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Background: As context may impact everyday technology (ET) use it is relevant to study this within different contexts. Aims: To examine the usefulness of the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ) in different contexts by investigating and comparing (1) the level of challenge of ETs in the ETUQ and (2) the relevance of and perceived ability to use ET in samples of Swedish and Japanese older adults. Materials and methods: The Swedish and the Japanese samples (n = 86/86) were interviewed using the ETUQ about relevance of and perceived ability to use ET. Data were analyzed using Rasch analysis, chi square and a general linear model. Moreover, Differential Item Functioning (DIF) was investigated. Results: The hierarchy of ETs' level of challenge was generally stable in the two contexts. On group-level, the relevance was somewhat higher and the perceived ability to use ET significantly higher in the Swedish sample than in the Japanese. Conclusions and significance: The similarities and differences between the technological landscapes of Sweden and Japan could be detected by ETUQ, demonstrating its usefulness in both countries. The potential causes to the differences in relevance of and perceived ability to use ET between older adults in Sweden and Japan need further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with heart failure can experience thirst distress. However, there is no instrument to measure this in patients with heart failure. The aim of the present study was to develop the Thirst Distress Scale for patients with Heart Failure (TDS-HF) and to evaluate psychometric properties of the scale. Methods and results: The TDS-HF was developed to measure thirst distress in patients with heart failure. Face and content validity was confirmed using expert panels including patients and healthcare professionals. Data on the TDS-HF was collected from patients with heart failure at outpatient heart failure clinics and hospitals in Sweden, the Netherlands and Japan. Psychometric properties were evaluated using data from 256 heart failure patients (age 72±11 years). Concurrent validity of the scale was assessed using a thirst intensity visual analogue scale. Patients did not have any difficulties answering the questions, and time taken to answer the questions was about five minutes. Factor analysis of the scale showed one factor. After psychometric testing, one item was deleted. For the eight item TDS-HF, a single factor explained 61% of the variance and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.90. The eight item TDS-HF was significantly associated with the thirst intensity score (r=0.55, p<0.001). Regarding test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.88, and the weighted kappa values ranged from 0.29–0.60. Conclusion: The eight-item TDS-HF is valid and reliable for measuring thirst distress in patients with heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Assessment of Awareness of Ability (A3) in a Japanese context. The A3 (formerly known as the Assessment of Awareness of Disability, AAD) is a standardized 11-question interview used to explore the discrepancy between observed strengths and limitations in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) according to the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) and the limitations described by the client. In this study, 259 matched Swedish and Japanese A3 data records were analyzed using a Rasch partial credit model (PCM). The analysis of rater consistency and items demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit according to the PCM, indicating rater consistency and internal scale validity. The A3 can help clients and therapists understand discrepancies between observed and self-reported performance aspects of various everyday tasks within Japanese and Swedish contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]