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This study aimed to validate a scale for subjectively measuring teaching competencies for innovation in higher education. The scale was developed by creating a set of items that underwent content validity through the Delphi technique and face validity. A survey was then conducted with 523 higher education professors. The resulting scale, called the STW-ICE Scale, consists of four dimensions: continuing education, creativity, digital fluency, and scientificity. We found that the scale has psychometric properties that allow for subjective measurement of the proposed competencies. The SmartPLS and SPSS software were used for data assessment. Additionally, we found high levels of teaching skills in the sample for all dimensions. Based on these findings, this study successfully achieved its goal of developing and validating a scale. We hope that this scale will be used not only for classificatory diagnoses but also to encourage reflection on teaching practices in higher education with a focus on innovation.

The insertion of Machine Learning (ML) in everyday life demonstrates the importance of popularizing an understanding of ML already in school. Accompanying this trend arises the need to assess the students' learning. Yet, so far, few assessments have been proposed, most lacking an evaluation. Therefore, we evaluate the reliability and validity of an automated assessment of the students' learning of an image classification model created as a learning outcome of the "ML for All!" course. Results based on data collected from 240 students indicate that the assessment can be considered reliable (coefficient Omega = 0.834/Cronbach's alpha [alpha] = 0.83). We also identified moderate to strong convergent and discriminant validity based on the polychoric correlation matrix. Factor analyses indicate two underlying factors "Data Management and Model Training" and "Performance Interpretation", completing each other. These results can guide the improvement of assessments, as well as the decision on the application of this model in order to support ML education as part of a comprehensive assessment.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have emerged as an affordable way to distribute knowledge and democratize education. The examination of online courses calls for theoretical models and instruments that contemplate its particularities. The community of inquiry (CoI) framework has been used in several studies to analyze the effectiveness of online education and hybrid education, including MOOCs. This study aimed to translate and validate the Community of Inquiry Survey instrument (Arbaugh et al., 2008) into Brazilian Portuguese, and used a two-stage methodological design for translating and validating a questionnaire. In the first stage, we carried out translation, back-translation, and cross-cultural adaptation. We translated the 34 items while maintaining the survey's original format. In the expert evaluation phase, all items were considered understandable and essential for inclusion in the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CoI instrument. In the second stage, a prospective cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the questionnaire, and data was collected from participants completing the "Nursing Assessment" MOOC available on the Lúmina platform. A total of 690 responses were gathered. The resulting instrument produced excellent results, and the three presences achieved high reliability indexes, clearly indicating their adequacy. Furthermore, this study proved the validation of the CoI instrument, maintaining the three-factor structure previously reported in the literature corresponding to the three presences: teaching, social, and cognitive presence. We recommend further studies to evaluate the need for excluding or altering cognitive presence items.

Online learning is a reality in much of the world. Among the tools available for online learning, there are Online Discussion Forums (ODF), due to their potential to promote collaborative learning. However, there is a lack in the literature about the evaluation of the forums, a gap marked by the absence of quantitative tools that make it possible to evaluate the forums from the student's perspective. In this sense, the objective of this paper was to develop and validate a Quality Perception of Online Discussion Forums (QPODF) scale. To this end, quantitative research was carried out with students of postgraduate courses "lato sensu" the online distance education. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the QPODF scale. The results demonstrate that the quality of the construct perceived online discussion forums has two dimensions "Forum Structure" and "Forum Mediation." The two identified factors were shown to be consistent and accurate to measure the quality of online forums. Moreover, the theoretical approach used to compose the scale is convergent with the measurement model proposed in the paper.

The Oral Motor Assessment Scale (OMAS) is a diagnostic tool used to assess the oral motor skills in individuals with neurological and neuromuscular disorders. This assessment was developed by Brazilian researchers and for the first time, its validity and reliability was examined in Brazil. The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of the adopted Persian version of the OMAS (OMAS-P) to assess the oral skills of Iranian individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). In this non-experimental descriptive-analytical study 120 people (60 children and adolescents with CP) aged 3 to 15 years and 60 healthy subjects) participated. The research was carried out in number of stages including translation and adaptation of the OMAS to Persian (OMAS-P) in a forward-backward way. The oral motor skills functionality of the 120 people was examined using the OMAS-P. To assess the repeatability and reliability of the OMAS-P the assessments was repeated on the participants with CP disorder after two weeks. Results corresponding to this study indicated a reasonable agreement (Kappa >0.7) for all the OMAS-P items. The mean values of the OMAS-P items were appreciably different between the two groups (p < 0.001). The Persian version of the OMAS (OMAS-P) indicated consistent psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable tool for oral motor skills assessment in people with CP. However, it seems that by specifying factors such as the time frame for the OMAS, the position of the child during assessment, and whether or not parents use facilitating techniques, the comprehensiveness and efficiency of the OMAS data will also upgrade.

This paper evaluates the influence of the classmates' age on individual academic achievement. The identification strategy explores a mechanism for the division of classes based on age homogeneity, with cutoff value determined by the Brazilian law of age at school entry. Fuzzy regression discontinuity estimates a local average treatment effect of 2.34 standard deviations favorable to students assigned to class with older peers, in comparison to those allocated to classes with younger classmates. The empirical estimations use a unique educational dataset originated from the Brazilian Ministry of Education, which provides a large information set related to the student's scholar environment.

This research sought to analyze the reliability of an instrument to measure teacher knowledge of a group of pre-service chemistry teachers participating in the Institutional Program for Scholarships for Beginner Teachers in Brazil (PIBID). Thus, it was analyzed the evaluation of a group of students about the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) of five pre-service chemistry teachers from the program. Accordingly, an instrument containing 28 statements and an open question was applied to a group of 70 students from a public school to whom the pre-service teachers had applied their didactic proposals. The purpose of the instrument was to measure the perception of the students' about the components of the teacher knowledge (Subject Matter Knowledge -- SMK, Instructional Representation and Strategies -- IRS, Instructional Objective and Context -- IOC and Knowledge of Students' Understanding -- KSU) of the pre-service teachers. The results of the analysis revealed that the instrument about teacher's knowledge has a high reliability based on the alpha Cronbach values. The results of the alpha coefficient for the pre-service teachers were all above 0.9 suggesting that the instrument is reliable and has consistent measurements. Regarding to the exploratory analysis, the main scale in the PCK evaluation of the undergraduates was four which means that the students consider that the aspects related to the SMK, IRS, IOC and KSU are frequently present in the classes of the future teachers.

The objective of this article is to present the development and evaluation of dETECT (Evaluating TEaching CompuTing), a model for the evaluation of the quality of instructional units for teaching computing in middle school based on the students' perception collected through a measurement instrument. The dETECT model was systematically developed and evaluated based on data collected from 16 case studies in 13 different middle school institutions with responses from 477 students. Our results indicate that the dETECT model is acceptable in terms of reliability (Cronbach's alpha a = 0.787) and construct validity, demonstrating an acceptable degree of correlation found between almost all items of the dETECT measurement instrument. These results allow researchers and instructors to rely on the dETECT model in order to evaluate instructional units and, thus, contribute to their improvement and to direct an effective and efficient adoption of teaching computing in middle school.

Background/Objective: The available information pertaining to the attitudes of Brazilian physical education teachers about teaching students with disabilities is limited in the extant literature base. Rationally, however, scholars argue that determining, analyzing, and theorizing about the attitudes of physical education teachers is important in the preparation and professional development of these teachers. It is therefore important to extend the research base using valid and reliable measures regarding teachers' attitudes about inclusion and teaching students with various disabilities. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the underlying dimensions of the "Physical Educators' Judgments about Inclusion" ("PEJI") scale following translation procedures that converted the existing measure to Portuguese. The PEJI was designed to analyze teachers' attitudes about inclusion and teaching students with various disabilities. Method: Using a descriptive survey research design, data were collected from 147 participants (women = 57.1%, men = 42.9%) on the PEJI survey instrument. Results: Principal component analysis resulted in salient loadings on three dimensions consistent with prior study using the PEJI and explained 57% of the variance for measuring judgments about: "Inclusion versus Exclusion, Acceptance of Students with Disabilities," and "Perceived Training Needs." Conclusions: The overall results confirm validity of the PEJI survey consistent with prior study on this measure. The strong magnitude of values indicates that each of the subscales measures separate dimensions of judgments (attitudes). Implications for future use, we recommend reporting individual scale scores rather than a total PEJI score.

Online learning is one of the fastest growing trends in educational uses of technology. In this study, an instrument to measure the social attitudes of the Brazilian students based on distance education was developed and validated. The study population consisted of public administration undergraduate students that has been providing by distance education by University of Brasília, in Brazil. The sample of the study consisted of 590 Brazilian students. The scale has 41 items, with total Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.94, and reliability coefficient (KMO) of 0.94. The correlations of each item with total point were between 0.30 and 0.79. A factor analysis was run using direct oblimin rotation for construct validity, resulting in 4 factors structure explaining 47.12% of total variability. These factors are "Personnel and Dispositional Aspects," "Procedural Characteristics," "Negative Affects" and "Internalization and habituation of usage." Consequently, findings show that The Brazilian Attitude Scale towards Distance Education (BrazilASTDE) is a valid and reliable instrument.

This study analyzed English language tests administered in Brazil as part of a university entrance examination, focusing on the authenticity of its tests of second language reading comprehension, the concept of reading as an interactive process between reader and text, a proficiency-based view of language instruction, and the psychometric properties of a good test. Two reading tests that explicitly favor authenticity and proficiency are analyzed in two sections. The first concentrates on the types of questions in both tests and the language skill levels that are tapped by each question, according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. The second part is a reliability study, in which the consistency of scores is statistically analyzed to determine the overall quality of the tests. The reliability test is also performed to verify the hypothesis that a shorter test is less reliable than a longer one. (Contains 25 references.) (Author/MSE)

The aim of this paper was to validate the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), presenting evidence of its reliability and construct and criterion-related validity. A large Brazilian sample (2,180 participants), from five different populations (undergraduate and high school students, general population, elementary school teachers, and physicians), was considered. The results confirmed the single factorial structure and reliability (0.77 less than Cronbach's alpha less than 0.88, mean alpha = 0.81) of the SWLS. Supporting its criterion-related validity, the SWLS correlated positively with positive affect and negatively with both negative affect and psychological distress across all five samples. The findings indicate that the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the SWLS is a valid instrument to use with diverse Brazilian samples.

Introduction: This study aimed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the cat-owner/dog-owner relationship scales. The method involved several stages: conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement, and functional equivalence. Procedures included translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, consensus on the English versions, external evaluation by the original authors, expert committee evaluation, and pre-tests. Methods: The study surveyed 234 pet owners across Brazil using a 20-item questionnaire. Data analysis utilized confirmatory factor analysis, covariance-based modeling, and multigroup analysis. Results: The study confirmed the content and construct validity of the model, demonstrating good convergent validity. Hypotheses testing revealed significant inverse relationships between Perceived Cost and Perceived Emotional Closeness, and between Perceived Cost and Pet-Owner Interactions. A positive correlation was found between Perceived Emotional Closeness and Pet-Owner Interactions, with Perceived Emotional Closeness also mediating the relationship between Perceived Cost and Pet-Owner Interactions. No significant differences were found across different pet owner groups, indicating the scale's invariance and reliability across various demographics. Discussion: The study significantly expands understanding of the complex dynamics in pet-owner relationships and emphasizes the interplay between emotional and practical factors. It offers valuable insights for future research and practices in animal and human welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Initial dementia prevalence estimates have revealed a significant burden of the disease in Indigenous communities in Amazonas, Brazil. However, the need for culturally adapted cognitive tools poses a critical challenge when assessing cognitive performance in these communities. This study addressed this issue by culturally adapting and providing validity indicators for the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool in Manaus, Brazil's urban multiethnic Indigenous community. METHODS: Using a three‐stage process and a stakeholder‐engaged approach, the BRICA tool was culturally adapted in an urban multiethnic Indigenous community from Manaus, Brazil. The content validity index (CVI) examined inter‐rater concordance between experts, while criterion and concurrent validity were performed using diagnostic consensus criteria in 141 Indigenous participants aged ≥ 50 years. RESULTS: Findings showed evidence of content validity in terms of equivalence aspects (scale CVI [S‐CVI] 0.93) and relevance ratings (S‐CVI 0.85) between expert panels. The identified cut‐off score of ≤ 33/39 on the BRICA demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 99.2%, positive predictive value of 94.4%, and negative predictive value of 99.2% for dementia diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Using a stakeholder‐engaged approach, we culturally adapted the BRICA tool for a Brazilian urban multiethnic Indigenous community. This comprehensive adaptation process resulted in favorable indicators of content, construct, and criteria validity for the BRICA tool. By addressing the existing bias in cognitive assessment within Indigenous communities, the BRICA tool represents a noteworthy breakthrough. Its implementation exhibits potential for improving the early detection and management of dementia among Indigenous groups. Highlights: Culturally sensitive tools are essential to assess cognition in Indigenous populations.An expert panel and stakeholders' perspectives were incorporated to design the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool.A cognitive screening tool was adapted and validated using a stakeholder approach.BRICA is the first culturally sensitive cognitive tool for urban Brazilian Indigenous individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation and assess the content validity of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) for the Brazilian context. Methods: The cross-cultural adaptation was completed in six steps, including translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, submission to an expert committee, testing of the prefinal version, and appraisal by the original author. The expert committee assessed the equivalence between versions based on the percentage of agreement, and content validity was evaluated using the content validity index (CVI) for each item of the scale (I-CVI) and for the overall scale (S-CVI) in terms of representativeness and clarity. Participants of the prefinal version also evaluated the CVI for clarity. Results: After two evaluation rounds of the expert committee it was attained 98% agreement, attesting to the equivalence between the instrument versions, maximum values for representativeness I-CVI and S-CVI/Ave (1.00), and high values for clarity I-CVI (all items ≥0.97) and S-CVI/Ave (0.98). The expert committee members defined that the Brazilian version of the instrument would be called Índice Clínico Neonatal (NMI-Br). The NMI-Br reached high values of CVI for clarity (all I-CVI ≥0.86 and S-CVI/Ave=0.99) among the participants of the prefinal version. Conclusions: The NMI-Br is the Brazilian version of the NMI, obtained in a rigorous cross-cultural validation process, counting with adequate values of content validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To create, develop, and validate a scale that identifies the environmental and personal barriers that make it difficult to adhere to the practice of physical exercise on a regular basis in a population of Brazilian adults. Methods: We include adult individuals, aged 18–59 years, practitioners or former practitioners of physical exercise, with Brazilian Portuguese as their mother tongue. In the development and validation phases of the process, 6 specialists in the field of the health assessed the content validity: firstly, the specialists were asked to freely list the questions they would ask to investigate the barriers to adherence to regulating physical activity. Secondly, after compiling all the suggestions listed and eliminating suggestions with similar content, the items suggested in the first round were sent to the specialists so that an evaluation of all questions using a 5-point Likert scale and the content validity coefficient was calculated. We then evaluated the structural validity, construct validity, reliability, internal consistency, and ceiling and floor effects of the Regular Physical Exercise Adherence Scale (REPEAS). Results: Sixteen items were proposed to measure the factors that make it difficult to adhere to the regular practice of physical exercise. The internal structure of the REPEAS initially tested was based on the theoretical proposal of creating the instrument with two domains. After the structural analysis, we used the modification indices to identify the redundant items of the instrument. Consequently, the final version of the REPEAS after factor analysis had 12 items. Thus, the structure with 2 domains and 12 items presented adequate fit indices. With regard to construct validity, the REPEAS scores were compared in two distinct groups: irregular practitioners/ex-practitioners versus regular practitioners of physical exercise, in which a significant difference could be observed between groups (p < 0.001) for both the domains. Acceptable reliability was observed for the environment and personal domains, with ICC values of 0.86 and 0.94, in the same order. For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha value was 0.908 (environmental domain) and 0.915 (personal domain), these values being adequate for the REPEAS. Conclusion: The REPEAS is a scale with a valid two-dimensional internal structure, consisting of 12 items, reliable and with a valid construct, which supports its use in the clinical, epidemiological, and research contexts in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Territory view based on families' vulnerability strata allows identifying different health needs that can guide healthcare at primary care scope. Despite the availability of tools designed to measure family vulnerability, there is still a need for substantial validity evidence, which limits the use of these tools in a country showing multiple socioeconomic and cultural realities, such as Brazil. The primary objective of this study is to develop and gather evidence on the validity of the Family Vulnerability Scale for Brazil, commonly referred to as EVFAM-BR (in Portuguese). Methods: Items were generated through exploratory qualitative study carried out by 123 health care professionals. The data collected supported the creation of 92 initial items, which were then evaluated by a panel of multi-regional and multi-disciplinary experts (n = 73) to calculate the Content Validity Ratio (CVR). This evaluation process resulted in a refined version of the scale, consisting of 38 items. Next, the scale was applied to 1,255 individuals to test the internal-structure validity by using the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Dimensionality was evaluated using Robust Parallel Analysis, and the model underwent cross-validation to determine the final version of EVFAM-BR. Results: This final version consists of 14 items that are categorized into four dimensions, accounting for an explained variance of 79.02%. All indicators were within adequate and satisfactory limits, without any cross-loading or Heywood Case issues. Reliability indices also reached adequate levels (α = 0.71; ω = 0.70; glb = 0.83 and ORION ranging from 0.80 to 0.93, between domains). The instrument scores underwent a normalization process, revealing three distinct vulnerability strata: low (0 to 4), moderate (5 to 6), and high (7 to 14). Conclusion: The scale exhibited satisfactory validity evidence, demonstrating consistency, reliability, and robustness. It resulted in a concise instrument that effectively measures and distinguishes levels of family vulnerability within the primary care setting in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to investigate the validity of evidence of the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System second edition for Brazilian children. Methods: 258 children participated, both sexes (n = 133 girls; 51.6%), 5 to 9 years old (total sample Mage = 7.1, SD = 1.4), from four regions of Brazil. The Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System - second edition, was used. Results: Experts showed agreement about the high clarity and practical pertinence of the items (content validity coefficient from 98.4 to 100%; Gwet's agreement coefficient from 0.85 to 1.00, p < 0.001). Confirmatory factorial analysis showed adequate adjustment indexes (RMSEA [0.048, 90% C.I. = 0.043 to 0.053], SRMR [0.243], CFI [0.91], RNI [0.91], TLI [0.91], χ²/df [1.962]). The multigroup analysis showed configural, metric and scalar invariance of two models for gender (CFI = 0.97; RMSEA, [90%C.I.] = 0.05 [0.03 to 0.07]; metric: ΔRMSEA = 0.001; scalar: ΔRMSEA = -0.004) and age band (5-7 years-old and 8-9 years-old; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA, [90%C.I.] = 0.05 [0.03 to 0.07]; metric: ΔRMSEA = 0.002; scalar: ΔRMSEA = 0.010). The Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio test showed adequate discriminant validity among three dimensions (self-care and productivity [value = 0.76]; self-care and leisure [value = 0.57], productivity and leisure [value = 0.76]). Alpha for polychoric correlations showed an adequate internal consistency for all items and total scale (all a values >0.70). Composite reliability (Self-care = 0.8; Productivity = 0.81; Leisure = 0.8) reinforce evidence about reliability. Percentage agreement showed adequate item-level test-retest reliability (values between 76 and 92%). Conclusion: This scale showed adequate content and internal structure validity evidence to assess the perceived self-efficacy for Brazilian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Job flexibilisation has increased interest in job insecurity and its consequences. Job insecurity, understood as a fear of losing employment, is linked to a deterioration of mental health, social relations or job satisfaction. Its study has been developed primarily in Europe, in the absence of validated psychometric scales in the Latin American context. To bridge this knowledge gap, the aim of this study is to cross-culturally adapt the Job Insecurity Scale (JIS) in Brazil, and secondly, to establish a cross-national analysis between people employed in Brazil and Spain. Methods: As criteria for the sample, people with formally established employment in Brazil and Spain were selected. For the scale adaptation process, a sequence of EFA, CFA and validity tests are carried out, as well as a multigroup invariance according to the gender variable. The cross-national comparison compares the effect sizes of affective and cognitive job insecurity on the mental health variable measured with the GHQ-28 scale in both countries. Results: 1165 employed people participate in the study, of whom 573 reside in Brazil and 592 in Spain. The results of the scale adaptation show that the JIS is suitable for use in the Brazilian employment context. The scale offers a factorialisation in two dimensions (affective and cognitive) (CFI = 0.993; TLI = 0.987; RMSEA = 0.04; SRMR = 0.049; GFI = 0.999; NFI = 0.980) with good reliability (ω > 0.84). The cross-national comparison shows that job insecurity has a greater weight in explaining the mental health of the employed population in Brazil than in Spain, which is related to higher indicators of job insecurity in the Brazilian context. Conclusions: With this validation we now have a validated scale of job insecurity validated for the Brazilian context. The comparison between countries shows the need to establish these analyses, since the behaviour of the phenomenon is different in the contexts studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to present the process of adaption and validity evidence of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) for the population of Brazilian school adolescents. The study included 4,681 students aged 10 to 19 years old, attending public schools in 12 cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. According to the original scale, the exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses indicated adequate fit indexes and satisfactory reliability for the model composed of 24 items and three factors (attention, clarity, and repair). The scale showed a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction and psychological well-being. The results reveal that the TMMS-24 is adequate for the assessment of emotional intelligence among Brazilian adolescents and may contribute to research and interventions regarding emotional competencies among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different dietary indexes are proposed to investigate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). However, they are based on different methodologies, and limited research has compared them to each other, particularly in non-Mediterranean populations. We aimed to compare five indexes intended to measure adherence to the MD. The sample was composed of adults and older adults (n 1187) from 2015 ISA-Nutrition, a cross-sectional population-based study in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Dietary data obtained through two 24-h dietary recalls (24HDR) from which the Mediterranean diet scale (MDS), Mediterranean diet Score (MedDietscore), Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP), Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) and Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS) were calculated. The correlations and agreements between them were analysed by Spearman’s correlation and linearly weighted Cohen’s Kappa coefficients, respectively. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were applied to investigate their convergent validity. The highest correlations were found between MDP and MAI (r = 0⋅76; 95% CI 0⋅74–0⋅79) and between MDP and MDS (r = 0⋅72; 95% CI 0⋅69–0⋅75). The greatest agreements observed were moderate, between MDP v. MAI (κ = 0⋅57, P < 0⋅001) and MDP v. MDS (κ = 0⋅48, P < 0⋅001). The goodness-of-fit of CFA for MedDietscore (RMSEA = 0⋅033, 90% CI 0⋅02–0⋅042; SRMR = 0⋅042) and MSDPS (RMSEA = 0⋅028, 90% CI 0⋅019–0⋅037; SRMR = 0⋅031) had acceptable values for absolute fit indices. Vegetables, olive oil, MUFA:SFA ratio and cereals with legumes were more relevant to characterise the MD (factor loadings ≥0⋅50). The MDS, MAI and MDP classified the population similarly, but the MedDietscore showed better performances in evaluating adherence to the MD. These results provided guidance for the most appropriate Mediterranean dietary index to be applied in non-Mediterranean populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cognitive Interview (CI), an important procedure in the adaptation and validation of psychological tests, reviews the response processes, highlighting the possible need to reformulate items. The main studies that detail its use are international, and in Brazil, the few studies that mention its use do not report how to carry it out. This methodological article aims to clarify the use of the CI in the process of adaptation and validation of psychometric instruments. Its applicability is evidenced through practical examples taken from an empirical study that used CI in the Brazilian context. The study used in the example was qualitative and the sample consisted of 10 participants. The interviews were conducted using standard verbal probing, investigating four cognitive operations: comprehension, recovery, judgment and response. As a result, the adoption of the CI identified flaws in the item response process, making it possible to reduce misunderstandings and mitigate the risks in these variables. The inclusion of this step in the process is important to qualify the validations of instruments constructed for the Brazilian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Few instruments are available in Brazil to evaluate psychomotor activity in psychiatric emergency, clinical, and research settings. This study aimed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale (BARS) into Brazilian Portuguese and assess the adapted scale's psychometric properties. Method: An expert consensus committee conducted a translation and back-translation of the original scale, resulting in the BARS-BR. Four pairs of physicians administered the BARS-BR and the Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) to patients in a hospital psychiatry emergency room and patients in the hospital's psychiatric wards. The BARS-BR was compared to the SAS to assess concurrent validity and internal consistency was evaluated with the Bland-Altman technique. Results: In the emergency room, the correlation coefficients between the first and second assessments were rho = 0.997 and rho = 1.0, respectively. In the hospital wards, the correlation coefficient between the pair of evaluators was rho = 0.951. There were strong correlations between the BARS-BR score of the first examiner and the SAS score of the second examiner (rho = 0.903) and between the SAS score of the first examiner and the BARS-BR score of the second examiner (rho = 0.893). Conclusion: The BARS-BR showed good psychometric properties, and we recommend its use because it constitutes an easy method for assessment of changes in psychomotor activity. Further studies are suggested to evaluate adoption and comprehension of the BARS-BR scale by all classes of healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QID-SR16), a self-report instrument based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria that assesses the severity of depression symptoms, in the Brazilian population. Methods: Participants were 4,400 Brazilians over the age of 15 years recruited for an online survey assessing depressive symptoms during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Brazil. The internal consistency, construct validity, and convergent and discriminant validity of the QIDS-SR16 were evaluated. Results: The model tested was considered an adequate fit to the data (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.947, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.927, and root-mean-square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.051) and its internal consistency was good, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.71 and an average item correlation of 0.23. The correlations between the total QIDS-SR16 score and the total scores of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) instruments (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), the Posttraumatic Symptoms Checklist (PCL-5) (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) indicate good concurrent and convergent validity. Conclusion: The QIDS-SR16 has robust psychometric properties in terms of its internal consistency, construct validity, and convergent and discriminant validity. The Portuguese version of the QIDS-SR16 is an adequate instrument for assessment of depressive symptoms in the context of an online survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There are no validated instruments to measure education-related stress in Brazilian university students. Thus, we aimed to translate and test the internal reliability, convergent/discriminant validity, and measurement equivalence of the Higher Education Stress Inventory (HESI). Methods: The translation protocol was carried out by two independent translators. The instrument was culturally adapted after a pilot version was administered to 36 university students. The final version (HESI-Br) was administered to 1,021 university students (mean age = 28.3, standard deviation [SD] = 9.6, 76.7% female) via an online survey that lasted from September 1 to October 15, 2020. The factor structure was estimated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the first half of the dataset. We tested the best EFA-derived model with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the second half. Convergent/ discriminant validity was tested using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Sex, age groups, period of study, family income and area of study were used to test measurement equivalence. Results: EFA suggested five factors: career dissatisfaction; faculty shortcomings; high workload; financial concerns; and toxic learning environment. CFA supported the five-factor model (15 items), but not a higher order factor, suggesting multidimensionality. All five factors presented acceptable internal reliabilities, with Cronbach's α ≥ 0.72 and McDonald's ω ≥ 0.64. CFA models indicated that the HESI-Br and DASS-21 assess different but correlated underlying latent constructs, supporting discriminant validity. Equivalence was ascertained for all tested groups. Conclusion: The 15-item HESI-Br is a reliable and invariant multidimensional instrument for assessing relevant stressors among university students in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Burnout syndrome (BS) in healthcare professionals (HCP) has been a major concern, and even more so during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The need for adequate tools to assess BS is urgent. The objective of this study was to validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) in HCP. Methods: The sample comprised 1,054 Brazilian HCP. Data were collected for 1 month (May-2020 to June-2020) using an online self-administered questionnaire. Results: All three CBI dimensions demonstrated optimal reliability. All consistency measures attained values > 0.90. Split-half correlation values with Spearman-Brown reliability were higher than 0.8. The parallel analysis suggested two factors: personal burnout (PB) and work-related burnout (WB) items were associated with factor 1, and client-related burnout (CB) items were associated with factor 2. Conclusion: Our study corroborates the validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CBI, pointing to a close relation between PB and WB in HCP. A public domain tool with evidence quality to ensure sufficient content validity can aid in burnout evaluation and encourage both expansion of the research field and accurate detection and treatment of this syndrome in Brazilian HCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought evidence of construct validity for the Brazilian versions of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale. A total of 448 individuals participated in the research, 253 women and 195 men from several regions of Brazil who had been cohabiting with their marital partners for an average of 14.7 years. Several proposed models for the measure were tested in Structural Equation Modeling. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the four-factor and hierarchical models of the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale showed good overall adjustments. Evidence of factor, convergent, and discriminant validity were also found. Composite reliability revealed adequate levels of internal consistency. The Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated a strong measurement invariance model for men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensity of affect refers to the strength with which individuals experience their emotions. This study aimed to adapt and seek evidence of validity for the version of the Short Affect Intensity Scale (SAIS) for the Brazilian context. After translation procedures, the translated version of the SAIS was applied, along with instruments to measure personality and subjective well-being in 1,180 Brazilians. The results revealed the adequacy of the three-factor structure for the instrument: Positive Intensity, Negative Intensity, and Serenity. Correlations with other variables were verified as theoretically expected. For example, positive correlations were found between Positive Intensity and Extraversion and Positive Affect; Negative Intensity and Neuroticism, and Negative Affect. The instrument proved to be adequate for the Brazilian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Paideia (0103863X) is the property of Paideia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Paideia (0103863X) is the property of Paideia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Numerous tests employed to predict cardiac and functional status are expensive and not widely accessible for a considerable number of patients, particularly those diagnosed with Chagas disease (CD) residing in remote and endemic regions. To date, there is no knowledge of studies that have validated instruments that address functionality in an expanded way, including the biopsychosocial factors in patients with CD. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), in its 12-item shortened version (WHODAS-12) when applied to patients with CD. This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort that follows individuals with CD (SaMi-Trop). Data collection took place between October 2019 and March 2020. In the interviews, sociodemographic information, life habits, clinical information, and indicators of disability measured by WHODAS-12 were collected. Descriptive analysis, internal consistency and construct validity of the instrument were performed. A total of 628 patients with CD were interviewed, most were women (69.5%), their mean age was of 57 years, and most declared an average self-perception of health (43.4%). The 12 items of WHODAS-12 were distributed into three factors, which together account for 61% of the variance. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample for factor analysis. The internal consistency of the global scale showed alpha = 0.87. The percentage of incapacity was 16.05%, indicating mild incapacity for the evaluated patients. WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable measure to assess the disability of the Brazilian population with CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Salud UIS is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Computerized batteries have been widely used to investigate cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with SLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cognitive performance of patients with SLE in relation to healthy controls using the Pediatric Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (Ped-ANAM) battery. In addition, we aimed to examine differences in Ped-ANAM scores according to age of disease onset, presence of disease activity, and disease damage. We included 201 consecutive adult-onset (aSLE) and childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) patients who were being followed at the hospital's rheumatology outpatient clinic and 177 healthy controls. We applied the percentage of correct answers on the Ped-ANAM subtests and the Performance Validity Index (PVI) metric and correlated them with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Damage Index (SDI). Then, we established their relationships with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). We observed CI in a total of 38 (18.9%) SLE patients and 8 (4.5%) healthy controls (p < 0.001). CI was observed in eight (19.5%) cSLE patients and 32 (20%) aSLE patients (p = 0.8175). Individual analysis of the aSLE subtests showed a significant difference in all subtests compared to healthy controls; the greatest differences were in matching to sample (p < 0.001) and memory search (p < 0.001). In the cSLE group, we observed a difference in the code substitution subtests (p = 0.0065) compared to the healthy controls. In the evaluation of clinical outcomes, disease activity was significantly correlated with CI in cSLE (r = 0.33; p = 0.042) and aSLE (r = 0.40; p = 0.001). We also observed an association between disease activity and neuropsychiatric manifestations (p = 0.0012) in aSLE. In conclusion, we determined that cognitive dysfunction, mainly in memory and attention, was more prevalent in patients with SLE. In both the cSLE and aSLE groups, disease activity was associated with worse cognitive function. This is the first study to use the Ped-ANAM in Brazil. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine how the Ped-ANAM will perform over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food literacy refers to the knowledge and skills related to healthy food choices. The aim of this study is to present the process of the cross-cultural adaptation and content validation of the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ) for the Brazilian population. The process of adaptation and validation of the SFLQ was conducted in four steps: (1) conceptual and item equivalence; (2) translation with semantic equivalence; (3) operational equivalence; (4) measurement equivalence. The study involved ten judges (food and nutrition experts) and 20 subjects (general population) in evaluating the semantic equivalence of the SFLQ. The semantic equivalence was assessed by calculating the content validity coefficient (CVC). All the items had a CVC greater than 0.80 considering all the evaluated parameters. The SFLQ has been adapted for the Brazilian context and guidelines. The adapted version of the questionnaire was referred to as the SFLQ-Br. The operational equivalence was conducted with 120 subjects using an online approach. The measurement equivalence was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, a reliability assessment, and an instrument stability assessment. A single factor was extracted, and all the items had a factor loading of >0.40 and appropriate goodness-of-fit values. All the equivalence results show that the SFLQ-Br can be used in the Brazilian population as a reliable, consistent, and stable instrument to measure food literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas (17949998) is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas, Facultad de Psicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease with significant global morbidity and mortality. Even when antivenom is available in low-resource areas, health workers do not receive adequate training to manage SBEs. This study aims to develop and validate a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for SBE management across Brazil. A panel of expert judges with academic and/or technical expertise in SBE management performed content validation. The content validity index (CVI) score was 90% for CPG objectives, 89% for structure and presentation and 92% for relevance and classified the CPG as valid. A semantic validation was performed by analyzing focus group discussions with doctors and nurses from three municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon, after a 5-day meeting during which the CPG was presented. Two central themes emerged: knowledge acquired during the meeting and recommendations for improving the CPG. Based on these results, the CPG was revised into a final version. This study presents the successful development and validation process of a CPG for SBE management, which is targeted to a specific low-resource, high-burden setting. This development and validation process can be adapted to other settings and/or other neglected tropical diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Cognition Functional Rehabilitation Activities Manual for Brazil. This manual helps therapists, professionals and family members to stimulate or rehabilitate cognitive skills of individuals with cognitive difficulties. The work was divided into two stages: 1) Translation and cultural adaptation of the manual for the Brazilian context; and 2) Evidence of content validity through the qualitative analysis of three experts in neuropsychology. The level of agreement between the expert judges regarding the main construct rehabilitated by each activity was 100%, as well as the secondary constructs rehabilitated by them. Regarding the characterization of activities, 16.67% underwent changes based on the analysis of expert judges, with an adaptation of these to the current and Brazilian context. Based on that, it can be concluded that the Cognition Functional Rehabilitation Activities Manual has evidence of content validity for use in Brazil, suggesting its use for stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies highlight that although the spiritual/religious dimension is commonly used as a resource for coping with stress and suffering, sometimes this dimension can also be a locus of struggles. The Religious and Spiritual Struggles (RSS) Scale, composed of 26 items (extended version), is an instrument that assesses the presence of six types of spiritual struggles, categorized into three major categories: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Supernatural. More recently, studies have presented a leaner version, with 14 items (short version), also suitable for evaluating religious/spiritual struggles. This study aimed to validate the RSS Scale, in its two versions, in the Brazilian cultural context and was able to attest to its quality and reliability, albeit with small variations. The Brazilian extended version presented six components (similar to the original version) explaining 68.48% of variance and 0.907 of KMO. Two items were withdrawn due to low loadings, but the psychometric qualities of both versions in two different samples (one wide sample and one with LGBTQIA+ individuals) were maintained. The reliability (Cronbach's alpha) for each one of the six components ranged from 0.78 to 0.88 (24 items) and from 0.73 to 0.83 (14 items). The TLI and CFI were, respectively, 0.934 and 0.945 (24 items) and 0.982 and 0.988 for the short version (14 items). Furthermore, convergent validity tests indicated correlations with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The RSS Scale (the Brazilian versions with 24 and 14 items), demonstrated reliability in the studied sample and can be applied in clinical and research contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the content validity and the test-retest reliability of the Questionnaire for Screen Time of Adolescents (QueST). Methods: A study was conducted with high school adolescents from Southern Brazil enrolled in public education (2019). The QueST measures screen time across five constructs: studying, working/internship-related activities, watching videos, playing games, using social media/chat applications. Content validation involved consulting with experts and adolescents to evaluate whether the five constructs were clear and representing screen time behaviors, all ratings were quantified. The experts’ evaluation provided Content Validity Indexes (CVI) for clarity and representativeness of the questionnaire. Students answered the QueST twice (1-week apart), and differences between applications were verified. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analyses. Results: Among the experts, the CVI indicated 94% and 98% of clarity and representativeness, respectively. All items were highly clear for at least 70% of the students. Test-retest reliability was assessed with 104 students (16.3 ± 1.02 years; 66.3% girls). The ICC ranged from 0.41 (95%CI 0.24-0.56) for videos to 0.76 (95%CI 0.66-0.83) for social media/chat applications on weekdays; and from 0.24 (95%CI 0.04-0.41) for videos to 0.67 (95%CI 0.54-0.77) for social media/ chat applications on weekends. The lowest mean difference was -4.6 min for working on weekdays, while the highest was 40.6 min for videos on weekends. Conclusions: The QueST proved to be fair to excellent for measuring different screen time constructs. However, the item of videos (weekends) showed poor stability. The QueST demonstrates satisfactory content validity attested by the experts and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Institutional foster care is a protective strategy for children/adolescents at risk in which nurses are responsible for health education, health promotion, and health care. Objective: To validate a protocol of nurses' responsibilities in institutional foster care settings for children and adolescents. Methodology: Delphi study with two rounds for validation of the protocol that was built after a literature review and field research. A Delphi survey was used to validate the protocol by 12 international experts with experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research. The minimum agreement rate of 80% was considered. The modified Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi studies (CREDES) was used. Results: The protocol was validated, with an agreement rate of 90% in the second round, after expert consensus on the items related to the managerial, care, educational, and sociopolitical categories of nurses' responsibilities. Conclusion: The protocol had content and face validity and will be used to define nurses' responsibilities in institutional foster care settings for children/adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the methodology of development of a protocol for application of the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines by primary healthcare professionals in individual dietary advice. A five-step approach was followed: (1) format definition; (2) definition of the instrument for assessment of individuals' food consumption; (3) Dietary Guidelines' content extraction; (4) protocol content development; (5) content and face validity. An example from Brazil was displayed with the development of a protocol to guide healthcare professional decision-making when providing nutrition advice based on the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines. The instrument of the Brazilian Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) was chosen to the food consumption assessment, which contains questions about the consumption of seven healthy or unhealthy food groups and one question about eating modes. The Guidelines' content extraction process led to the identification of recommendations related to the food consumption markers assessed by the SISVAN questionnaire. Then, a protocol was developed in a flowchart format, in which the professional's conduct is guided by the answer given to each question of the SISVAN instrument. For each 'non-compliant' answer (unhealthy eating practice), the professional is instructed how to provide recommendations and identify obstacles. Lastly, experts and healthcare professionals highlighted pertinence, clarity and usability of the protocol. This study provides the blueprint for the phase-wise development of protocols of application of the Dietary Guidelines and may contribute to promote healthier eating and ending malnutrition in all its forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]