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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Seize the Opportunity: Increasing the HIV Screening Rate in Adolescents Presenting to a Community Pediatric Emergency Department

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023 Sep 5. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003044. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to increase human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening in adolescents presenting to our community pediatric emergency department with symptoms suggestive of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and who were being tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Specifically, we aimed to increase the monthly average proportion of adolescents concurrently screened for HIV in this target group from 11% to 50% in 6 months.

METHODS: We identified barriers to HIV screening, focusing on physician-related challenges and adolescents’ concerns about confidentiality. We designed interventions targeting these barriers and implemented them in plan-do-study-act cycles beginning in February 2020. We educated physicians and nurses about screening recommendations, emphasized a physician-conducted private interview during which confidential contact information could be obtained, and assured confidentiality on after visit summaries by removing STI results. We also provided regular feedback to physicians on the screening rate. In addition, we implemented an electronic health record quick order set and a documentation tool. Using a statistical process control chart, we measured the average monthly proportion of adolescents in the target group who were offered HIV screening or tested for HIV before and after interventions.

RESULTS: A total of 140 adolescents in the target group presented to our pediatric emergency department from February 2020 through December 2021. After plan-do-study-act cycles, the average monthly screening rate increased to 80%.

CONCLUSIONS: Raising physician awareness of HIV screening recommendations and the importance of conducting a private interview improved screening rates. Assuring adolescent minors of confidentiality in a private interview, removing STI results from the after visit summary, and obtaining confidential contact information were important measures to overcome confidentiality barriers.

PMID:37665966 | DOI:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003044

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Retrospective Evaluation of Poisoning Cases Followed Up in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit-A 12-Year Experience in a Single Center

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023 Sep 5. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003041. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Poisonings constitute an important part of preventable morbidity and mortality in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and hospitalizations. However, information on poisoning requiring intensive care is limited. This study aimed epidemiological evaluation of poisoning cases treated in the PICU in a single center.

METHODS: The records of 504 patients admitted to the PICU due to acute poisoning between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were evaluated using descriptive methods and the χ2 test, and statistical differences with P value <0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS: The age range of the patients ranged from 1 month to 216 months (18 years), and the rate of girls was 53.2% (n = 268), whereas the rate of boys was 46.8% (n = 236). The mean age was 4.4 ± 4.3 years for boys, 6.7 ± 5.8 years for girls, and 5.6 ± 5.3 years for all patients. It was determined that 79.6% of the cases were poisoned by accident and 20.4% by suicide. A total of 76.7% of the patients who were poisoned for suicide were girls and 23.3% were boys. The mean age of these patients was 14.3 ± 3.0 years. On the other hand, 47.1% of the children who were accidentally poisoned were girls and 52.9% were boys, and the mean age of these children was 3.4 ± 2.9 years. Although 79.9% of poisonings occurred at home, the causative agent was oral poisoning in 97.4% of the cases. Approximately two thirds (69.2%) of the cases were drug-related, whereas 30.8% were related to nondrug substances. In drug-related poisonings, central nervous system drugs (35.8%) were the most common agent, followed by analgesic/antipyretic (20.9%) agents, whereas among the nonpharmaceutical factors, insecticides (agricultural pesticides, rat poison, pesticides, etc) were the most common, followed by poisonous herbs (beetleweed, widow’s weed, cannabis, etc). The mean admission time of the patients to the hospital was 6.3 ± 8.4 hours, and the mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 1.6 ± 1.3 days. In the 12 years of our study, only 3 patients died due to poisoning, and our mortality rate was 0.5%. Four patients (0.7%) were referred to the Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment and Research Center.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in which we retrospectively analyzed the profiles of poisoning cases hospitalized in the PICU for 12 years, we determined that poisonous weeds were the major factor in accidental poisonings, and suicidal poisonings were above the expected rates even at the young age group such as 8-12 years old. These results show the importance of determining the poisoning profile of the health care service area.

PMID:37665962 | DOI:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003041

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Do root secondary xylem functional traits differ between growth forms in Fabaceae species in a seasonally dry Neotropical environment?

Ann Bot. 2023 Sep 4:mcad131. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcad131. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whole-plant performance in water-stressed and disturbance-prone environments depends on a suitable supply of water from the roots to the leaves, storage of reserves during periods of shortage, and a morphological arrangement that guarantees the maintenance of the plants anchored to the soil. All these functions are performed by the secondary xylem of roots. Here, we investigate whether different growth forms of Fabaceae species from the seasonally dry Neotropical environment have distinct strategies for water transport, mechanical support, and non-structural carbon and water storage in the root secondary xylem.

METHODS: We evaluated cross-sections of root secondary xylem from trees, shrubs, and subshrubs species. We applied linear models to verify the variability in secondary xylem anatomical traits among growth forms.

KEY RESULTS: Secondary xylem with larger vessels and lower vessel density were observed in tree species. Vessel wall thickness, vessel grouping index, potential hydraulic conductivity, and cell fractions (vessels, fibers, rays, and axial parenchyma) were not statistically different between growth forms, due to high interspecific variation within the groups studied.

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the variability in anatomical traits of the secondary xylem of the root are species-specific. In summary, the cellular complexity of the secondary xylem ensures multiple functional strategies in species with distinct growth forms, a key trait for resource use in an environment with strong water seasonality.

PMID:37665958 | DOI:10.1093/aob/mcad131

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

A conditional process model of perfectionism, goal-realization, and post-competition mood

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Nov;69:102511. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102511. Epub 2023 Aug 16.

ABSTRACT

Research has recently begun to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and athletes’ post-competition mood. However, to date, there have been few attempts to examine the interaction between dimensions of perfectionism or model possible explanatory processes. To address these limitations, in the current study we tested a novel conditional process model whereby the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and post-competition affect was mediated by the degree to which goals were considered to have been met (goal-realization) and that this indirect effect was, in turn, moderated by levels of perfectionistic concerns. We tested this model in a sample of 251 athletes who took part in a “Runmageddon” event – a cross-country obstacle race. Athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) before the race and measures of goal-realization and mood (tense arousal, energetic arousal, and hedonic tone) between 24 and 48 h after the race. Analyses revealed that perfectionistic strivings were indirectly linked to a more unpleasant post-competition mood (higher tense arousal and lower hedonic tone) via perceptions of lower goal-realization. In addition, these two indirect effects were statistically significant only when perfectionistic concerns were medium and high. The results support the proposed conditional model and suggest the interplay between dimensions of perfectionism is important for athletes’ post-competition mood, and the level of perfectionistic concerns, especially.

PMID:37665945 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102511

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Predicting high quality of participation in adaptive snow-sports for individuals with disabilities: An exploratory study

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Nov;69:102501. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102501. Epub 2023 Jul 28.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This exploratory study aimed to examine the individual, program and environmental (social and physical) characteristics which predict high quality of participation in adaptive snowsports for each dimension of the Quality of Participation in Parasport Framework (QPPF): autonomy, belongingness, mastery, challenge, engagement and meaning.

METHODS: A survey was completed by 133 individuals with disabilities or their representatives on each dimension of the QPPF in adaptive snowsports and on the factors impacting the quality of participation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study participants, and a multivariate logistic regression model was constructed for each dimension of the QPPF to evaluate the relative contribution of individual, snowsport-related, program and environmental factors to each dimension.

RESULTS: Individuals with disabilities in this study reported high quality of participation on all dimensions of the QPPF. The individual characteristics only predicted the QPPF dimension of challenge. However, the program and environmental characteristics such as equipment, number of instructors and barriers were robust predictors of quality of participation.

CONCLUSION: Overall, participants experienced high quality participation. Supporting the adaptive snowsports programs while reducing the barriers faced by people with disabilities should be a continued effort to promote quality of participation.

PMID:37665936 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102501

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Mental health profiles among 13-16-year-Old Norwegian talent and mainstream students – A prospective person-centered analytical approach

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Sep;68:102474. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102474. Epub 2023 Jun 7.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To contribute further knowledge about symptoms of anxiety, depression, body concerns, and self-worth among young talent development (TD) and mainstream students by exploring the indicators within-person combinations prospectively, aiming to identify distinct profiles.

METHODS: We included 946 students, n = 168 (45% girls) from three TD sports schools and one ballet class, n = 778 (52% girls) from ten mainstream schools. All were 13-14 years at T1 and 15-16 years at T2. Descriptive statistics were examined via variable-centered approaches: ANOVA and cross-tabulations. Mental health profiles were explored via person-centered approaches: latent profile and latent transition analysis, including profile stability over two years and school type, gender, and perfectionism association with profiles.

RESULTS: TD girls’ and boys’ anxiety and depression scores did not differ, but girls reported more weight-shape concerns. Mainstream schoolgirls fared worse compared to all others. Four retained profiles (distressed-body concerned, dissatisfied, moderate mentally healthy, mentally healthy) showed distinct patterns of co-occurring anxiety, depression, weight-shape concerns, and self-worth. Profile stability was high overall (72-93%). The highest proportion of TD boys was in the mentally healthy, TD girls and mainstream boys in moderate, and mainstream girls within the dissatisfied profile. Noteworthy transitions: TD boys who transitioned were likely changing to healthier profiles and girls to unhealthier. Unhealthier profiles were associated with socially prescribed perfectionism.

CONCLUSION: TD students fared relatively better than mainstream students. Still, considerable proportions of girls were identified in the unhealthiest profiles. These findings involving young TD and mainstream students propose a need for specific follow-up measures to promote mental health.

PMID:37665914 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102474

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Child perceived motor competence as a moderator between physical activity parenting and child objectively measured physical activity

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Jul;67:102444. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102444. Epub 2023 Apr 22.

ABSTRACT

This longitudinal study aimed to examine how physical activity parenting (PAP) directly predicted objectively measured children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentariness over a three-year transitional period from early to middle childhood, and second, whether the children’s perception of motor competence (PMC) mediated or moderated the influence of PAP to children’s MVPA or sedentariness. At time 1 (T1), PAP and children’s (N = 396, mean age 5.80, SD 1.04) PA were assessed by parental questionnaire. Three years later, at time 2 (T2), children’s (N = 396, mean age 8.80, SD 1.04) PMC was measured by a validated pictorial scale, and MVPA and sedentariness were measured by accelerometers. All the analyses were conducted using the Mplus statistical package (Version 8.4). The models were adjusted for the following covariates: children’s PA (T1), gender (T1), age (T1), mean accelerometer measurement in hours per day (T2), and parents’ education level (T1). Results showed that PAP at T1 did not significantly predict level of MVPA or sedentary time at T2 and, therefore, PMC did not mediate the PAP-children’s MVPA or sedentary time relationship either. However, PMC significantly moderated the relationship between PAP and MVPA but not between PAP and sedentary time. The results suggested that parental support positively predicts children’s MVPA among children with low PMC but not among children with high PMC. This unique finding proposes that family-based PA interventions could benefit from screening of children with low PMC and provision of PA counselling to their parents.

PMID:37665868 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102444

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Rating of perceived effort but relative to what? A comparison between imposed and self-selected anchors

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 May;66:102396. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102396. Epub 2023 Jan 26.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Collecting reliable and valid rating of perceived effort (RPE) data requires properly anchoring the scales’ upper limits (i.e., the meaning of 10 on a 0-10 scale). Yet, despite their importance, anchoring procedures remain understudied and theoretically underdeveloped. Here we propose a new task-based anchoring procedure that distinguishes between imposed and self-selected anchors. In the former, researchers impose on participants a specific task as the anchor; in the latter, participants choose the most effortful task experienced or imaginable as the anchor. We compared the impact of these conceptually different anchoring procedures on RPE.

METHODS: Twenty-five resistance-trained participants (13 females) attended a familiarization and two randomized experimental sessions. In both experimental sessions, participants performed non-fatiguing and fatiguing isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) protocols with the squat followed by the gripper or vice versa. After each MVC, participants reported their RPE on a 0-10 scale relative to an imposed anchor of the performed task (e.g., gripper MVCs anchored to a gripper MVC) or to a self-selected anchor.

RESULTS: In the non-fatiguing condition, imposed anchors yielded greater RPEs than self-selected anchors for both the squat [on average, 9.4 vs. 5.5; Δ(CI95%) = 3.9 (3.2, 4.5)] and gripper [9.4 vs. 3.9; Δ = 5.5 (4.7, 6.3)]. Similar results were observed in the fatiguing condition for both the squat [9.7 vs. 6.9; Δ = 2.8 (2.1, 3.5)] and gripper [9.7 vs. 4.5; Δ = 5.2 (4.3, 5.9)].

CONCLUSIONS: We found large differences in RPE between the two anchors, independent of exercises and fatigue state. These findings provide a basis for further development and refinement of anchoring procedures and highlight the importance of selecting, justifying, and consistently applying the chosen anchors.

PMID:37665858 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102396

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee supports the fairness of the game – An analysis of the home advantage in the German Bundesliga

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 May;66:102386. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102386. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

ABSTRACT

The introduction of the video assistant referee (VAR) was a landmark in soccer history, yet it is not empirically examined whether the technology contributes to the most supreme value of the game: fair play. Because referees are said to be one driving cause of the home advantage (HA), the aim of this study was to examine whether the HA changed in the German Bundesliga since the implementation of the VAR in the season 2017/18. We examined a total of 2448 games during the four seasons before and after the implementation of the VAR with regards to the game outcomes (i.e., goals and points) as well as indicators of referee bias (i.e., fouls, yellow cards, 2nd yellow cards, red cards, and penalty kicks) for both the home and the away teams. Findings indicate that the VAR influences game outcomes to a fairer degree. Specifically, (i) we found statistical evidence for the HA before, but not after the implementation of the VAR. However, (ii) these results need to be interpreted with caution because direct assessments of the change induced by the introduction of the VAR are not statistically significant. Finally, (iii) with the implementation of the VAR, fewer fouls were committed by both the home and the away team.

PMID:37665851 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102386

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The causal impacts of empty stadiums on women’s sports activities: Evidence from European football leagues

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 May;66:102385. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102385. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the effect of spectators on women’s football games. COVID-19 and related restrictions provide a unique opportunity with an adequate sample size to test the effect of lockdown on sports activities. Studies have recently exploited this opportunity for men’s football to better understand the potential causes of home advantage and, more specifically, assess the psychological consequences when matches are played without supporters. Despite the increased scientific interest, there was only one paper that focused on women’s football. Therefore, we aim to contribute to this research field by considering matches from four major European women’s football leagues. The findings suggest that for three of these leagues, lockdown has a statistically significant effect on the sanctioned yellow cards by either reducing the number of yellow cards sanctioned to the away teams or increasing the number of yellow cards sanctioned to the home teams. Nonetheless, lockdown does not affect any final match outcomes; therefore, it does not significantly affect the magnitude of home advantage for women’s games.

PMID:37665850 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102385