Psychometric validation of the short version of the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation scale through a first global assessment.

AIMS: Tailored education is recommended for cardiac patients, yet little is known about information needs in areas of the world where it is most needed. This study aims to assess (i) the measurement properties of the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation short version (INCR-S) scale and (ii) patient's information needs globally. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, English, simplified Chinese, Portuguese, or Korean versions of the INCR-S were administered to in- or out-patients via Qualtrics (January 2022-November 2023). Members of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation community facilitated recruitment. Importance and knowledge sufficiency of 36 items were rated. Links to evidence-based lay education were provided where warranted. A total of 1601 patients from 19 middle- and high-income countries across the world participated. Structural validity was supported upon factor analysis, with five subscales extracted: symptom response/medication, heart diseases/diagnostic tests/treatments, exercise and return-to-life roles/programmes to support, risk factors, and healthy eating/psychosocial management. Cronbach's alpha was 0.97. Construct validity was supported through significantly higher knowledge sufficiency ratings for all items and information importance ratings for all subscales in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) enrolees vs. non-enrolees (all P < 0.001). All items were rated as very important-particularly regarding cardiac events, nutrition, exercise benefits, medications, symptom response, risk factor control, and CR-but more so in high-income countries in the Americas and Western Pacific. Knowledge sufficiency ranged from 30.0 to 67.4%, varying by region and income class. Ratings were highest for medications and lowest for support groups, resistance training, and alternative medicine. CONCLUSION: Identification of information needs using the valid and reliable INCR-S can inform educational approaches to optimize patients' health outcomes across the globe.

Patients need information to manage their heart diseases, such as what to do if they have chest pain, what a heart attack is, and how to take their medicine to lower the chances they will have another one, so a study of the information needs of over 1600 heart patients from around the globe was undertaken for the first time. Using the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation short version (INCR-S) scale­which was shown to be a good measurement tool through the study and hence may improve patient education­patients reported they most wanted information about heart events, heart-healthy eating, exercise benefits, their pills, symptom response, risk factor control, and cardiac rehabilitation­but more so in high-income countries in the Americas and Western Pacific. Knowledge sufficiency ratings for each item ranged from 30.0 to 67.4%, also varying by region and income class; perceived knowledge sufficiency ratings were highest for medications and lowest for support groups, resistance training, and alternative medicine.

The Hausa Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire: translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric assessment in patients with non-specific neck pain.

PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) into Hausa and assess its psychometric properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NPQ was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Hausa using recommended guidelines. A consecutive sample of 92 Hausa-speaking patients with non-specific neck pain recruited from three tertiary hospitals in north-western Nigeria, completed the questionnaire to assess factorial validity (using confirmatory factor analysis), convergent validity (by correlating the Hausa-NPQ with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]), and internal consistency (using Cronbach's α). A subsample of 50 patients completed the questionnaire again 3 days after the first administration to assess relative reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and absolute reliability using standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change (SDC), and 95% limits of agreement (LOA). RESULTS: The factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure with excellent internal consistency (α = 0.94). The questionnaire showed a strong positive correlation with the NPRS (rho = 0.68). The ICC was 0.86, with SEM and SDC of 6.32 and 17.5, respectively. The LOA was - 29.3 to + 37.1 with no evidence of proportional bias. CONCLUSIONS: The Hausa-NPQ is a valid and reliable measure of disability due to neck pain.

This study describes the translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric assessment of the Hausa-NPQ in Hausa-speaking patients with non-specific neck pain.The questionnaire demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in terms of factorial and convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.The questionnaire will be useful in clinical and research settings to assess disability due to neck pain for screening purposes, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, as well as cross-cultural comparisons involving Hausa-speaking individuals with neck pain.

Assessment of Cytogenotoxicity of Plastic Industrial Effluent Using Allium cepa Root Tip Cells.

The effects of plastic effluent in Kano Metropolis on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were examined using a test on Allium cepa root cells. The physicochemical characteristics of industrial wastewater were assessed, and the results showed values that were higher than the required criteria; this implies that the effluent was not treated before to disposal. For 96 hours, a group of 40 onion bulbs was cultivated in various concentrations of plastic effluent: 15, 30, 45, and 60% (v/v). The control was made up of distilled water. Following 96 hours, the four treated root tips from each replication's bulbs were harvested and subjected to the acetoorcein squash technique for cytogenetic analysis. High concentrations of the industrial effluents had severe development retarding effects on the root tips. Root growth was inhibited with EC50 values of 48% after treatment with the effluents in comparison to control. When Allium cepa was exposed to different quantities of plastic effluent, the results of an analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the mean root length varied, and this variation was statistically significant (p < 0.05). With rising effluent concentrations, the mitotic index (M.I.) rapidly dropped. Chromosomal abnormalities were caused by the plastic effluent in the root cells of Allium cepa, especially sticky chromosome and binucleated cells being the most frequently seen at lower concentrations of 15%. It was discovered that the compounds found in plastic wastewater could injure live beings as well as harm the environment if not treated. Legal mechanisms must be used to push businesses and manufacturers to switch to environmentally friendly technologies.

Assessment of the Presence of Resistance Genes Detected from the Environment and Selected Food Products in Benin.

Gram-negative bacilli can spread from the environment and through food products. This study aimed to characterize ESBL production and virulence genes from multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli isolated from specimen collected from the environment, kitchen, and food products. A total of 130 samples were collected at local markets in seven different communities in Benin (Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Bohicon, Abomey, Parakou, Djougou, and Grand-Popo). Samples were cultured on McConkey and ChromID™ ESBL agar plates. The isolates were identified by the API 20E gallery. An antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out, and the detection of ESBL production and virulence-associated genes was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The data collected was coded and analyzed using GraphPad prism 7 software and Excel. The software R was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between the results of the detection of ESBL+ on agar and by the effect of the double synergy. The results showed that sixty-three (63) bacterial strains were isolated from the 130 samples, of which the dominant species was Chryseomonas luteola (10/63). The kitchen samples were the most contaminated with 36.50%. More than 40% of the isolates were resistant to at least three different classes of antibiotics. Also, blaSHV gene was detected in 33.33% (21/63) of the isolates and in all isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5/5%). 11.11% (7/63) of isolates were virulent with dominance of the fimH gene, especially with Escherichia coli (83.33%). The kitchen samples showed a high prevalence of ESBL-producing strains with fimH gene. This raises the problem of non-compliance with hygiene rules in community cooking and food handling.