Quality assessment of research articles in nuclear medicine using STARD and QUADAS-2 tools

Diagnostic nuclear medicine is being increasingly employed in clinical practice with the advent of new technologies and radiopharmaceuticals. The report of the prevalence of a certain disease is important for assessing the quality of that article. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the quality of published nuclear medicine articles and determine the frequency of reporting the prevalence of studied diseases. We used Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy [STARD] and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies [QUADAS-2] checklists for evaluating the quality of articles published in five nuclear medicine journals with the highest impact factors in 2012. The articles were retrieved from Scopus database and were selected and assessed independently by two nuclear medicine physicians. Decision concerning equivocal data was made by consensus between the reviewers. The average STARD score was approximately 17 points, and the highest score was 17.19 +/- 2.38 obtained by the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine. QUADAS-2 tool showed that all journals had low bias regarding study population. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine had the highest score in terms of index test, reference standard, and time interval. Lack of clarity regarding the index test, reference standard, and time interval was frequently observed in all journals including Clinical Nuclear Medicine, in which 64% of the studies were unclear regarding the index test. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology had the highest number of articles with appropriate reference standard [83.3%], though it had the lowest frequency of reporting disease prevalence [zero reports]. All five journals had the same STARD score, while index test, reference standard, and time interval were very unclear according to QUADAS-2 tool. Unfortunately, data were too limited to determine which journal had the lowest risk of bias. In fact, it is the author's responsibility to provide details of research methodology so that the reader can assess the quality of research articles. Five nuclear medicine journals with the highest impact factor were comparable in terms of STARD score, although they all showed lack of clarity regarding index test, reference standard, and time interval, according to QUADAS-2. The current data were too limited to determine the journal with the lowest bias. Thus, a comprehensive overview of the research methodology of each article is of paramount importance to enable the reader to assess the quality of articles

Validation of the Thai Version of a Work-related Quality of Life Scale in the Nursing Profession

BACKGROUND: Currently available questionnaires for evaluating the quality of worklife do not fully examine every factor related to worklife in all cultures. A tool in Thai is therefore needed for the direct evaluation of the quality of worklife. Our aim was to translate the Work-related Quality of Life Scale-2 (WRQLS-2) into Thai, to assess the validity and reliability of the Thai-translated version, and to examine the tool's accuracy vis-a-vis nursing in Thailand. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study. Forward and backward translations were performed to develop a Thai version of the WRQLS. Six nursing experts participated in assessing content validity and 374 registered nurses (RNs) participated in its testing. After a 2-week interval, 67 RNs were retested. Structural validity was examined using principal components analysis. The Cronbach's alpha values were calculated. The respective independent sample t test and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to analyze known-group validity and test-retest reliability. Multistate sampling was used to select 374 RNs from the In- and Outpatient Department of Srinagarind Hospital of the Khon Kaen University (Khon Kaen, Thailand). RESULTS: The content validity index of the scale was 0.97. Principal components analysis resulted in a seven-factor model, which explains 59% of the total variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha value was 0.925, whereas the subscales ranged between 0.67 and 0.82. In the assessment results, the known-group validity was established for the difference between civil servants and university employees [F (7.982, 0.005) and t (3.351; p < 0.05)]. Civil servants apparently had a better quality worklife, compared to university employees. Good test-retest reliability was observed (r = 0.892, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Thai version of a WRQLS appears to be well validated and practicable for determining the quality of the work-life among nurses in Thailand.

Preliminary Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale-2 in the Nursing Profession

OBJECTIVES: As quality of work-life (QWL) among nurses affects both patient care and institutional standards, assessment regarding QWL for the profession is important. Work-related Quality of Life Scale (WRQOLS) is a reliable QWL assessment tool for the nursing profession. To develop a Chinese version of the WRQOLS-2 and to examine its psychometric properties as an instrument to assess QWL for the nursing profession in China. METHODS: Forward and back translating procedures were used to develop the Chinese version of WRQOLS-2. Six nursing experts participated in content validity evaluation and 352 registered nurses (RNs) participated in the tests. After a two-week interval, 70 of the RNs were retested. Structural validity was examined by principal components analysis and the Cronbach's alphas calculated. The respective independent sample t-test and intra-class correlation coefficient were used to analyze known-group validity and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: One item was rephrased for adaptation to Chinese organizational cultures. The content validity index of the scale was 0.98. Principal components analysis resulted in a seven-factor model, accounting for 62% of total variance, with Cronbach's alphas for subscales ranging from 0.71 to 0.88. Known-group validity was established in the assessment results of the participants in permanent employment vs. contract employment (t = 2.895, p < 0.01). Good test-retest reliability was observed (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The translated Chinese version of the WRQOLS-2 has sufficient validity and reliability so that it can be used to evaluate the QWL among nurses in mainland China.

Musculoskeletal Disorders among Northeastern Construction Workers with Temporary Migration

Background: musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are obvious problems in many occupations. Their prevalence, however, in Northeastern construction workers with temporary migration has yet been investigated.Objective: To determine the prevalence of MSDs in different body parts in the construction workers.Method: The cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the Sriracha P.T. construction and engineering company from May to July 2006. Two hundred fifty seven northeastern construction workers with temporary migration to Chonburi province were selected by purposive method. A modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used in this study. Reliability and validity of this tool has been established.Results: The prevalence of MSDs during a 12-month period was found in the following anatomical areas: low back 33.5% (95% CI: 27.7-39.3), knees 19.5% (95% CI: 14.6-24.3) and shoulders 14.0% (95% CI: 10.1-18.7). The prevalence of MSDs during a 7-day period was found slightly less in the same following areas: low back 24.5% (95% CI: 19.2-29.8), knees 14.0% (95% CI: 9.7-18.2) and shoulders 10.9% (95% CI: 7.1-14.7).Conclusion: The present study indicated that MSDs in the low back, knees and shoulders are common among construction workers. Awareness of prevention of the problems should be given to the construction workers.Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders, construction workers, temporary migration, Standardized Nordic Questionnaire