Abrupt introduction of distance learning during the covid­19 pandemic: What psychological impact on teachers?

As soon as the COVID 19 , the Moroccan education ministry decided to adopt distance learning (DL). Our target was to study the psychological impact of DL on Moroccan teachers during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Among %, and the average age was 41.1±11.5 years. 79.1% participated in DL, 58.8% were required to acquire DL tools and 71.6% had never received DL training. Between the start and the end of confinement, we noticed a decrease in the motivation of teachers.36.2% had definite depressive symptomatology and 41.3% had certain anxiety symptomatology with a significant predominance in women. The frequencies of depression and anxiety were higher in those who had participated in DL, but the association was not significant. Depression was significantly frequent among teachers who were obliged to acquire tools to practice DL P=0.02, those who had never received training DL P=0.046, and those who were not satisfied with the situation P=0.03. We didn't find a direct association between DL and anxiety and depression, which the small sample size may explain, but we did find an association with the variables related to DL

Abrupt introduction of distance learning during the covid-19 pandemic: What psychological impact on teachers?

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic appeared, the Moroccan education ministry decided to adopt distance learning (DL). Our target was to study the psychological impact of DL on Moroccan teachers during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Among 148 responses, 64.9% were women, and the average age was 41.1±11.5 years. 79.1% participated in DL, 58.8% were required to acquire DL tools and 71.6% had never received DL training. Between the start and the end of confinement, we noticed a decrease in the motivation of teachers.36.2% had definite depressive symptomatology and 41.3% had certain anxiety symptomatology with a significant predominance in women. The frequencies of depression and anxiety were higher in those who had participated in DL, but the association was not significant. Depression was significantly frequent among teachers who were obliged to acquire tools to practice DL P=0.02, those who had never received training DL P=0.046, and those who were not satisfied with the situation P=0.03. We didn't find a direct association between DL and anxiety and depression, which the small sample size may explain, but we did find an association with the variables related to DL.

Validation of Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale in a Moroccan sample of breast cancer women.

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) instrument is commonly used worldwide by professionals of oncology, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic and Moroccan context, and there is an absence of data in the Moroccan population. This study aims to validate the Mini-MAC, translated and adapted to the Arabic language and Moroccan culture, in women with breast cancer. METHODS: Data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 158). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 203) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed Watson's original structure underlying the Mini-MAC items: Helpless/Hopeless, Anxious Preoccupation, Fighting Spirit, Cognitive Avoidance, and Fatalism. Absolute, incremental, and parsimonious fit indices showed a highly significant level of acceptance confirming a good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR =0.93-0.97), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.66-0.93), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations values were lesser than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: reliability; and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Arabic version of the Mini-MAC had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool measuring psychological responses to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Modified Mediterranean diet score adapted to a southern Mediterranean population and its relation to overweight and obesity risk.

OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to develop a modified Mediterranean diet (MMD) score adjusted to the southern Mediterranean countries' cultural specificities and to evaluate associations between adherence to this modified score and overweight/obesity risk in Moroccan adults. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rural and urban areas of the five greatest provinces of Morocco. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 1516 participants were recruited between September 2009 and February 2017. Dietary assessment was obtained using a validated Moroccan FFQ. We constructed a MMD score focusing on twelve components. The MMD score ranged from 0 (no adherence to the traditional southern Mediterranean diet (MD)) to 12 (maximal adherence) and was categorised as low (scores 0-4), moderate (scores 5-7) and high (scores 8-12). RESULTS: Among the whole population, 754 (50·5 %) were women and 738 (49·5 %) were men, and the mean age was about 55·60 ± 13·70. In total, 58 % of participants were moderately active. Regarding educational level, 50·7 % were illiterate. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 43·3 and 8·6 %, respectively. In multivariate analyses, close adherence to MMD (scores 8-12) was associated with reduced overweight/obesity risk (OR 0·61, 95 % CI 0·44, 0·84). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was very high among Moroccan adults. Adherence to the traditional southern MD may help prevent overweight and obesity.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Moroccan version of the incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QoL) in urinary incontinence patients.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the importance and prevalence of incontinence in women, there is growing interest in the development and use of well-designed quality of life questionnaires. The objective of this study is to adapt and validate, the I-QoL, a quality of life questionnaire, in Moroccan dialect, and to assess its psychometric properties in people suffering from urinary incontinence STUDY DESIGN: One hundred patients (77 % female) with a symptom of urinary incontinence participated in the study and filled out the Moroccan version of the questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α), the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the Moroccan version of the I-QOL has very good psychometric properties. The overall I-QoL summary score and subscales showed high internal consistency (alpha ranging from 0.94 to 0.99). Inter-rater reliability was substantial for the three subscales and the total score. The ICC, assessing reproducibility at two weeks, ranged from 0.89 to 0.99, demonstrating the stability of the scores. The I-QOL was able to discriminate between different levels of self- perceived severity. Significant differences in I-QOL scores (p<0.001) were observed when comparing I-QOL scores by the number of incontinence-related medical visits made by patients during the past year. CONCLUSION: The Moroccan version of the I-QOL is a valid and reliable tool to determine the influence of urinary incontinence on health-related quality of life in Moroccan persons.

Skin cancer knowledge and attitudes in the region of Fez, Morocco: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of skin cancers is constantly increasing in Morocco, and they have gradually become more aggressive due to a significant delay in the diagnosis. Our aim was to assess the levels of awareness and the influencing factors related to skin cancer knowledge in Morocco. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Morocco through the medium of a validated questionnaire, which contained several items - demographics, skin cancer knowledge and attitudes towards skin cancer patients- during a period of 1 year (2014). RESULTS: Out of the 700 participants enrolled in the study, 17.9% had never heard of skin cancer, 32.5% had a low score of skin cancer knowledge, 66.7% had a moderate score, and only 0.85% had a high score of skin cancer knowledge. Further, 15.1% of the participants were under the assumption that this cancer is contagious. The sun was the most incriminated risk factor in skin cancer occurrence by 74.3% of the participants, and 57.9% of them believed that prevention is important through using various means of photoprotection. After univariate and multivariate analysis, the influencing factors related to the skin cancer knowledge in Morocco were: the socioeconomic status (P = 0.003, OR = 7. 3) and the educational level (p < 0.001, OR = 20. 9). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the lack of knowledge or the underestimation of skin cancer in our study population, efforts are needed to promote skin cancer surveillance behaviors in Morocco.