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The present study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) among university students living in Hong Kong to assess weight and body image concerns. A convenience sample of 787 students (63.5% females; 24.5% overweight) were recruited online. The factor structure of the scale was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multigroup CFA was used to assess measurement invariance across gender and weight categories. The unidimensional structure of the scale was confirmed (χ2 = 78.046, CFI = 0.996). Factor loading ranged from 0.536 to 0.902, and internal consistency was good (α =.93, ω =.95). The scale was measurement invariant across gender and weight status using both metric and scalar invariance methods (−0.004<ΔCFI<-0.002). The scale can help to identify barriers of weight concerns regarding physical activity engagement which would help in the development of preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion dysregulation is one of the challenges that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families face. It is unclear whether emotion dysregulation plays a mediating role in the relationship between sensory processing patterns and problem behaviors among these children. This study examined the relations between emotion dysregulation, behavioral problems, and sensory processing patterns among fifty-seven young children with ASD. Behavioral problems and sensory processing patterns were moderately to strongly correlated with emotion dysregulation. The relationship between sensory processing patterns and behavioral problems was significant with emotion dysregulation as a mediator. These findings help identify the relationship between emotion dysregulation, sensory processing patterns, and behavioral problems to facilitate the planning of intervention strategies for young children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prior psychometric evidence of the Physical Resilience Instrument for Older Adults (PRIFOR) showed good criterion-related validity, concurrent validity, known-group validity, predictive validity, and internal consistency. However, it is unclear whether older patients with different treatment diagnoses interpret the PRIFOR similarly. Aims: This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the PRIFOR scores among different treatment diagnoses of older patients. Methods: We recruited 413 hospitalized older patients with a medical diagnosis and 207 with a surgical diagnosis in a 1343-bed tertiary-care medical center in Taiwan. Data analyses included Rasch models, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and Pearson correlations. Results: The Rasch analyses showed that all PRIFOR items were embedded within their belonged constructs, reflecting good construct validity and unidimensionality. Person and item separation reliability support the internal consistency of the studied samples and PRIFOR items. However, six PRIFOR items were found to have meaningful differential item functioning (DIF) problems among treatment diagnoses. Conclusions: The PRIFOR is a solid measurement and can be used for monitoring the status of older adults' physical resilience. However, because six items were found to have meaningful DIF among treatment diagnosis groups, future studies should consider designing specific items for different patient populations to assess their needs in physical resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Spiritual Coping Strategies Scale-Chinese version (SCSS-C) in Taiwanese adults. A convenience sample of 232 participants in Taiwan completed an online survey, and 45 of the 232 participants completed the SCSS-C again over a 2 week interval. The content validity index of the SCSS-C was 0.97. Parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis results revealed two factors (religious coping and non-religious coping). The internal consistency of the SCSS-C was satisfactory (α = 0.88 to 0.92). Test-retest reliability was satisfactory (r = 0.68 to 0.89). The psychometric properties of the SCSS-C were found to be acceptable for use in Taiwanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale is a tool utilized to assess the effectiveness of a family as a functioning system. The scale has a single-factor structure with good validity and reliability. However, there is a shortage of psychometric evidence of the scale in an Arab context. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale among Algerian students. A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 300 students from Algerian universities. The students completed the 20-item Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale, Arabic version, to measure their beliefs regarding collective efficacy within families. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the Rasch model were employed to assess the psychometric properties and unidimensionality of the scale. Both CFA and Rasch findings supported the single-factor structure for the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. Specifically, the CFA indicated that the data aligned with a one-dimensional model. The Rasch analysis revealed favorable indicators of unidimensionality for the scale. Moreover, a thorough examination of the Principal Component Analysis of the Rasch residuals confirmed the existence of a single dimension, which is consistent with the original structure of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. These findings provide scientific evidence for the validity and unidimensional nature of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. Specifically, the satisfactory psychometric properties findings indicate that the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale could be applied in an Arab context (i.e., in Algerian). The scale's unidimensional structure underscores its effectiveness in measuring beliefs in collective efficacy within families. These results enhance our understanding of family dynamics and provide a reliable measurement tool for assessing family efficacy in similar cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a multidimensional indicator proposed by the World Health Organization that encompasses mental and physical capacities associated with functional ability. With the help of IC, different pathways of aging can be better understood, and heterogeneity can be captured more effectively. Before IC can be clinically incorporated, it requires valid and usable instruments alongside a comprehensive evaluation of psychometric evidence. Therefore, the present systematic review critically appraised, compared, and summarized the measurement properties of existing IC instruments used by older people. Methods: Published studies were searched in seven databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science, until August 2022. The measurement properties of the IC measures were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN). Results: Of the 582 papers initially identified, 10 studies were eligible for inclusion. Seven instruments were classified as five-domain measures, and three as more than five-domain measures. No instrument assessed all nine criteria in the psychometric properties evaluation outlined by COSMIN. The most reported psychometric properties were construct validity (n = 8), measurement invariance (n = 8), and structural validity (n = 7). There was underreporting of content validity, reliability, and measurement error. Conclusion: The present review indicated a general lack of psychometric assessments of existing IC instruments with independent studies as their evidence base. There is a need to explore further the associations of IC and its five domains of interaction, which express the ability of individuals to interact with the environment and affect their functional ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recognizing the need for a reliable and valid instrument to assess psychological distress among children and adolescents, the present study translated the newly developed Depression Anxiety Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y) into Chinese, while also comparing its psychometric properties with those of the well-established DASS-21 within a primary and middle school demographic. Methods: Utilizing a combination of convenience sampling and purposive sampling, a cohort comprising 1,507 primary and 1,131 middle school students was recruited. Rasch analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used in the data analysis. Results: Significant differences were observed between the DASS-Y and the DASS-21, notably within the anxiety subscale. The proportions of individuals with clinical mood disorders identified by the two scales demonstrated a significant disparity. Both scales, following an adjustment of responses, exhibited satisfactory internal consistency and convergent validity, with the acceptance of a three-factor structure. Furthermore, the DASS-Y showed superior discriminant validity relative to the DASS-21, providing more compelling evidence regarding concurrent validity. Conclusion: Overall, the Chinese version of the DASS-Y demonstrated superior robustness to the DASS-21 in terms of psychometric properties. The findings provide initial evidence for the psychometric properties of the DASS-Y from another culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health literacy is important for health behavior engagement. Therefore, it is important to have a good instrument assessing health literacy with a theoretical framework. The present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) of a newly developed health literacy instrument; that is, the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch models were used to examine the data collected from a large Iranian sample (N = 9678; 67.3% females; mean age = 36.44 years). All the participants completed the HELIA. CFA was used to examine if the HELIA had a five-factor structure (including reading, access to information, understanding, appraisal, and decision making/behavioral intention factors) and multigroup CFA to examine if the five-factor structure of HELIA was invariant across gender, educational level, accommodation, and age subgroups. Rasch models were used to examine whether each factor of HELIA was unidimensional and DIF contrast in Rasch to examine if the HELIA items were interpreted similarly across the aforementioned subgroups. The CFA results supported the five-factor structure of HELIA, and the Rasch models verified that each HELIA factor is unidimensional. Additionally, multigroup CFA supported the measurement invariance of HELIA across the following subgroups: male vs. female; highly educated vs. poorly educated; city residents vs. suburban residents; and younger age vs. older age. The DIF contrasts in the Rasch models additionally showed that there are no substantial DIF items in the HELIA across aforementioned subgroups. Therefore, the HELIA is a feasible and comprehensive instrument assessing health literacy across different populations in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several instruments are currently used to assess Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) -induced psychological distress, including the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The IES-R is a self-administered scale used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study aimed to examine the construct validity of the IES-R, based on the Rasch model, with COVID-19-related data, as well as to test the multilevel construct validity of the IES-R within and among countries during the pandemic crisis. Methods: A multi-country web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted utilizing the 22-item IES-R. A total of 1020 participants enrolled in our survey, of whom 999 were included in the analyses. Data were analyzed using Rasch modeling and multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA). Results: The Rasch modeling results of the IES-R demonstrated that the IES-R is a satisfactory instrument with the five-point Likert scale, asserting that its 22 items are significant contributors to assessing PTSD as a unidimensional construct covered by the items of the IES-R. The MCFA confirmed that the 22-item IES-R, with its three factors, including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, demonstrates adequate construct validity at the within- and among-country levels. However, the results of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) model determined that the 16-item IES-R is better than the 22-item IES-R. Conclusion: The results suggested that the 22-item IES-R is a reliable screening instrument for measuring PTSD related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be utilized to provide timely psychological health support, when needed, based on the screening results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of four instruments related to internet use, namely the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), (nine-item) Internet Gaming Disorder Scale Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ) as well as their associations with psychological distress among Malaysian university students. A total of 380 Malaysian university students (71.6% females, mean age 24.0 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey including questions concerning socio-demographic background, social media addiction, smartphone addiction, internet gaming disorder, and nomophobia. Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were applied to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instruments and Cronbach's alpha value and McDonald's omega value were used to confirm the internal consistency reliability of the instruments. The unidimensional structure was confirmed for the BSMAS, SABAS, and IGDS9-SF while the four-factor structure was confirmed for NMPQ. All instruments showed good internal consistency reliability. Promising validity and reliability were confirmed for BSMAS, SABAS, IGDS9-SF, and NMPQ. Therefore, they are useful to assess different types of problematic internet use among university students in Malaysia. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between internet use and psychological distress. The present study is the first to investigate the validity and reliability of BSMAS, SABAS, IGDS9-SF, and NMPQ among Malaysian university students using rigorous psychometric testing methods (i.e., Rasch analysis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the number of COVID-19 cases grows worldwide, one solution to the global pandemic is vaccination. Unfortunately, the hesitancy of receiving vaccines is still high, particularly among younger age groups (eg, students). Because the hesitancy of receiving vaccines is an important issue, instruments have been developed to assess vaccine hesitancy. Moreover, the use of these instruments among specific groups such as students is of critical importance. Aim: The present study examined the psychometric properties of the nine-item MoVac-COVID19S (also known as the DrVac-COVID19S) including its measurement invariance among university students in three different countries (ie, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia). Methods: A multi-country, web-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 1809 university students, recruited from the three countries from May to September 2021. The nine-item scale was translated into Traditional Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian, and Malay. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the one-factor structure of the MoVac-COVID19S was fully supported among Indonesian and Malay participants (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.991 and 0.998; Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.997 and 0.987; root mean sqaure error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.040 and 0.071; and standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.014 and 0.039). Moreover, the four-factor structure was supported among Indonesian, Malay, and Taiwanese participants (CFI = 0.998, 0.998, and 0.985; TLI = 0.997, 0.996, and 0.973; RMSEA = 0.044, 0.038, and 0.091; and SRMR = 0.013, 0.018, and 0.049). Conclusion: The MoVac-COVID19S has good construct validity among university students from three different countries (ie, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia). The four-factor structure of the MoVac-COVID19S was supported. Therefore, health-care providers may want to assess the four underlying constructs to better understand why a university student accepts or declines COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the three countries. Using the findings, government policymakers and health-care authorities can design appropriate programs to help decrease vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the psychometric properties of different short versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) among community‐dwelling widowed older people. Methods: A cross‐sectional design was conducted between February 2018 and August 2019 in southern Taiwan (n = 330). The GDS short versions included Hoyl et al's 5‐item version, Molloy et al's 5‐item version and van Marwijk et al's 4‐item version. Results: All GDS short versions had satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.83‐0.90), with strong item loading embedded in the same construct of depression (0.43‐0.72). The activity of daily living (ADL) scores had strong associations with van Marwijk et al's 4‐item version (absolute standardised coefficient [|β|] = 0.15‐0.59), Hoyl et al's 5‐item version (|β| = 0.16‐0.45) and Molloy et al's 4‐item version (|β| = 0.09‐0.40). Conclusions: Hoyl et al's 5‐item version was found to be more suitable than the other two versions of the GDS to assess the precise construct of depression. Meanwhile, van Marwijk et al's 4‐item version can be used when the focus is on ADL performance. However, the conclusion should be interpreted with caution since the results were derived only from a widowed population in Taiwan. More research on this topic among other populations is thus needed to corroborate our conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to translate the Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS) into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties among postpartum women. Design: A total of 248 women aged 18–39 years participated in this psychometric study. The PPSS was translated into Persian using a forward‐backward method. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch model analysis were used to assess the psychometric properties of the PPSS. In addition, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed simultaneously to assess the construct validity. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and corrected item‐total correlation. Results: The unidimensionality of the PPSS was supported in both CFA and Rasch analysis. The PPSS had a significant negative association with EPDS (r = −0.39 p <.001). The scale had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94) and the correlation between items and total score was satisfactory. Conclusion: The Persian version of PPSS with 20 items is a valid and reliable scale to assess postpartum support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To adapt the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth for use with Chinese children and youths, and to investigate its psychometric properties. Materials and methods: The Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth was translated into Chinese using a cultural adaptation process. Parents of 69 children aged 5–12 years with disabilities and 319 children without disabilities completed the questionnaires. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, factorial structure, and known-group validity were examined using Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis and t-test, respectively. Results: We added and/or replaced activities with culturally-relevant activities in the Chinese version. Internal consistency was acceptable for most of the scales (0.55–0.86). Test-retest reliability of the summary scores was moderate to high (0.70–0.84). Data-model fit was confirmed in a one-factor structure for the participation scales and a two-factor structure for the environment scales. There were also significant differences in the summary scores between 65 gender- and age-matched pairs of children with and without disabilities on the school participation scales and all the environment scales. Conclusion: This study provides psychometric evidence supporting the use of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth to assess Chinese children's participation and environmental supports/barriers. The Chinese version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth was developed through a rigorous translation and cultural adaptation process. There is evidence for the reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and construct validity (factorial structure and known-group validity) of the Chinese version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. The Chinese version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth can be used to assess children's participation in home, school and community settings and to identify environmental barriers that require further intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A comparison of the performance between monetary and an asset-based socioeconomic position (SEP) index in predicting adolescents' health outcomes was conducted only in low-income countries. Our study aims to compare these two indices among adolescents from low-income families in a high-income country. Methods Data of adolescents aged 12–18 years was used from the Taiwan Database of Children and Youth in Poverty (n = 2529). The asset-based index was based on a set of weighted self-reported household conditions using principal components analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between these two indices and the mental and physical health outcomes among adolescents. Results Health outcomes were significantly associated with the asset-based SEP index but not with the monetary index. An increased trend was shown in mental illness symptoms, infections, injuries, allergies and dental problems when the regression was performed in the asset-based SEP index (P < 0.05) but not in the monetary SEP index. Conclusions An asset-based SEP index serves as a better index associated with a social gradient in health inequality. To prioritize giving care to people in need, healthcare policymakers should consider including an assessment of household assets and resources, supplementary to the conventional monetary index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the 9-Item Shared Decision- Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) and the 9-Item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire--Physician version (SDM-Q-Doc) using comprehensive and thorough psychometric methods in an oncology setting. Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 1783; 928 [52.05%] males) and physicians (n=154; 121 [78.58%] males) participated in this study. Each cancer survivor completed the SDM-Q-9. Physicians completed the SDM-Q-Doc for each of their cancer patient. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch model were used to test the psychometric properties of SDM-Q-9 and SDM-Q-Doc. Results: SDM-Q-9 and SDM-Q-Doc demonstrated unidimensional structure in CFA and Rasch model. In addition, the measurement invariance was supported for both SDM-Q-9 and SDM-QDoc across sex using the multigroup CFA. Rash analysis indicates no differential item functioning (DIF)across sex for all the SDM-Q-9 and SDM-Q-Doc items. SDM-Q-9 and SDM-Q-Doc were moderately correlated (r = 0.41; P < 0.001). Conclusion: SDM-Q-9 and SDM-Q-Doc are valid instruments to assess shared decision making in the oncology setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia is prevalent among older adults and frequently causes dependence on family caregivers. Caregivers may experience a form of stigmatization called affiliate stigma that negatively affects their mental health. The current study sought to establish the psychometric properties of a tool to measure affiliate stigma among Iranian caregivers. Methods: Overall, 541 caregivers of older people with dementia were included in this cross sectional study. Several measures were used to assess the psychometric properties of the Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS) including the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short Form 12 (SF-12), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Convergent and discriminate validity were examined.Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were utilized to assess the factor structure of the Ass and a Rasch model was used to evaluate the measurement functioning of the scale. Results: Factor loadings ranged from 0.69 to 0.83 and test-retest reliability from 0.72 to 0.89.Item difficulty ranged widely from -0.66 to 0.89. No considerable differential item functioning (DIF) was found across gender. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three cognitive,effective, and behavioral dimensions of the scale (comparative fit index [CFI]=0.931 to 0.995,root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=0.046 to 0.068). Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's α: 0.88 to 0.94). Significant and positive relationships were found between affiliate stigma and depression, anxiety, and care giving burden (β =0.35 to 0.46). Conclusion: The ASS is a psychometrically valid measure for assessing affiliate stigma in Iranian caregivers of people with dementia. Application of this tool among other caregivers, language sand cultures deserves further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is important for clinicians to evaluate how cancer survivors judge their sense of well-being, and WHOQOL-BREF may be a good tool for clinical use. However, at least three issues remain unresolved: (1) the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF for cancer patients are insufficient; (2) the scoring method used for WHOQOL-BREF needs to be clarify; (3) whether different types of cancer patients interpret the WHOQOL-BREF similarly.Methods: We recruited 1000 outpatients with head/neck cancer, 1000 with colorectal cancer, 965 with liver cancer, 1438 with lung cancer and 1299 with gynecologic cancers in a medical center. Data analyses included Rasch models, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Pearson correlations.Results: The mean WHOQOL-BREF domain scores were between 13.34 and 14.77 among all participants. CFA supported construct validity; Rasch models revealed that almost all items were embedded in their expected domains and were interpreted similarly across five types of cancer patients; all correlation coefficients between Rasch scores and original domain scores were above 0.9.Conclusion: The linear relationship between Rasch scores and domain scores suggested that the current calculations for domain scores were applicable and without serious bias. Clinical practitioners may regularly collect and record the WHOQOL-BREF domain scores into electronic health records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-stigma instruments investigate how people with mental illness internalize public stigma. However, information is limited for the psychometric properties of their scores, especially cross-validating scores from different instruments. Thus, we used confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) and item-response theory (IRT) models to examine the Internalized Stigma Mental Illness (ISMI) scale and the Self-Stigma Scale–Short (SSS-S). Participants with mental illness (n = 347) completed both instruments. The CFAs that simultaneously accounted for both the instrument (ISMI and SSS-S) and the trait (Affect, Cognitive, and Behavior concepts) effects outperformed those that accounted only for the instrument effect or only the trait effect. All item scores fit the IRT model and were fit with ordered, progressing hierarchies in their step difficulties. We conclude that both instruments are feasible for measuring the self-stigma and that future research can combine the items of both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the high prevalence of excessive daytime disorder (EDS) among children and adolescents, daytime sleepiness should be effectively measured for them to design appropriate intervention program. However, the commonly used instrument Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD) has little information in its psychometric properties. This study aimed to apply 2 different test theories to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian ESS-CHAD among a large sample of Iranian adolescents and children. Methods: In this methodological study, participants from 8 high schools (n=1371; 700 males), in Qazvin, Iran, completed the ESS-CHAD, a background information sheet, and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The ESS-CHAD was translated by using a forward-backward translation method. Two weeks later, the participants completed the ESS-CHAD again. Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), regression analysis testing the correlation between ESS-CHAD and ISI, Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with measurement invariance, Rasch analysis with differential item functioning (DIF), and latent class analysis (LCA) were used to examine the psychometric properties of the ESS-CHAD. Results: The internal consistency (α=0.79), test-retest reliability (ICC=0.84), regression findings (β=0.39, P< 0.001), CFA (comparative fit index [CFI])=0.974, root-mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=0.040), supported measurement invariance (ΔCFI=-0.009 to 0.007, ΔRMSEA=-0.009 to 0.001), Rasch analysis (infit mean square=0.88 to 1.31, outfit mean square=0.68 to 1.19), and no substantial DIF (DIF contrast=-0.43 to 0.38) all indicated that ESS-CHAD is a reliable and valid instrument. The LCA further classified the sample into 2 distinct classes. Conclusion: Persian ESS-CHAD could be used to assess daytime sleepiness for adolescents who are speaking Persian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although numerous health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments are available for patients with diabetes, the length of these measures may limit their feasibility to routine practice. Also, these measures do not distinguish items for generic and diabetes-specific HRQoL. This study was aimed to develop a diabetes-specific quality of life questionnaire module (DMQoL) to be in conjunction with the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale brief version (WHOQOL-BREF).Methods: One hundred seventeen patients with diabetes were enrolled from a medical center in Taiwan. The item content of DMQoL was constructed based on an extensive review of existing HRQoL instruments for diabetes, expert discussions and patient interviews. A series of psychometric tests were conducted to ensure the reliability and validity of DMQoL. The WHOQOL-BREF served as an existing HRQoL measure for construct validity testing. The response scale of DMQoL was adopted from the 5-point Likert scale of WHOQOL-BREF.Results: A total of 10 items without ceiling or floor effects were selected from 20 items. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with parallel analysis and Rasch analysis concluded that the 10 items were embedded in the same underlying concept. The corrected item-total correlations and factor loadings from EFA were all above 0.4. The internal consistency of the 10 items was satisfactory (Cronbach's α = 0.84). The DMQoL total score was moderately correlated with that of WHOQOL-BREF (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). The known-group validity showed that patients with HbA1c ≤ 7% had significantly higher mean scores of DMQoL than did those with HbA1c > 8% (3.66 ± 0.47 vs. 3.41 ± 0.53; p = 0.037).Conclusions: The DMQoL with only 10 items is developed and it is sensitive to the change of diabetes progression in early phases (e.g., glycemic changes). The combination of WHOQOL-BREF and DMQoL provides a comprehensive picture of overall HRQoL in patients with diabetes and enhance the instrument's ability to detect clinically meaningful changes in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction To examine the psychometric properties of different short versions of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and to find an efficient and valid short version for clinical use among dementia caregivers. Materials and methods A total of 270 Taiwanese dementia caregivers filled out the full form of the ZBI, which contains 22 items. Using the 22-item ZBI, we used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to calculate the fit indices of all proposed short versions with various items to determine useful short versions. Additional associations between each useful short version and informal care hours, as well as subjective financial situations, were examined to understand their concurrent validity. Results Based on the CFA results, three short versions of the ZBI, performed excellently (4-item version: comparative fit index [CFI] = 1.000, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 1.035, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.019, and root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.000; 8-item version: CFI = 0.970, TLI = 0.958, SRMR = 0.045, and RMSEA = 0.065; 12-item version: CFI = 0.959, TLI = 0.950, SRMR = 0.053, and RMSEA = 0.075). In addition, the 12-item ZBI, as compared with other versions, had a higher correlation with the number of informal care hours. The 12-item ZBI was also highly correlated with the original 22-item ZBI (r = 0.952). Conclusions We found the 12-item ZBI to be a promising measure for healthcare providers to assess the burden of dementia caregivers quickly and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pediatric quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, the child-rated Kid-KINDL, has wording effects. However, no studies have examined for its parallel questionnaire, the parent-proxy Kid-KINDL. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and wording effects of the parent-proxy Kid-KINDL.Methods: Parents with 8- to 12-year-old children (n = 247) completed the parent-proxy Kid-KINDL, 83 of them completed it again 7-14 days later, and 241 of their children completed the child-rated Kid-KINDL. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α; test-retest reliability and concurrent validity, using Pearson correlation coefficients (r); construct validity and wording effects, using confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs).Results: The internal consistency of the parent-proxy Kid-KINDL total score was acceptable (α = .86). Test-retest reliability (r = .33-.60) and concurrent validity (r = .27-.42) were acceptable or nearly acceptable for all subscales and the total score. The CFA models simultaneously accounting for QoL traits and wording effects had satisfactory fit indices, and outperformed the model accounting only for QoL traits. However, four subscales had unsatisfactory internal consistency, which might be attributable to wording effects.Conclusion: When children are unable to complete a QoL questionnaire, the parent-proxy Kid-KINDL can substitute with all due cautions to wording effects and inconsistent reliability among different raters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 8-item self-report Perceived Stigma toward Substance Users Scale (PSAS) is a commonly used instrument to assess stigma for people with substance use disorders. This study aimed to develop and validate the Taiwan version of the PSAS entitled Perceived Stigma toward People who use Substances - Taiwan version (PSPS-TV) among individuals with substance use disorders.Methods: Patients with substance use disorders (N = 300; mean age = 45.22; 255 males) completed the PSPS-TV, Self-Stigma Scale-Short (SSS-S), Taiwan Depression Questionnaire (TDQ), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the construct validity and the measurement invariance of the PSPS-TV. Concurrent validity was tested using the correlations between PSPS-TV and SSS-S, TDQ, and RSES scores.Results: The confirmatory factor analysis supported the construct validity and measurement invariance of the PSPS-TV. SSS-S scores explained 13 %, TDQ scores explained 10 % and RSES scores explained 17 % of the PSPS-TV score variance with moderate standardized coefficients (0.38, 0.32 and -0.42, respectively; all p < 0.001).Conclusions: The PSPS-TV is an appropriate instrument to assess perceived stigma for individuals residing in Taiwan who have substance use disorders. Taiwan healthcare providers may thus consider using the PSPS-TV to assess perceived stigma relating to substance use in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]