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As health systems transition to ICD-11, it is essential to gauge the readiness and improve existing transition efforts. Assessing the intention to use ICD-11 and factors influencing it is imperative to encourage the use of ICD-11 among the medical record officers (MROs) and assistant medical record officers (AMROs). This study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire on the factors influencing the intention to use ICD-11 among MROs and AMROs in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. This study comprised a questionnaire development and validation involving 292 participants nationwide from Ministry of Health Malaysia facilities. The questionnaire was developed based on items adapted from the literature. Forward and backward English-Malay translation was done. Then, the questionnaire was examined for content validity, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, face validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity and confirmatory factor analyses. The final version of the questionnaire consists of eleven domains represented by 50 items. The content validity index and modified kappa were excellent for all domains. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin sampling adequacy value was appropriate, with a value of 0.790. The questionnaire also demonstrated good internal consistency reliability with Cronbach's alpha values between 0.850 and 0.992. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a reasonable fit for this eleven-factor model. In conclusion, this questionnaire provides a reliable tool for investigating the intention to use ICD-11 among MROs and AMROs. Positive findings from the psychometric properties support the validity of the questionnaire. This instrument can potentially support personnel in charge of ICD codification, guide the ICD-11 transition at various levels and facilitate research on support dynamics among the MROs and AMROs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the success of an adaption of the Students' Attitudes Towards Addressing Sexual Health Extended Questionnaire (SA-SH-Ext) in meeting Polish linguistic and cultural norms, as well as to ascertain the nursing and midwifery students' attitudes towards addressing sexual health using the SA-SH-Ext questionnaire. The sample size of the cross-sectional validation study consisted of 570 Polish nursing and midwifery students. The collected data was used to examine the internal consistency reliability and construct validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Internal consistency reliability showed a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.91, and construct validity measured by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) demonstrated good results. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO) was high and amounted to 0.923, and the Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (p = 0.000). The analysis of construct validity demonstrated five major factors: "Present feelings of comfortableness" (Factor 1), "Future working environment" (Factor 2), "Fear of negative influence on future patient relation" (Factor 3), "Educational needs—Awareness of knowledge gap" (Factor 4), "Educational needs—Awareness of the needs for competences" (Factor 5). The SA-SH-Ext v.PL questionnaire is a reliable and valuable instrument for assessing the level of perceived preparedness among nursing and midwifery students in addressing patient sexual health, a field often neglected in health and holistic care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) describes social cognitive constructs related to behaviour change. A validated questionnaire is needed to measure these constructs in paediatric dentistry. The aim of this study was to improve an existing HAPA-based questionnaire for parents regarding brushing their children's teeth and to assess its validity and reliability in a population of parents of high caries risk children. Methods: Parents of high caries risk children of 3–10 years filled out the adjusted HAPA-based questionnaire. Mokken scale analysis, graded response model analyses, factor analyses and reliability analyses were performed according to the protocol of Dima. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparing the mean scores of the HAPA constructs between two groups of participants, based on different levels of caries experience, brushing frequency and education level of the mother. Results: The Mokken scale analysis and factor analyses indicated a multidimensional eight factor scale. The graded response model did not fit our data. The subscale action control could be identified as a two-factor subscale. Reliability indices from the Dima protocol varied, for instance Cronbach alpha ranged from 0.73 to 0.96. The constructs coping self-efficacy, action planning and action control discriminated between brushing frequencies. Conclusions: The adjusted HAPA-based questionnaire is an improved, valid and reliable instrument that could be used to evaluate HAPA-based interventions to improve children's oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study aimed to validate the Cantonese version of the Amsterdam-Nijmegen Everyday Language Test (CANELT), a functional communication assessment tool for Cantonese speakers with aphasia. A quantitative scoring method was adopted to examine the pragmatics and informativeness of the production of people with aphasia (PWA). Method: CANELT was translated from its English version with cultural adaptations. The performance on the 20-item CANELT collected from 56 PWA and 100 neurologically healthy Cantonese-speaking controls aged 30 to 79 years was orthographically transcribed. Scoring was based on the completeness of the main concepts produced in the preamble and subsequent elaborations, defined as Opening (O) and New Information (NI). Measures examining the validity and reliability were conducted. Results: An age effect was found in neurologically healthy controls, and therefore z scores were used for subsequent comparisons between neurologically healthy controls and PWA. The test showed strong evidence for known-group validity in both O [χ2 (2) = 95.2, p <.001] and NI [χ2 (2) = 100.4, p <.001]. A moderate to strong correlation was found between CANELT and standardized aphasia assessment tools, suggesting satisfactory concurrent validity. Reliability measures were excellent in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's α of.95 for both 'O' and 'NI'), test-retest reliability (ICC =.96; p <.001), intra-rater reliability (ICC = 1.00; p <.001), and inter-rater reliability for O (ICC =.99; p <.001) and NI (ICC =.99; p <.001). Sensitivity and specificity for O are 97% and 76.8%, respectively, while for NI, a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 91.1% were obtained. Conclusions: Measures on validity and reliability yielded promising results, suggesting CANELT as a useful and reliable functional communication assessment for PWA. Its application in managing PWA and potential areas for development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a lack of reliable and valid evidence-based practice (EBP) measures for physiotherapy students. This study validated EBP-student (EBP-S) measures for physiotherapy students. Methods: EBP measures developed from previous research were cross-culturally validated for use by physiotherapy students. The adapted EBP-S consisted of six measures: use of EBP, EBP activities, EBP knowledge, self-efficacy for EBP, attitudes towards EBP, and perceptions of the teaching and assessment of EBP in the curriculum. The final version was completed by physiotherapy students (n = 335). The psychometric properties for each EBP-S measure were estimated, including construct validity using Rasch model, internal consistency reliability using person separation index (PSI), test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and differential item functioning (DIF). Results: Two formative measures (use of EBP and EBP activities) were only linguistically modified for use with students. A Rasch model was applied to the other four reflective measures. For knowledge, 55% (6/11) items fit the Rasch model with chi-square fit statistic (χ2) = 34.46, p = 0.08; PSI = 0.85. For self-efficacy, 89% (8/9) items fit the Rasch model with χ2 = 25.11, p = 0.80; PSI = 0.89. For attitudes, 62% (8/13) items fit the Rasch model with χ2 = 61.49, p = 0.00; PSI = 0.71. For perception of the teaching and assessment of EBP in the curriculum, 62% (8/13) items fit the Rasch model with χ2 = 80.99, p = 0.45; PSI = 0.92. perception of the teaching and assessment of EBP in the curriculum showed DIF in three items. The ICCs ranged between 0.80 and 0.98. Conclusions: The EBP-S measures were validated for physiotherapy students, including the testing of psychometric properties, which were not tested in the original studies. Further refinements should be considered for the use of the EBP-S with other groups of students or if changes are applied to the current curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is crucial to take into account the concerns of dental patients about their prosthodontic needs when planning the course of treatment. However, there is a dearth of research that examines these needs among adult dental patients. Objectives: This study aims to translate and validate the perceived prosthodontic treatment need scale (PPTN) in Arabic. Methods: The 17-item PPTN scale was translated from English into Arabic and completed by 206 patients seeking prosthodontic treatment in a dental hospital in Saudi Arabia. Data collection was carried out in September and October 2023. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to ascertain the underlying factor structure; a unidimensional scale was hypothesised and tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), including several multiple model fit indices. The assessment of reliability was conducted using Cronbach's alpha. The convergent and discriminant validity of the final scale were examined. Results: EFA produced an 11-item scale distributed into three factors that explain 65.43% of the total variance with eigenvalues > 1. All items showed acceptable reliability, ranging from 0.65 to 0.84. The first factor pertained to social issues, while the second item was concerning dental appearance. Lastly, the third factor included functional difficulties associated with tooth loss or dental problems. The results of the CFA demonstrate a satisfactory level of model fit, with the standardised factor loadings ranging from 0.51 to 0.89. Convergent and discriminant validity of the model factors were established. Conclusion: The translated questionnaire was deemed legitimate and would be useful in comprehending patients' perceived treatment requirements, hence contributing to the advancement of prosthodontic research and practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The death literacy index (DLI) was developed in Australia to measure death literacy, a set of experience-based knowledge needed to understand and act on end-of-life (EOL) care options but has not yet been validated outside its original context. The aim of this study was to develop a culturally adapted Swedish-language version of the DLI, the DLI-S, and assess sources of evidence for its validity in a Swedish context. The study involved a multi-step process of translation and cultural adaptation and two validation phases: examining first content and response process validity through expert review (n = 10) and cognitive interviews (n = 10); and second, internal structure validity of DLI-S data collected from an online cross-sectional survey (n = 503). The psychometric evaluation involved analysis of descriptive statistics on item and scale-level, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and confirmatory factor analysis. During translation and adaptation, changes were made to adjust items to the Swedish context. Additional adjustments were made following findings from the expert review and cognitive interviews. The content validity index exceeded recommended thresholds (S-CVIAve = 0.926). The psychometric evaluation provided support for DLI-S' validity. The hypothesized six-factor model showed good fit (χ2 = 1107.631 p<0.001, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.064, SRMR = 0.054). High internal consistency reliability was demonstrated for the overall scale (Cronbach's α = 0.94) and each sub-scale (α 0.81–0.92). Test-retest reliability was acceptable, ICC ranging between 0.66–0.85. Through a comprehensive assessment of several sources of evidence, we show that the DLI-S demonstrates satisfactory validity and acceptability to measure death literacy in the Swedish context. There are, however, indications that the sub-scales measuring community capacity perform worse in comparison to other sca and may function differently in Sweden than in the original context. The DLI-S has potential to contribute to research on community-based EOL interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The implementation outcomes determine the success and progress of a community-based intervention programme. The community is an important stakeholder whose effects should be assessed. Nevertheless, Malaysia has limited instruments for determining outcome measurements. This research aimed to develop Malay versions of the Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility Intervention Measures (AIM-IAM-FIM) questionnaire, which evaluates the implementation outcome of the programme. Methods: A methodological study of the translation and validation of the implementation outcome measures was conducted from March 2022 until December 2022. Three key analyses were conducted: (1) translation and validation; (2) factor investigation and extraction (n = 170); and (3) scale evaluation (n = 235). Result: The Malay version measuring the implementation outcome measures of a community-based intervention programme was produced after extensive translation and modification, and it consisted of a single dimension with seven items. The content validity index was 0.9, the exploratory factor analysis showed that the KMO measure of sample adequacy was 0.9277, and Bartlett's sphericity test was statistically significant. Cronbach's alpha was good, with a level of 0.938. The single factor structure fitted the data satisfactorily [χ2 (p-value of 0.002), SRMR = 0.030, CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.079, TLI = 0.998]. Factor loading for all items was > 0.7. Conclusion: The 7-item Malay version of the AIM-IAM-FIM survey instrument is valid and reliable for assessing the acceptability of a community-based intervention study and is applicable to other fields. Future studies in psychometric evaluation are recommended in other states due to the variety of Malay dialects spoken across Asia. The scale may also benefit other areas where the language is spoken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study appraises the psychometrics properties of the Inflammatory bowel disease-fatigue (IBD-F) Persian version questionnaire. Methods: The original IBD-F questionnaire was translated into the Persian version in a standard forward-back manner. The validation was performed through the face, content, and construct validity. Fifteen experts scored each item's necessity on an ordinal Likert scale of three; then, the content validity ratio was calculated using the Lawshe formula. Eight judges from pre-defined panel rated each item on an ordinal 4-point Likert scale concerning its relevancy, clarity, and simplicity for individual-CVI calculation. The mean individual-CVI was considered as the Scale-CVI for each domain. Twenty lay experts (selected from the target population) were asked to express their opinion on each item's importance by scoring on a 5-point Likert scale; subsequently, face validity was determined by the impact score formula. The questions that had minimum values of CVR, CVI, and impact score were retained in the final version of the questionnaire for reliability evaluation. Construct validity was evaluated via Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were checked using Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Fifty-four patients recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to participate in the reliability analysis. Results: All the questions received the qualified values of CVR (exceeding 0.49 points) and impact score (more than 1.5 points) and were retained in the questionnaire; however, revisions were made for questions with a CVI 0.7–0.9 for clarity and simplicity. The result demonstrated relative goodness CFA and proper internal consistency, as Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.964 for the test (0.845 and 0.963 for the first and second part of the questionnaire, respectively (and 0.888 for the re-test (0.793 and 0.876 for the first and second section of the questionnaire, respectively). The ICC values between test and re-test for the first and second part and the whole questionnaire were obtained as 0.904, 0.922, and 0.921, respectively. Conclusion: The Persian version of the IBD-F questionnaire was valid and reliable; thus, an appropriate scale was deemed to measure fatigue (severity, frequency, and impact on daily activities). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the reliability and validity of two disease-specific questionnaires that assess the quality of life (QoL) among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); SLEQoL and LupusQoL in Malay language. This study also identified the factors affecting each domain of the questionnaires. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021 until April 2022, and SLE patients were recruited to complete the SLEQoL, LupusQoL and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in Malay language. Disease activity were recorded using the modified SLE Disease Activity Index (M- SLEDAI) and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group 2004 (BILAG-2004) index. Presence of organ damage was determined using the SLICC Damage index. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency while exploratory factor analysis was done to determine the construct validity. Concurrent validity was evaluated using correlation with SF-36. Multiple linear regression analysis was deployed to determine the factors affecting each domain of SLEQoL and LupusQoL. Results: A total of 125 subjects were recruited. The Cronbach's α value for the Malay-SLEQoL (M-SLEQoL) and Malay-LupusQOL (M-LupusQoL) was 0.890 and 0.944 respectively. Exploratory factor analysis found formation of similar number of components with the original version of questionnaires and all items have good factor loading of >0.4. Both instruments also had good concurrent validity with SF-36. M-SLEQoL had good correlations with BILAG-2004 and M-SLEDAI scores. Musculoskeletal (MSK) involvement was independently associated with lower M-SLEQoL in physical function, activity and symptom domains. Meanwhile, MSK and NPSLE were associated with fatigue in M-LupusQoL. Conclusion: Both M-SLEQoL and M-LupusQoL are reliable and valid as disease -specific QoL instruments for Malaysian patients. The M-Lupus QoL has better discriminative validity compared to the M-SLEQoL. SLE patients with MSK involvement are at risk of poor QoL in multiple domains including physical function, activity, symptoms and fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research collaboration highlight a need for validated tests in other languages than English. Translation and culture adjustments may threaten essential features of the original instrument. Objective: To assess the internal consistency, inter-rater and test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the Norwegian version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Screen (ECAS-N). Methods: Performance of 71 subjects with ALS, 85 healthy controls (HC) and 6 controls with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were assessed with the ECAS-N. Test-retest interval was four months. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha; reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Cohen's kappa, and Bland Altman plot. Five hypothesis, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screen, was evaluated for construct validity. Results: ECAS-N total score produced a Cronbach's alpha of 0.65, had excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.99) and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.73). Construct validity analysis suggested valid use of the ECAS-N to distinguish people with ALS-specific cognitive impairment from HC (p = 0.001) and those with AD (p = 0.002). The MoCA and ECAS-N were moderately correlated (r = 0.53). Conclusion: The ECAS-N has potential to be used by different testers in clinical practice and research to screen patients with ALS who speak Norwegian and for documenting cognitive impairment over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychologically unsustainability stems from the disconnection of humans from the natural environment. Signs of this disconnection have led to the creation of variables generally called "Nature Connectedness" (NC) to measure this relationship. This study is a type of quantitative research, and the method used was a survey. It aimed to investigate the construct validity and reliability of the Nature Relatedness (NR) scale, determine the factors and items constructing, and the variables influencing the NR scale in the Persian context. The NR scale is one of the most used measures in this field and is measured with three factors: Self, Perspective, and Experience. The subjects consisted of 296 students who studied at Shiraz University, School of Agriculture. Based on the construct validity and reliability analysis, the factors and items making up the NR scale were declared valid and reliable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86, RMSEA = 0.05). Thus, in this study we deliver one scale for NR which according to validity and reliability indices is appropriate and could be used in future research. SMC values of the observed variables resulting from structural equation modeling showed considerable values. Overall, regression analysis could explain nearly fifty percent in changes of the NR scale through two variables of mindfulness and pro-environmental behaviors. The findings of this research can provide theoretical and practical implications for developing the NR construct. Our findings encourage policies that pay more attention to environmental plans and urban design that promote NC among communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study describes the development of a questionnaire for assessing the usability of assistive technologies accessible to people with neurological diseases. Methods: A Delphi study was conducted to identify relevant items for the questionnaire. After that, the content validity was addressed to identify the essential items. Once the questionnaire was designed following the results of the Delphi study and content validity, the reliability, validity, and the Rasch model of the questionnaire were examined. Results: Two rounds of the Delphi study were carried out. A total of 73 participants (42 experts and 31 users) participated in round 1, and 59 people (27 experts and 32 users) in round 2. A total of 53 and 29 items were identified in rounds 1 and 2, respectively. In the content validity, we found nine items above the threshold of 0.58. Finally, ten items were included in the questionnaire. Fifty-one participants participate in the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. The internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire analyzed by Cronbach's Alpha was α = 0,895. There was moderate to considerable concordance among our questionnaire items test-retest in the Kappa coefficient and a strong association between test-retest in the Spearman's coefficient ρ = 0.818 (p<0,001). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0,869 with a 95% confidence interval (0,781;0,923). There was a strong correlation between the total scores of the new questionnaire and other validated questionnaires analyzed with Spearman's coefficient ρ = 0.756 (p<0,001). The ten items demonstrated a satisfactory fit to the Rasch model. Conclusions: The present study suggested that the new questionnaire is a reliable 10-item usability questionnaire that allows subjective and quick assessment of the usability of assistive technologies by people with neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nomophobia is considered a disorder of the modern world and describes the fear of being separated from one's smartphone and being no longer connected and reachable. The aims of this Study were to translate the nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q) into German, validate the NMP-Q-D, and use it to shed light on the nomophobia construct. A total of 807 volunteer test subjects were included in the evaluation, 50 of them participated five months later in a retest study. A 4-factor structure of the NMP-Q-D could be confirmed by exploratory as well as by confirmatory factor analyses. The four factors are: (1) "Not being able to communicate", (2) "Losing connectedness", (3) "Not being able to access information", and (4) "Giving up convenience". The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the NMP-Q-D was.92 and the test-retest-reliability was.80. Significant correlations of frequency of smartphone usage with time spent confirmed criterion validity of NMP-Q-D. Construct validity was given by significant correlations of NMP-Q-D to fear of missing out and smartphone addiction. Neuroticism was positively associated with nomophobia, while consciousness and openness were lightly negatively associated. Anxiety correlated significantly positively with factor 1, and stress with factors 1 and 4. Life satisfaction was positively associated with factor 3 and well-being negatively with factor 4. A multiple regression analysis revealed smartphone usage, gender, and neuroticism as significant predictors of nomophobia. Females scored significantly higher for factors 1 and 4 compared to males. Nomophobia was rather widespread in the sample: Nearly half of the participants (49.4%) had a moderate level of nomophobia and 4.1% a severe nomophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine use of the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) to assess the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is limited due to its dependency on laboratory investigations and the complex calculations involved. In contrast, the clinical disease activity index (CDAI) is simple to calculate, which makes the "treat to target" strategy for the management of RA more practical. We aimed to assess the validity of CDAI compared to DAS28 in RA patients in Sri Lanka. A total of 103 newly diagnosed RA patients were recruited, and their disease activity was calculated using DAS 28 and CDAI during the first visit to the clinic (0 months) and re-assessed at 4 and 9 months of follow-up visits. The validity of the CDAI, compared to DAS 28, was evaluated. Patients had a female preponderance (6:1) and a short symptom duration (mean = 6.33 months). Internal consistency reliability of CDAI, as assessed by Cronbach's α test, was 0.868. Convergent validity was assessed by correlation and Kappa statistics. Strong positive correlations were observed between CDAI and DAS 28 at the baseline (0 months), 4 and 9 months of evaluation (Spearman's r = 0.935, 0.935, 0.910, respectively). Moderate-good inter-rater agreements between the DAS-28 and CDAI were observed (Weighted kappa of 0.660, 0.519, and 0.741 at 0, 4, and 9 months respectively). Discriminant validity, as assessed by ROC curves at 0, 4th, and 9th months of the evaluation, showed the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.958, 0.979, and 0.910, respectively. The suggested cut-off points for different CDAI disease activity categories according to ROC curves were ≤ 4 (Remission), > 4 to ≤ 6 (low), > 6 to ≤ 18 (moderate), > 18 (high). These findings indicate that the CDAI has good concordance with DAS 28 in assessing the disease activity in RA patients, in this study sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To validate the "Patient Evaluation of Emotional Care During Hospitalization" (PEECH) questionnaire, which assesses hospitalised patients' emotional experiences, in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Interventions: Prospective study. The PEECH consists of three sections and four sub-scales: "level of security", "level of knowing", "level of personal value", and "level of connection". The questionnaire was completed by 253 hospitalised patients. Expert judgement was used to analyse the content validity and factor analysis was performed to confirm construct validity. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the internal consistency of the four sub-scales. Results: In the confirmatory factor analysis of the four sub-scales, the weights of all questions were found to be significant (>1). The internal consistency of the PEECH questionnaire was 0.86 (Cronbach's alpha) and the homogeneity index was high (>0.50). Conclusion: The PEECH questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the perception of emotional care in ICU patients. The information gathered can help provide more comprehensive care for patients in the ICU and in other hospitalised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common and growing eye problem worldwide. Chronic DED symptoms can, subsequently, affect the patients' quality of life (QOL). This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Thai version of the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS-Th) questionnaire and to evaluate its accuracy in DED screening. Psychometric validation was conducted on DED participants. All participants completed the DEQS-Th and other measurements including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the 5-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L). Internal consistency, concurrent validity, convergent, and discriminant validity were evaluated. The standardized response mean (SRM) was used to evaluate the responsiveness of the DEQS-Th. The optimal cut-off score of DEQS-Th for DED screening was assessed. Among 100 participants with a mean age of 50.9 ± 14.4 years, and 89.0% female, the internal consistency of the DEQS-Th was excellent (Cronbach's alpha: 0.80–0.92). The test-retest intraclass correlation was 0.82–0.92. It showed concurrent validity with the OSDI (r = 0.694, p <.001) and EQ-5D-5L index scores (r = -0.578, p <.001). DED is suspected if the DEQS-Th score ≥ 18.33 (AUC = 0.897, sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 76.7%) or its Short Form score ≥ 3 (AUC 0.857, sensitivity 93.0%, specificity 63.3%). The SRM of the symptom subscale of DEQS-Th was 0.82, indicating relatively large responsiveness, whereas the impact on daily life subscale and the summary score was small. In conclusion, the DEQS-Th is valid and reliable for evaluating the multifaceted effects of DED on a patient's QOL. It can be useful for primary assessment and monitoring of DED in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Existence Scale (ES) is a theory-based measure assessing personal fulfillment and finding meaning in life. This study aims to translate the ES into Arabic language and test its psychometric properties in Jordan populations. A methodological design was performed on a convenience sample of 551 participants by three samples of nurses, schoolteachers, and undergraduate students. Data collection was carried out between February and May 2019. Translation and back translation, face validity (Important Score>1.5), content validity ratio (CVR>0.62) and index (CVI/Ave>0.80), construct, convergent, and discriminant validity were obtained. Furthermore, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, and average variance extracted were investigated in this study. The results showed that five items were deleted based on content validity ratio and four items were deleted based on their low factor loading. The exploratory factor analysis showed four subscales for the translated ES (37 items), explaining 61.57% of the variance collectively. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the four subscales with acceptable goodness of fit indices. The result of the total Cronbach's alpha for the ES was 0.93, and for subscales it ranged from 0.88 to 0.93. Composite reliability and average variance extracted results for the translated ES were supportive of the reliability. These results confirm that the translated Arabic version of the ES (37 items) in Jordan populations is acceptable regarding validity and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is the most widely used, valid and reliable tool to assess eHealth literacy skills, but no culturally appropriate tool exists to assess these skills among Sinhala-speaking Sri Lankans, including health professionals. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the original eHEALS from English to Sinhala and evaluate its psychometric properties. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved translation and cross-cultural validation of the questionnaire. The second phase involved a cross-sectional survey conducted online among 268 health science students from a state university in Sri Lanka to confirm the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. An analysis of test-retest reliability was conducted with a subset of 72 students. The pre-final version of Sinhala eHEALS (Si-eHEALS) was developed following the cross-cultural adaptation process. The mean score of Si-eHEALS was 28.51±4.87. A satisfactory level of internal consistency was achieved (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91). The test-retest reliability was acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficient -.776). Content validity index of Si-eHEALS was.97. The principal component analysis supported the unidimensionality of the scale, explaining 61.2 variance. There was a significant positive association between Si-eHEALS score with academic year (rs =.146, p =.017), self-rated internet skills (rs =.122, p =.046), usefulness of internet in health decision making (rs =.212, p <.001) and importance of ability to access health resources on the internet (rs =.230, p <.001), confirming concurrent validity. No significant difference based on gender (U = 5854, p =.550) and degree program (X2(2) = 2.965, p =.564) was found, confirming discriminant validity. In line with many previous validation studies, our study demonstrated good psychometric properties for Si-eHEALS. Si-eHEALS is a valid and reliable tool that assesses eHealth literacy in Sinhala speaking Sri Lankans, particularly health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Transcultural adaptation and validation of the FACT-C questionnaire to Serbian language. Methods: The study included 131 patients with colorectal cancer. Translation included standard forward and backward translation from original language to Serbian and back. Pilot testing of the questionnaire was conducted on 10 patients with diagnosed colorectal cancer. The questionnaires EORTC-QLQ-C30 and DASS will be used as validated tools to evaluate validity of examined, FACT-C questionnaire. Results: The FACT-C demonstrated satisfactory construct validity using Cronbach's alpha. Satisfactory concurrent validity was demonstrated using correlations with EORTC-QLQ-C30 and DASS questionnaires. High reproducibility was demonstrated using repeated questionnaires on 30 patients two weeks after the first interview. Conclusion: The Serbian version of the FACT-C was demonstrated to have satisfactory applicability, reliability and validity in Serbian patients with colorectal cancer. It can be considered as a valid colorectal cancer specific health related quality of life tool for the Serbian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widespread use of the HEXACO model as a descriptive taxonomy of personality traits, there remains limited information on the test-retest reliability of its commonly-used inventories. Studies typically report internal consistency estimates, such as alpha or omega, but there are good reasons to believe that these do not accurately assess reliability. We report 13-day test-retest correlations of the 100- and 60-item English HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-100 and HEXACO-60) domains, facets, and items. In order to test the validity of test-retest reliability, we then compare these estimates to correlations between self- and informant-reports (i.e., cross-rater agreement), a widely-used validity criterion. Median estimates of test-retest reliability were.88,.81, and.65 (N = 416) for domains, facets, and items, respectively. Facets' and items' test-retest reliabilities were highly correlated with their cross-rater agreement estimates, whereas internal consistencies were not. Overall, the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised demonstrates test-retest reliability similar to other contemporary measures. We recommend that short-term retest reliability should be routinely calculated to assess reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Informal caregivers often experience a restriction in occupational balance. The self-reported questionnaire on Occupational Balance in Informal Caregivers (OBI-Care) is a measurement instrument to assess occupational balance in informal caregivers. Measurement properties of the German version of the OBI-Care had previously been assessed in parents of preterm infants exclusively. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the measurement properties of the questionnaire in a mixed population of informal caregivers. Methods: A psychometric study was conducted, applying a multicenter cross-sectional design. Measurement properties (construct validity, internal consistency, and interpretability) of each subscale of the German version of the OBI-Care were examined. Construct validity was explored by assessing dimensionality, item fit and overall fit to the Rasch model, and threshold ordering. Internal consistency was examined with inter-item correlations, item-total correlations, Cronbach's alpha, and person separation index. Interpretability was assessed by inspecting floor and ceiling effects. Results: A total of 196 informal caregivers, 171 (87.2%) female and 25 (12.8%) male participated in this study. Mean age of participants was 52.27 (±12.6) years. Subscale 1 was multidimensional, subscale 2 and subscale 3 were unidimensional. All items demonstrated item fit and overall fit to the Rasch model and displayed ordered thresholds. Cronbach's Alpha and person separation index values were excellent for each subscale. There was no evidence of ceiling or floor effects. Conclusions: We identified satisfying construct validity, internal consistency, and interpretability. Thus, the findings of this study support the application of the German version of the OBI-Care to assess occupational balance in informal caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We cross-culturally adapted and validated the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire (IFSQ) in Brazil. The cross-cultural adaptation and content validity assessment was conducted in five steps: translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, evaluation by experts, and pre-test. To evaluate reliability, construct validity, and floor and ceiling effects, interviews were conducted with 465 mother-infant pairs at Primary Health Centers in the Federal District, Brazil. The mothers answered the Brazilian Portuguese version of the IFSQ (IFSQ-Br), which evaluated four feeding styles (laissez-faire, pressuring, restrictive, and responsive) from 9 sub-constructs. The indulgent style was not evaluated due to time limitation. We performed reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and construct validity was evaluated through Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Higher means were found in the sub-constructs of the responsive and restrictive styles. The IFSQ-Br presented adequate reliability (α = 0.73) with values for the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the sub-constructs ranging from 0.42 to 0.75. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the final models presented good fit, with the Comparative Fit Indices (CFI) ranging from 0.86 to 1.0 and the Root-Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA) between 0.0 and 0.09. The IFSQ-Br was shown to be a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate maternal feeding beliefs and behaviors in Brazil. Future studies should evaluate the psychometric properties of the indulgent style and include mother-infant pairs from different cultural contexts in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-known feature of social protection systems that not all persons who are entitled to social benefits also claim these benefits. The costs people face when claiming benefits is considered an important cause of this phenomenon of non-take-up. In this paper, we developed and examined the psychometric properties of a new scale, the Claiming Cost Scale (CCS), which measures three dimensions of costs associated with claiming benefits. A multi-phase instrument development method was performed to develop the instrument. The item pool was generated based on a literature review, and presented to academic experts (n = 9) and experts by experience (n = 5) to assess content and face validity. In a second stage, centrality and dispersion, construct validity, convergent and divergent validity, and internal reliability of the instrument were tested. These analyses were based on two samples (n = 141 and n = 1265) of individuals living in low-income households in Belgium. Nine items were retained, which represent three factors (Information costs, Process costs and Stigma). The confirmatory factor analysis proved adequate model fitness. Both convergent and divergent validity were good, and internal consistency was adequate, with Cronbach's alpha ranging between.73 and.87. The findings showed that the CCS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the costs potential beneficiaries face when claiming benefits. Consisting of only nine items, the scale can be easily implemented in large-scale survey research or used in day-to-day work of service providers who are interested in understanding non-take-up of their service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to their educational role, resilient schools have a good capacity in response to disasters. Due to the large student population, the schools can be a safe and secure environment during disasters, in addition to maintaining their performance after. Given the role and importance of the schools, the impact of culture and environment on resilience, without any indigenous and comprehensive tool for measuring the resilience in Iran, the study aimed to design and psychometrically evaluate the measurement tools. Method: This study was conducted using a mixed-method sequential explanatory approach. The research was conducted in two main phases of production on items based on hybrid model and the psychometric evaluation of the tool. The second phase included validity (formal, content and construction) and reliability (multiplex internal similarity, consistency and reliability). Result: The integration of systematic and qualitative steps resulted in entering 91 items into the pool of items. After formal and content validity, 73 items remained and 44 were omitted in exploratory factor analysis. A questionnaire with 5 factors explained 52.08% of total variance. Finally, after the confirmatory factor analysis, the questionnaire was extracted with 29 questions and 5 factors including "functional", "architectural", "equipment", "education" and "safety". Internal similarity and stability in all factors were evaluated as good. Conclusion: The result showed that the 29-item questionnaire of school resilience in emergencies and disasters is valid and reliable, that can be used to evaluate school resilience. On the other hand, the questionnaire on assessment of school resilience in disasters enables intervention to improve its capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to validate the Volition in Exercise Questionnaire in Italian language (VEQ-I). The translation and cultural adaptation of the VEQ-I was conducted using the forward-backward translation method. VEQ-I eighteen items correspond to the six-factors structure of the original version. The construct validity was verified by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (CFI = 0.960; TLI = 0.943; RMSEA = 0.039; and SRMR = 0.040). The eighteen items were well distributed in six subscales and the six-factors structure of the questionnaire was supported. Internal Consistency value of the questionnaire was investigated for each subscale of the VEQ-I. Cronbach's alpha and Omega values of the Reasons, Postponing Training, Unrelated Thoughts, Self-Confidence, Approval from Others and Coping with Failure subscales were 0.76 (α) and 0.76 (ω), 0.76 (α) and 0.76 (ω), 0.87 (α) and 0.88 (ω), 0.85 (α) and 0.85 (ω), 0.70 (α) and 0.72 (ω) and 0.74 (α) and 0.74 (ω), respectively. They were acceptable in all the six subscales. The concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation among the subscales of VEQ-I measures and those contained in two questionnaires: Psychobiosocial States in Physical Education (PBS-SPE) and Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI-2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Abstinence-Related Motivational Engagement (ARME) scale was developed to assess motivation to remain abstinent after a smoking cessation attempt. The ARME demonstrated reliability and validity among a small sample of ex-smokers. This study expands the psychometric evaluation of the ARME and tests the ARME as a predictor of smoking status among a sample of participants quitting smoking. The parent trial tested the efficacy of a self-help smoking cessation intervention (N = 1874), with assessments every 6 months. Internal consistency and factor structure of the ARME was evaluated at each assessment to confirm use of the measure as designed. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparing the ARME to the Situation-specific Abstinence Self-Efficacy (SSE) scale via inter-correlations and prediction of future smoking status. Finally, the trajectories of both the ARME and SSE were compared among continuous abstainers and continuous smokers. A single-factor structure was observed at each assessment. Cronbach's alphas ranged from 0.88–0.91 for the total sample. Correlations between the ARME and the SSE ranged from 0.38–0.47 (ps <0.001) among smokers; and from 0.09–0.15 (most ps > 0.05) among abstainers. Among current smokers, the ARME and SSE were independent positive predictors of subsequent abstinence (AORs 1.28–2.29, ps <0.001). For those currently abstinent, only the SSE predicted subsequent abstinence (AORs 1.69–2.60, ps <0.05). GEE analyses showed different trajectories for the two measures, as well as between abstainers and smokers. In conclusion, the ARME is a reliable, valid measure with unique predictive utility for current smokers and a distinct trajectory among those who have successfully quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dissociative experiences occur across a range of mental health disorders. However, the term 'dissociation' has long been argued to lack conceptual clarity and may describe several distinct phenomena. We therefore aimed to conceptualise and empirically establish a discrete subset of dissociative experiences and develop a corresponding assessment measure. Methods: First, a systematic review of existing measures was carried out to identify themes across dissociative experiences. A theme of 'Felt Sense of Anomaly' (FSA) emerged. Second, assessment items were generated based on this construct and a measure developed using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses of 8861 responses to an online self-report survey. Finally, the resulting measure was validated via CFA with data from 1031 patients with psychosis. Results: 'Felt sense of anomaly' (FSA) was identified as common to many dissociative experiences, affecting several domains (e.g. body) and taking different forms ('types'; e.g. unfamiliarity). Items for a novel measure were therefore systematically generated using a conceptual framework whereby each item represented a type-by-domain interaction (e.g. 'my body feels unfamiliar'). Factor analysis of online responses found that FSA-dissociation manifested in seven ways: anomalous experiences of the self, body, and emotion, and altered senses of familiarity, connection, agency, and reality (Χ2 (553) = 4989.435, p<0.001, CFI = 0.929, TLI = 0.924, RMSEA = 0.052, SRMR = 0.047). Additionally, a single-factor 'global FSA' scale was produced (Χ2 (9) = 312.350, p<0.001, CFI = 0.970, TLI = 0.950, RMSEA = 0.107, SRMR = 0.021). Model fit was adequate in the clinical (psychosis) group (Χ2 (553) = 1623.641, p<0.001, CFI = 0.927, TLI = 0.921, RMSEA = 0.043, SRMR = 0.043). The scale had good convergent validity with a widely used dissociation scale (DES-II) (non-clinical: r = 0.802), excellent internal reliability (non-clinical: Cronbach's alpha = 0.98; clinical: Cronbach's alpha = 0.97), and excellent test-retest reliability (non-clinical: ICC = 0.92). Further, in non-clinical respondents scoring highly on a PTSD measure, CFA confirmed adequate model fit (Χ2 (553) = 4758.673, CFI = 0.913, TLI = 0.906, RMSEA = 0.052, SRMR = 0.054). Conclusions: The Černis Felt Sense of Anomaly (ČEFSA) scale is a novel measure of a subset of dissociative experiences that share a core feature of FSA. It is psychometrically robust in both non-clinical and psychosis groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SARC-F is a quick questionnaire recommended as a screening tool for sarcopenia. The aim of the study was to translate, adapt, and validate the Polish version of the SARC-F for community-dwelling older adults in Poland. Materials and methods: We included 160 Polish volunteers aged ≥ 60 years (44% of men). The Polish version of SARC-F was adapted following standardized forward-backward translation procedure. SARC-F was validated against the six sets of diagnostic criteria as the reference standards [developed independently by European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People1 (EWGSOP1), European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People2 (EWGSOP2), Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project, Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), the International Working Group for Sarcopenia (IWGS), and Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders (SCWD)]. Results: SARC-F score ≥ 4 points was observed in 18.8% of the study population. Cronbach's alpha was 0.70. The sensitivity of SARC-F varied from 33.3% to 50.0% depending on the diagnostics criteria used, while the specificity was about 85%. Positive predictive value (PPV) was low (about 30%) for five out of six sets of the diagnostic criteria used (EWGSOP2, IWGS, AWGS, FNIH, and SCWD), while the negative predictive value (NPV) was generally high (>88%). The area under the ROC curves (AUC) was 0.652–0.728. SARC-F had the largest AUC against FNIH criteria (0.728), indicating a moderate diagnostic accuracy. Similar results were found for EWGSOP2 and IWGS criteria. The AUC values were below 0.7 for AWGS, SCWD, and EWGSOP1 criteria. Conclusion: Based on the results, the Polish version of SARC-F shows excellent reliability and good internal consistency. High specificity and high NPV make SARC-F a useful tool to rule-out sarcopenia with high accuracy in community-dwelling older adults, independently of the diagnostic criteria used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing the ability to recognize emotion. To examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the RMET and to explore the possible implications of poor performance on this task, 200 adults aged 19–32 years completed the RMET and the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), the cognitive empathy domain of the Korean version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C), and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Aggression (BDHI-A). In the present study, confirmatory factor analyses confirmed that the hypothesized three-factor solution based on three different emotional valences of the items (positive, negative, or neutral) had a good fit to the data. The Korean version of the RMET also showed good test-retest reliability over a 4-week time interval. Convergent validity was also supported by significant correlations with subscales of the TAS-20K, and discriminant validity was identified by nonsignificant associations with IRI-C scores. In addition, no difference was found in RMET performance according to the sex of the photographed individuals or the sex or educational attainment of the participants. Individuals with poor RMET performance were more likely to experience alexithymia and aggression. The current findings will facilitate not only future research on emotion processing but also the assessment of conditions related to the decreased ability to decode emotional stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We conducted three studies to validate the Polish version of the BRS. Our objectives are as follows: first, to explore the dimensional structure of the scale and to determine the internal consistency (study 1: n = 1022); second, to determine the congruent and divergent validity of the BRS (study 2: n = 242); and third, to examine sensitivity of the BRS scale to detect high-risk population (study 3: n = 602). Methods: To explore the dimensional structure of the scale, we tested a two-factor model with one factor for positively worded items and one factor for negatively worded items. To determine the congruent and divergent validity of the BRS, we analysed correlations among BRS and resilience, positive mental health, and with positive and negative religious coping. We used Student's t-test to examine sensitivity of the BRS scale to detect a high-risk population. Results: Based on the CFA, a bivariate model was confirmed for items positively and negatively formulated with a higher order factor, which indicates the homogeneity of the scale, similar to the analyses carried out for their language versions confirming this type of homogeneity of the scale. The internal compatibility assessment based on Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega is good (0.88). Our analyses intended to test convergent and divergent validity, and showed that the BRS results are significantly related to a questionnaire measuring similar constructions. Our validation studies also provided important diagnoses regarding BRS "sensitivity", indicating that groups with higher stress levels achieved lower BRS resilience results. Conclusion: The results of our research indicate that the Polish version of the BRS should be considered to be a reliable and valid research tool. The Polish version of BRS is a reliable and accurate way of measuring resilience as the ability to bounce back from adversity and overcome various challenges or stressors. This scale may be used for both research and intervention purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of species-specific valid tools for pain assessment is essential to recognize pain and determine the requirement and efficacy of analgesic treatments. This study aimed to assess behaviour and investigate the validity and reliability of an acute pain scale in pigs undergoing orchiectomy. Forty-five pigs aged 38±3 days were castrated under local anaesthesia. Behaviour was video-recorded 30 minutes before and intermittently up to 24 hours after castration. Edited footage (before surgery, after surgery before and after rescue analgesia, and 24 hours postoperatively) was analysed twice (one month apart) by one observer who was present during video-recording (in-person researcher) and three blinded observers. Statistical analysis was performed using R software and differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Intra and inter-observer agreement, based on intra-class correlation coefficient, was good or very good between most observers (>0.60), except between observers 1 and 3 (moderate agreement 0.57). The scale was unidimensional according to principal component analysis. The scale showed acceptable item-total Spearman correlation, excellent predictive and concurrent criterion validity (Spearman correlation ≥ 0.85 between the proposed scale versus visual analogue, numerical rating, and simple descriptive scales), internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient >0.80 for all items), responsiveness (the pain scores of all items of the scale increased after castration and decreased after intervention analgesia according to Friedman test), and specificity (> 95%). Sensitivity was good or excellent for most of the items. The optimal cut-off point for rescue analgesia was ≥ 6 of 18. Discriminatory ability was excellent for all observers according to the area under the curve (>0.95). The proposed scale is a reliable and valid instrument and may be used clinically and experimentally to assess postoperative acute pain in pigs. The well-defined cut-off point supports the evaluator´s decision to provide or not analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, some individuals may be at a disadvantage by experiencing difficulties in using a smartphone or computer to reach specific outcomes (e.g., looking for a job, searching for information on insurances) or in general (e.g., not knowing how to change the settings of an app or website). The aim of this study is to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new instrument, called the Digital Difficulties Scale (DDS). A multi-phase method was performed to develop the questionnaire in the period from January 2019 to November 2019. The item pool was generated based on a literature review, informal observations and interviews. Then, this item pool was presented both to experts (n = 6) and non-experts (n = 492) to assess content and face validity. In a second stage, construct validity (both exploratory and confirmatory), convergent and divergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire were tested. These analyses were based on a representative sample (n = 1000), and an independent sample for test-retest reliability (n = 44). Twenty-four items were generated and refined during content and face validity assessment. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors (Specific Digital Difficulties, General Digital Difficulties, and Worries about Future Digital Difficulties) containing sixteen items, together explaining 73.03% of the observed variance. The confirmatory factor analysis proved adequate model fitness. Both convergent and divergent validity were good, and internal consistency was excellent, with Cronbach's alphas ranging between.93 and.97. Finally, our instrument demonstrated good test-retest reliability, with interclass correlation coefficients between.73 and.86. Consequently, the DDS can be used both in future research and practice, as it is a valid and reliable instrument to measure who is disadvantaged to fulfill basic needs by experiencing difficulties in using a smartphone or computer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and item response characteristics of a newly developed Vietnamese version of the Kessler 6 (K6) scale among hospital nurses in Hanoi, Vietnam. The K6 was translated into the Vietnamese language following a standard procedure. A survey was conducted of nurses in a large general hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, using a questionnaire including the Vietnamese K6, other scales (DASS21, health-related QOL, self-rated health, and psychosocial work environment), and questions about demographic variables. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) was calculated. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Eleven hypotheses were tested (as Pearson's correlations with the K6) to assess the scale's construct validity. Item response theory (IRT) analysis was conducted to identify the item response characteristics. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.864. The explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated a one-factor structure. Most hypotheses tested for construct validity were supported. IRT analysis indicated that response categories were located in order according to severity. K6 provided reliable information regarding higher levels of psychological distress. The findings suggest that the Vietnamese version of the K6 is a reliable and valid instrument to measure psychological distress among hospital nurses in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process and a promising target for prevention and treatment of mental disorders. RNT is typically assessed via self-report questionnaires with most studies focusing on one type of RNT (i.e., worry or rumination) and one specific disorder (i.e., anxiety or depression). However, responses to such questionnaires may be biased by memory and metacognitive beliefs. Recently, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) has been employed to minimize these biases. This study aims to develop an EMA paradigm to measure RNT as a transdiagnostic process in natural settings. Based on empirical and theoretical considerations, an item pool was created encompassing RNT content and processes. We then (1) tested model fit of a content-related and a process-related model for assessing RNT as an individual difference variable, (2) investigated the reliability and construct validity of the proposed scale(s), and (3) determined the optimal sampling design. One hundred fifty healthy participants aged 18 to 40 years filled out baseline questionnaires on rumination, worry, RNT, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Participants received 8 semi-random daily prompts assessing RNT over 14 days. After the EMA phase, participants answered questionnaires on depression, anxiety, and stress again. Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis revealed excellent model fit for the process-related model but unsatisfactory fit for the content-related model. Different hybrid models were additionally explored, yielding one model with satisfactory fit. Both the process-related and the hybrid scale showed good reliability and good convergent validity and were significantly associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress after the EMA phase when controlling for baseline scores. Further analyses found that a sampling design of 5 daily assessments across 10 days yielded the best tradeoff between participant burden and information retained by EMA. In sum, this paper presents a promising paradigm for assessing RNT in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent and disabling public health problem globally. However, little is known about factors affecting health care utilisation for optimal management of the pain, and there is no validated instrument to derive epidemiological data for a better understanding of these factors. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument used to measure determinants of health care utilisation for LBP in Ethiopia. Methods: The relevant domains of potential determinants of health care utilisation for LBP were identified following a comprehensive review of the literature. Items relating to each domain were then generated by considering the context of Ethiopia, and where necessary, existing items were adapted. The instrument was then translated, and an expert panel reviewed the instrument for content validity, clarity and any other suggestions. Using the data collected from 1303 adults with LBP, factorial validity was assessed by conducting principal component and parallel analyses. Internal consistency reliability was also assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen Kappa statistic were calculated to evaluate temporal stability of the instrument. Results: Parallel analysis showed that there were six components with Eigenvalues (obtained from principal component analysis) exceeding the corresponding criterion values for a randomly generated data matrix of the same size. Cronbach's alpha for the internal consistency reliability ranged from 0.65 to 0.82. In assessing temporal stability, ICC ranged from 0.60, 95% CI: 0.23–0.98 to 0.95, 95% CI: 0.81–1.00 while Cohen Kappa ranged from 0.72, 95% CI: 0.49–0.94 to 0.93, 95% CI: 0.85–1.00. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the newly developed instrument has an overall good level of content and factorial validity, internal consistency reliability, and temporal stability. In this way, this instrument is appropriate for measuring determinants of health care utilisation among people with LBP in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between the social determinant of health (SDH) and sustainable development goals, has directed attention toward the influence of SDH. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the instruments used to assess SDH. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the Korean Version of the Health Literacy on Social Determinants of Health Questionnaire (K-HL-SDHQ). A total of 660 workers in Korea participated in an online survey. The K-HL-SDHQ measures four dimensions (Access, Understand, Appraise, and Apply) with 33 items. The HL-SDHQ was translated into Korean using the forward-back translation method. To test the validity and reliability of the Korean translated HL-SDHQ, item analysis for the 33 items was conducted. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α, an exploratory factor analysis, and a confirmatory factor analysis. The scale-level content validity index (S-CVI)/universal agreement of this study was.12 and S-CVI/average was.83 (item-CVI range =.50–1.00). The goodness of fit determined through a confirmatory factor analysis of the four dimensions was acceptable (χ2 (489) = 1475.054, p <.001, RMSEA =.06, CFI =.87, TLI =.85). The K-HL-SDHQ also demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α =.92). The findings indicate that the K-HL-SDHQ is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess the SDH of workers in Korea. It is suggested that this tool can be applied through repeated research with workers and non-workers for health promotion, and to enhance researchers' understanding of the different levels of the HL-SDHQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Speed is an important prerequisite in soccer. Therefore, a large number of tests have been developed aiming to investigate several speed skills relevant to soccer. This systematic review aimed to examine the validity and reliability of speed tests used in adult soccer players. Methods: A systematic search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they investigated speed tests in adult soccer players and reported validity (construct and criterion) or reliability (intraday and interday) data. The tests were categorized into linear-sprint, repeated-sprint, change-of-direction sprint, agility, and tests incorporating combinations of these skills. Results: In total, 90 studies covering 167 tests were included. Linear-sprint (n = 67) and change-of-direction sprint (n = 60) were studied most often, followed by combinations of the aforementioned (n = 21) and repeated-sprint tests (n = 15). Agility tests were examined fewest (n = 4). Mainly based on construct validity studies, acceptable validity was reported for the majority of the tests in all categories, except for agility tests, where no validity study was identified. Regarding intraday and interday reliability, ICCs>0.75 and CVs<3.0% were evident for most of the tests in all categories. These results applied for total and average times. In contrast, measures representing fatigue such as percent decrement scores indicated inconsistent validity findings. Regarding reliability, ICCs were 0.11–0.49 and CVs were 16.8–51.0%. Conclusion: Except for agility tests, several tests for all categories with acceptable levels of validity and high levels of reliability for adult soccer players are available. Caution should be given when interpreting fatigue measures, e.g., percent decrement scores. Given the lack of accepted gold-standard tests for each category, researchers and practitioners may base their test selection on the broad database provided in this systematic review. Future research should pay attention to the criterion validity examining the relationship between test results and match parameters as well as to the development and evaluation of soccer-specific agility tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the HIV Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in London, United Kingdom (UK). Methods: This is a cross-sectional measurement study. We recruited and administered the self-reported HDQ, seven criterion measures, and a demographic questionnaire with adults living with HIV accessing HIV care. We determined median and interquartile ranges (IQR) for disability presence, severity and episodic scores (range 0–100). We calculated Cronbach’s alpha (α) Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20) statistics for disability and episodic scores respectively (internal consistency reliability), smallest detectable change (SDC) for each HDQ severity item and domain (precision), and tested 36 a priori hypotheses assessing correlations between HDQ and criterion scores (construct validity). Results: Of N = 243 participants, all were male, median age 40 years, 94% currently taking antiretroviral therapy, and 22% living with ≥2 concurrent health conditions. Median HDQ domain scores ranged from 0 (IQR: 0,7) (difficulties with day-to-day activities domain) to 27 (IQR: 14, 41) (uncertainty domain). Cronbach’s alpha for the HDQ severity scale ranged from 0.85 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.80–0.90) in the cognitive domain to 0.93 (95%CI: 0.91–0.94) in the mental-emotional domain. The KR-20 statistic for the HDQ episodic scale ranged from 0.74 (95%CI: 0.66–0.83) in the cognitive domain to 0.91 (95%CI: 0.89–0.94) in the uncertainty domain. SDC ranged from 7.3–15.0 points on the HDQ severity scale for difficulties with day-to-day activities and cognitive symptoms domains, respectively. The majority of the construct validity hypotheses (n = 30/36, 83%) were confirmed. Conclusions: The HDQ possesses internal consistency reliability and construct validity with varied precision when administered to males living with HIV in London, UK. Clinicians and researchers may use the HDQ to measure the nature and extent of disability experienced by PLHIV in the UK, and to inform HIV service provision to address the health-related challenges among PLHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire’07 (DCDQ’07) is a parent-report measure to identify children at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). We developed a French version of the DCDQ’07 (DCDQ-FE) that has shown excellent inter-language reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.91) and is culturally relevant for use in European countries. The aims of this study were to examine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-French European (DCDQ-FE), as well as establish a cut-off score. Methods: The psychometric properties of the DCDQ-FE were examined with a clinical group of 30 children (mean age: 9.4 years, SD = 2.6) and a control group of 43 children (mean age: 9.1 years, SD = 2.4). Their parents (n = 73) filled out the DCDQ-FE at a first sitting and 70 of them filled it out 38 days later in average for test-retest reliability. The children were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) so as to measure the convergent validity of the DCDQ-FE. The cut-off score was determined with an additional sample of 42 children according to scores on the MABC-2 (≥ 16th percentile) (n = 115). Results and implications: Internal consistency of the DCDQ-FE was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96) and test-retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.956) with no differences between scores obtained at the two sittings (p > 0.05). Differences in scores between children in the clinical and control groups (Z = -6.58, p < 0.001) provide evidence of construct validity. The correlation obtained between DCDQ-FE and MABC-2 scores (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = 0.802, p < 0.001) supports convergent validity. Using a cut-off of 56, overall sensitivity and specificity were 85.0% and 81.6% respectively (area under the curve = 0.896). The DCDQ-FE is a reliable and valid questionnaire for detecting children who are at risk for DCD in a European-French population of children aged 5 to 15 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To provide a Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP), investigating its validity and reliability in Brazilian patients with COPD. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study for translation and linguist validation of the Portuguese MDP version for patients with COPD. The process occurred according to the protocol of Mapi Research Trust, Lyon, France. Three scores of MDP were used for the analysis: the immediate unpleasantness of dyspnea (A1); the “immediate perception domain” (S) (sum of A1 plus the sensory descriptors) and the “emotional response domain” (A2) (sum of the emotional descriptors). The questionnaires COPD assessment Test (CAT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and Medical Research Council scale (MRC) were used as anchors to investigate MDP’s validity. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha. Test–retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and concurrent validity was assessed with Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: Thirty patients with moderate-severe COPD were studied for MDP’s validation analysis (43% male, 63±8years, body mass index [BMI] 27±6Kg/m2, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] 48±15%predicted, six-minute walking test [6MWT] 464±84m and 84±16%predicted), whereas 10 patients were excluded from the test-retest reliability analysis due to missing data, resulting in a sample of 20 subjects for this purpose (50% male, 62±8years, BMI 27±6Kg/m2, FEV1 48±15%predicted, 6MWT 452±93m and 82±19%predicted). Both samples were similar regarding general characteristics (P>0,05 for all variables). MDP presented strong correlations, i.e., ICC intra-rater: A1: 0.77 (0.48–0.90), S: 0.78 (0.52–0.91), and A2: 0.85 (0.66–0.94), with high internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.86, 0.88 and 0.92 respectively); and ICC inter-rater: A1: 0.74 (0.46–0.89), S: 0.75 (0.48–0.89) and A2: 0.91 (0.78–0.96) with Cronbach's α 0.85, 0.86 and 0.95 respectively. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the MDP is the first valid and reliable instrument to assess dyspnea multidimensionally in Portuguese-speaking patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: to evaluate the reliability and discriminant validity of Arabic translation of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) and the Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire-specific (BMQ-specific). Methods: Having developed Arabic translations of the study instruments, a cross-sectional study was carried out between March and October 2015 in two multidisciplinary governmental hospitals in Jordan. An expert panel monitored the forward and backward translation of the MARS and BMQ. Standard Arabic was used (with no specific dialect inclusion) to allow greater generalisability across Arabic speaking countries. Once the Arabic translations of the questionnaires were developed they were tested for consistency, validity and reliability on a group of children with chronic diseases and their parents. Results: A total of 258 parents and 208 children were included in the study. The median age of participated children and parents was 15 years and 42 years respectively. Principle component analysis of all questionnaires indicated that all had good construct validity as they clearly measured one construct. The questionnaires were deemed reliable based on the results of Cronbach alpha coefficient. Furthermore, reliability of the questionnaires was demonstrated by test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) which ranged from good to excellent for all scales (ICC>0.706). The Pearson correlation coefficient ranged from 0.546–0.805 for the entire sample which indicated a significant moderate to strong positive correlation between MARS and BMQ items at time 1 and 2. Reported adherence was greater than 59% using MARS-children and MARS-parents scales, and was correlated with beliefs in necessity and independent of the concerns regarding medications. Conclusion: The Arabic translations of both BMQ and MARS for use in children and their parents have good internal consistency and proved to be valid and reliable tools that can be used by researchers in clinical practice to measure adherence and beliefs about medications in Arabic speaking patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]