Remote administration of the short physical performance battery, the 1-minute sit to stand, and the Chester step test in post-COVID-19 patients after hospitalization: establishing inter-reliability and agreement with the face-to-face assessment

PURPOSE

To assess the inter-reliability of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the 1-min Sit to Stand test (1-MSTS), and the Chester Step Test (CST) via remote assessment in post-COVID-19 patients after hospitalization.

METHODS

Twenty-five post-COVID-19 patients randomly performed the functional tests via remote assessment using a software platform at home and via face-to-face assessment at the rehabilitation center 24-72 h apart. One day before the remote assessment, all participants had a 1-h guidance session regarding the platform use, safety instructions, and home equipment preparation.

RESULTS

Participants completed all tests for both assessment procedures without experience of adverse events. The mean age was 53 (SD = 10) years old, and the median days of hospitalization were 23 (IQR = 10-33). The inter-reliability was moderate for the total score in the SPPB: Cohen's kappa = 0.545 (95% CI: 0.234 to 0.838), excellent for the number of repetitions in the 1-MSTS: ICC = 0.977 (95% CI: 0.948 to 0.990) and good for the total number of steps in the CST: ICC = 0.871 (95% CI: 0.698 to 0.944).

CONCLUSION

Remote functional assessments for SPPB, 1-MSTS, and CST indicated moderate to excellent inter-reliability in post-COVID-19 patients after hospitalization.

Two-dimensional dilute Baxter-Wu model: Transition order and universality

We investigate the critical behavior of the two-dimensional spin-1 Baxter-Wu model in the presence of a crystal-field coupling Δ with the goal of determining the universality class of transitions along the second-order part of the transition line as one approaches the putative location of the multicritical point. We employ extensive Monte Carlo simulations using two different methodologies: (i) a study of the zeros of the energy probability distribution, closely related to the Fisher zeros of the partition function, and (ii) the well-established multicanonical approach employed to study the probability distribution of the crystal-field energy. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis in the regime of second-order phase transitions in the (Δ,T) phase diagram supports previous claims that the transition belongs to the universality class of the four-state Potts model. For positive values of Δ, we observe the presence of strong finite-size effects, indicative of crossover effects due to the proximity of the first-order part of the transition line. Finally, we demonstrate how a combination of cluster and heat-bath updates allows one to equilibrate larger systems, and we demonstrate the potential of this approach for resolving the ambiguities observed in the regime of Δ≳0.

An aperture in the sagittal plane of the dorsal wall of the sacrum

The dorsal wall of the sacrum presents various anatomical variations, while the dorsal bony wall of the sacral canal suffers more. We report a case of a sacrum with a series of variants in the midline due to abnormal ossification and a bizarre aperture on the sagittal plane between the 1st and the 2nd sacral spinous processes. A failure of the ossification patter during embryological life, or an ossification of the supraspinous ligament may result in such an aperture. Sacrum variety is of great importance for the daily proper medical practice.

Abstract P2-06-18: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Citation Format: Kunder R, Fernandez Dunne S, Clutter M, Cristofanilli M, Mendillo M, Vasilopoulos A, Horiuchi D. Withdrawn [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-06-18.

Insomnia and burnout in Greek Nurses

BACKGROUND/AIM

Sleep disturbances and burnout are possibly related to each other, although the exact nature of this relationship is still under investigation.  The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and its relation with burnout levels in a group of nurses working in psychiatric, pediatric, internal medicine and surgery departments in the public hospitals of central Greece.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy four nurses working in internal medicine, surgery, psychiatric and pediatric sector in public hospitals of Central Greece were enrolled in the study. Maslach's burnout inventory and Athens Insomnia Scale were used to evaluate burnout and insomnia respectively. Statistical significance was set at p=0.05.

RESULTS

Mean age of the nurses was 35.19 ± 7.07 (22-56). One hundred and fifteen (95.8%) nurses were women and 71 nurses (59.2%) were married. Mean insomnia score was 10.00. Approximately 3 out of 4 nurses exhibited high burnout levels.  Nurses working in the department of surgery and those with more than 4.5 night shifts per month exhibited higher insomnia scores. Insomnia score was correlated with burnout subscales, positively with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and negatively with personal achievements scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Insomnia and burnout scales are linearly related to each other. Younger nurses are particular vulnerable to insomnia. Job reform should target at younger nurses and those working on surgical departments who might also benefit from additional education and training to reduce insomnia and burnout. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (2):150-155.