Samir DIOUNY - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Samir DIOUNY

Research paper thumbnail of Eleventh-grade Students’ Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Arabic (L1) and English (L3)

International Journal of Instruction

The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strate... more The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strategy use in Arabic (L1) and English (L3). In particular, (i) it examined whether there is any association between the use of MCRS in a reading comprehension task in English and Arabic among trilingual learners, and (ii) whether the application of MCRS when doing reading comprehension tasks in these languages predicted the reading comprehension scores in both languages. This study included 42 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Morocco. The Metacognitive Reading Strategies Questionnaire (MRSQ), (Abu-Rabia, 2018), was utilized along with two reading comprehension tests, one in Arabic and one in English. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to see whether there is any connection between the use of MCRS in English and those used in Arabic. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to predict the reading comprehension scores in Arabic and English based on MCRS use. Results revealed a significant correlation between the use of MCRS in both languages. MCRS were found to be underused among lower-achievers. Furthermore, the application of MCRS predicted higher reading comprehension scores in both study languages. Based on the findings, the study discusses some practical implications of MCRS use.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer among Casablanca Medical Students

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care

Background: Socio-economic burden of breast cancer is substantial in low and middle income countr... more Background: Socio-economic burden of breast cancer is substantial in low and middle income countries. Therefore, preventive measures are necessary, including raise of population awareness and education on the risk factors. This study aims to assess the general awareness of cancer among Casablanca medical students, with a focus on risk factors for breast cancer. Methods: A cross sectional study using a questionnaire on risk factors of breast cancer was carried out. Participants were randomly selected using a stratified sampling. Results: A total of 678 students participated in the survey. Just over half of the cases (53.2%) reported knowing breast cancer risk factors with a 95% confidence interval of [49.5%; 57.0%]. The main sources of information regarding their knowledge of breast cancer risk factors reported by students were represented by the faculty and media with a similar proportion of 20.6% of cases. The average number of correct responses was statistically different dependin...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological and Spiritual Experiences of Breast and Cervical Cancer Patients

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers toward Evidence-based Dentistry among Moroccan Dental Professionals

American Journal of Educational Research, 2021

The aim of the study was to assess Moroccan dental professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards... more The aim of the study was to assess Moroccan dental professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards evidence-based practice and investigate their perception toward evidence-based dentistry (EBD) and barriers that compromise its use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire among Moroccan dentists. The questionnaire included questions on demographics data, attitudes, awareness and current practice, resources to guide clinical practice, understanding of terms, clinical situations to assess awareness of EBD and barriers. Quantitative variables were described in terms of numbers and percentages, and qualitative variables were compared using a Chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.005 was considered significant. 208 participants were invited to take part in the study, corresponding to a response rate of 67.53%. 167 participants were general practitioners (GP) (80.3%) and 40 participants (19.7%) were specialist. 86.5% of the participants were graduates of national dental schools, and 13.5% graduated from other countries. Moroccan dental professionals expressed positive attitudes toward EBD, but a relatively a fair understanding of evidence-based practice. 57.7% of dentists indicated they had never heard of EBD. There were no significant differences between age groups or places of graduation. The most reported means of discovering EBD was through lectures (16.3%), a colleague or the internet (6.7%). Poor language and communication skills and lack of knowledge of information technology were the major barriers identified in this study. To overcome existing barriers and the lack of competencies relevant to dental practitioners, it is essential that EBD be incorporated into dental curriculum and in continuing professional education. Such a curriculum will increase the understanding and use of evidence-based dentistry.

Research paper thumbnail of Medical Informatics in Morocco: Casablanca Medical Informatics Laboratory

Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 2007

SummaryIn 2005, Medical Informatics Laboratory (CMIL) became an independent research unit within ... more SummaryIn 2005, Medical Informatics Laboratory (CMIL) became an independent research unit within the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca. CMIL is currently run by three persons (a university professor, a data processing specialist and a pedagogical assistant). The objectives of CMIL are to promote research and develop quality in the field of biomedical data processing and health, and integrate new technologies into medical education and biostatistics. It has four units: Telehealth Unit, Network Unit, Biostatistics Unit, Medical data processing Unit.The present article seeks to give a comprehensive account of Casablanca Medical informatics laboratory (CMIL) activities. For ease of exposition, the article consists of four sections: Section I discusses the background of CMIL; section II is devoted to educational activities; section III addresses professional activities; and section IV lists projects that CMIL is involved in.Since its creation, CMIL has been involved in a num...

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of the Moroccan Arabic version of the Token Test

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Token Test. 54 participants... more The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Token Test. 54 participants were recruited to evaluate the validity ratio (CVR) of the Token Test. A one-way between subjects ANOVA was conducted to compare MATT scores of 25 non-brain-damaged individuals, 18 individuals with aphasia and 11 individuals with epilepsy. The one-way showed a significant difference at the p<0.01 level for the three groups [F (2, 51) = 72.31, p < 0.01]. Auditory comprehension raw score was significantly correlated with the token test score (r (18) =0.836, p<0.01). The aphasic group had higher variance in terms of Token Test scores. The results support the appropriateness of using MATT to assess language skills in Moroccan Arabic-speaking subjects with cognitive deficiencies.

Research paper thumbnail of Eleventh-grade Students’ Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Arabic (L1) and English (L3)

International Journal of Instruction

The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strate... more The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strategy use in Arabic (L1) and English (L3). In particular, (i) it examined whether there is any association between the use of MCRS in a reading comprehension task in English and Arabic among trilingual learners, and (ii) whether the application of MCRS when doing reading comprehension tasks in these languages predicted the reading comprehension scores in both languages. This study included 42 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Morocco. The Metacognitive Reading Strategies Questionnaire (MRSQ), (Abu-Rabia, 2018), was utilized along with two reading comprehension tests, one in Arabic and one in English. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to see whether there is any connection between the use of MCRS in English and those used in Arabic. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to predict the reading comprehension scores in Arabic and English based on MCRS use. Results revealed a significant correlation between the use of MCRS in both languages. MCRS were found to be underused among lower-achievers. Furthermore, the application of MCRS predicted higher reading comprehension scores in both study languages. Based on the findings, the study discusses some practical implications of MCRS use.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of explicit training in (meta-)cognitive strategy use in English (L3) on high school students' reading outcomes in Arabic (L1)

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), May 16, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Grammatical-lexical pronoun dissociation in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

The ProGram theory assumes that pronouns can be classified into lexical and grammatical pronouns.... more The ProGram theory assumes that pronouns can be classified into lexical and grammatical pronouns. Based on Boye & Harder's (2012) theory of the distinction between lexical and grammatical elements, it is predicted that grammatical pronouns are significantly more impaired than lexical pronouns in agrammatic aphasia. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Moroccan Arabic agrammatic subjects exhibit a dissociated processing ability between grammatical and lexical pronouns. Narrative speech was elicited from 5 agrammatic patients and 5 normal controls using the "Cookie Theft" picture description task from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. Findings supported a grammatical-lexical dissociation in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism.

Research paper thumbnail of Cognitive retroactive transfer of metacognitive reading strategies from English (L3) into French (L2) among trilingual learners

International Journal of Multilingualism

Research paper thumbnail of Tense and agreement in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism: Evidence for task effects

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-cultural adaptation of the Moroccan version of the Mini-Mental State Examination: A preliminary study

Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 2022

INTRODUCTION The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used for dementia screening. The ... more INTRODUCTION The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used for dementia screening. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, to cross-culturally adapt the Moroccan Arabic version of MMSE (MA-MMSE) to screen dementia among literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans, and second to analyze its psychometric properties. METHODS The MA-MMSE was administered to 80 elderly patients, 28 were females and 52 were males. Among all the participants, 22 showed evidence of dementia. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC), internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were investigated. The test-retest reliability was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis. Cronbach's α coefficients for internal consistency between total scores and subscores of the test were calculated. RESULTS Areas under the ROC curve in literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans participants corresponded to 0.932 and 0.936, respectively. The cutoff point of 21/22 on the MA-MMSE in literate elderly had the highest sensitivity (85.7%), specificity (94.7%), and a positive likelihood ratio of (16.29%), whereas the cutoff point of 18/19 of the screening test in illiterate elderly yielded the highest sensitivity (92.9%), specificity (95.0%), and a positive likelihood ratio of (18.57%). The Cronbach's α values of the MA-MMSE for literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans were higher than 0.7. Thirty subjects were randomly selected for participation in the test-retest protocol. Participants were retested after an interval of 4-6 weeks. The test-retest reliability for total scores was significant 0.78 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The findings provide preliminary evidence that the MA-MMSE is a feasible instrument for dementia screening.

Research paper thumbnail of Some Aspects of Moroccan Arabic Agrammatism

Research paper thumbnail of Parental Response to Children’s Chronic Pain

Research paper thumbnail of The E-Learning Experience in Medical School of Casablanca

Emerging Issues and Trends

In recent years, higher education has witnessed significant growth. This unprecedented phenomenon... more In recent years, higher education has witnessed significant growth. This unprecedented phenomenon can be attributed to distance education through the application of ICTs. The purpose of this chapter is to bring into focus the experience of e-learning implementation at Casablanca Medical School and investigate learners' attitudes towards e-learning strategy. Of particular relevance to this study are the implementation of two e-learning projects, namely the "Digital Environment Work" (DEW), which allows medical students, faculty, and administrators to access information and online services, and the "@U-PEL 2010 program," which was launched by Hassan II University in 2010 with a view to supporting holders of a comprehensive strategy for the development of e-learning institutions on the basis of clearly identified projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the knee and hip health-related quality of life (OAKHQoL) in a Moroccan Arabic-speaking population

Rheumatology International, 2011

The aim of this study was to adapt the knee and hip osteoarthritis quality of life questionnaire ... more The aim of this study was to adapt the knee and hip osteoarthritis quality of life questionnaire (OAKHQoL) into Moroccan Arabic and to determine its psychometric properties. After translation, back-translation and pretesting, the translated version was submitted to an expert committee. The psychometric properties were tested on patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (a), and the test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity was assessed by examining item-convergent and divergent validity and by comparing the average scores between age groups and walk perimeter groups. The study was conducted on 131 patients (115 with osteoarthritis of the knee and 16 with osteoarthritis of the hip). The ''physical activities'' (a = 0.93), ''mental health'' (a = 0.84) and ''pain'' (a = 0.88) dimensions of the Arabic version were internally reliable. The ICC were adequate to good; 0.83 for ''physical activities'', 0.65 for ''mental health'' and 0.70 for ''pain'' dimensions. The instrument demonstrated good construct validity; all items exceeded the 0.4 criterion for convergent validity, except items 13 and 41 and most of the correlations between items and their own scale were significantly higher than their correlations with other scales. A semantically equivalent translation has been developed with cultural adaptation of OAKHQoL. It is quite reliable and a valid measure of the effect of osteoarthritis on the quality of life on Moroccan patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Medical Informatics in Morocco

Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 2013

Summary Objectives: Informatics is an essential tool for helping to transform healthcare from a p... more Summary Objectives: Informatics is an essential tool for helping to transform healthcare from a paper-based to a digital sector. This article explores the state-of-the-art of health informatics in Morocco. Specifically, it aims to give a general overview of the Moroccan healthcare system, the challenges it is facing, and the efforts undertaken by the informatics community and Moroccan government in terms of education, research and practice to reform the country's health sector. Methods: Through the experience of establishing Medical Informatics as a medical specialty in 2008, creating a Moroccan Medical Informatics Association in 2010 and holding a first national congress took place in April 2012, the authors present their assessment of some important priorities for health informatics in Morocco. Results: These Moroccan initiatives are facilitating collaboration in education, research, and implementation of clinical information systems. In particular, the stakeholders have recog...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of the Moroccan Arabic version of mini-linguistic state examination (MLSE) to study language disorders in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Reverse transfer of metacognitive reading strategies of Moroccan trilingual learners

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

Research paper thumbnail of Pain Perception in Patients Treated with Ligating/Self-Ligating Brackets versus Patients Treated with Aligners

Current Trends in Orthodontics

This study compared the perception of pain experienced by patients undergoing orthodontic treatme... more This study compared the perception of pain experienced by patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with conventional, self-ligating brackets and aligners, and investigated the impact that pain had on their daily lives. 346 consecutive patients were included in the study: 115 patients treated with conventional brackets, 112 Patients treated with self-ligating brackets, and 119 patients treated with aligners. The quantitative aspect of pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale, while the qualitative aspect of pain was evaluated using the Moroccan Short Form of McGILL Pain questionnaire. In all three groups experienced pain after activation tended to decrease in the following week. This pain was greater in patients with conventional braces and less in patients with aligners. Using the M-SF-MPQ to describe the qualitative aspect of the pain revealed that the “cramping مزير,” “aching تيألم ” aspect was most accentuated in the 3 groups. Medication intake was correlated with the i...

Research paper thumbnail of Eleventh-grade Students’ Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Arabic (L1) and English (L3)

International Journal of Instruction

The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strate... more The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strategy use in Arabic (L1) and English (L3). In particular, (i) it examined whether there is any association between the use of MCRS in a reading comprehension task in English and Arabic among trilingual learners, and (ii) whether the application of MCRS when doing reading comprehension tasks in these languages predicted the reading comprehension scores in both languages. This study included 42 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Morocco. The Metacognitive Reading Strategies Questionnaire (MRSQ), (Abu-Rabia, 2018), was utilized along with two reading comprehension tests, one in Arabic and one in English. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to see whether there is any connection between the use of MCRS in English and those used in Arabic. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to predict the reading comprehension scores in Arabic and English based on MCRS use. Results revealed a significant correlation between the use of MCRS in both languages. MCRS were found to be underused among lower-achievers. Furthermore, the application of MCRS predicted higher reading comprehension scores in both study languages. Based on the findings, the study discusses some practical implications of MCRS use.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer among Casablanca Medical Students

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care

Background: Socio-economic burden of breast cancer is substantial in low and middle income countr... more Background: Socio-economic burden of breast cancer is substantial in low and middle income countries. Therefore, preventive measures are necessary, including raise of population awareness and education on the risk factors. This study aims to assess the general awareness of cancer among Casablanca medical students, with a focus on risk factors for breast cancer. Methods: A cross sectional study using a questionnaire on risk factors of breast cancer was carried out. Participants were randomly selected using a stratified sampling. Results: A total of 678 students participated in the survey. Just over half of the cases (53.2%) reported knowing breast cancer risk factors with a 95% confidence interval of [49.5%; 57.0%]. The main sources of information regarding their knowledge of breast cancer risk factors reported by students were represented by the faculty and media with a similar proportion of 20.6% of cases. The average number of correct responses was statistically different dependin...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological and Spiritual Experiences of Breast and Cervical Cancer Patients

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers toward Evidence-based Dentistry among Moroccan Dental Professionals

American Journal of Educational Research, 2021

The aim of the study was to assess Moroccan dental professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards... more The aim of the study was to assess Moroccan dental professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards evidence-based practice and investigate their perception toward evidence-based dentistry (EBD) and barriers that compromise its use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire among Moroccan dentists. The questionnaire included questions on demographics data, attitudes, awareness and current practice, resources to guide clinical practice, understanding of terms, clinical situations to assess awareness of EBD and barriers. Quantitative variables were described in terms of numbers and percentages, and qualitative variables were compared using a Chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.005 was considered significant. 208 participants were invited to take part in the study, corresponding to a response rate of 67.53%. 167 participants were general practitioners (GP) (80.3%) and 40 participants (19.7%) were specialist. 86.5% of the participants were graduates of national dental schools, and 13.5% graduated from other countries. Moroccan dental professionals expressed positive attitudes toward EBD, but a relatively a fair understanding of evidence-based practice. 57.7% of dentists indicated they had never heard of EBD. There were no significant differences between age groups or places of graduation. The most reported means of discovering EBD was through lectures (16.3%), a colleague or the internet (6.7%). Poor language and communication skills and lack of knowledge of information technology were the major barriers identified in this study. To overcome existing barriers and the lack of competencies relevant to dental practitioners, it is essential that EBD be incorporated into dental curriculum and in continuing professional education. Such a curriculum will increase the understanding and use of evidence-based dentistry.

Research paper thumbnail of Medical Informatics in Morocco: Casablanca Medical Informatics Laboratory

Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 2007

SummaryIn 2005, Medical Informatics Laboratory (CMIL) became an independent research unit within ... more SummaryIn 2005, Medical Informatics Laboratory (CMIL) became an independent research unit within the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca. CMIL is currently run by three persons (a university professor, a data processing specialist and a pedagogical assistant). The objectives of CMIL are to promote research and develop quality in the field of biomedical data processing and health, and integrate new technologies into medical education and biostatistics. It has four units: Telehealth Unit, Network Unit, Biostatistics Unit, Medical data processing Unit.The present article seeks to give a comprehensive account of Casablanca Medical informatics laboratory (CMIL) activities. For ease of exposition, the article consists of four sections: Section I discusses the background of CMIL; section II is devoted to educational activities; section III addresses professional activities; and section IV lists projects that CMIL is involved in.Since its creation, CMIL has been involved in a num...

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of the Moroccan Arabic version of the Token Test

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Token Test. 54 participants... more The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Token Test. 54 participants were recruited to evaluate the validity ratio (CVR) of the Token Test. A one-way between subjects ANOVA was conducted to compare MATT scores of 25 non-brain-damaged individuals, 18 individuals with aphasia and 11 individuals with epilepsy. The one-way showed a significant difference at the p<0.01 level for the three groups [F (2, 51) = 72.31, p < 0.01]. Auditory comprehension raw score was significantly correlated with the token test score (r (18) =0.836, p<0.01). The aphasic group had higher variance in terms of Token Test scores. The results support the appropriateness of using MATT to assess language skills in Moroccan Arabic-speaking subjects with cognitive deficiencies.

Research paper thumbnail of Eleventh-grade Students’ Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Arabic (L1) and English (L3)

International Journal of Instruction

The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strate... more The current study investigated eleventh-grade students' metacognitive awareness of reading strategy use in Arabic (L1) and English (L3). In particular, (i) it examined whether there is any association between the use of MCRS in a reading comprehension task in English and Arabic among trilingual learners, and (ii) whether the application of MCRS when doing reading comprehension tasks in these languages predicted the reading comprehension scores in both languages. This study included 42 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Morocco. The Metacognitive Reading Strategies Questionnaire (MRSQ), (Abu-Rabia, 2018), was utilized along with two reading comprehension tests, one in Arabic and one in English. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to see whether there is any connection between the use of MCRS in English and those used in Arabic. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to predict the reading comprehension scores in Arabic and English based on MCRS use. Results revealed a significant correlation between the use of MCRS in both languages. MCRS were found to be underused among lower-achievers. Furthermore, the application of MCRS predicted higher reading comprehension scores in both study languages. Based on the findings, the study discusses some practical implications of MCRS use.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of explicit training in (meta-)cognitive strategy use in English (L3) on high school students' reading outcomes in Arabic (L1)

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), May 16, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Grammatical-lexical pronoun dissociation in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

The ProGram theory assumes that pronouns can be classified into lexical and grammatical pronouns.... more The ProGram theory assumes that pronouns can be classified into lexical and grammatical pronouns. Based on Boye & Harder's (2012) theory of the distinction between lexical and grammatical elements, it is predicted that grammatical pronouns are significantly more impaired than lexical pronouns in agrammatic aphasia. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Moroccan Arabic agrammatic subjects exhibit a dissociated processing ability between grammatical and lexical pronouns. Narrative speech was elicited from 5 agrammatic patients and 5 normal controls using the "Cookie Theft" picture description task from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. Findings supported a grammatical-lexical dissociation in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism.

Research paper thumbnail of Cognitive retroactive transfer of metacognitive reading strategies from English (L3) into French (L2) among trilingual learners

International Journal of Multilingualism

Research paper thumbnail of Tense and agreement in Moroccan Arabic agrammatism: Evidence for task effects

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-cultural adaptation of the Moroccan version of the Mini-Mental State Examination: A preliminary study

Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 2022

INTRODUCTION The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used for dementia screening. The ... more INTRODUCTION The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used for dementia screening. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, to cross-culturally adapt the Moroccan Arabic version of MMSE (MA-MMSE) to screen dementia among literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans, and second to analyze its psychometric properties. METHODS The MA-MMSE was administered to 80 elderly patients, 28 were females and 52 were males. Among all the participants, 22 showed evidence of dementia. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC), internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were investigated. The test-retest reliability was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis. Cronbach's α coefficients for internal consistency between total scores and subscores of the test were calculated. RESULTS Areas under the ROC curve in literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans participants corresponded to 0.932 and 0.936, respectively. The cutoff point of 21/22 on the MA-MMSE in literate elderly had the highest sensitivity (85.7%), specificity (94.7%), and a positive likelihood ratio of (16.29%), whereas the cutoff point of 18/19 of the screening test in illiterate elderly yielded the highest sensitivity (92.9%), specificity (95.0%), and a positive likelihood ratio of (18.57%). The Cronbach's α values of the MA-MMSE for literate and illiterate elderly Moroccans were higher than 0.7. Thirty subjects were randomly selected for participation in the test-retest protocol. Participants were retested after an interval of 4-6 weeks. The test-retest reliability for total scores was significant 0.78 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The findings provide preliminary evidence that the MA-MMSE is a feasible instrument for dementia screening.

Research paper thumbnail of Some Aspects of Moroccan Arabic Agrammatism

Research paper thumbnail of Parental Response to Children’s Chronic Pain

Research paper thumbnail of The E-Learning Experience in Medical School of Casablanca

Emerging Issues and Trends

In recent years, higher education has witnessed significant growth. This unprecedented phenomenon... more In recent years, higher education has witnessed significant growth. This unprecedented phenomenon can be attributed to distance education through the application of ICTs. The purpose of this chapter is to bring into focus the experience of e-learning implementation at Casablanca Medical School and investigate learners' attitudes towards e-learning strategy. Of particular relevance to this study are the implementation of two e-learning projects, namely the "Digital Environment Work" (DEW), which allows medical students, faculty, and administrators to access information and online services, and the "@U-PEL 2010 program," which was launched by Hassan II University in 2010 with a view to supporting holders of a comprehensive strategy for the development of e-learning institutions on the basis of clearly identified projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the knee and hip health-related quality of life (OAKHQoL) in a Moroccan Arabic-speaking population

Rheumatology International, 2011

The aim of this study was to adapt the knee and hip osteoarthritis quality of life questionnaire ... more The aim of this study was to adapt the knee and hip osteoarthritis quality of life questionnaire (OAKHQoL) into Moroccan Arabic and to determine its psychometric properties. After translation, back-translation and pretesting, the translated version was submitted to an expert committee. The psychometric properties were tested on patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (a), and the test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity was assessed by examining item-convergent and divergent validity and by comparing the average scores between age groups and walk perimeter groups. The study was conducted on 131 patients (115 with osteoarthritis of the knee and 16 with osteoarthritis of the hip). The ''physical activities'' (a = 0.93), ''mental health'' (a = 0.84) and ''pain'' (a = 0.88) dimensions of the Arabic version were internally reliable. The ICC were adequate to good; 0.83 for ''physical activities'', 0.65 for ''mental health'' and 0.70 for ''pain'' dimensions. The instrument demonstrated good construct validity; all items exceeded the 0.4 criterion for convergent validity, except items 13 and 41 and most of the correlations between items and their own scale were significantly higher than their correlations with other scales. A semantically equivalent translation has been developed with cultural adaptation of OAKHQoL. It is quite reliable and a valid measure of the effect of osteoarthritis on the quality of life on Moroccan patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Medical Informatics in Morocco

Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 2013

Summary Objectives: Informatics is an essential tool for helping to transform healthcare from a p... more Summary Objectives: Informatics is an essential tool for helping to transform healthcare from a paper-based to a digital sector. This article explores the state-of-the-art of health informatics in Morocco. Specifically, it aims to give a general overview of the Moroccan healthcare system, the challenges it is facing, and the efforts undertaken by the informatics community and Moroccan government in terms of education, research and practice to reform the country's health sector. Methods: Through the experience of establishing Medical Informatics as a medical specialty in 2008, creating a Moroccan Medical Informatics Association in 2010 and holding a first national congress took place in April 2012, the authors present their assessment of some important priorities for health informatics in Morocco. Results: These Moroccan initiatives are facilitating collaboration in education, research, and implementation of clinical information systems. In particular, the stakeholders have recog...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of the Moroccan Arabic version of mini-linguistic state examination (MLSE) to study language disorders in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Reverse transfer of metacognitive reading strategies of Moroccan trilingual learners

Proceedings of International Conference of Experimental Linguistics

Research paper thumbnail of Pain Perception in Patients Treated with Ligating/Self-Ligating Brackets versus Patients Treated with Aligners

Current Trends in Orthodontics

This study compared the perception of pain experienced by patients undergoing orthodontic treatme... more This study compared the perception of pain experienced by patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with conventional, self-ligating brackets and aligners, and investigated the impact that pain had on their daily lives. 346 consecutive patients were included in the study: 115 patients treated with conventional brackets, 112 Patients treated with self-ligating brackets, and 119 patients treated with aligners. The quantitative aspect of pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale, while the qualitative aspect of pain was evaluated using the Moroccan Short Form of McGILL Pain questionnaire. In all three groups experienced pain after activation tended to decrease in the following week. This pain was greater in patients with conventional braces and less in patients with aligners. Using the M-SF-MPQ to describe the qualitative aspect of the pain revealed that the “cramping مزير,” “aching تيألم ” aspect was most accentuated in the 3 groups. Medication intake was correlated with the i...