Psychometric properties of the cannabis abuse screening test (CAST) in a sample of Moroccans with cannabis use.

BACKGROUND: The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) is a widely used screening tool for identifying patterns of cannabis use that have negative health or social consequences for both the user and others involved. This brief screening instrument has been translated into multiple languages, and several studies examining its psychometric properties have been published. However, studies on the factorial validity and psychometric properties of a Moroccan version of the CAST are not yet available. The objective of this study is to validate the CAST, translated, and adapted to the Moroccan Arabic dialect among persons with cannabis use. METHODS: A total of 370 participants from an addictology center in Fez City, were selected over two phases to form the study sample. First, in phase I, exploratory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the factor structure in the pilot sample (n1 = 150). Subsequently, in the second phase (Phase II), confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to confirm this structure in the validation sample (n2 = 220). All statistical analyses were carried out using the R program. RESULTS: The CFA unveiled a three-factor structure that showed a good overall fit (χ2/df = 2.23, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.02, CFI = 0.99, NFI = 0.98) and satisfactory local parameters (standardized factor loadings between 0.72 and 0.88). The model demonstrates satisfactory reliability and convergent validity, as evidenced by the acceptable values of composite reliability (CR) (0.76-0.88) and average variance extracted (AVE) (0.62-0.78), respectively. The square roots of the AVE exceeded the correlations of the factor pairs, and the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio of the correlation values was below 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSION: The reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity tests all demonstrated that the Moroccan version of the CAST performed well and can be considered a valid tool for screening of problematic cannabis use.

Effects of therapeutic patient education program on glycemic control and quality of life among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Fez city, Morocco.

Context: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disease, mainly observed in children or youth, with a significantly increased incidence in young children. Structured therapeutic patient education (TPE) is a must to help them manage their disease effectively and lead a healthy lifestyle. Aims: This study aimed to assess the effects of a structured TPE program on glycemic markers and quality of life (QOL) of T1DM children and adolescents in Fez city, Morocco. Settings and Design: It is a quasi-experimental study. Materials and Methods: One hundred T1DM children and adolescents, aged 8-18, participated in a TPE intervention at the pediatric department in a hospital center in Fez, Morocco. Glycemic markers were measured and QOL was assessed by a validated questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Parametric and nonparametric tests were used and statistical significance determined by P < 0.05. Results: At 3 months' follow-up, both global and dimensional QOL mean scores improved significantly (P ≤ 0.0001), whereas glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased (10.28% vs. 10.62%), tough with no statistical significance (P = 0.160). Furthermore, a significant improvement was observed in the maximum preprandial (2, 11 g/L [1.51-2.58] vs. 2, 37 g/L [1.81-3.21], P = 0.001) and postprandial blood glucose levels (2, 50 g/L [1.90-3.27] vs. 2, 95 g/L [2.07-3.99], P = 0.001) after 3 months; with no significant change in their minimum. Conclusion: Although this TPE intervention was more effective in improving patients' QOL than their HbA1c, it is worth striving to implement regular TPE programs for T1DM pediatric patients and adjust them to achieve a better patients' glycemic markers levels.

Psychometric properties of the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) in a Moroccan sample of university students.

BACKGROUND: The Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) instrument consists of 18 items with a six-factor structure. This questionnaire is widely utilized to measure the degree of problematic online gaming, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic language. This study aimed to assess POGQ scale validity and reliability in Moroccan context. METHODS: The research was conducted from April to June 2023 using an online questionnaire. The selected sample involved Moroccan university students. Data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the first sample (n1 = 143). Then, this structure was confirmed in the second sample (n2 = 313) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: The EFA and CFA results demonstrated that the POGQ has a six-factor structure explained 72% of the total variance. The results of this analysis provided an optimal fit to the data confirming a good performance of the measurement model (χ² = 243.6; CFI = 0.981; TLI = 0.976; RMSEA = 0.048; NFI = 0.964; IFI = 0. 981; SRMR = 0.022). The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR = 0.68-0.90), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.50-0.75), respectively. Finally, the Arabic version of POGQ was found to have a high test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic version of POGQ revealed adequate psychometric properties. As a result, the instrument might be used to measure the degree of problematic online gaming. The use of the POGQ is expected to further promote research on online game dependence treatment and prevention.

Validation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in a Moroccan sample with substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Transcultural validation studies of depression scales are rare in Morocco. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is commonly one of the most common and frequently used screening instruments for depressive symptoms, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in dialect of Arabic in Moroccan contexts. Given the importance of assessing and preventing depressive symptoms in our Moroccan context, this study aims to validate the CES-D, translated, and adapted to the dialect of Arabic and Moroccan culture, in a sample with substance use disorder. METHODS: The data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 140). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 205) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors different from the four factors in the original version. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the structure of three factors. The fit indices level showed acceptable to good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity, as demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR = 0.89-0.93) and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.64-0.66), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio (HTMT) of correlations values was less than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall reliability and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Moroccan dialectal Arabic version of the CES-D had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool for measuring the severity of depression in people with substance use disorder.

Evaluation of psychological distress is essential for patients with locally advanced breast cancer prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: baseline findings from cohort study.

BACKGROUND: patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) are often treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). This study aims to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and their sociodemographic and clinical factors in patients recently diagnosed with LABC and before NACT. METHODS: A total of 209 LABC patients without metastatic localization were recruited between 2021 and 2022 in the oncology hospital at Fez. A structured questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. A descriptive analysis and linear model were performed. RESULTS: a mean age of participants was 47.43 ± 9.45 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and psychological distress among participants was 59.62% (95% CI: 52.61-33.34), 47.85% (95% CI: 40.91-54.85), and 65.07 (95% CI: 58.19-71.52) respectively. Depression was associated to age (< 50 years) (AOR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.13-4.23) and health insurance (AOR = 3.64; 95% CI: 1.18-11.26). Anxiety was associated to age (< 50) (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.18-4.13) and right breast cancer (AOA = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.11-3.65). Psychological distress was associated to chronic illness (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.32-5.85) and lymph node status (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.26-4.57). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the high prevalence of depression and anxiety it appears opportune to treat psychological distress among LABC patient candidates for NACT. Each psychological intervention should take into account sociodemographic and clinical factors found associated in our study. Psychological therapeutic interventions are crucial for LABC patients as early as the time of diagnosis and through subsequent steps in NACT to improve their overall mental health.

Educational needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus T1DM children and adolescents in Morocco: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus T1DM is a chronic disease, mainly observed in children or young adults, with a significantly increased incidence in young children. To enable diabetic children and adolescents to lead a healthy life and manage their disease effectively, right from diagnosis, they must benefit from therapeutic patient education TPE whose first stage is an educational diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the educational needs of T1DM children and adolescents through an educational diagnosis. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A qualitative study was conducted with T1DM children and adolescents, aged 8 to 18, at the pediatric department. This qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews based on a guide with 20 participants in 2022. The internationally recognized ethical research principles were respected and ethical approval was obtained. Data analysis were carried out according to the principles of the reflexive approach of thematic analysis. RESULTS: The interviews' thematic analysis revealed five educational themes: Knowledge about T1DM and its complications risks, measures and attitudes for disease monitoring and therapy management, crisis and short-term complications management, diet and physical activity management, and adaptation of daily life to the disease and treatment constraints. CONCLUSIONS: The educational diagnosis is an essential TPE step to identify the educational needs of children and adolescents with T1DM, and to set up if needed, an educational program allowing them to develop the required skills. Hence, the health policy in Morocco should integrate the TPE approach systematically in T1DM patients' care.

Psychological Distress, Coping Strategies, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Under Neoadjuvant Therapy: Protocol of a Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Women with breast cancer eligible for neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) present a disorder of biopsychosocial variables and alteration of their quality of life. They cope with this changing by adopting psychological adjustment strategies, either passive or active. This systematic review aims to investigate the psychological distress, coping strategies, and quality of life in breast cancer patients under neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Wiley Online library represent the databases that were searched to identify relevant published articles until September 27, 2021. Full-text published articles, written in English and assessing the main outcomes (namely: psychological distress, coping strategies, and quality of life) in women with breast cancer under NAT will be included. Also, we will integrate papers dealing with the related bio psychosocial variables to the main variables. The paper selection, data extraction, and quality assessment of selected studies will be performed independently by two researchers, and disagreements will be resolved through discussions. We will bring together the results of all of the included studies to draw conclusions based on the body of evidence. The narrative approach will be adopted to analyze the results and conclusions extracted and we would perform quantitative groupings if we have similar data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required as the proposed systematic review will not use primary data. The results of this review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentation(s). PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021230300.

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.