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The purpose of this study was to compare the concurrent validity of four questionnaires in the assessment of outcome after rotator cuff repair. Sixty-two patients, who were at least two years post-rotator-cuff repair, completed three upper extremity scales: the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and a measure of general health status (SF-36). Internal and external rotation ranges of motion and isometric strength were measured. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the construct whereby scores should be related to the severity of measured impairments. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the ability of the questionnaires to discriminate between groups expected to have different outcomes based on measured impairment or worker's compensation status. The upper extremity questionnaires demonstrated similar response distributions and were highly correlated (0.88 < r < 0.91). The response distribution of the SF-36 was different from the other scales and its correlation with them was moderate (0.58 < r < 0.75). The upper extremity measures demonstrated better correlations with measured impairments (0.18 < r < 0.56) than the SF-36 (0 < r < 0.40). All the questionnaires were able to discriminate between levels of impairment and worker's compensation status. This study supported the validity of upper extremity scales to measure cuff-related disability and suggests that the use of both specific and general health measures provides a more comprehensive evaluation of patient outcome.

Background: Oxford Elbow Score, abbreviated OES, is a tool used for measurement of a patient’s experience post elbow surgery. The tool is formulated as a questionnaire. OES has three subscales: pain, elbow function and social-psychological effects. The patient may complete the questionnaire and the results used as an outcome measure post elbow surgery. Objectives: The study aims to develop and evaluate the Arabic version of the OES for reliability, validity concerning patients after elbow trauma and surgery. Material and Methods: Fifty two patients participated in this survey at the baseline (14 days after the operation) and follow-up (after 60 days). We calculated internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. Also, Pearson’s correlation was calculated for construct validity verification. Results: The values for Cronbach’s alpha for psychological, function and pain subscales were 0.701, 0.704 and 0.779, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha for the questionnaire had a value of 0.743. We confirmed construct validity using correlation coefficients of values $-0.820$, $-0.750$ and $-0.800$ as compared to DASH. Conclusion: The Arabic OES is an internal consistent tool with good construct validity, which can be used to estimate the patient’s condition after the elbow surgery.

This study aimed to create new experiences for the healthcare environment using virtual reality (VR) animation game technology by reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of VR from the literature. Using Aesop’s fables as the background of the game story, a VR animation game was created. The game design incorporated nine factors, and the five related immersion technologies were leveraged to design the game to enhance the state of flow and immersion. Experts tested the game using the present measurement and game experience questionnaires. The game experience was tested based on the following factors: Task fluency, degree of sensory feedback, degree of interactive experience, degree of immersion, and avoidance of virtual side effects. The results are as follows. (1) Providing relevant icons and guiding elements help players take risks on their own. (2) Audio feedback helps players with their virtual environment perception and enhances visual and tactile recognition. (3) Adding character elements, other than the protagonist, provides adventure information, which can improve the follow-up force of the game. (4) Immersion varies according to age, gender, play time, and virtual real-world experiencers that are different. (5) Motion sickness caused by the conflict between vision and perception should be avoided. The developed motion simulator allows players to detect the walking direction and speed on large equipment using a static floor or by wearing joint sensors. These results can be used as a reference for the development of VR animation games for the healthcare environment.

We study a principal-agent model in which the agent is boundedly rational in his ability to understand the principal's decision rule. The principal wishes to elicit an agent's true profile so as to determine whether or not to grant him a certain request. The principal designs a questionnaire and commits himself to accepting certain responses. In designing such a questionnaire, the principal takes into account the bounded rationality of the agent and wishes to reduce the success probability of a dishonest agent who is trying to game the system. It is shown that the principal can construct a sufficiently complex questionnaire that will allow him to respond optimally to agents who tell the truth and at the same time to almost eliminate the probability that a dishonest agent will succeed in cheating.