Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Split protocol for next successful pregnancy after spontaneous abortions and pregnancy loss in Genetic Counselling Unit Split

Vida Culic — 2023-11-26

Aim: Spontaneous abortion, early neonatal death and stillbirth are tragic events for the whole family. Sporadic abortion in the general population occurs at 12-15%, before the 12th weeks. The percentage increases with the age of the mother, up to 23%. Successful next pregnancy is the goal.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis from 1985 to 2010, 451 couples with one or more SAs before the 16th week of pregnancy were examined at the Genetic Counselling Unit, Pediatrics Clinics, UH Split.

Results: The highest number of SAs was recorded in the period 8-10^th weeks of gestation. Furthermore, 69% of women and 66% of men had a positive family history (especially in a second-generation relative) for SA or sterility. Adverse habits (smoking, alcohol consumption) and exposure to pollutants and / or teratogens (chemicals, exposure to excessive heat or cold) did not affect the incidence of SA. Examination of serological signs (IgM + and EA +) in the presence of reactivation of infection with viruses most commonly revealed reactivation to viruses of the genus herpes viride such as HSV1, CMV and EBV, more often in women. Sideropenia or anemia with very low ferritin values were found in 40% of tested women.

Conclusion: The theory of “two hits” (multifactorial inheritance) is still in the basis of SA. Under these circumstances, it is possible to achieve a normal pregnancy as needed with prenatal or preimplantation diagnostics. If there is a need for assisted fertilisation, the same procedure should be followed.

Review of "Physiological psychology" by Vladimir E. Trajkovski

Andrea Ivanovska — 2023-12-02

“Physiological psychology” authored by Prof. Dr. Vladimir E. Trajkovski, represents a pivotal contribution to the field of physiological psychology. The Publisher is Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje and it was published on September 29th in Skopje. This is first edition of the book, which is printed in B5 format with ISBN 978-608-238-235-7.

This textbook, the first in the Macedonian language, elaborately explores the biological bases of behaviour. The book's scope extends beyond mere academic interest, serving as a valuable resource for students and professionals.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone fascinated by the intersection of psychology and physiology, demystifying how our biological mechanisms shape behaviour. It's a great educational resource, particularly for students and professionals in psychology, neuroscience, and similar fields, because of its exhaustive exploration of physiological psychology. From the workings of the sensory systems and the dynamism of motor functions to the neurological and cognitive complexities, the book clarifies human behaviour's roots. This book is a great candidate for readers seeking to enhance their knowledge of physiological psychology.

Does the Voice Matter? Impact of Voice-Over Instructions on Task Acquisition and Prompting Levels in Video Prompting

Ryan Kellems — 2023-11-23

Introduction: Opportunities are increasing for individuals with disabilities to live independently. Video prompting is important to increasing independence through observation and imitation of specific behaviors or skills. However, the impact of voice-over instructions has yet to be studied.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of voice-over instructions on teaching daily living skills to three individuals with disabilities via video prompting.

Method: A single-subject adapted alternating treatment design was used. Two versions of each intervention video were created by the researchers and alternated: one without and one with step-by-step voice-over instructions. Four skills were selected: (a) making a bowl of oatmeal, (b) microwaving popcorn, (c) starting a load of laundry, and (d) cleaning the microwave. Data were also collected on the number of prompts to use technology and the number of views for each step.

Results: Results showed that the presence of voice-over instructions led to higher levels of task acquisition for all the participants. The number of prompts to use technology decreased for two of the individuals after exposure to both instruction types. The number of views did not appear to be related to the presence of voice-over instructions.

Conclusion: Video prompting, with or without voice-over instructions, is an effective way to teach daily living skills and promote independence to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Status of Inclusive Healthcare Services in Nigeria

Paul Ajuwon — 2023-10-03

Introduction: Throughout the world, the number of persons with disabilities (PWDs) is growing exponentially as a result of factors such as population increase, ageing, and medical advances that prolong life. This has increased the demand for quality health services, especially in developing countries.

Aim: The aim of this research is to assess the attitudes towards PWDs of “direct” and “indirect” healthcare service providers at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: The researchers analyzed the open-ended comments from 81 healthcare providers from the hospital, regarding their knowledge and attitudes towards patients with disabilities.

Results: The authors classified the unsolicited comments into three main categories, thus: “institutional-level actions advocated”, “society-level changes advocated”, and “individual-level perception or attitude.”

Conclusion: This project has implications for reform and development of medical services in Nigeria. It identifies specific areas of need to improve the quality of healthcare service pertaining to PWDs and their families, especially in relation to the removal of architectural barriers, the development of positive attitudes, the formulation and implementation of effective legislation, and improved pre- and in-service training of healthcare workers in line with signed domestic and international protocols.

A new measure of socio-emotional skills: a pilot study with children, adolescents, and their families

Louise Marques — 2023-10-03

Introduction: The teaching of socio-emotional skills has received greater attention, with ongoing theoretical discussions about these competences. Evaluating such characteristics and their development, however, is challenging because of a lack of consensus about theoretical and practical models, the difficulty in analyses that rely solely on self-reports, and the scarcity of robust Brazilian psychometric instruments.

Objectives: Therefore, the present study sought to (1) verify the psychometric evidence of the instrument’s internal consistency in assessing socio-emotional skills, (2) identify differences in respondents’ answers, and (3) identify potential issues with questionnaire items via semi-structured interviews.

Methods: This pilot study involved 32 responses from children and adolescents and 25 responses from their family members. The questionnaire assessed five socio-emotional skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and responsible decision making. Descriptive analyses and Cronbach’s alpha calculations were applied to confirm internal consistency of the items in each subscale. Analyses of variance were also conducted to analyse responses from family members and children.

Results: The results showed that self- awareness (α = 0.83, α = 0.76), self-management (α = 0.82, α = 0.79), and relationship skills (α = 0.71, α = 0.79) had adequate internal consistency in both children’s and family members’ versions. Significant differences were observed in scores between family members and children/adolescents in self-awareness (p = 0.0159), self-management (p = 0.0279).

Conclusion: The present study underscores the importance and complexity of assessing responsible decision-making skills and suggests that the questionnaire can be useful for evaluating socio-emotional competencies.