9.5), LR-ve (0.34) and Youden's Index (0.61). For actigraphy integrated FAST these values were: sensitivity (84.2%), specificity (96.4%), PPV (94.2%), NPV (94.4%), LR+ve (23.5), LR-ve (0.16) and Youden's Index (0.80). Conclusion: The increase in sensitivity (from 68.4% to 84.2%), specificity (from 92.8% to 96.4%), PPV (from 68.4% to 94.2%), NPV (92.8% to 94.4%), LR+ve (9.5 to 23.5) and Youden's Index (0.61 to 0.80) indicated that actigraphy integrated FAST is a better screening tool in comparison to the independently employed FAST.

Empathy and personality traits as predictors of adjustment in Indian youth.

BACKGROUND: Although adjustment has been studied in relation with a host of variables, the relevance of empathy and its importance in the process of adjustment has received little attention. It is a well-known fact that personality plays a very important role in our interactions and dealings and also that empathy facilitates this process. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study evaluated whether these two things combined together affect or predict adjustment. A random sample of 52 young male adults volunteered for this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: These 52 male participants filled up questionnaires related to personality (The Jackson Personality Inventory), empathy. The Empathy Quotient) and adjustment (Bell adjustment inventory). ANALYSIS AND RESULTS: The data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. Personality traits like interpersonal affect, conformity facilitated the process of adjustment, whereas traits like anxiety worked in the opposite direction. Empathy also emerged as a significant contributor to the social adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that both empathy and personality traits accounted for unique variance in adjustment. Results are discussed in terms of empathy, personality traits and their role in adjustment.