Preliminary validation of the Virtual Kitchen Challenge as an objective and sensitive measure of everyday function associated with cerebrovascular disease
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SUBMITTER: Holmqvist S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10840367 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:PurposeWe evaluated the validity of a single dry eye severity measure estimated using Rasch analysis from a battery of clinical tests and patient symptoms.MethodsThis study included 203 dry eye patients and 51 controls. Administered tests included the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear osmolarity, Schirmer's test, noninvasive break-up time, and ocular surface staining. Each of the 12 OSDI questions and each clinical test was defined to be a separate indicator to estimate a single dry eye severity measure from Rasch analysis. Measures of severity were estimated for each subject (person measures) and measures of sensitivity to severity were estimated for each sign and symptom (indicator measures).ResultsThe average severity measure for dry eye patients was significantly greater than the average severity measure for controls (-0.39 vs. -1.2, P < 0.001). The distribution of indicator measures was well matched to the distribution of person measures. No indicator carried >10% of the total information about dry eye severity carried by all indicators together. However, the most informative indicators were corneal and conjunctival staining.ConclusionsOur study indicated that there is no single "best" dry eye test. Clinical tests and symptoms should be used in combination to estimate a single dry eye severity measure.Translational relevanceThere is no single "gold standard" testing method for dry eye that correlates with the severity of disease. We propose that Rasch analysis can be used to calculate an objective dry eye severity score from a battery of clinical indicators.
| S-EPMC6183328 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In everyday life, we are often confronted with morally conflicting social interaction situations. Therefore, the main objective of the present set of studies was the development and validation of a new measure to assess decision-making in everyday moral conflict situations. All vignettes required a decision between an altruistic versus an egoistic behavioral response alternative. In three independent surveys (N = 200), we developed a 40-items measure with preferable mean rates of altruistic decisions (Study 1), clear representation of altruistic and egoistic response classes (Study 2), unambiguousness of social closeness classifications (socially close vs. socially distant protagonists; Studies 1 and 2), and high similarity to reality ratings (Studies 1 and 2). Additionally, we developed two parallelized item sets for future use in within-subjects design studies and investigated the measurement properties of our new scale (Studies 1 and 3). Results of Rasch model analyses and classical test theory fit indices showed unidimensionality and confirmed the appropriateness of the fragmentation into two parallelized item sets. Notably, in our data, there were neither effects of social closeness nor gender on the percentage of altruistic decisions. In sum, we propose the Everyday Moral Conflict Situations (EMCS) Scale as a promising new measurement tool that may facilitate further research in different research areas due to its broad applicability.
| S-EPMC6443167 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Humans may be the only species able to rapidly and automatically recognize a familiar face identity in a crowd of unfamiliar faces, an important social skill. Here, by combining electroencephalography (EEG) and fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS), we introduce an ecologically valid, objective and sensitive neural measure of this human individual face recognition function. Natural images of various unfamiliar faces are presented at a fast rate of 6 Hz, allowing one fixation per face, with variable natural images of a highly familiar face identity, a celebrity, appearing every seven images (0.86 Hz). Following a few minutes of stimulation, a high signal-to-noise ratio neural response reflecting the generalized discrimination of the familiar face identity from unfamiliar faces is observed over the occipito-temporal cortex at 0.86 Hz and harmonics. When face images are presented upside-down, the individual familiar face recognition response is negligible, being reduced by a factor of 5 over occipito-temporal regions. Differences in the magnitude of the individual face recognition response across different familiar face identities suggest that factors such as exposure, within-person variability and distinctiveness mediate this response. Our findings of a biological marker for fast and automatic recognition of individual familiar faces with ecological stimuli open an avenue for understanding this function, its development and neural basis in neurotypical individual brains along with its pathology. This should also have implications for the use of facial recognition measures in forensic science.
| S-EPMC6599768 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Keeping in mind the importance of measuring early executive function (EF) skills in low and middle-income countries, the present study examined the feasibility and preliminary psychometric properties of a performance-based computerized EF measure; EF Touch, to be used with Pakistani preschoolers. Review of the content and Urdu translation of verbal instruction EF Touch battery was carried out by subject matter experts before data collection from the 120 preschoolers aged between 3.1 to 5.9 years. The feasibility report indicated that between 79.2% -100% of the preschoolers completed each executive function task. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the unidimensionality of the EF battery. Item response theory models were used for the initial assessment of tasks and item parameters. Results demonstrated that each task worked invariantly across subgroups of preschoolers residing in low and middle-income households. Moreover, preschoolers showed differences on each task, and task scores reflect their latent EF skills in the low to moderate range. The battery was demonstrated as a feasible and reliable measure for use with low and middle-income countries specifically in Pakistan.
| S-EPMC9477268 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundTo develop standardized metrics for expected outcomes in lower extremity revascularization for critical limb ischemia (CLI), the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has developed objective performance goals (OPGs) based on aggregate data from randomized trials of lower extremity bypass (LEB). It remains unknown, however, if these targets can be achieved in everyday vascular surgery practice.MethodsWe applied SVS OPG criteria to 1039 patients undergoing 1039 LEB operations for CLI with autogenous vein (excluding patients on dialysis) within the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE). Each of the individual OPGs was calculated within the VSGNE dataset, along with its surrounding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and compared to published SVS OPGs using χ(2) comparisons and survival analysis.ResultsAcross most risk strata, patients in the VSGNE and SVS OPG cohorts were similar (clinical high-risk [age >80 years and tissue loss]: 15.3% VSGNE; 16.2% SVS OPG; P = .58; anatomic high risk [infrapopliteal target artery]: 57.8% VSGNE; 60.2% SVS OPG; P = .32). However, the proportion of VSGNE patients designated as conduit high-risk (lack of single-segment great saphenous vein) was lower (10.2% VSGNE; 26.9% SVS OPG;P < .001). The primary safety endpoint, major adverse limb events (MALE) at 30 days, was lower in the VSGNE cohort (3.2%; 95% CI, 2.3-4.6) than the SVS OPG cohort (6.2%; 95% CI, 4.2-8.1; P = .05). The primary efficacy OPG endpoint, freedom from any MALE or postoperative death within the first year (MALE + postoperative death [POD]), was similar between VSGNE and SVS OPG cohorts (77%; 95% CI, 74%-80%) SVS OPG, 74% (95% CI, 71%-77%) VSGNE, P = .58). In the remaining safety and efficacy OPGs, the VSGNE cohort met or exceeded the benchmarks established by the SVS OPG cohort.ConclusionCommunity and academic centers in everyday vascular surgery practice can meet OPGs derived from centers of excellence in LEB. Quality improvement initiatives, as well as clinical trials, should incorporate OPGs in their outcome measures to facilitate communication and comparison of risk-adjusted outcomes in the treatment of CLI.
| S-EPMC3129457 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Risk taking is a complex heterogeneous construct that has proven difficult to assess, especially when using behavioral tasks. We present an exploratory investigation of new measure-the Assessment of Physical Risk Taking (APRT). APRT produces a variety of different outcome scores and is designed as a comprehensive assessment of the probability of success and failure, and magnitude of reward and punishment of different types of simulated physically risky behaviors. Effects observed on the simulated behaviors are hypothesized to reflect similar effects on real world physical risks. Participants (N = 224) completed APRT in a laboratory setting, half of whom had a 1.5 s delay interposed between button presses. Exploratory analyses utilizing generalized estimating equations examined the main effects and two-way interactions among five within-subject factors, as well as two-way interactions between the within-subject factors and Delay across four APRT outcome scores. Results indicated that Injury Magnitude and Injury Probability exerted stronger effects than any of the other independent variables. Participants also completed several self-report measures of risk taking and associated constructs (e.g., sensation seeking), which were correlated with APRT scores to assess the preliminary convergent and divergent validity of the new measure. After correcting for multiple comparisons, APRT scores correlated with self-reported risk taking in thrilling, physically dangerous activities specifically, but only for those who did not have a delay between APRT responses. This promising exploratory investigation highlights the need for future studies comparing APRT to other behavioral risk taking tasks, examining the robustness of the observed APRT effects, and investigating how APRT may predict real-world physical risk taking.
| S-EPMC8553120 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThis study evaluated the validity of a smart chair and corresponding smartphone app (chair&app) to measure sitting time and sitting interruptions against camera-derived observation and activPAL.MethodsBelgian deskbound university employees (n = 28, 17 women, mean age 30 ± 7.5 years, mean BMI 22.1 ± 2.0 kg/m2 ) were provided with the chair&app in three conditions: a controlled condition (following a prescribed protocol), a free-living condition (conducting usual office work for 2 hours), and an extended free-living condition (conducting usual office work for three consecutive days). Total sitting time and the number of sitting interruptions were compared between the chair&app and criterion measures (camera observation and activPAL). Criterion validity was assessed using mean differences (95% CI) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC; 95% CI).ResultsIn the controlled condition, mean sitting time and number of sitting interruptions differed between chair&app and camera observation by 2.7 (-2.4, 7.9) minutes and -8.0 (-10.4, -5.6) interruptions, respectively. For the free-living condition, there was good agreement between chair&app and camera observation for both sitting time (ICC: 0.74; 0.28, 0.93) and sitting interruptions (ICC: 0.68; 0.10, 0.91). For the extended free-living condition, there was excellent agreement between chair&app and activPAL for sitting time (ICC: 0.89; 0.49, 0.97). Meanwhile, there was poor agreement between chair&app and activPAL for sitting interruptions (ICC: 0.38; -0.04, 0.70).ConclusionsChair&app generally provided reliable measures of desk-based sitting. Consequently, chair&app might be useful as a self-monitoring tool in the workplace context. Further research is needed to explore its usefulness in reducing adults' desk-based sitting.
| S-EPMC6499358 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundA primary aim of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort study is to examine the association between total physical activity levels (comprising occupational, household and recreational activity) and the incidence of cancer. We examined the validity and long-term repeatability of total physical activity measurements estimated from the past-year recall EPIC questionnaire, using accelerometers as an objective reference measure.MethodsParticipants included 100 men and 82 women aged 50-65 years. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the physical activity estimates from the EPIC questionnaire with total activity estimated from the average of three separate 7-day accelerometer periods during the same (past-year) period. Long-term repeatability of the EPIC questionnaire was assessed by comparing the responses from the baseline and 10-month administrations. Past-year EPIC estimates were also compared with the Friedenreich Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire to examine whether recent activity reflected lifetime activity.ResultsAccelerometer total metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours/week were positively associated with a total physical activity index (Spearman rank correlation rho = 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15, 0.42) and with non-occupational activity estimated in MET-hours/week (rho = 0.21, 95% CI 0.07, 0.35). Stratified analyses suggested stronger correlations for non-occupational activity for participants who were male, had a lower BMI, were younger, or were not full-time workers, although the differences in correlations between groups were not statistically significant. The weighted kappa coefficient for repeatability of the total physical activity index was 0.62 (95% CI 0.53, 0.71). Spearman correlations for repeatability of components of activity were 0.65 (95% CI 0.55, 0.72) for total non-occupational, 0.58 (95% CI 0.48, 0.67) for recreational and 0.73 (95% CI 0.66, 0.79) for household activity. When past-year activity was compared to lifetime estimates of activity, there was fair agreement for non-occupational (rho = 0.26) activity, which was greater for household activity (rho = 0.46) than for recreational activity (rho = 0.21).ConclusionOur findings suggest that the EPIC questionnaire has acceptable measurement characteristics for ranking participants according to their level of total physical activity. The questionnaire should be able to identify the presence or absence of reasonably strong aetiological associations when either recent or long-term activity is the responsible factor.
| S-EPMC2424075 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSedentary behaviour is a public health concern that requires surveillance and epidemiological research. For such large scale studies, self-report tools are a pragmatic measurement solution. A large number of self-report tools are currently in use, but few have been validated against an objective measure of sedentary time and there is no comparative information between tools to guide choice or to enable comparison between studies. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic comparison, generalisable to all tools, of the validity of self-report measures of sedentary time against a gold standard sedentary time objective monitor.MethodsCross sectional data from three cohorts (N = 700) were used in this validation study. Eighteen self-report measures of sedentary time, based on the TAxonomy of Self-report SB Tools (TASST) framework, were compared against an objective measure of postural sitting (activPAL) to provide information, generalizable to all existing tools, on agreement and precision using Bland-Altman statistics, on criterion validity using Pearson correlation, and on data loss.ResultsAll self-report measures showed poor accuracy compared with the objective measure of sedentary time, with very wide limits of agreement and poor precision (random error > 2.5 h). Most tools under-reported total sedentary time and demonstrated low correlations with objective data. The type of assessment used by the tool, whether direct, proxy, or a composite measure, influenced the measurement characteristics. Proxy measures (TV time) and single item direct measures using a visual analogue scale to assess the proportion of the day spent sitting, showed the best combination of precision and data loss. The recall period (e.g. previous week) had little influence on measurement characteristics.ConclusionSelf-report measures of sedentary time result in large bias, poor precision and low correlation with an objective measure of sedentary time. Choice of tool depends on the research context, design and question. Choice can be guided by this systematic comparative validation and, in the case of population surveillance, it recommends to use a visual analog scale and a 7 day recall period. Comparison between studies and improving population estimates of average sedentary time, is possible with the comparative correction factors provided.
| S-EPMC5828279 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundVisuospatial memory impairment is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease; however, conventional visuospatial memory tests are insufficient to fully reflect visuospatial memory impairment in daily life.MethodsTo address patients' difficulties in locating and recalling misplaced objects, we introduced a novel visuospatial memory test, the Hidden Objects Test (HOT), conducted in a virtual environment. We categorized HOT scores into prospective memory, item free-recall, place free-recall, item recognition, and place-item matching scores. To validate the VR memory test, we compared HOT scores among individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and normal controls (NC), and also compared these scores with those of conventional neuropsychological tests. We tracked the participants' movement paths in the virtual environment and assessed basic features, such as total distance, duration, and speed. Additionally, we performed walking trajectory pattern mining such as outlier and stay-point detection.ResultsWe designed and implemented the HOT to simulate a house's living room and assess participants' ability to locate hidden objects. Our preliminary results showed that the total HOT score differed among 17 patients with AD, 14 with aMCI, and 15 NC (p < 0.001). The total HOT score correlated positively with conventional memory test scores (p < 0.001). Walking trajectories showed that patients with AD and aMCI wandered rather than going straight to the hidden objects. In terms of basic features, the total duration was significantly greater in AD than in NC (p = 0.008). In terms of trajectory pattern mining, the number of outliers, which were over 95% of the estimated trajectory, was significantly higher in AD than in NC (p = 0.002). The number of stay points, an index in which participants stayed in the same position for more than 2 s, was significantly higher in patients with AD and aMCI compared with NC (AD vs. NC: p = 0.003, aMCI vs. NC: p = 0.019).ConclusionThe HOT simulating real life showed potential as an ecologically valid test for assessing visuospatial memory function in daily life. Walking trajectory analysis suggested that patients with AD and aMCI wandered rather than going straight toward the hidden objects.
| S-EPMC10701378 | biostudies-literature