Introduction
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As of 2018, 4 institutions in the United States have widely incorporated computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology in highstakes examinations for U.S. health professionals: (1) the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses; (2) the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification for 24 examinations, including the Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Histotechnician examinations; (3) the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for the Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Advanced-EMT exams; and (4) the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. The stability of the CAT-based exams administered by these institutions has been maintained due to continual improvements to the CAT algorithm. It is anticipatedAssociations between school difficulties and health-related problems and risky behaviours in early adolescence: A cross-sectional study in middle-school adolescents in France.
Health-related problems and risky behaviours (substance use) are frequent in adolescents, may alter their physical and mental capabilities, and may thus generate school absenteeism, low academic performance, and school dropout ideation. This study assessed their associations and the contribution of socioeconomic factors among 1559 middle-school adolescents (mean age 13.5+1.3) from north-eastern France. They completed a questionnaire including socioeconomic characteristics, health-related problems (poor physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and living environment) assessed with the World Health Organization's quality of life measure (score<25th percentile), risky behaviours, school absences during the present school year, last-trimester academic performance, and school dropout ideation. Data were analysed using logistic regression models. School absenteeism