Virtual Reality and Serious Videogame-Based Instruments for Assessing Spatial Navigation in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties.

Over the past decade, research using virtual reality and serious game-based instruments for assessing spatial navigation and spatial memory in at-risk and AD populations has risen. We systematically reviewed the literature since 2012 to identify and evaluate the methodological quality and risk of bias in the analyses of the psychometric properties of VRSG-based instruments. The search was conducted primarily in July-December 2022 and updated in November 2023 in eight major databases. The quality of instrument development and study design were analyzed in all studies. Measurement properties were defined and analyzed according to COSMIN guidelines. A total of 1078 unique records were screened, and following selection criteria, thirty-seven studies were analyzed. From these studies, 30 instruments were identified. Construct and criterion validity were the most reported measurement properties, while structural validity and internal consistency evidence were the least reported. Nineteen studies were deemed very good in construct validity, whereas 11 studies reporting diagnostic accuracy were deemed very good in quality. Limitations regarding theoretical framework and research design requirements were found in most of the studies. VRSG-based instruments are valuable additions to the current diagnostic toolkit for AD. Further research is required to establish the psychometric performance and clinical utility of VRSG-based instruments, particularly the instrument development, content validity, and diagnostic accuracy for preclinical AD screening scenarios. This review provides a straightforward synthesis of the state of the art of VRSG-based instruments and suggests future directions for research.

Associations of physical activity and history of sports participation with subjective and objective measures of executive functioning in university students.

This study examined how physical activity and history of sports participation affect subjective and objective executive functioning in university students. A total of 215 university students aged 18-25 (81% female) completed a virtual assessment of executive function. The correlates were age, sex, physical activity, and history of sports participation. Structural equation modeling was used to examine objective executive function using a three-factor model (shifting, updating, inhibition). The Executive Function Index (EFI) was used to measure subjective executive functioning, and linear regression was used to examine total EFI scores. Physical activity (b = 0.12, p < .01) was a significant correlate of subjective but not objective executive functioning. Male sex and history of sports participation were significantly positively related to the objective measure of inhibition (b = 0.64, p < .01; b = 0.18, p < .05). These findings suggest that subjective and objective measures of executive functioning should be differentiated when investigating their relationship with physical activity and history of sports participation.

Electrophysiological variability during tests of executive functioning: A comparison of athletes with and without concussion and sedentary control participants.

OBJECTIVE: Sport participation may benefit executive functioning (EF), but EF can also be adversely affected by concussion, which can occur during sport participation. Neural variability is an emerging proxy of brain health that indexes the brain's range of possible responses to incoming stimuli (i.e., dynamic range) and interconnectedness, but has yet to be characterized following concussion among athletes. This study examined whether neural variability was enhanced by athletic participation and attenuated by concussion. METHOD: Seventy-seven participants (18-25 years-old) were classified as sedentary controls (n = 33), athletes with positive concussion history (n = 21), or athletes without concussion (n = 23). Participants completed tests of attention switching, response inhibition, and updating working memory while undergoing electroencephalography recordings to index neural variability. RESULTS: Compared to sedentary controls and athletes without concussion, athletes with concussion exhibited a restricted whole-brain dynamic range of neural variability when completing a test of inhibitory control. There were no group differences observed for either the switching or working memory tasks. CONCLUSIONS: A history of concussion was related to reduced dynamic range of neural activity during a task of response inhibition in young adult athletes. Neural variability may have value for evaluating brain health following concussion.

Hospital length of stay throughout bed pathways and factors affecting this time: A non-concurrent cohort study of Colombia COVID-19 patients and an unCoVer network project.

Predictions of hospital beds occupancy depends on hospital admission rates and the length of stay (LoS) according to bed type (general ward -GW- and intensive care unit -ICU- beds). The objective of this study was to describe the LoS of COVID-19 hospital patients in Colombia during 2020-2021. Accelerated failure time models were used to estimate the LoS distribution according to each bed type and throughout each bed pathway. Acceleration factors and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to measure the effect on LoS of the outcome, sex, age, admission period during the epidemic (i.e., epidemic waves, peaks or valleys, and before/after vaccination period), and patients geographic origin. Most of the admitted COVID-19 patients occupied just a GW bed. Recovered patients spent more time in the GW and ICU beds than deceased patients. Men had longer LoS than women. In general, the LoS increased with age. Finally, the LoS varied along epidemic waves. It was lower in epidemic valleys than peaks, and decreased after vaccinations began in Colombia. Our study highlights the necessity of analyzing local data on hospital admission rates and LoS to design strategies to prioritize hospital beds resources during the current and future pandemics.

Validación de la Escala de Valoración de Agencia de Autocuidado Revisada en una muestra colombiana / Validation of the Self-Care Agency Rating Scale-Revised in a Colombian Sample / Validação da Self-Care Agency Rating Scale-Revised em uma amostra colombiana

Introducción: la Escala de Valoración de Agencia de Autocuidado Revisada es un instrumento diseñado para valorar el autocuidado de la salud en población clínica; sin embargo, se desconocen estudios sobre sus propiedades psicométricas en población general no-clínica colombiana. Objetivo: validar la Escala de Valoración de Agencia de Autocuidado Revisada en una muestra de 306 participantes voluntarios en Colombia. Método: estudio de diseño metodológico psicométrico realizado entre octubre y diciembre de 2021. Para el análisis de la validez de estructura se aplicaron técnicas de análisis factorial, exploratorio y confirmatorio. De manera complementaria, se evaluó la validez de contenido a través de un panel de expertos. Finalmente, como evidencia de la confiabilidad del instrumento se analizó su consistencia interna mediante el coeficiente Omega de McDonald. Resultados: los hallazgos muestran que el ASA-R muestra una estructura unidimensional que explica el 61,99 % de la varianza total. La valoración de la relevancia, claridad, precisión y comprensión de los ítems tuvo resultados cuyo promedio osciló entre una V de Aiken de 0,79 y 0,99. La consistencia interna mostró un índice satisfactorio para la escala total (ω=0,93). Conclusiones: la versión del ASA-R presentada en este artículo posee propiedades métricas adecuadas y se recomienda su uso para medir agencia de autocuidado de la salud en población sana colombiana.

Introduction: The Revised Self-Care Agency Rating Scale is an instrument designed to assess health self-care in clinical population. However, studies on its psychometric properties in the general non-clinical Colombian population are unknown. Objective: To validate the Revised Self-Care Agency Rating Scale with a sample of 306 volunteer participants in Colombia. Method: Psychometric methodological study carried out between October and December 2021. For the analysis of the validity of the structure, factorial, exploratory and confirmatory analysis techniques were applied. In a complementary way, the content validity was evaluated through a panel of experts. Finally, as evidence of the instrument's reliability, its internal consistency was analyzed using McDonald's Omega coefficient. Results: The findings show that the ASA-R shows a one-dimensional structure that explains 61.99 % of the total variance. The assessment of the relevance, clarity, precision and comprehension of the items had results that had an average that ranged from an Aiken's V between 0.79 and 0.99. The internal consistency showed a satisfactory index for the total scale (ω=0.93). Conclusions: The version of the ASA-R presented in this article has adequate metric properties and its use is recommended to measure health self-care agency in a healthy Colombian population.

Introdução: a Revised Self-Care Agency Rating Scale é um instrumento desenvolvido para avaliar o autocuidado em saúde em uma população clínica; no entanto, estudos sobre suas propriedades psicométricas na população colombiana não clínica geral são desconhecidos. Objetivo: validar a Self-Care Agency Rating Scale-Revised em uma amostra de 306 participantes voluntários na Colômbia. Método: Estudo de desenho metodológico psicométrico realizado entre outubro e dezembro de 2021. Para a análise da validade da estrutura, foram aplicadas as técnicas de análise fatorial, exploratória e confirmatória; de forma complementar, a validade de conteúdo foi avaliada por meio de um painel de especialistas. Por fim, como evidência da confiabilidade do instrumento, sua consistência interna foi analisada por meio do coeficiente Ômega de McDonald's. Resultados: os achados mostram que o ASA-R apresenta uma estrutura unidimensional que explica 61,99 % da variância total. A avaliação da relevância, clareza, precisão e compreensão dos itens teve resultados cuja média variou de um V de Aiken entre 0,79 e 0,99. A consistência interna apresentou índice satisfatório para a escala total (ω=0,93). Conclusões: a versão do ASA-R apresentada neste artigo possui propriedades métricas adequadas e seu uso é recomendado para medir a agência de autocuidado em saúde em uma população colombiana saudável.

Mental Health of People Under Isolation During the covm-19 Outbreak: An Exploratory Study Running head: Psychological health and isolation during COVID-19 / La Salud Mental de Personas en Aislamiento Durante el Brote De COVID-19: Estudio Exploratorio Salud mental y aislamiento durante el COVID-19

Abstract We conducted an exploratory study using a survey inquiring on seven topics on how people were reacting to the co-viD-19 pandemic of 2020 aiming to trace a map of symptoms and feelings related to mental health and isolation. 1785 people participated in the survey. Additionally, we applied two psychological scales to analyze depression and stress (prevalent in previous studies). We found that people in isolation during the pandemic presented symptoms related to dissociative disorders, negative affect, and anxiety syndrome. Also, depression and stress had a high prevalence compared to the average rates indicated by the World Health Organisation and the Colombian Ministry of Health. The results indicated an association between depression and stress and being previously diagnosed with a mental health problem, and job and financial situation. Our results highlight the need to design prevention and intervention programmes to reduce the negative consequences of isolation.

Resumen Realizamos un estudio exploratorio utilizando un cuestionario sobre siete temas acerca de cómo las personas reaccionaron a la pandemia del COVID-19 de 2020 con el objetivo de trazar un mapa de los síntomas y sentimientos relacionados con la salud mental y el aislamiento. En la encuesta participaron 1785 personas. Además, aplicamos dos escalas psicológicas para analizar la depresión y el estrés (prevalente en estudios anteriores). Encontramos que las personas aisladas durante la pandemia presentaban síntomas relacionados con trastornos disociativos, afectos negativos y síndrome de ansiedad. Además, la depresión y el estrés tuvieron una alta prevalencia en comparación con las tasas promedio indicadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud y el Ministerio de Salud de Colombia. Los resultados indicaron una asociación entre la depresión, el estrés y ser diagnosticado previamente con un problema de salud mental y la situación laboral y financiera. Nuestros resultados ponen de relieve la necesidad de disenar programas de prevención e intervención para reducir las consecuencias negativas del aislamiento.

Desempeño psicométrico de dos escalas de autoeficacia e intereses profesionales en una muestra de estudiantes de secundaria / Psychometric performance of two scales of self-efficacy and professional interests in a sample of high school students

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las propiedades psicométricas de dos instrumentos utilizados en el proceso de orientación vocacional en estudiantes de educación media en el municipio de Rionegro, Antioquia (Colombia). Para ello se analizaron las propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Autoeficacia revisado IAMI-R (Pérez & Medrano, 2007) y el Cuestionario de Intereses Profesionales CIP-4 (Pérez & Cupani, 2006) en una muestra compuesta por 312 participantes; se analizó la validez del constructo mediante procedimientos de análisis factorial exploratorio y la confiabilidad con medidas de consistencia interna. Los resultados indican que las pruebas cumplen con los criterios mínimos aceptables para considerar sus mediciones como válidas y confiables y que pueden ser una herramienta útil en los procesos de orientación profesional que se realizan en las diferentes instituciones educativas.

This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of two instruments used to assess process of vocational guidance school students in the municipality of Rionegro, Antioquia. The psychometric properties of self-efficacy inventory revised MISEI-R (Pérez & Medrano, 2007) and Professional Interests Questionnaire CIP-4 (Pérez & Cupani, 2006) were studied. The instruments were administered to a sample of high school students of the municipality. Construct validity was examined by exploratory factor analysis procedures and reliability with measures of internal consistency. The validation sample consisted of 312 participants of the secondary school. The results indicated that the tests accomplished the acceptable minimum criteria to be considered as valid and reliable, and they may be a useful instrument in the context of guidance for career development that is conducted in different educational institutions.