A new improved randomized response model with application to compulsory motor insurance.

One of the challenges, when investigating sensitive attributes, or information that people tend not to disclose, through surveys is the ethical obligation to preserve the privacy of respondents. Although the randomized response method, originally suggested by Warner, allows estimating the proportion of such attributes within the population while maintaining confidentiality, the variance of the estimate consistently increases if the likelihood of selecting the question about sensitive attribute increases. The purpose of this research is to introduce a new three-stage RR model which provides an efficient alternative to Warner's model that allows more credibility from a practical perspective and apply the model to estimate noncompliance ratio in compulsory motor insurance. For the two models, a measure of privacy protection was calculated and a relation between this measure and the efficiency of both models was introduced. Efficiency comparisons indicate that the proposed model can always be made more efficient than both Warner's and Mangat & Singh's RR models. The proposed model, with specific parameter selection, was applied on a selected population and proved a practical reliability. The noncompliance ratio to obtain compulsory motor insurance was estimated by both a point and a confidence interval. This estimate provides a basis to predict third party motor insurance inclusion.

Does Participation in Sport Protect Former Saudi Arabian Athletes from High Blood Glucose after Retirement?

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased dramatically in the last decades in developed and developing countries. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in retired athletes in Saudi Arabia and compare it to nonathletes. This study hypothesizes that early participation in sport can prevent former athletes from abnormal blood glucose levels after retirement. METHODS: The leading methods of researching the issues of the study include the analysis of theoretical sources, analysis of statistics, and comparison. Seventy-three former athletes and 26 nonathletes aged between 20 and 60 years participated in this study. Height, weight, and blood glucose levels were collected by the researcher. The former athletes were divided into 3 groups according to their type of training: endurance, mixed sports, and power sports. RESULTS: The study results showed that 40.59% of former athletes had prediabetes compared to 16.83% of nonathletes. Furthermore, 8.91% of the former athletes had T2D, while 3.96% of the nonathletes had T2D. The results of this study indicated that former athletes had lower average blood glucose than nonathletes. Also, the study results indicated that no statistically significant differences were found between former athletes and nonathletes after retirement. About fasting blood glucose, former power athletes had higher average blood glucose than endurance athletes and mixed sports athletes. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that no statistically significant differences were found between the former athlete groups.

Development and validation of an instrument designed to measure factors influencing physician prescribing decisions

BACKGROUND: Previous attempts to develop an instrument to measure factors that influence prescribing decisions among physicians were relatively insufficient and lacked validation scale. OBJECTIVE: We present a new tool that attempts to address this shortcoming. Hence, this study aims to develop and validate a self-administrated instrument to explain factors that influence the prescribing decisions of physicians. METHODS: The questionnaire was developed based on literature and then subjected to an exhaustive assessment by a board of professionals and a pilot examination before being administered to 705 physicians. Three pre-tests were carried out to evaluate the quality of the survey items. In pre-test 1, after items are generated and the validity of their content is assessed by academics and physicians. In pre-test 2, the scale is carried out with a small sample of 20 respondents of physicians. In pre-test 3, fifty drop-off questionnaires were piloted amongst physicians to test the reliability. RESULTS: On the basis of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analyses using SmartPLS 3, the content and convergent validity of the instrument were confirmed with 44 items grouped into four categories, namely, marketing efforts, patient characteristics, pharmacist variables, and contextual factors with 13 reflective constructs. CONCLUSIONS: The study outcomes prove that the scale is more valid and reliable for measuring factors that influence the decision of the physician to prescribe the drug. The development and presentation of a scale of thirteen factors related to physicians prescribing decisions help to ensure valid findings and facilitates comparisons of studies and research settings

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Development and validation of an instrument designed to measure factors influencing physician prescribing decisions.

BACKGROUND: Previous attempts to develop an instrument to measure factors that influence prescribing decisions among physicians were relatively insufficient and lacked validation scale. OBJECTIVE: We present a new tool that attempts to address this shortcoming. Hence, this study aims to develop and validate a self-administrated instrument to explain factors that influence the prescribing decisions of physicians. METHODS: The questionnaire was developed based on literature and then subjected to an exhaustive assessment by a board of professionals and a pilot examination before being administered to 705 physicians. Three pre-tests were carried out to evaluate the quality of the survey items. In pre-test 1, after items are generated and the validity of their content is assessed by academics and physicians. In pre-test 2, the scale is carried out with a small sample of 20 respondents of physicians. In pre-test 3, fifty drop-off questionnaires were piloted amongst physicians to test the reliability. RESULTS: On the basis of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analyses using SmartPLS 3, the content and convergent validity of the instrument were confirmed with 44 items grouped into four categories, namely, marketing efforts, patient characteristics, pharmacist variables, and contextual factors with 13 reflective constructs. CONCLUSIONS: The study outcomes prove that the scale is more valid and reliable for measuring factors that influence the decision of the physician to prescribe the drug. The development and presentation of a scale of thirteen factors related to physicians prescribing decisions help to ensure valid findings and facilitates comparisons of studies and research settings.

A primary care study of the correlates of depressive symptoms among Jordanian women.

A standardized Arabic version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II was administered to 493 randomly selected Arab women attending primary care out-patient centers in West Amman, Jordan. Women were asked about demographic data as well as questions from a negative life events questionnaire. The mean Beck score was 13.02 (+/- 8.13). Demographic factors and negative life events accounted for 17.1% of the variance in the total Beck score. Self-reported financial problems and health problems as well as marital separation were the strongest contributors. Family problems and work stress made smaller contributions to depressive symptoms.