Virtue ethics-based research integrity training intervention to change medical students' attitudes and perceptions of organizational ethical climate: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Universities are increasingly offering training in research integrity (RI) to enhance research quality and foster RI. Despite the importance of integrating scientific virtues into such training, there is a lack of assessment of virtue ethics-based RI training.

Methods: This was a randomised controlled study assessing the impact of a virtue-based training for RI, performed at the University of Split School of Medicine in 2020-2021.

Are numerical scores important for grant assessment? A cross-sectional study.

In the evaluation of research proposals, reviewers are often required to provide their opinions using various forms of quantitative and qualitative criteria. In 2020, the European Commission removed, for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Networks (ITN) funding scheme, the numerical scores from the individual evaluations but retained them in the consensus report. This study aimed to assess whether there were any differences in reviewer comments' linguistic characteristics after the numerical scoring was removed, compared to comments from 2019 when numerical scoring was still present.

Linguistic Validation and Reliability of the Croatian Version of the TOPICOP Questionnaire.

: This study demonstrates the factor structure and reliability of the Croatian version of the TOPICOP (Topical Corticosteroid Phobia) questionnaire, thereby contributing to further validation and standardization of the measurement of topical corticophobia with dermatological patients or their parents, which directly affects patient or parent compliance, as well as the final therapeutic effect. : The cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre Split, Department of Dermatovenerology. The research involved inviting 120 participants (age 12-68) who attended the University Hospital Centre Split's Atopy School, patients examined in the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital Centre Split and diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD) or allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), and parents or legal representatives of patients younger than 12 years old.

Exploring the understanding of reproducibility among stakeholders within academia and their expectations for a web-based education tool: A qualitative study.

Although reproducibility is central to the scientific method, its understanding within the research community remains insufficient. We aimed to explore the perceptions of research reproducibility among stakeholders within academia, learn about possible barriers and facilitators to reproducibility-related practices, and gather their suggestions for the Croatian Reproducibility Network website. We conducted four focus groups with researchers, teachers, editors, research managers, and policymakers from Croatia ( = 23).

Conclusiveness, readability and textual characteristics of plain language summaries from medical and non-medical organizations: a cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study compared plain language summaries (PLSs) from medical and non-medical organizations regarding conclusiveness, readability and textual characteristics. All Cochrane (medical PLSs, n = 8638) and Campbell Collaboration and International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (non-medical PLSs, n = 163) PLSs of latest versions of systematic reviews published until 10 November 2022 were analysed. PLSs were classified into three conclusiveness categories (conclusive, inconclusive and unclear) using a machine learning tool for medical PLSs and by two experts for non-medical PLSs.

The association between research design and the perceived treatment effectiveness: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of research design on the perceived medical treatment effectiveness among researchers, healthcare workers (HCWs) and consumers in Croatia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to February 2022 using an online survey. The participants were researchers, HCWs and consumers from Croatia.

Mystical and Affective Aspects of Psychedelic Use in a Naturalistic Setting: A Linguistic Analysis of Online Experience Reports.

Analyzing online retrospective experience reports of psychedelic use can provide valuable insight into their acute subjective effects. Such reports are unexplored in relation to mystical states, which are thought to be a therapeutic mechanism within psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. We created a set of words that, when encountered in an experience report, indicate the occurrence of mystical elements within the experience.

Researchers on research integrity: a survey of European and American researchers.

Background: Reports of questionable or detrimental research practices (QRPs) call into question the reliability of scientific evidence and the trustworthiness of research. A critical component of the research ecosystem is the organization within which research takes place. We conducted a survey to explore the attitudes and beliefs of European and American researchers about the organisations in which they work, their own research practices and their attitudes towards research integrity and research integrity policies.

Changes in information-seeking patterns and perception of health crisis management in a year of COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Aim: To assess the changes in the health information search patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of this information in Croatia.

Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study was based on an online survey among adults in Croatia from June 5 to July 5 2020 and from May 25 to June 15 2021. The survey inquired about demographic characteristics, health information search patterns, and emotional reactions to health information.

Student Moral Foundations in the Context of Research Misbehavior: An Experimental Study.

The study aimed to examine whether the use of words related to different moral foundations can predict the perceived severity of research misconduct. We gave two groups of participants, undergraduate medical students, the same hypothetical scenarios of research misconduct cases containing words related to different aspects of morality, and asked them to assess how inappropriate the described behavior was. Students ranked the described behaviors differently by the inappropriateness of the behavior, but the group wording was not a significant predictor of appropriateness.

Linguistic analysis of plain language summaries and corresponding scientific summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews about oncology interventions.

Background: Cochrane plain language summaries (PLSs) are an important format to present high-quality healthcare evidence to patients with cancer and their families. They should be written in a way everyone can understand, since they serve as a tool in decision-making and present a bridge to overcome the gap between the healthcare users and professionals.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the language characteristics of PLSs of Cochrane systematic reviews of oncology interventions in comparison with corresponding Cochrane scientific abstracts (SAs).

Introducing the Library of Guidance for Health Scientists (LIGHTS): A Living Database for Methods Guidance.

Importance: Improving methodological quality is a priority in the health research community. Finding appropriate methods guidance can be challenging due to heterogeneous terminology, poor indexing in medical databases, and variation in formats. The Library of Guidance for Health Scientists (LIGHTS) is a new searchable database for methods guidance articles.

Perception of organizational climate by university staff and students in medicine and humanities: A qualitative study.

Organizational climate and culture are important for research organizations because they foster research integrity and responsible conduct of research, reduce questionable research practices, and improve job satisfaction. The aim of our study was to explore how employees and students perceive organizational climate and its consequences in the university setting. We conducted semi-structured interviews with senior students and employees (teaching and non-teaching staff) from two different university schools: School of Medicine and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Knowledge and Practice of Pediatricians Regarding Hypovitaminosis D-A Survey across 33 European Countries.

Hypovitaminosis D has been recognized as a worldwide pandemic, but there are disagreements regarding its diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and practice of European pediatricians concerning vitamin D (VD) and hypovitaminosis D and their adherence to relevant guidelines. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an anonymous survey via SurveyMonkey on 304 European pediatricians.

Validation of a new instrument for assessing attitudes on psychedelics in the general population.

Although there is research interest to assess attitudes on psychedelics, no validated instrument exists for this purpose. We aimed to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) in a sample of the Croatian general population. A cross-sectional, web-based survey among the general population was conducted on 1153 participants (62.

Effectiveness of letters to patients with or without Cochrane blogshots on 10-year cardiovascular risk change among women in menopausal transition: 6-month three-arm randomized controlled trial.

Background: Health information and patient education on lifestyle changes may have a positive effect on the prevention of many chronic conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We performed a parallel, three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 6-month educational intervention in a form of letters containing a reminder of the participant's CVD risk with or without Cochrane blogshots to reduce CVD risk among women aged 45-65 with one or more known CVD risk factors.

Methods: The control group received a letter about their CVD risk at the beginning of the trial.

Creating an online educational intervention to improve knowledge about systematic reviews among healthcare workers: mixed-methods pilot study.

Background: Lack of knowledge about systematic reviews (SRs) could prevent individual healthcare workers (HCWs) from using SRs as a source of information in their clinical practice or discourage them from participating in such research. In this study, we aimed to explore in-depth the opinion of a sample of HCWs about the newly created online educational intervention designed to improve knowledge about SRs.

Methods: We created a brief online educational intervention on SRs, consisting of 11 textual modules.

Development of consensus on essential virtues for ethics and research integrity training using a modified Delphi approach.

Most ethics and research integrity (ERI) training approaches are based on teaching moral rules, duties or responsibilities, often not sufficiently addressing virtue-based ethics. This study aimed to obtain a consensus among relevant experts on the importance of essential virtues for ERI training and their acquisitions. A modified Delphi consensus process was conducted in three rounds; 31 ERI experts participated in Round 1 and 23 in Round 2 and Round 3.

Conclusiveness, linguistic characteristics and readability of Cochrane plain language summaries of intervention reviews: a cross-sectional study.

Background: One of the most important formats to disseminate the evidence in health to different populations are Cochrane Plain Language Summaries (PLSs). PLSs should be written in a simplified language, easily understandable and providing clear message for the consumer. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which PLSs are customized for lay persons, specifically by providing conclusive, comprehensible, and readable messages.

Stakeholders' Experiences of Research Integrity Support in Universities: A Qualitative Study in Three European Countries.

Fostering research integrity (RI) increasingly focuses on normative guidance and supportive measures within institutions. To be successful, the implementation of support should be informed by stakeholders' experiences of RI support. This study aims to explore experiences of RI support in Dutch, Spanish and Croatian universities.

Web-Based Educational Intervention to Improve Knowledge of Systematic Reviews Among Health Science Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Lack of knowledge of systematic reviews (SRs) could prevent individual health care professionals from using SRs as a source of information in their clinical practice or discourage them from participating in such research.

Objective: In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the effect of a short web-based educational intervention on short-term knowledge of SRs.

Methods: Eligible participants were 871 Master's students of university health sciences studies in Croatia; 589 (67.

Factors Associated with the Quality and Transparency of National Guidelines: A Mixed-Methods Study.

We assessed the methodological quality and transparency of all the national clinical practice guidelines that were published in Croatia up until 2017 and explored the factors associated with their quality rating. An in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed using rigorous methodology. We evaluated the guidelines using a validated AGREE II instrument with four raters; we used multiple linear regressions to identify the predictors of quality; and two focus groups, including guideline developers, to further explore the guideline development process.

Academic and non-academic predictors of academic performance in medical school: an exploratory cohort study.

Background: Medical schools should also evaluate applicants' non-academic characteristics in the search for successful students and future physicians, but ideal non-academic criteria have not yet been found. We followed two successive generations of medical students at the University of Split School of Medicine (USSM) to assess both academic and non-academic constructs as predictors of academic performance, defined as medical school grade point average (GPA). We also interviewed some of the participants to gain additional insight for future studies.

Factors influencing the promotion and implementation of research integrity in research performing and research funding organizations: A scoping review.

Promoting and implementing research integrity is considered the joint responsibility and effort of multiple stakeholders in the research community. We conducted a scoping review and analyzed 236 research articles and gray literature publications from biomedical sciences, social sciences, natural sciences (including engineering), and humanities that dealt with the factors that may positively or negatively impact the promotion and implementation of research integrity. Critical appraisal of evidence was performed for studies describing interventions aimed at research integrity promotion in order to provide insight into the effectiveness of these interventions.

Predictors of academic progression and desire to continue education for undergraduate and graduate nursing students: Cross-sectional study and a nested follow-up study.

Background: There is conflicting evidence on predictors of nursing degree completion. Identification of predictors of student desire to continue their education could be important in developing strategies for encouraging and supporting students to complete their university-level nursing education.

Aim: To explore the factors associated with the enrollment in the first graduate year of nursing studies, progression from the first to the third year of university undergraduate nursing study, and the desire of third-year undergraduate students to continue nursing education at the graduate level.