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The Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI) is an informant rating scale designed to measure changes in functional communication in people with aphasia (PWA) from the carer's perspective. It offers a comprehensive view of aphasia's impact on everyday communication situations, aiding clinicians in designing personalized intervention plans. The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the CETI into Greek (CETI-GR) and validate its psychometric properties. The CETI-GR was translated into Greek using back-translation. A pilot and a content validity study ensured its acceptability. The study involved 30 people with aphasia and 30 carers. The CETI-GR's psychometric properties were evaluated, including internal consistency, test–retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and validity measures. The CETI-GR demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.95) and excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC ≥ 0.93). Excellent consistency was revealed when testing the CETI responses given only by PWA (α = 0.91) versus their carers (α = 0.97). Test–retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.88). Significant correlations between the CETI-GR and measures of language severity, functional communication, and quality of life supported convergent validity. The CETI-GR is a reliable tool for assessing functional communication in chronic aphasia. Its Greek adaptation enhances aphasia rehabilitation, enabling person-centered care and improving the quality of life for people with aphasia and carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental toughness (MT), a construct linked to high-stress performance, is predominantly studied via self-assessment in cross-sectional designs. In the firefighting context, where no dedicated MT instrument exists, the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory (MTMTI) have been used. However, their reliability and concurrent validity remain unexamined. This study employs a two-wave longitudinal design involving sixty-two male firefighters. Over two days, they completed the SMTQ, while colleagues and officers assessed their MT using the MTMTI. Analyses included concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability tests. Inter-rater reliability exhibited minimal agreement (Day 1: κ = 0.04, p = 0.172; Day 2: κ = 0.05, p = 0.063), low internal consistency (Day 1: α = 0.03, ω = 0.03; Day 2: α = 0.45, ω = 0.45), and weak inter-rater correlations (Day 1: ICC2k < 0.001, 95%CI [−0.53, 0.35]; Day 2: ICC2k = 0.13, 95%CI [−0.33, 0.43]). Concurrent validity showed limited correlations between self-assessed SMTQ scores and MTMTI ratings on both days (Day 1: r = −0.09, p = 0.5; Day 2: r = 0.1, p = 0.5). These findings may underscore the necessity to develop firefighting-specific MT tools, recognizing the unique demands and nuances of this high-stress profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It has been more than ten years since three technical adequacy studies were published that evaluated school-based FBAs' and BIPs' inclusion of essential components and found them to be significantly lacking. The aims of this study were to expand upon the previous research by (a) establishing the psychometric properties of the FBA/BIP Technical Adequacy Evaluation Tool (TATE), (b) evaluating the technical adequacy of 135 completed FBAs and 129 BIPs from 13 school districts across a single state, and (c) comparing the findings to previous studies. The results showed that (a) the TATE has moderate but acceptable internal consistency, excellent inter-rater reliability, and good content validity, (b) the technical adequacy scores of the evaluated products ranged between 40% and 50% of the total components, and (c) most of the BIPs had similar flaws to those seen in the previous research; however, improvement was noted in the FBA components. The implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in psychosocial predictors of doping has been increasing as a way of finding new approaches to reduce the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This investigation aimed to test the psychometric properties of an instrument to assess doping attitudes in Brazilian athletes. The PEAS was validated in Brazilian sports through a process of translation, back-translation and content validity assessment, presenting satisfactory evidence based on its content (CVC > 0.80). Then, 994 athletes from different sexes, types of sports and competitive levels answered the Brazilian version of the PEAS. The results showed satisfactory evidence of validity based on its response process, internal structure (X2/df = 2.04; RMSEA = 0.032 (0.026–0.038); CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95) and reliability (Cronbach's α, McDonald's ω and CR > 0.70). Network analysis was also used to further explore the PEAS's internal structure. Overall, the results provide support for the adoption of the PEAS for Brazilian athletes and possibly other Portuguese-speaking countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Flourishing Scale (FS) is one of the most well-known tools for assessing psychological flourishing. However, its psychometric properties have been little analyzed in the case of teachers. This study aimed to examine the validity of the scale in the case of a sample of Romanian teachers and to analyze the latter's level of flourishing. In this regard, 323 Romanian teachers from the pre-university education system were recruited. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the construct validity of the scale, and Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω indices were used to assess internal consistency. The convergent validity was assessed by associating the FS with other instruments related to well-being: the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience. Network analysis was performed to examine the items that are particularly influential in the scale. As a result of the CFA, the one-factor structure of the scale was certified (χ2/df = 1.39; CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.035). The internal consistency is excellent (both α and ω = 0.89). The FS correlates with both of the scales which operationalize components of well-being. The teachers' flourishing level is above average. The network approach showed that the items related to self-acceptance, optimism, and respect had the highest indicators of centrality, and the item related to supportive social relationships was the least informative in the network. For the male subsample, flourishing means optimism about the future and respect for others, and for the female respondents, it is related to self-acceptance and respect. The results provide support for using the scale in assessing flourishing among teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the global challenges posed by COVID-19, researchers strived to identify risk factors for severe cases, which lead to various complications—including death. Lifestyle modifications, such as implementing a healthy diet and recommended physical activity, have been shown to be protective against severe COVID-19 cases. Despite an association of a plant-based diet with reduced COVID-19 severity, specific dietary characteristics have not been identified. Also, the methodology for measuring physical activity is variable, with studies overlooking the intensity or the habit components of physical activity. To bridge this gap, our study designed, validated, and applied a retrospective questionnaire with aims of exploring the relationship between lifestyle factors, specifically diet and physical activity, and severe COVID-19. We considered the intensity and years of physical activity habit, which is a limitation of other questionnaires. Results reveal associations of age and BMI with severe COVID-19. An excessive sugar diet was found to be associated with severe COVID-19 and increased symptom duration. We also observed an inverse relationship pattern of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity across case severity, which is absent in walking physical activity. This study lays a foundation for research aiming to identify lifestyle factors that prevent severe COVID-19 cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Illness Management and Recovery Scale (IMR-S) is based on the IMR program, developed to assess the recovery process for people with severe mental disorders by considering the perceptions of clients and clinicians involved in it. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the IMR-S so as to determine the reliability and suitability of its scores for evaluating recovery. Two coders searched five databases for studies, published between January 2004 and May 2023, that describe the psychometric assessment of the IMR-S. Studies were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist. Finally, 46 papers were included. Methodological quality was very good for most of the studies that provide information on internal validity, and limited for those that report on responsiveness. Measurement properties were positive for convergent validity and measurement error. The quality of evidence was high for structural validity studies. Although this study only includes research published in English and may have overlooked certain psychometric properties evaluated in studies published in other languages, our findings suggest that the IMR-S is a valid and reliable instrument, demonstrating its potential to offer guidance for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Amidst the global rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), effective management of the disease has become increasingly important. Health literacy, particularly in non-English speaking populations, plays a crucial role in this management. To address the lack of suitable tools for Arabic-speaking diabetic patients, this study developed and validated the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire (JDHLQ). (2) Methods: A sample of 400 diabetic patients from Jordan, with a balance in gender, age, and educational background, was recruited from an endocrinology outpatient clinic. The JDHLQ, consisting of informative and communicative sections, underwent rigorous validation. Utilizing principal component analysis and Rasch analysis, the JDHL's reliability and validity were evaluated. (3) Results: The results showed moderate proficiency in understanding and communicating diabetes-related information and confirmed the reliability and validity of the JDHLQ. (4) Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of culturally appropriate health literacy tools in enhancing patient understanding, engagement, and overall management of T2DM in Arabic-speaking communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dating violence has become a problem of social relevance with short- and long-term health consequences. Nurses are in a privileged position to detect and address this problem in health facilities and as school nurses in schools, providing health education and detecting this violence correctly. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-cultural validation of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence-Short (MSDV 2.0). Methods: A validation investigation was carried out in two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the items and content validation of the Portuguese version of MSDV 2.0 and (2) psychometric validation. Results: Phase (1): The items of the original version include a cross-cultural translation from Spanish to Portuguese and analysed by a group of experts in gender violence and by the authors of the original scale, then a back translation was made and again reviewed by the experts. Young university students also participated for face validity, and a pilot test was carried out. Phase (2): Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the robust maximum-likelihood estimation method, which confirmed the five-dimensional structure, obtaining good fit rates (chi-square significance (χ2) = 187.860 (p < 0.0001); root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.937; Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.923). Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.88 to 0.70). Finally, scores of the Portuguese versions MSDV 2.0 were correlated, as expected, positively with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (r = 0.36 to 0.16) and negatively with the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36, Health Survey (SF-36) (r = −0.30 to −0.14). Conclusions: To date, it is the only instrument that measures dating violence in a multidimensional way validated in the Portuguese university context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a widely used parent questionnaire for screening motor coordination disorders in children aged 5–15 years. Despite increasing motor difficulties in children, a validated version is lacking in Central Europe. In addition, previous studies pointed out that several DCDQ items were shown to be problematic in different cultural environments. We found that the majority of these studies did not assess the item's content validity approach for keeping the semantic form and linguistic intelligibility of the original items. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the DCDQ, determine the content validity of items, and adapt the DCDQ for Czech children aged 6–10 years, where the identification of motor difficulties is crucial. Back-translation was employed, and face validity was consulted with linguistic experts and occupational therapists. A sample of 25 bilingual parents and practitioners evaluated the translated version, with content validity assessed using the Content Validity Ratio coefficient (CVR). Initial CVR scores ranged from 0.6 to 1.0. Lower scores were found for items 14 and 15, which were shown to be problematic in previous studies. The reason for the lower content validity in these items was due to double negation. Following linguistic modifications, the CVR values improved (range: 0.87–1.0), indicating content and semantic stability. Our findings underscore the importance of considering content validity and language specificity, including issues like double negation, during cross-cultural questionnaire validation to mitigate potential psychometric concerns in the future. The adapted Czech version exhibits significant content validity, thereby warranting further validation of its psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Ghosting" refers to the practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with a person with whom you have been in constant correspondence. The break comes without warning and without understandable provocation. The term most commonly applies to online romantic relationships. The motives for and effects of ghosting have been studied, and validated research questionnaires have been developed; however, there are no such questionnaires available for Urdu speakers. The purpose of this study was to adapt the "Ghosting Questionnaire (GQ)" for use in Pakistan and India, two of the world's most populous countries—a process that involves translation, adaptation, and validation. Methods: The study's methodology involved translating the GQ into Urdu using both forward and backward translation techniques. Convergent validity, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and goodness of fit were all components of the psychometric analyses. Conclusions: The Urdu version of the GQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega both exceeding 0.90. It also showed a high test–retest reliability—(0.96). The one-factor structure was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis, which agreed with the original English version of the GQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Perceived Inventory of Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (PITCCN) questionnaire has been designed to measure technological competency as caring in nursing practice. It incorporates the use of technology with the fundamental principles of caring that are central to nursing. As there were no psychometrically sound instruments to quantify the concept of technological competency as caring in the Slovene language, we adapted the English version of the questionnaire to the local environment. The goal was to assess the level of psychometric properties of the PITCCN investigated in Slovene hospitals. Methods: Content validity was conducted with eight experts and quantified by the content validity index (CVI) and the modified Cohen's kappa index. Face validity was assessed through discussions with participants from the target culture in the pilot study. To assess construct validity and internal consistency, a cross-sectional research methodology was used on a convenience sample of 121 nursing personnel from four hospitals. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to examine construct validity, while Cronbach's alpha and adjusted item-total correlations were used to measure internal consistency. Results: The content and face validity of PITCCN were adequate. The scale validity index (S-CVI) was 0.97. Cronbach's α was 0.92, and subscale reliabilities ranged from 0.810 to 0.925. PCA showed four components, which explained more than 73.49% of the variance. Conclusions: The Slovenian version of PITCCN (PITCCN_SI) has good psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Arabic version of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) with Saudi Arabian participants. The study encompassed four distinct stages: (i) translation and subsequent back-translation; (ii) a preliminary assessment aimed at evaluating the quality of the translated scale; (iii) an assessment of the reliability of the measures employed; and (iv) a comprehensive examination of the validity of the measures. A sample of Saudi Arabian participants with physical disabilities (N = 206) took part, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years old, with an average age of 39.56 years and a standard deviation of 12.16. The findings obtained from the reliability tests indicated a notable level of internal consistency and stability. Experts and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to establish the face, content, and construct validity. The findings of the assessment of the Arabic version of PASIPD demonstrated a satisfactory degree of reliability and validity, rendering it suitable for implementation within the Saudi Arabian setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) was cross-culturally adapted into Greek, according to international guidelines. The final Greek version of the scale (FGAGR) was evaluated for its reliability and was correlated with the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) questionnaire, for testing the concurrent validity. The discriminant validity between individuals reporting low and those reporting high concern about falls as well as the predictive validity in identifying people with high risk of falls were assessed. The FGAGR was characterized as comprehensible in its content and orders. Psychometric testing in 24 Greek-speaking individuals (six men and eighteen women, 66 ± 7 years old) yielded excellent test-retest (ICC = 0.976) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.984), but moderate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.660). The FGAGR scale proved its concurrent and discriminant validity while a maximum cutoff point of 25, with sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 100%, was identified to be optimal for predicting risk of falls in the elderly. The good psychometric characteristics of the FGAGR confirm its applicability in assessing gait of Greek-speaking older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyberaggression is an important problem today; it can affect adolescents in different ways. Therefore, reliable and valid measures are necessary to better study the phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to generate validity and reliability evidence for a Spanish-language cyberaggression scale from Garaigordobil, (2017) in a population of 1695 adolescents from northwestern Mexico (51.5% female) between 12- and 15-years-of-age. The results of this study contribute to the research and focus on cyberaggression in adolescents in Mexico. The measure used in this paper detects the different roles, including the bystander, rigorously testing the reliability and validity of the measure, providing a solid tool to evaluate cyberaggression in the Mexican context and guide evidence-based interventions and policies in educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The General Evaluation Scale (GES) has been widely employed to assess attitudes toward outgroups, including ethnic and religious prejudice. However, validation within the Indonesian context has not been conducted. Using two studies (Study 1, religious prejudice; Study 2, ethnic prejudice), we provide evidence of psychometric properties of a six-item GES for measuring ethnic and religious prejudice based on factor structure, composite reliability, and convergent validity in Indonesia. The results demonstrate an acceptable model fit for a single-factor structure characterized by high internal consistency (McDonald's Omega/ω = 0.93 in Study 1, ω = 0.94 in Study 2). Furthermore, the scale exhibits solid convergent validity, as evidenced by its correlations with the blatant and subtle prejudice scale (r = −0.44 in Study 1, r = −0.74 in Study 2) and the feeling thermometer scale (r = 0.60 in Study 1, r = 0.78 in Study 2). In summary, this research unequivocally establishes the GES as a valuable instrument for measuring religious and ethnic prejudice in the Indonesian context, underpinned by its robust psychometric properties. Nevertheless, it underscores the need for further investigations with diverse samples and varying social contexts to bolster the scale's reliability and applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this paper, a Mexican Optimism Scale was constructed to investigate and estimate psychometric properties (reliability and validity based on the measurement model). The convergent validity and validity criterion were evaluated for a sample of young Mexicans. Methods: The scale was presented to 848 Mexican young people aged between 17 and 30 years from three different regions of Mexico. The scale was reduced to 20 items on the basis of CFA and analyses of internal consistency. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested a three-factor structure of optimism: affective resources, positive vision and hope. The data provided evidence for convergent validity with positive affect, negative affect and coping. Additionally, males scored higher on affective resources and positive vision than females. Finally, the results support the reliability of the instrument. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the Mexican Optimism Scale proved to be highly acceptable and allow for a novel assessment of optimism from an ethnopsychological perspective. Validity, reliability and invariance were determined, as well as percentiles for the practical use of the scale. This scale may be of crucial importance for future research on optimism and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstetric violence refers to dehumanized or derogative treatment of women in their pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum periods and may be manifested in different ways. Currently, there is no tool validated in Spain to measure women's perception of obstetric violence. The objective of this study was to carry out the cultural adaptation and validation of an existing 14-item obstetric violence scale in the Spanish context and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The research was conducted in two phases: first, a methodological study designed to evaluate content validity, through assessments by eight experts (calculating the Aiken V coefficient) and face validity in a sample of 20 women; second, a cross-sectional study to evaluate construct validity (through confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis), divergent validity against a scale of birth satisfaction, known-groups validity and, finally, reliability. In Phase 1, Aiken V values higher than 0.71 were obtained for all items. Phase 2 was conducted on a sample of 256 women and the fit values for the unidimensional model were RMSEA: 0.070 (95% CI: 0.059–0.105) and GFI: 0.982 (95% CI: 0.823–0.990). The Rasch analysis indicated poor performance of item 2, which was removed. The Omega and Cronbach's Alpha coefficients were 0.863 and 0.860, respectively. A final 13-item version of the Obstetric Violence Scale was produced, with a total score ranging from 0 (no obstetric violence perception) to 52 (maximum obstetric violence perception). The Obstetric Violence Scale is a reliable and useful tool to measure women's perception of obstetric violence. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Job crafting is an important concept associated with many positive outcomes, particularly for kindergarten teachers. Specifically, job crafting can play a key role in improving kindergarten teachers' work experiences and reducing professional dysfunction, considering their stressful work environment. However, the existing scale that integrates the most accepted theories of job crafting—approach–avoidance theory—has not been examined for efficacy in a multicultural context. Thus, in this study, 1273 Chinese kindergarten teachers were selected as subjects to explore the psychological properties of the German version of the Approach-Avoidance Job Crafting Scale (AAJCS) within the Chinese culture context. The sample was randomly divided into two subsamples. In Sample 1 (N = 618), item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. In Sample 2 (N = 655), CFA, reliability, and criterion-related validity tests were conducted. The results showed that job crafting has two independent components, each containing four factors, and the third-order model had the best fit. The reliability and validity of the scale were good, suggesting that AAJCS is an appropriate tool for measuring job crafting in a kindergarten population. Future research is needed to test the validity and reliability of the AAJCS on other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Perth Empathy Scale (PES) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses people's ability to recognize emotions in others (i.e., cognitive empathy) and vicariously experience other's emotions (i.e., affective empathy), across positive and negative emotions. Originally developed in English, the aim of our study was to introduce the first Polish version of the PES and test its psychometric performance. Our sample was 318 people (184 females, 134 males) with ages ranging from 18 to 77. The factor structure was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was tested in terms of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. To explore convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity, we examined relationships between the PES and measures of depression, anxiety, and emotional intelligence. It was shown that the scale was characterized by the intended four-factor solution, thus supporting factorial validity. The internal consistency reliability was also good and test–retest reliability was moderate. The convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity were strong. The clinical importance of assessing affective empathy across both positive and negative emotions was supported. Overall, our results therefore suggest that the Polish version of the PES has strong psychometric performance and clinical relevance as a measure of the multidimensional empathy construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship satisfaction is at the core of a robust social life and is essential to mental health. The positive and negative semantic dimensions of the relationship satisfaction (PN-SMD) scale is considered in the field of relationship studies to be a reliable tool for assessing the quality of a person's interpersonal relationships. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the PN-SMD scale by conducting multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) and differential item functioning (DIF) analyses, both of which are emerging assessment methods that focus on individual items. We recruited 511 Chinese undergraduate students for this study. Construct validity, internal consistency, and concurrent validity were assessed, and MIRT and DIF analyses were conducted. Five of the 14 items were found to have gender-based DIF traits, affecting the scale's construct validity. A revised nine-item scale (DIF items excluded) had a significantly better model fit and demonstrated comparable concurrent validity to the original scale. The implications of our results and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnout is a significant problem faced by professionals in the healthcare setting, and yet there is a lack of validated screening tools in the Spanish context. The present study examined the psychometric properties of a single-item measure of burnout (SIB) within a sample of 675 health professionals working at five centres in Spain, with the brief burnout questionnaire (BBQ) providing the main comparison measure. Predictive validity was acceptable, with high positive correlations between SIB, overall BBQ and the three BBQ dimensions. Construct validity, examined using confirmatory factor analysis, found that the SIB sufficiently covered the components of the three factors of burnout described by the BBQ and the components of the three dimensions of the burnout syndrome factor. Convergent validity was confirmed through significant negative correlations between SIB and good perceived health and job satisfaction. Acceptable cut-points were established. The Spanish-language SIB provides an acceptable and sensitive screening measure of burnout for use with health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Schema therapy and working with schema modes is increasingly popular. Since there is no validated tool to measure schema modes in Poland, in this study, we present an assessment of the psychometric properties of the Polish version the Short Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) adaptation. (2) Methods: First, the original version of the scale was translated. Subsequently, a validity and reliability study was conducted on a sample of 240 patients and 400 non-patients. In particular, the factor structure of the inventory was checked, internal reliability and intercorrelations between subscales were tested, differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups in terms of the severity of each factor were examined, and construct validity was assessed by comparing the association of results with external variables. (3) Results: The results did not conclusively confirm the 14-factor structure postulated in the original scale. Nevertheless, the relatively best fit indices were obtained for such a model. The internal reliability for the 14 subscales ranged from 0.74 to 0.95 (McDonald's omega). Correlations between subscales demonstrated values from 0.03 to 0.72. The existence of differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups and the construct validity were confirmed. (4) Conclusions: The psychometric evaluation performed is mostly similar to the results obtained for other adaptations, and the results justify the inventory being used for research and clinical purposes when knowledge of its limitations is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. With the advent of an aging society and the development of end-of-life care, there is an increasing need to understand the older generation's attitude toward end-of-life resuscitation. The study aimed to develop and validate a novel attitude scale toward end-of-life resuscitation in older inpatients. Method. Instrumental development and a psychometric evaluation were used. First, a new attitude scale toward end-of-life resuscitation was formulated from literature views, expert content validity, and face validity. Next, the new scale was evaluated using a principal component analysis and internal consistency reliability in a sample from 106 medical–surgical inpatients in a southern Taiwan hospital 1 enrolled through convenience sampling. Serving as an indicator of concurrent validity, a logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between scores on the scale and intention to discuss end-of-life CPR issues. Results: After being validated by the expert content validity and face validity, a draft of a 20-item scale was created. Throughout the exploratory factor analysis, two items with low factor loadings were removed from the draft scale and an 18-item scale of attitude was generated. This 18-item scale had a three-factor structure that accounted for 64.1% of the total variance; the three components were named 'stress, avoidance, and ignorance', 'a peaceful death', and 'self-determination and ambivalence'. The Cronbach's alpha of the total scale and three components were 0.845, 0.885, 0.879, and 0.857, respectively, which indicated a favorable reliability. Scores on the scale were significantly associated with the intention to discuss end-of-life CPR issues, which also indicated a favorable concurrent validity. Conclusions: A 18-item attitude scale with three factors is a valid scale to measure the attitude toward end-of-life resuscitation. The result provides preliminary evidence of the psychometric properties of the scale. Further research with larger samples or other populations is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Aim: The aim of the study was to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of a hospital perception scale for healthy children aged 8 to 10 years. (2) Methods: A methodological design was employed. The scale's validity was investigated using the approaches of content validity, face validity, item analysis, and construct validity. The scale's reliability was evaluated utilizing the approaches of internal consistency reliability, measurer reliability, and measurement invariance. (3) Results: In total, 330 children took part in this study. The scale is composed of six factors. Factor loads range from 0.42 to 0.79. The item–total score correlation coefficients were 0.42 and 0.79, respectively, while the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.87. (4) Conclusions: The HPSHC is a valid and reliable tool. It can be used to determine how healthy or sick children in their middle childhood are perceived when going to the hospital and being hospitalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the psychometric nature of preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity in physical activity. It initially re-examined the Preference for and Tolerance of the Intensity of Exercise Questionnaire (PRETIE-Q) among Portuguese exercisers, looking at its applicability to different exercise activities and exercise experiences. Then, to investigate the applicability of the measure in different groups, its invariance was examined. The sample consisted of 1117 participants (528 male, 589 female) aged 18–81 years old (Mage = 36.81, SD = 11.89). All participants reported at baseline that they were exercising, on average, 3.93 days (SD = 1.36) per week. The exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) displayed the best fit. The ESEM did show invariance when tested for multigroup analysis. The conclusion of this research is that the ESEM demonstrated the best fit, displaying invariance in multigroup analysis. Furthermore, when assessing preference and tolerance in various exercise modalities, the PRETIE-Q should be primarily used as a multidimensional instrument due to the differential recognition of preference and tolerance in seemingly similar physical activity circumstances, highlighting the importance of employing context-verified measures to evaluate exercise-intensity preference and tolerance based on sample characteristics or real-time context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of highly reliable tools evaluating healthcare professionals' competences on Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) and Pain Therapy (PT). The aim of this study is to document the development of an online questionnaire to assess Perceived, Wished and Actual Knowledge of healthcare workers on PPC/PT. The tool was built on the basis of the Italian Society for Palliative Care PPC Core Curriculum (CC) for physicians, nurses and psychologists. Face validity, internal consistency and the underlying structure were evaluated after a field testing in a referral hospital, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. One hundred five respondents completed the questionnaire. High internal consistency for both scales of Perceived and Wished Knowledge was found (α = 0.95 and α = 0.94, respectively). Psychologists reported higher levels of self-Perceived skills on the psychosocial needs of the child and family at the end of life (p = 0.006), mourning (p = 0.003) and ethics and deontology in PT/PC (p = 0.049). Moreover, when Actual Knowledge was tested, they also provided the highest number of correct answers (p = 0.022). No differences were found by profession for Wished Knowledge. The questionnaire showed promising psychometric properties. Our findings suggest the need of continuous training in this field and identify contents to be addressed in future training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: In response to the impact of religious intervention on health outcomes and the importance of documenting how nurses experience the spiritual need of 392 hospitalized patients, it is vital to provide the nursing profession with instruments to evaluate these spiritual aspects. This study describes the development and validation of the Nursing Care and Religious Diversity Scale (NCRDS); (2) Methods: A two-step design was used for NCRDS translation and psychometric validation. The tool design was developed in the first step, while the psychometric characteristics were tested in the second step. An inductive study was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the NCRDS tool. The overall sample consisted of 317 nurses; (3) Results: The final instrument comprised 25 items in five dimensions. The construct validity indicated five dimensions. The face and content validity were adequate. Test-retest reliability displayed good stability, and internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was acceptable (0.83); (4) Conclusions: Initial testing of the NCRDS suggested that it is a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate individuals in religious diversity, with five dimensions for evaluating the meaning of spirituality and individual belief, the religious healthcare environment, educational adequacy, spiritual and religious needs, and religious plurality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although experiences of loss and the consequent grief are natural in human life, some individuals may have difficulty managing these events, to the point of developing significant impairment in their functioning in important life areas. Given this, the present research aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Adult Attitude to Grief scale (AAG) to facilitate research on adult vulnerability to grief among Italian-speaking populations. A sample of 367 participants (Mage = 30.44, SD = 11.21; 78% females) participated in this research. A back-translation procedure was implemented to develop the Italian AAG. Then, participants completed the Italian AAG alongside a battery of other self-report psychometric scales in order to assess aspects of the construct validity of the AAG: the Forty-Item Defense Style Questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, and the Beck Depression Inventory–II. A bifactor structure was found to have the best fit to the data, supporting the possibility of using both the general factor (i.e., vulnerability) and three dimensions (i.e., overwhelmed, controlled, and resilient). Unlike the original version, the control dimension emerged as a "protective" factor in the Italian population, together with the resilient factor. Furthermore, results provided satisfactory indications of internal consistency and construct validity. In conclusion, the Italian AAG was shown to be a valid, reliable, quick, and easy-to-use scale that can be used both for research and clinical practice in the Italian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This article discusses the first two phases of development and validation of the Three Domains of Judgment Test (3DJT). This computer-based tool, co-constructed with users and capable of being administered remotely, aims to assess the three main domains of judgment (practical, moral, and social) and learn from the psychometric weaknesses of tests currently used in clinical practice. (2) Method: First, we presented the 3DJT to experts in cognition, who evaluated the tool as a whole as well as the content validity, relevance, and acceptability of 72 scenarios. Second, an improved version was administered to 70 subjects without cognitive impairment to select scenarios with the best psychometric properties in order to build a future clinically short version of the test. (3) Results: Fifty-six scenarios were retained following expert evaluation. Results support the idea that the improved version has good internal consistency, and the concurrent validity primer shows that 3DJT is a good measure of judgment. Furthermore, the improved version was found to have a significant number of scenarios with good psychometric properties to prepare a clinical version of the test. (4) Conclusion: The 3DJT is an interesting alternative tool for assessing judgment. However, more studies are needed for its implementation in a clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figural matrices tests are among the most popular and well-investigated tests used to assess inductive reasoning abilities. Solving these tests requires the selection of a target that completes a figural matrix among distractors. Despite their generally good psychometric properties, previous matrices tests have limitations associated with distractor construction that prevent them from realizing their full potential. Most tests allow participants to identify the correct response by eliminating distractors based on superficial features. The goal of this study was to develop a novel figural matrices test which is less prone to the use of response elimination strategies, and to test its psychometric properties. The new test consists of 48 items and was validated with N = 767 participants. Measurement models implied that the test is Rasch scalable, inferring a uniform underlying ability. The test showed good to very good reliability (retest-correlation: r = 0.88; Cronbach's alpha: α = 0.93; split-half reliability: r = 0.88) and good construct validity (r = 0.81 with the Raven Progressive Matrices Test, r = 0.73 with global intelligence scores of the Intelligence Structure Test 2000R, and r = 0.58 with the global score of the Berlin Intelligence Structure Test). It even superseded the Raven Progressive Matrices Tests in criterion-related validity (correlation with final year high school grades (r = −0.49 p <.001)). We conclude that this novel test has excellent psychometric properties and can be a valuable tool for researchers interested in reasoning assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low vision (LV) has a substantial impact on an individual's daily functionality and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly incorporated into the evaluation of this problem. The objective of this study was to describe the design of the new "Life for Low Vision Questionnaire (LIFE4LVQ)", as a measure of daily functionality in LV and to explore its psychometric properties. A total of 294 participants completed the LIFE4LVQ and the data were subjected to Rasch analysis to determine the psychometric properties of the questionnaire, including response category ordering, item fit statistics, principal component analysis, precision, differential item functioning, and targeting. Test–retest reliability was evaluated with an interval of three weeks and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used. The correlation between the questionnaire score and Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) was examined using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Rasch analysis revealed that for most items the infit and outfit mean square fit values were close to 1, both for the whole scale and its subscales (ability and independence). The separation index for person measures was 5.18 with a reliability of 0.96, indicating good discriminant ability and adequate model fit. Five response categories were found for all items. The ICC was 0.96 (p < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98), suggesting excellent repeatability of the measure. Poorer BCVA was significantly associated with worse scores (rho = 0.559, p < 0.001), indicating excellent convergent validity. The functional, 40-item LIFE4LVQ proved to be a reliable and valid tool that effectively measures the impact of LV on ability and independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a global public health problem. The goal of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measurement of suicide severity based on the Columbia suicide severity rating scale. We worked with a sample of 516 Argentinean adults, aged 18 to 75. The fit of a measurement model that differentiates between the various degrees of suicidal severity was verified. The specified model returns fit values above the suggested cut-off points, both for the occurrence and frequency indicators. The internal consistency indices from the composite reliability coefficient also show values above the cut-off points for both occurrence and frequency. Finally, evidence of construct validity was obtained from the relationship with external variables. The results are consistent with the theory, showing stronger effects of hopelessness on suicidal ideation compared to suicide attempts. Overall, evidence of construct validity for the measurement of suicidal severity is presented, a contribution that is essential in remedying the lack of studies on suicide in the region and promoting prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot self-care is an important element of caring for and promoting foot health. However, little is known about the validity and reliability of existing foot self-care instruments. The purpose of this review is to describe and analyze the focus, content, and psychometric evidence of existing instruments for measuring foot self-care. A methodological review of three international scientific databases—Medline (PubMed), CINAHL (Ebsco), and Embase—was conducted in May 2022. The search produced 3520 hits, of which 53 studies were included in the final analysis based on a two-phase selection process. A total of 31 instruments were identified, of which six were observed to have been used more than once. Subsequently, the methodological quality of these six instruments was evaluated. It is noted that although a considerable variety of instruments are used in measuring foot self-care, only a small proportion are used consistently. In general, the psychometric testing instruments seem to primarily focus on analyzing content validity and homogeneity. In the future, comprehensive testing of instrument psychometrics could enhance the cumulative evidence of the methodological quality of these instruments. Furthermore, researchers and clinicians can use the information in this review to make informed choices when selecting an instrument for their purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been emphasized that future studies aimed at improving adherence to infection prevention guidelines should focus on beliefs in, e.g., self-efficacy. Reliable situation specific measures are needed to measure the phenomenon of self-efficacy, but there seems to be few valid scales available that are suitable for measuring one's belief in self-efficacy regarding infection prevention measures. The purpose of the study was to develop a unidimensional appraisal scale to capture nurses' beliefs in their abilities to practice medical asepsis in care situations. When creating the items, evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections were used together with Bandura's guide for constructing self-efficacy scales. Face validity, content validity, and concurrent validity were tested in various samples of the target population. Furthermore, dimensionality was evaluated on data collected from 525 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses recruited from the medical, surgical, and orthopaedic wards of 22 Swedish hospitals. The Infection Prevention Appraisal Scale (IPAS) consists of 14 items. Face and content validity were endorsed by target population representatives. The exploratory factor analysis suggested unidimensionality, and the internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha 0.83). The total scale score correlated with the General Self-Efficacy Scale, as expected, and supported concurrent validity. The Infection Prevention Appraisal Scale demonstrates sound psychometric properties supporting a unidimensional measure of self-efficacy to medical asepsis in care situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the last decades, interactive technologies appeared a promising solution in the ecological evaluation of executive functioning. We have developed the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), a new instrument that exploits 360° technologies to provide an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Aim: This work wanted to evaluate the convergent validity of the EXIT 360°, comparing it with traditional neuropsychological tests (NPS) for executive functioning. Methods: Seventy-seven healthy subjects underwent an evaluation that involved: (1) a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment, (2) an EXIT 360° session, involving seven subtasks delivered by VR headset, and (3) a usability assessment. To evaluate convergent validity, statistical correlation analyses were performed between NPS and EXIT 360° scores. Results: The data showed that participants had completed the whole task in about 8 min, with 88.3% obtaining a high total score (≥12). Regarding convergent validity, the data revealed a significant correlation between the EXIT 360° total score and all NPS. Furthermore, data showed a correlation between the EXIT 360° total reaction time and timed neuropsychological tests. Finally, the usability assessment showed a good score. Conclusion: This work appears as a first validation step towards considering the EXIT 360° as a standardized instrument that uses 360° technologies to conduct an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the EXIT 360° in discriminating between healthy control subjects and patients with executive dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Methotrexate (MTX) Intolerance Severity Score (MISS) questionnaire has been developed to identify MTX adverse events in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The objective of this study was to translate and validate MISS into Brazilian Portuguese for children and adolescents. The MISS was translated into Portuguese following the standardized guidelines. We analyzed the following psychometric properties: acceptability, internal consistency, test–retest reproducibility, relative–child reliability, and external criterion and discriminant validity. We included 138 JIA patients (age: 8–18 years) and 108 relatives who took less than 5 min to answer MISS. Reproducibility tested after 15 days was good, with a kappa > 0.76. We observed good internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient 0.75–0.87 (patients) and 0.75–0.79 (relatives)). Reliability between patients and relatives was good except for stomachache and restlessness. Cut-off points of 5 and 6 had good sensitivity (84 and 71, respectively) and specificity (80 and 87, respectively). Using a cut-off value of 6, we observed 86 (62.3%) MTX-intolerant patients. In conclusion, MISS is a viable and practical tool for routine clinical care to identify MTX intolerance in JIA. Parents do not easily identify stomachache and restlessness as adverse MTX events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review on non-instrumental clinical assessment in adult oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) provides an overview of published measures with reported reliability and validity. In alignment with PRISMA, four databases (CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed) were searched, resulting in a total of 16 measures and 32 psychometric studies included. The included measures assessed any aspect of swallowing, consisted of at least one specific subscale relating to swallowing, were developed by clinical observation, targeted adults, and were developed in English. The included psychometric studies focused on adults, reported on measures for OD-related conditions, described non-instrumental clinical assessments, reported on validity or reliability, and were published in English. Methodological quality was assessed using the standard quality assessment QualSyst. Most measures targeted only restricted subdomains within the conceptual framework of non-instrumental clinical assessments. Across the 16 measures, hypothesis testing and reliability were the most reported psychometrics, whilst structural validity and content validity were the least reported. Overall, data on the reliability and validity of the included measures proved incomplete and frequently did not meet current psychometric standards. Future research should focus on the development of comprehensive non-instrumental clinical assessments for adults with OD using contemporary psychometric research methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) is a widely used instrument to assess cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Italian short version of the CERQ (CERQ-IS). Methods: Two separate samples of 442 young adults (Mage = 21.12; SD = 3.69) and 256 adolescents (Mage = 14.81; SD = 0.59) completed the CERQ, the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the dimensionality of the CERQ-IS. Internal consistency was analysed by calculating model-based composite reliability coefficients. Criterion and discriminant validity were gathered through the correlations with the ERQ and the MPS, respectively. Factorial invariances tests across gender and age were computed by means of multiple-group CFA. Results: CFA confirmed the nine-factor structure showing an excellent fit to the data. Except for rumination which was minimally acceptable, all subscales had an acceptable to good reliability. Criterion validity was supported by significant correlations between CERQ-IS and ERQ subscales. Discriminant validity was confirmed by meaningless correlations with the MPS facets. Configural, metric and scalar invariance were established across both grouping variables. Conclusions: The brevity of this tool and its good psychometric properties suggest that CERQ-IS could be a useful screening tool in both clinical and research practice in adolescence and young adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire is a validated and reliable questionnaire that studies the presence and degree of pelvic floor discomfort, providing a global vision of pelvic floor dysfunction. This questionnaire assesses urinary stress incontinence, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urge urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapses, dysuria, dyspareunia, defecatory dysfunction, fecal incontinence, and the disability it causes to the respondent. Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the structural characteristics and psychometric properties of the different versions of the pelvic floor bother questionnaire, as well as the methodological quality, the quality of evidence, and the criteria used for good measurement properties. Methods: A systematic review was carried out in different databases, such as PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Dialnet, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL, on studies adapting and validating the pelvic floor bother questionnaire in other languages. The data were analyzed taking into account the guidelines of the preferred reporting item statement for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and following the COSMIN guidelines, considering articles published up to 28 February 2022, and registered in the PROSPERO database. Results: Initially, a total of 443 studies were found, from which a total of four studies were analyzed with regard to structural characteristics and psychometric properties, such as reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity. Conclusions: The different versions of the questionnaires show basic structural characteristics and psychometric properties for the evaluation of patients with pelvic floor dysfunctions. Most of the analyzed versions present criteria for good measurement properties qualified as sufficient, inadequate–adequate methodological quality, and low–moderate quality of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the Catholic Church express their faith in a variety of manners, in general with a focus on liturgical and popular forms of piety. This article provided construction and initial validation for a brief questionnaire to measure Catholic religious practices. The authors used Sample 1 (n = 219) for exploratory factor analysis and Sample 2 (n = 181) for confirmatory factor analysis and to test the validity of a new scale. A model with two factors with five items each provided a good fit. The Catholic Religious Practices Questionnaire (CRPQ) consists of two subscales: official religiosity and folk practices. Both exhibit positive though varying correlations with the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) and Multidimensional Prayer Inventory (MPI). The new questionnaire has been confirmed as a reliable and valid measure that takes into account the distinctive features of the Catholic religious tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of aphasia on the everyday life of Greek-speaking people with aphasia (PWA) is often underestimated by rehabilitation clinicians. This study explores the adaptation and psychometric properties of the Greek (GR) version of The Aphasia Impact Questionnaire-21 (AIQ-21-GR) to address this issue. The aim of this study is to determine the reliability and validity of the Greek version of the AIQ-21. The AIQ-21-GR was administered to 69 stroke survivors, 47 with aphasia and 22 without aphasia. The data were analyzed to determine reliability and validity. Content validity was based on the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments guidelines. The AIQ-21-GR shows high levels of reliability and validity. The results confirmed high scores of internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and indicated good known--groups validity (Mann--Whitney U = 202, p < 001). Content validity achieved high scores with an overall median score of 4 [Q25 = 4, Q75 = 5]. The psychometric properties of the AIQ-21-GR support the reliability and validity of the tool for investigating the impact of aphasia on the quality of life of Greek-speaking PWA. The AIQ-21-GR can be used for setting functional goals in collaboration with PWA and as a patient reported outcome measure for functional communication training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH), including lightheadedness/dizziness, presyncope, syncope, and falls, can lead to impaired functional ability and reduced quality of life. Because the severity and frequency of nOH symptoms fluctuate, it may be difficult for patients to accurately quantify the effect of symptoms on their daily lives using available outcome measures. A new single-item instrument, the 'Good Day Bad Day,' was developed, and its psychometric validity was assessed in patients with nOH. Data from a 6-month, prospective, observational cohort study of patients with nOH who were newly initiating droxidopa treatment were used. Patients were asked to quantify the number of good and bad days in the previous 7 days and responded to other validated patient-reported outcomes instruments. The concurrent and discriminant validities and the stability of the Good Day Bad Day instrument were assessed. A total of 153 patients were included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 62.3 [17] years). Change in the number of good days moderately correlated with improvements in other patient-reported outcomes (rho value range, −0.38 to −0.61). When data were examined categorically (low vs high symptom severity), the mean number of good days was higher in subgroups representing low symptom severity across measures at 1, 3, and 6 months (all P ≤ 0.01). The Good Day Bad Day instrument provided good discrimination at baseline and over time and may aid in assessment of the effects of nOH symptoms on patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of the study was the language adaptation and verification of psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the EAT10® questionnaire. Methods: The original English version of the questionnaire was translated into the Slovak language. The research group included 136 control participants and 51 dysphagic patients. Test–retest reliability, item analysis, internal consistency, construct and clinical validity, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed to verify the psychometric properties of the Slovak EAT10®. Results: The internal consistency assessed with Cronbach's alpha is excellent (α = 0.94). Statistical analysis of the Slovak version of EAT10® showed excellent reliability (0.91, p < 0.001) in the test–retest. Through item-to-total correlation, we found out that all items significantly correlated with the overall score in EAT10®. Factor analysis proved a high construct validity. The EAT10® questionnaire was able to reveal a latent variable: a swallowing disorder, which was affecting a group of patients. The clinical validity results confirmed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of the control and dysphagic groups (z = −10.30; p < 0.001). By dividing the dysphagic group into four subgroups (Head and Neck Cancer, Extraesophageal Reflux, Iatrogenic, and Neurological) there were nonsignificant differences in the mean scores of the subgroups. The cut-off value for the Slovak EAT10® is three points. Conclusion: The Slovak EAT10® is a valid and reliable tool designed for the subjective assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization warns about the threat of the COVID-19 sixth wave. Our aim was to propose the first validated Romanian questionnaire to assess people's level of education and attitudes towards general measures to protect against COVID-19 infection. Our study was conducted on a sample of 194 people. The first version of the questionnaire consisted of 40 items. Items that did not meet psychometric criteria were removed. Latent components/factors were identified through exploratory factorial analysis (EFA). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess internal fidelity. The EFA identified three factors. Factor 1 was named "Compliance with protective measures", factor 2 was "Attitudes toward vaccination" and factor 3 was "Attitudes regarding potential COVID-19 therapies". The final version of the questionnaire consists of 16 items. The test's final score predicted the presence of vaccination with an accuracy of 0.773. The questionnaire score, the diagnosis of diabetes, the advice provided by healthcare workers and the medical profession proved to be significant predictors of vaccination. The implementation of our questionnaire within national programs could identify populational areas that need specific interventions to reach vaccination targets and prevent a full-blown sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest on the topic of Sexual Violence (SV) perpetrated by community samples; movements, as the Me Too, have triggered such focus. Researching the validity of core SV measures is now fundamental. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the structure of the Portuguese version of the Sexually Aggressive Behaviors Scale (SABS-PT) while testing for measurement invariance across gender. The SABS-PT was tested among a sample of 2540 Portuguese college students (48.5% males and 51.5% females). All participants identified as heterosexual, and their ages ranged between 18 and 39 years old. To assess the construct validity and test for measurement invariance across gender, single and multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed. Results support the internal consistency and convergent/discriminant validity of the SABS-PT in relation to external variables. Overall, the findings suggest a good fit of data to the model. The partial scalar invariance of the measurement was obtained and further analyses on latent means differences indicated that men scored higher on SV compared to women. The SABS-PT may constitute a useful instrument for screening sexual initiation by aggressive means and associated risk factors and may play an important role as an outcome measure in programs preventing sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper limb sensory processing deficits are common in the chronic phase after stroke and are associated with decreased functional performance. Yet, current clinical assessments show suboptimal psychometric properties. Our aim was to develop and validate a novel robot-based assessment of sensory processing. We assessed 60 healthy participants and 20 participants with chronic stroke using existing clinical and robot-based assessments of sensorimotor function. In addition, sensory processing was evaluated with a new evaluation protocol, using a bimanual planar robot, through passive or active exploration, reproduction and identification of 15 geometrical shapes. The discriminative validity of this novel assessment was evaluated by comparing the performance between healthy participants and participants with stroke, and the convergent validity was evaluated by calculating the correlation coefficients with existing assessments for people with stroke. The results showed that participants with stroke showed a significantly worse sensory processing ability than healthy participants (passive condition: p = 0.028, Hedges' g = 0.58; active condition: p = 0.012, Hedges' g = 0.73), as shown by the less accurate reproduction and identification of shapes. The novel assessment showed moderate to high correlations with the tactile discrimination test: a sensitive clinical assessment of sensory processing (r = 0.52–0.71). We conclude that the novel robot-based sensory processing assessment shows good discriminant and convergent validity for use in participants with chronic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and analysis of psychometric properties of a brief scale that assesses vengeful tendencies (BSVT-11) is presented. A three-dimensional model is proposed: (1) resentment, (2) planning of revenge, and (3) justification of revenge. Two studies were conducted for this purpose: one was carried out with a sample of 478 participants, to evaluate the content validity, factorial structure, reliability, and invariance of the instrument; the other was conducted with a sample of 308 participants, to determine the concurrent validity of the BSVT-11. The data indicated adequate reliability (ω = 0.877), optimal fit (CFI = 1.0, TLI = 1.0) according to the dimensions proposed, and invariance between genders (p = 0.893). Concurrent validity data yield significant correlation values (p < 0.001) ranging from 0.522 to 0.804 in the analyses between the BSVT and other scales. The results allow us to present a brief instrument with good psychometric properties with possibilities for use in basic and translational science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sedentary behaviors (SB) are very prevalent nowadays. Prolonged sitting associates with chronic disease risks and increased mortality even while controlling for physical activity. Objective measurement of SB is costly, requires technical expertise, and is challenging in terms of time and management. Currently, there is no validated self-reported instrument in the Arabic language that assesses SB among individuals and relates sedentary time to social, environmental, and health outcomes. The aim of this research was to develop a multi-item Arabic SB questionnaire (ASBQ). Methods: The ASBQ was developed through an extensive literature review and discussion by the research team (n = 5), then went through content validation (n = 10 experts) and pre-testing using cognitive interviewing procedures (n = 51 respondents, mean (SD) age was 38.3 (18.2) years, and with 49% females). Results: The ASBQ included 13 questions comprising a wide range of sedentary activities. The Arabic SB instrument showed excellent content validity for assessing sedentary time in adolescents and adults with a very high item-level and scale-level content validity index. A kappa statistic, a measure of interrater reliability, was 0.95. The pre-testing showed that the instrument was highly rated by a diverse sample of Saudi adolescents and adults. Conclusion: The ASBQ received excellent acceptance by a panel of experts with promising pre-test results. Further testing of psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability and criterion validity is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient satisfaction after total joint arthroplasties (TJA) represents a key element for the evaluation of surgery success in relation to subjects' needs and expectations. The assessment tools are applied inconsistently throughout the literature, and thus, it is difficult to compare results among different studies. Goodman et al. proposed a standardized questionnaire with strong psychometric properties for the assessment of satisfaction. The present study aims to translate, adapt, and validate the Goodman questionnaire for the Italian population. After translation and back translation, the questionnaire was administrated to 50 patients. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, floor and ceiling effects, and construct validity were evaluated (correlation with KOOS/HOOS, SF-12 PCS/MCS, EQ-5D). Responsiveness was evaluated with respect to SF-12 PCS improvements. The Italian version of the Goodman score questionnaire demonstrated psychometric properties similar to those of the original version. The translated questionnaire showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.836) and test–retest reliability (ICC: 0.507). Moderate/strong correlations were observed between the Italian version of the Goodman score and other scores. The score significantly discriminated patients who improved from those who did not improve in SF-12 PCS after treatment. This study provides an adapted and validated Italian version of the Goodman score questionnaire, with psychometric properties similar to those of its original counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]