Medical students' AI literacy and attitudes towards AI: a cross-sectional two-center study using pre-validated assessment instruments.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. It is therefore crucial that today's medical students have certain basic AI skills that enable them to use AI applications successfully. These basic skills are often referred to as "AI literacy". Previous research projects that aimed to investigate medical students' AI literacy and attitudes towards AI have not used reliable and validated assessment instruments. METHODS: We used two validated self-assessment scales to measure AI literacy (31 Likert-type items) and attitudes towards AI (5 Likert-type items) at two German medical schools. The scales were distributed to the medical students through an online questionnaire. The final sample consisted of a total of 377 medical students. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis and calculated the internal consistency of the scales to check whether the scales were sufficiently reliable to be used in our sample. In addition, we calculated t-tests to determine group differences and Pearson's and Kendall's correlation coefficients to examine associations between individual variables. RESULTS: The model fit and internal consistency of the scales were satisfactory. Within the concept of AI literacy, we found that medical students at both medical schools rated their technical understanding of AI significantly lower (MMS1 = 2.85 and MMS2 = 2.50) than their ability to critically appraise (MMS1 = 4.99 and MMS2 = 4.83) or practically use AI (MMS1 = 4.52 and MMS2 = 4.32), which reveals a discrepancy of skills. In addition, female medical students rated their overall AI literacy significantly lower than male medical students, t(217.96) = -3.65, p <.001. Students in both samples seemed to be more accepting of AI than fearful of the technology, t(745.42) = 11.72, p <.001. Furthermore, we discovered a strong positive correlation between AI literacy and positive attitudes towards AI and a weak negative correlation between AI literacy and negative attitudes. Finally, we found that prior AI education and interest in AI is positively correlated with medical students' AI literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Courses to increase the AI literacy of medical students should focus more on technical aspects. There also appears to be a correlation between AI literacy and attitudes towards AI, which should be considered when planning AI courses.

Women's Empowerment in the Context of Rural West Bengal: An Index Construction with Exploratory Factor Analysis.

Background: Women's empowerment, a precondition of sustainable development, is a multidimensional and complex concept, often described with three interrelated components: resources, agency, and achievement. There is no universal construct for women's empowerment; rather, it has been assessed based on the context. It had been hardly explored in rural West Bengal. Objectives: This study was formulated to construct a women's empowerment index (WEI), in rural West Bengal, and assess the reliability of the index. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study focusing on Women's Empowerment, Child Health and Nutrition (WE-CHANT) was conducted in a community development block in West Bengal. Mother (of reproductive age)-child (6-59 months) pairs were recruited from 20 villages by two-stage sampling (n = 268). Mothers were interviewed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation was conducted with 25 measurement variables to construct the WEI. The internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha, item-rest, average inter-item, inter-domain, and domain-to-index correlation. Results: A 12-item (factor loading ≥0.40) WEI comprising three domains-decision-making power, attitude toward gender-based violence (GBV), and social independence-was constructed with acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.747). The multidimensionality of the index was also observed. Conclusion: A concise agency-based WEI was constructed, where decision-making power was explored as the major domain. This index in the context of rural West Bengal could be further utilized to assess women's empowerment and elicit its association with resources and achievements.

Enhancing prediction and analysis of UK road traffic accident severity using AI: Integration of machine learning, econometric techniques, and time series forecasting in public health research.

This research project explored into the intricacies of road traffic accidents severity in the UK, employing a potent combination of machine learning algorithms, econometric techniques, and traditional statistical methods to analyse longitudinal historical data. Our robust analysis framework includes descriptive, inferential, bivariate, multivariate methodologies, correlation analysis: Pearson's and Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient, multiple logistic regression models, Multicollinearity Assessment, and Model Validation. In addressing heteroscedasticity or autocorrelation in error terms, we've advanced the precision and reliability of our regression analyses using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Additionally, our application of the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model and the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models have enabled accurate time series forecasting. With this approach, we've achieved superior predictive accuracy and marked by a Mean Absolute Scaled Error (MASE) of 0.800 and a Mean Error (ME) of -73.80 compared to a naive forecast. The project further extends its machine learning application by creating a random forest classifier model with a precision of 73%, a recall of 78%, and an F1-score of 73%. Building on this, we employed the H2O AutoML process to optimize our model selection, resulting in an XGBoost model that exhibits exceptional predictive power as evidenced by an RMSE of 0.1761205782994506 and MAE of 0.0874235576229789. Factor Analysis was leveraged to identify underlying variables or factors that explain the pattern of correlations within a set of observed variables. Scoring history, a tool to observe the model's performance throughout the training process was incorporated to ensure the highest possible performance of our machine learning models. We also incorporated Explainable AI (XAI) techniques, utilizing the SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) model to comprehend the contributing factors to accident severity. Features such as Driver_Home_Area_Type, Longitude, Driver_IMD_Decile, Road_Type, Casualty_Home_Area_Type, and Casualty_IMD_Decile were identified as significant influencers. Our research contributes to the nuanced understanding of traffic accident severity and demonstrates the potential of advanced statistical, econometric, machine learning techniques in informing evidence based interventions and policies for enhancing road safety.

The development and validation of the One Health Community Assessment.

Interdisciplinary collaborations to address human, animal, and environmental health have been emphasized since the inception of the One Health framework. A quantitative survey instrument was developed to measure perceptions of the impacts of pets on One Health. Using the exploratory sequential mixed methods approach, 20 interviews were conducted with individuals from a racially diverse and low-socioeconomic status community in the U.S. to understand their perceptions of One Health. Data from those interviews informed the development of a Likert scale survey measuring individual perceptions of community, human, pet, and environmental health and welfare, as well as the connections between the domains of the One Health triad (human, animal, and environment). The resulting One Health Community Assessment (OHCA) was administered in two urban and two rural underserved U.S. communities longitudinally (2018-2021) through door-to-door data collection as well as phone, email, and text surveys. Validation of the instrument was completed using data collected in the third and fourth years of the study (n = 654). Factor analysis with orthogonal varimax rotation was used to assess the structure and internal consistency of the OHCA. Five subscales explained 42.4% of the variance in our 92-item instrument: community health (Cronbach's α = 0.897), human health (α = 0.842), pet health (α = 0.899), environmental health (α = 0.789), and connections between domains of One Health (α = 0.762). The OHCA represents the first reliable and validated instrument to measure the impacts of pets on One Health.

Development of an infection control competency scale for clinical nurses: an instrument design study.

BACKGROUND: Nurses work in close proximity to patients, and as such, they can have a direct impact on the control of infections; thus, it is important for nurses to be competent in infection control. However, the scales used to measure infection control performance in nurses are not suitable for measuring infection control competencies that reflect nurses' expertise, clinical environment, and work. Thus, this study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measure to assess infection control competency of clinical nurses. METHODS: A concept analysis, using a hybrid model, was performed on the infection control competency of clinical nurses to confirm the components and develop 67 initial items. Ten experts evaluated the content validity of these items, and a Korean language expert and a Doctor of Nursing reviewed the questions to consolidate them into 59 items. Subsequently, 267 nurses working at a certified tertiary hospital in D City were surveyed to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale. RESULTS: As a result of the study, the final scale comprising seven factors and 33 questions was derived, and the cumulative explanatory power of these factors was 60.8%. To verify convergent and discriminant validity, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, and the average variance extraction index, composite reliability values, and confidence interval of the correlation coefficient between factors were confirmed. Convergent and discriminant validities were verified by comparison with standard values. The Cronbach's α for the entire scale in this study was 0.93. Consequently, the validity and reliability of the clinical nurses' infection control competency measurement scale were verified. CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of the infection control competency measurement scale for clinical nurses (ICCS-CN) developed in this study was verified, and the scale can be effectively used to measure the infection control competency of clinical nurses. Measuring the infection control competency of clinical nurses will help reduce the harm caused by infection and ensure patient safety by decreasing infection rates in medical institutions.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Motivation for Healing Scale in Patients with Cancer.

Introduction: This study was conducted to develop and validate a Motivation for Healing Scale (MHS) in Cancer. Methods: in this methodological study, the MHS draft was developed based on the approach of Waltz and colleagues using existing scales and concept analysis. The psychometric features, including face validity (qualitative and quantitative), content validity (qualitative and quantitative), structural validity (exploratory and confirmatory factors), and construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity) were assessed. Finally, the reliability was evaluated using internal consistency, and stability. Results: Based on the results of the qualitative phase, an initial item pool was generated with 55 items, Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the data collected from 404 patients. 25 Items were excluded during the psychometric evaluation phases. Reliability assessment and internal consistency assessment revealed that Cronbach's alpha value of the 25-item MHS was 0.912. The results of intraclass correlation coefficient (0.93, 95% CI: 0.86- 0.96) showed the stability was strong. Conclution: The 25-item MHS is a valid and reliable scale for the assessment of motivation for healing in patients with cancer.

Assessing Electronic Health Literacy in Individuals With the Post-COVID-19 Condition Using the German Revised eHealth Literacy Scale: Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is a widely used instrument for measuring eHealth literacy (eHL). However, little is known so far about whether the instrument is valid for the assessment of eHL in persons who are affected by the post-COVID-19 condition. This is particularly important as people with the post-COVID-19 condition are frequently affected by false information from the internet. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the German Revised eHealth Literacy Scale (GR-eHEALS) in individuals with the post-COVID-19 condition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2022. The self-assessment survey consisted of the GR-eHEALS, health status- and internet use-related variables, sociodemographic data, and (post)-COVID-19-related medical data. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), correlational analyses, and tests of measurement invariance were deployed. RESULTS: In total, 330 participants were included in the statistical analyses. CFA revealed that the 2-factor model reached an excellent model fit (comparative fit index=1.00, Tucker-Lewis index=0.99, root mean square error of approximation=0.036, standardized root mean square residual=0.038). Convergent validity was confirmed by significant positive correlations between eHL and knowledge of internet-based health promotion programs, experience in using these programs, and the duration of private internet use. In addition, a significantly negative relationship of eHL with internet anxiety supported convergent validity. Further, significant relationships of eHL with mental health status and internal health locus of control confirmed the criterion validity of the instrument. However, relationships of eHL with physical health status and quality of life could not be confirmed. The 2-factor model was fully measurement invariant regarding gender. Regarding age and educational level, partial measurement invariance was confirmed. The subscales as well as the overall GR-eHEALS reached good-to-excellent reliability (Cronbach α≥.86). CONCLUSIONS: The GR-eHEALS is a reliable and largely valid instrument for assessing eHL in individuals with the post-COVID-19 condition. Measurement invariance regarding gender was fully confirmed and allows the interpretation of group differences. Regarding age and educational level, group differences should be interpreted with caution. Given the high likelihood that individuals with the post-COVID-19 condition will be confronted with misinformation on the Internet, eHL is a core competency that is highly relevant in this context, in both research and clinical practice. Therefore, future research should also explore alternative instruments to capture eHL to overcome shortcomings in the validity of the GR-eHEALS.

An assessment of the psychometric properties of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire - Sickle Cell Disease (CSQ-SCD) among adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported conflicting factor structures of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire - Sickle Cell Disease (CSQ-SCD). This study examined the psychometric properties of the CSQ-SCD among adults with SCD in the United States. METHODS: This study implemented a cross-sectional study design with web-based self-administered surveys. Individuals with SCD were recruited via an online panel. Psychometric properties, including factorial and construct validity, and internal consistency reliability, of the CSQ-SCD were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 196 adults with SCD completed the survey. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using maximum likelihood estimation and the 13 subscale scores as factor indicators, supported a three-factor model for the CSQ-SCD compared to a two-factor model. Model fit statistics for the three-factor model were: Chi-square [df] = 227.084 [62]; CFI = 0.817; TLI = 0.770; RMSEA [90% CI] = 0.117 [0.101-0.133]; SRMR = 0.096. All standardized factor loadings (except for the subscales isolation, resting, taking fluids, and praying and hoping) were > 0.5 and statistically significant, indicating evidence of convergent validity. Correlations between all subscales (except praying and hoping) were lower than hypothesized; however, model testing revealed that the three latent factors, active coping, affective coping, and passive adherence coping were not perfectly correlated, suggesting discriminant validity. Internal consistency reliabilities for the active coping factor (α = 0.803) and affective coping factor (α = 0.787) were satisfactory, however, reliability was inadequate for the passive adherence coping factor (α = 0.531). Given this overall pattern of results, a follow-up exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was also conducted. The new factor structure extracted by EFA supported a three-factor structure (based on the results of a parallel analysis), wherein the subscale of praying and hoping loaded on the active coping factor. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the CSQ-SCD was found to have less than adequate psychometric validity in our sample of adults with SCD. These results provide clarification around the conflicting factor structure results reported in the literature and demonstrate a need for the future development of a SCD specific coping instrument.

Establishing circularity: development and validation of the circular work value scale (CWVS).

Objectives: Addressing the lack of German-language instruments, this study aims to develop a questionnaire that enables the measurement of work values. According to the theory of basic human values (Schwartz, 1992), a culturally fitting questionnaire is validated by covering constructs in the four broader dimensions of Social, Prestige, Intrinsic, and Extrinsic work values. Convergent, discriminant and incremental congruent validity are assessed. Method: Data were collected in a cross-sectional online-based panel survey. Individuals working more than 20 h per week were included (N = 1,049). Using a genetic algorithm, an economical and valid questionnaire was designed to assess work values. Results: The 11 work values are measurable with three items each. They provide a good fit to the data with support for strict measurement invariance. The empirical associations to estimate construct validity overall reflect expected relations to social and individualistic work motives, neuroticism, environmental awareness, and basic values. Furthermore, congruent incremental validity is supported with relations to value congruence of the person-organization fit, and multidimensional scaling supports the assumed theoretical circularity of the work values. Implications: This study developed a questionnaire that enables a theory-based valid measurement of work values. The questionnaire allows practitioners to economically collect information about the value structure of employees or applicants. Future research should consider the development of work values over time and investigate whether more distinctive constructs provide a better fit in the nomological network.

The Psychometric Properties of the Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Scale among Portuguese Young Adults.

Preventing suicide has been a worldwide imperative for the last decade. Accurately assessing suicide risk is the first step towards prevention, and access to reliable tools that measure risk factors is essential to achieve this goal. The Positive And Negative Suicidal Ideation (PANSI) scale is a validated brief suicidal ideation scale that could prove useful to this goal due to its ability to measure both suicide risk and protective factors. The PANSI scale has been adapted to various languages and cultures across various clinical and non-clinical populations. Despite this, no Portuguese has been produced yet. The present study aimed to validate a Portuguese version of PANSI by evaluating its psychometric properties in a sample of 259 young adults. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the PANSI showed good psychometric properties (TLI = 0.95), good reliability for positive ideation (α = 0.84), and excellent reliability for negative ideation (α = 0.96). The scale also showed good discriminative ability through prediction of a previous suicide attempt and good construct validity in both subscales. The Portuguese adaptation of the PANSI scale is a reliable measure of positive and negative suicidal ideation that could prove useful in both clinical and research settings.

The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Inventory among Portuguese Adolescents: Factor Structure and Gender Invariance.

Suicide worldwide is an issue that needs to be addressed, and adolescents are an at-risk group. Assessing suicidal ideation is central to tackling the issue of suicide. The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation inventory is a widely validated measure of suicidal ideation, and yet, very little is known about its invariance across various groups. The present study aimed to adapt and test the PANSI's structure in a Portuguese sample while testing its gender invariance. A total of 750 middle and high school students were recruited for the study, and data were collected on various suicide risk and protective factors, including the Portuguese-translated PANSI. Data were put through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Kaiser's criterion and scree plot both extracted two factors (64.10% variance explained). Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the PANSI's structure (TLI = 0.943). The PANSI showed good reliability (α ≥ 0.83) and good construct and discriminative validity. The PANSI also exhibited scalar, but not strict, invariance. Overall, these results were similar to previous versions of this scale. The PANSI is a reliable measure of suicide risk among Portuguese adolescents. Future studies should further replicate these results in other cultures and expand on them by testing for invariance across other demographic variables.

Emotional Exhaustion Scale (ECE): Psychometric Properties in a Sample of Portuguese University Students.

Academic emotional exhaustion is the first stage of academic burnout syndrome, and it is necessary to assess it and intervene early, as the consequences can lead to harmful effects on psychological well-being. The main objectives of this study were to explore the psychometric properties of the Emotional Exhaustion Scale (ECE); to assess the association with suffering and positive well-being, using the MHI-5 Inventory; and to provide information on its validity and to compare it with these constructs. A total sample of 526 university students (81% female and 19% male) aged between 17 and 62 (M = 21.42 years and SD = 5.78) took part in this study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out. In the internal consistency assessment, the ECE was 0.89 and the MHI-5 was 0.81 (Cronbach's alpha). Exploratory factor analysis was carried out with Varimax rotation and confirmatory analysis, obtaining the factor that explains 50.5% of the variance. The results indicated that the ECE has adequate psychometric properties for use with higher education students in Portugal. Its use by mental health professionals in higher education institutions could be very relevant for screening for emotional exhaustion and thus preventing possible serious pathologies.

Profiling the socioeconomic characteristics, dietary intake, and health status of Korean older adults for nutrition plan customization: a comparison of principal component, factor, and cluster analyses.

Objectives: This study was conducted to establish profiles of socioeconomic characteristics, dietary intake, and health status among Korean older adults by employing 3 multivariate analysis techniques. Methods: Data were obtained from 1,352 adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), and cluster analysis (CA) were utilized for profiling, with data preprocessing undertaken to facilitate these approaches. Results: PCA, FA, and CA yielded similar results, reflecting the high common variance among the variables. PCA identified 4 components, accounting for 71.6% of the accumulated variance. FA revealed 5 factors, displaying a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of 0.51 and explaining 74.3% of the total variance. Finally, CA grouped the participants into 4 clusters (R2=0.465). Both PCA and FA identified dietary intake (energy, protein, carbohydrate, etc.), social support from family (incorporating family structure, number of family numbers, and engagement in social eating), and health status (encompassing oral, physical, and subjective health) as key factors. CA classified Korean older adults into 4 distinct typologies, with significant differences observed in dietary intake, health status, and household income (p<0.01). Conclusion: The study utilized PCA, FA, and CA to analyze profiling domains and derive characteristics of older adults in Korea, followed by a comparison of the results. The variables defining the clusters in CA were consistent with those identified by PCA and FA.

Factorial analysis of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Work Ability Index, reproducibility and validity of the single item and the short version for online application.

BACKGROUND: The Work Ability Index (WAI) assesses work demands, health status, and physical and mental resources. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the measurement properties of the WAI, single-item work ability score (WAS), and short version for online applications. METHODS: One hundred three workers completed the 3 versions of the WAI and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire. The reproducibility and construct validity of the 3 versions of the WAI and their concurrent validity with the PSS-10 were tested. Statistical tests were performed with IBM® SPSS 28.0. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability of the WAI, WAS, and WAI short version ranged from good to excellent. The WAI and WAI short version showed excellent internal consistency. The construct validity of the WAS was moderate and positive and it was excellent and positive for the WAI short version. Concurrent validity of the WAI, WAS, and WAI short version was moderate and negative, and item mental resources were strong and negative. Factor analysis reached an acceptable level for all indexes (≥ 0.90). The analysis with two factors reached an acceptable level for all indexes (≥ 0.90) and was the best model. CONCLUSION: The reliability and construct and concurrent validity of the various versions of the WAI were strong to excellent in online applications. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a new grouping of items for the WAI Brazilian version. However, it is necessary to be careful in the choice due to the distribution model of items in health domains and aspects of work.

Head impact differences in blind football between Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: video-based observational study.

OBJECTIVE: In Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there were the rule and goal size changes at the blind football competition. This study aimed to compare the scoring and head impact characteristics during blind football competition between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games using the official videos. DESIGN: Video-based observational study. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 36 blind football (men's football 5-a-side) game videos were obtained from the official International Paralympic Committee. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Head impact was defined as the sudden contact of any object with the head. Videos were analysed to assess the number of scores and head impacts along with their corresponding details (ie, round, playing phase, scoring situation, impact situation, occurrence area, impact object, head impact site, fall and foul). RESULTS: The total number of goals scored at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was nearly double that at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Regarding head impacts, a total of 2036 cases (Rio 2016, n=1105; Tokyo 2020, n=931) were evaluated. Significant differences were observed in head impact characteristics between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games among seven outcomes (round, scoring situation, impact situation, occurrence area, impact object, site of head impact and fall). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games showed an increase in the number of points scored and different head impact characteristics.

Exploring phenotypic overlap across schizotypy and autism spectrum conditions in American and Chinese young adults.

Competing theories have been proposed to explain the considerable overlap in social-cognitive features and risk factors across schizotypy and autism spectrum conditions (ASCs). Six previous factor analyses have been reported in the literature, yet all have major limitations; evidence for the clear superiority of any of the competing theories is insufficient and warrants further investigation. The primary aim of the present research was to identify dimensions that cut across schizotypy and ASCs while addressing limitations of past research. Data were collected from three independent samples (n = 1006, 544, and 2469) in the U.S. and China using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, and the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales. Exploratory factor analyses in Sample 1 identified an interpretable three-factor structure, which was replicated in Samples 2 and 3 using confirmatory factor analyses. We found consistent evidence for three dimensions (Aberrant Salience, Asociality, and Concrete Thinking) underlying schizotypy and ASCs. This three-dimension model is consistent with a common vulnerability model of schizotypy and ASCs. Implications of these findings for the schizotypy and ASCs literature are discussed.

Recognize the Value of the Sum Score, Psychometrics' Greatest Accomplishment.

The sum score on a psychological test is, and should continue to be, a tool central in psychometric practice. This position runs counter to several psychometricians' belief that the sum score represents a pre-scientific conception that must be abandoned from psychometrics in favor of latent variables. First, we reiterate that the sum score stochastically orders the latent variable in a wide variety of much-used item response models. In fact, item response theory provides a mathematically based justification for the ordinal use of the sum score. Second, because discussions about the sum score often involve its reliability and estimation methods as well, we show that, based on very general assumptions, classical test theory provides a family of lower bounds several of which are close to the true reliability under reasonable conditions. Finally, we argue that eventually sum scores derive their value from the degree to which they enable predicting practically relevant events and behaviors. None of our discussion is meant to discredit modern measurement models; they have their own merits unattainable for classical test theory, but the latter model provides impressive contributions to psychometrics based on very few assumptions that seem to have become obscured in the past few decades. Their generality and practical usefulness add to the accomplishments of more recent approaches.

[Characteristics, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in the Yellow River Floodplain of Yinchuan City].

In order to study the status and sources of heavy metal pollution in Yinchuan Yellow River floodplain soils, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the presence of eight heavy metals in 92 soil samples from the Yinchuan Yellow River floodplain and used enrichment factors, geological accumulation index, and potential ecological risk index to analyze and evaluate the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in the study area. Combined correlation analysis, absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression model (APCS-MLR), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and geostatistics were used to analyze the sources of soil heavy metals. The results showed that the content of eight heavy metals in the surface soil of the Yellow River floodplain in Yinchuan City were lower than the screening value of soil pollution risk in agricultural land; Cu and Pb contents were lower than the background value of Yinchuan City soil, and the contents of the remaining six elements were higher than the background value. The coefficients of variation of Zn and Cd were large and in the medium variation level and were influenced by anthropogenic activities. The heavy metal content varied between different land types and generally showed that wasteland > abandoned farmland > woodland > cultivated land. The average content of Cu and Pb in forest and arable soils was lower than the regional background value, whereas the rest of the heavy metals in different land types were higher than the soil background value. The analysis of enrichment factors showed that Zn and Cd were slightly enriched in the study area, and the cumulative index method and the evaluation of the potential risk of single heavy metals indicated that more than 60% of the sites in the study area were contaminated with Cd at a medium or higher potential ecological hazard. The comprehensive evaluation results of potential ecological risk showed that the overall ecological risk level of the study area was mild. From the distribution of heavy metal ecological risk comprehensive index sample points, only one point was in moderate ecological hazard, and the pollution point showed very few. Comprehensive correlation analysis, APCS-MLR model, PMF model, and geostatistical analysis results confirmed that Zn and Cd in the study area were mainly derived from human activities such as agricultural activities and transportation, and the remaining heavy metals were derived from soil parent materials. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the ecological protection and sustainable development of the Yellow River in Yinchuan City.

Factors influencing the intention to purchase health insurance: a study of Indian tobacco and alcohol consumers.

Introduction: This study empirically investigates the attitude of tobacco and alcohol consumers towards health insurance purchase in India. The study aims to determine the factors which plays a significant role in determining the purchase intention of health insurance among tobacco and alcohol consumers. Methods: We propose an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model comprising factors like attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, perceived usefulness, perceived product risk, and intention to purchase. We collected responses from 420 tobacco and alcohol consumers through a Google Form link shared via different social media platforms. SPSS has been used to perform exploratory factor analysis, whereas AMOS has been used to validate the constructs, confirm the relationships among the variables, and analyze the data. Results: The analysis outcomes demonstrate that subjective norms, perceived product risk, and perceived behavioral control are the factors that have a positive and significant effect on health insurance purchase intention among consumers. Discussion: This research offers valuable insights to the insurance sector, government officials, policymakers, and academicians. Insurance companies may consider the criteria analysed when creating policies to promote the expansion of the health insurance sector.

Validation of the brief version of the Susceptibility to Persuasion-II scale and evaluation of measurement invariance across age and gender in the Canadian general population.

Measurement tools that can assess personality traits rendering people more susceptible to engagement with and compliance in scams can help identify at-risk populations. The brief, 30-item version of the Susceptibility to Persuasion-II (StP-II-B) scale is a recently developed instrument for assessing 10 personality traits that play a role in scam compliance; however, psychometric evidence supporting the use of this scale is limited. This study aimed to validate the StP-II-B by examining its internal consistency reliability, factor structure, as well as age- and gender-related measurement invariance with a sample of 1287 Canadians aged 16 years and older. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a 10-factor structure identified in previous research. Good internal consistency reliability was obtained for each of the 10 subscales. This 10-factor structure was found to be invariant across age and gender at configural, metric, and scalar levels, suggesting that the StP-II-B was conceptualized in the same way across age and gender and that meaningful comparisons of factor scores could be made. Age and gender differences were found in most factors, with younger individuals and men scoring higher than older individuals and women. This study supports the use of the StP-II-B as a valid and reliable scale for measuring personality traits associated with scam compliance in the Canadian general population and offers insights into age and gender cohorts that may be at higher risk of scam victimization.