Translation and Validation of Iranian Version of the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS).

Gratitude in the workplace can enhance work achievements and promote individual well-being in organizational contexts. Although the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS) was developed in the USA, it has not been corroborated in the Persian culture. The purpose of this study was to validate the Persian version of the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS). Scale validation procedures included linguistic validation and face and content validity assessment by experts and analysis. There was a correlation of approximately 0.592 between two subscales of GAWS-MW and GAWS-SWE, indicating a moderate level of association. Scale validity analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between GAWS and measures gratitude (GQ6), gratitude toward God, subjective happiness and satisfaction with life scales. The Gratitude at Work Scale exhibited good psychometric properties in assessing the sense of gratitude at work in our population. This may contribute to improving overall individual and organizational performance.

A review of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for characterizing Long COVID (LC)-merits, gaps, and recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Individuals may experience a range of symptoms after the clearance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This condition is termed long COVID (LC) or Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Despite the appreciable number of symptoms documented to date, one key challenge remains in the robust characterization of LC outcomes. This review aimed to assess the properties, identify gaps, and provide recommendations for relevant descriptive and evaluative Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement (PROM) instruments that can be used to comprehensively characterize LC. METHODS: To achieve this objective, we identified and reviewed descriptive and evaluative PROM instruments that have been developed and validated to date with people living with LC. Our review assessed their properties, identified gaps, and recommended PROMs suitable for characterizing LC. To ensure a comprehensive and robust characterization of LC, we next identified, reviewed, and selected (with the input of patient partners) PROMs associated with the most frequently reported LC symptoms. The evaluation criteria included psychometric evidence, mode of delivery, cost, and administration time. RESULTS: Traditional matrix mapping revealed Post-COVID Functional Status Scale (PCFS) as a choice instrument for capturing LC outcomes largely because of the comprehensive domains it covered, and the number of psychometric evidence reported in literatures. This instrument can be effectively paired with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Headache Impact Test (HIT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ-PEM) to characterize fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression/anxiety, headache, sleeplessness, and post-exertional malaise respectively. CONCLUSION: Our paper identified appropriate PROM instruments that can effectively capture the diverse impacts of LC. By utilizing these validated instruments, we can better understand and manage LC.

Some individuals who once contracted the virus responsible for COVID-19 may continue to experience a range of symptoms persisting for more than 3 months. These symptoms include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and difficulty breathing amongst others. This condition is known by many as Long COVID (LC). To understand the health outcomes of patients faced with this condition, standardized Patient Reported Outcome Measurement instruments (PROMs) are pivotal. PROMs are standardized questionnaires completed by patients to measure their symptoms, perceptions of health status, and/or functional well-being. In this paper, we have examined standardized instruments suitable for measuring LC outcomes. We conducted a comprehensive strength and weakness analysis of each instrument reviewed, guided by specific criteria. Based on our strength and weakness analyses, we identified several potential instruments that can be used to reports patients' outcomes concerning LC. The data collected from PROMs provides valuable insights for healthcare practitioners and policy makers, enabling the enhancement of patient-centric care and serving as an instrument for systemic transformation.

Sexuality attitudes and beliefs survey (SABS): validation of the instrument for the polish nursing and midwifery students.

The aim of the study is to create a Polish version of the sexuality attitudes and beliefs survey (SABS), to assess its cultural adaptation and psychometric properties and to utilize it to enable a cross-sectional study of the sexual attitudes and beliefs among Poland's nursing and midwifery students. Non-random network sampling and the adapted SABS v. PL scale were employed for the latter purpose. A total of 570 nursing and midwifery students from two Polish universities completed the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was utilized to measure the internal consistency of the SABS scale, while exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to determine its construct validity. The factors that most affect respondents' sexual attitudes and beliefs were identified through a stepwise multiple regression method and through an econometric model. An exploratory factor analysis of the SABS v. PL scale revealed an adequate fit and confirmed the 4-factor model. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for SABS v. PL amounted to: α = 0.66. The study's student population had a mean SABS score of 41.65 ± 5.63, while the mean SABS item score varied between 2.55 ± 1.27 and 4.35 ± 1.07. The study's results show that the SABS v. PL questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument. The work revealed that Polish nursing and midwifery students have attitudes and beliefs which negatively impact their ability to evaluate a person's sexual health concerns and provide relevant health counselling.

Validation and psychometric evaluation of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) among Czech adolescents using Item Response Theory.

BACKGROUND: The topic of adolescent mental health is currently a subject of much debate due to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among this age group. Therefore, it is crucial to have high-quality and validated mental well-being measurement tools. While such tools do exist, they are often not tailored specifically to adolescents and are not available in Czech language. The aim of this study is to validate and test the Czech version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) on a large sample of Czech adolescents aged 15 to 18 years. METHODS: The analysis is based on data from the first wave of the Czech Education Panel Survey (CZEPS) and was mainly conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT), which is the most appropriate method for this type of analysis. Specifically, the Graded Response Model (GRM) was applied to the data. This comprehensive validation study also included reliability and three types of validity (construct, convergent and criterion) testing. RESULTS: The study found that the Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents aged 15 to 18 years (N = 22,498) has good quality and psychometric properties. The data was analysed using the GRM model as it met the assumptions for the use of IRT. The estimated parameter values by GRM demonstrated good discriminant and informative power for all items, except for item 7, which showed poorer results compared to the others. However, excluding it from the scale would not enhance the overall quality of the scale. The five-category response scale functions effectively. Additionally, the results demonstrated high reliability, and all types of validity tested were also confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents has been validated as a psychometrically sound, reliable and valid instrument for measuring mental well-being. It can therefore be used with confidence in future studies.

Development and psychometric testing of the nursing practice difficulty scale for nurses caring for patients with dementia in general hospitals.

Objective: As aging in the Chinese population increases, the hospitalization rates of patients with dementia have also risen. Research on the difficulties of nurses who care for patients with dementia in Chinese general hospitals is limited. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure the difficulties nurses face in nursing patients with dementia in Chinese general hospitals and to verify its reliability and validity. Methods: Guided by the biopsychosocial theory, an initial scale was created through a literature review, qualitative interviews, and expert consultation. A web-based survey for psychometric testing was conducted with 394 nurses from 11 general hospitals during September to November 2021. Validity was verified using content validity, exploratory factor analysis, the known-groups method, and concurrent validity. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used to assess reliability. Results: The Item-level Content Validity Index was 0.833-1.000. The Scale-level Content Validity Index was 0.929. Twenty-one items with four factors were extracted from the item analysis and exploratory factor analysis. According to the known-groups method, the difficulty of the experienced group and the group with training experience was significantly lower than that of the less experienced group and the group without training experience. Based on external standards, the correlation coefficient was 0.387 with the Nursing Job Stress Scale and -0.239 with the Dementia Care Attitude Scale. Cronbach's α coefficient for each factor ranged from 0.889 to 0.905, and the total was 0.959. The split-half reliability for each factor ranged from 0.814 to 0.894, and the total was 0.911. Conclusion: This study discovered a four-factor structure related to the difficulty scale of dementia nursing practice, and the scale's reliability and validity were confirmed. The scale can be utilized to assess the difficulty of dementia nursing practice in general hospitals and may be employed in future research to improve dementia nursing practices.

Assessment of validity and reliability of the feedback quality instrument.

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to investigate the psychometric features of the Feedback Quality Instrument (FQI) in medical students, emphasizing the instrument's utility for evaluating the quality of feedback provided in clinical contexts and the importance of performing so for medical trainees. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The Persian version of the FQI was evaluated for content validity through a focus group of medical education experts. The questionnaire's face, content, and construct validity were assessed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability. The questionnaire was revised and pilot-tested, with medical students' feedback in different clinical situations. The data was analyzed using AMOS26. RESULTS: The content validity index equaled 0.88(> 0.79). The content validity ratio representing the proportion of participants who agreed on a selected item was 0.69(> 0.42). According to experts, item 25 is the only modified item, while items 23 and 24 are presented as one item. For reliability, Cronbach alpha was equaled to 0.98. CONCLUSIONS: The Persian version of the Feedback Quality Instrument (FQI) was valid, reliable, and fair in assessing feedback quality in medical students, providing valuable insights for other institutions. Establishing a basis for systematically analyzing how certain educator behaviors affect student outcomes is practical.

Parent-reported outcome measures evaluating communication in individuals with rare neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Communication impairments are a leading concern for parent caregivers of individuals with rare neurodevelopmental disorders (RNDDs). Clinical trials of disease modifying therapies require valid and responsive outcome measures that are relevant to individuals with RNDDs. Identifying and evaluating current psychometric properties for communication measures is a critical step towards the selection and use of appropriate instruments. AIMS: This systematic review offers (1) a description of parent-reported communication measures and (2) evidence for their psychometric properties, in RNDDs. METHODS: The systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022334649). MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry were searched from inception to August 2023. Methodological assessment of quality was completed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Parent-reported measures used in observational studies and clinical trials were identified. Data on utility, reliability and validity for RNDDs were extracted. MAIN CONTRIBUTION: Sixteen parent-reported communication measures were used in RNDD research, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales being most commonly used. Validation data in RNDDs were identified for six of these measures. Limitations related to sample size or the scope of psychometric testing. CONCLUSIONS: Many communication measures have been used for RNDDs but there are few data validating their use. Valid and reliable methods of measuring communication in persons with RNDDs is a priority for future high-quality clinical trials. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Communication is a critical domain for families with a child with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (RNDD). Validated outcome measures are essential for accurate evaluation and interpretation of responses to treatments in clinical trials. What this paper adds to existing knowledge We identified 16 parent-reported communication measures that have been used with RNDDs, but only six measures had validation data for at least one RNDD. High quality evidence is accumulating, with all validation studies in this review published between 2020 to 2023. Modifications of existing measures may be required to assess communication for RNDDs. What are the clinical implications of this work? This systematic review catalogues the available psychometric data for communication measures and indicates an ongoing need for new validation studies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose for upcoming clinical trials in RNDDs. This review will inform the selection of communication measures for clinical trials and research studies.

The Language of (Non)Replicable Social Science.

Using publicly available data from 299 preregistered replications from the social sciences, we found that the language used to describe a study can predict its replicability above and beyond a large set of controls related to the article characteristics, study design and results, author information, and replication effort. To understand why, we analyzed the textual differences between replicable and nonreplicable studies. Our findings suggest that the language in replicable studies is transparent and confident, written in a detailed and complex manner, and generally exhibits markers of truthful communication, possibly demonstrating the researchers' confidence in the study. Nonreplicable studies, however, are vaguely written and have markers of persuasion techniques, such as the use of positivity and clout. Thus, our findings allude to the possibility that authors of nonreplicable studies are more likely to make an effort, through their writing, to persuade readers of their (possibly weaker) results.

Thriving of Older People Assessment Scale (TOPAS): Transcultural adaptation, psychometric evaluation, and refinement in a Spanish sample.

The objective of this study was to culturally adapt the Thriving of Older People Assessment Scale (TOPAS) instrument and evaluate its psychometric properties. The study was carried out in two phases: cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation and refinement through a cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2020 with 314 participants. The refinement resulted in an abbreviated version of TOPAS, maintaining the original 5 factors with 16 items. Cronbach alpha was 0.91. Composite reliability (0.72-0.89) and average variance extracted (0.57-0.81), supporting discriminant validity. Maximum shared variance for the factors (0.22-0.50) and average shared variance (0.16-0.31), demonstrating discriminant validity. The abbreviated version of TOPAS showed evidence of being a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the adaptability of elderly residents in institutions. Implementing this instrument in Spanish nursing homes allows for a continuous evaluation of residents' well-being in relation to their environment, a construct not previously assessed with available scales.

Measuring Discharge Readiness: Psychometric Evaluation of Instruments for Patients After Abdominal Surgery.

Background and Purpose: Discharge readiness is an important aspect of quality care improvement but is poorly understood among clinicians. This study aims to develop and validate an abdominal surgery discharge readiness instrument (ASDRI). Methods: Through quantitative methods, ASDRI was crafted from qualitative exploration, literature review, and theoretical foundation. The psychometric analysis involved 344 patients with abdominal surgery aged 18 years and above using SmartPLS 4.0.9 software version. Results: The validated ASDRI contains both convergent and discriminant validities. The Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values for all the constructs were above the recommended cutoff point (AVE = 0.4) and demonstrated acceptable reliability (CA = 0.64 - 0.936; CR = 0.81 - 0.95). Conclusions: The ASDRI, comprising 28 items across five factors, emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing discharge readiness after abdominal surgery, emphasizing patient-centered discharge planning.

Comparing patient-reported outcomes measurement information system® (PROMIS®)-16 domain scores with the PROMIS-29 and 5-item PROMIS cognitive function scores.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the interpretability of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®)-16 profile domain scores (physical function, ability to participate in social roles and activities, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, pain interference, cognitive function - abilities, and fatigue) compared to the PROMIS-29 scores and a 5-item PROMIS cognitive function score. The study aims to provide insights into using these measures in clinical and research settings. METHODS: Analyses were conducted using data from 4130 adults from a nationally representative, probability-based internet panel between September and October 2022. A subset of 1256 individuals with back pain was followed up at six months. We compared the PROMIS-16 profile with the corresponding domain scores from the PROMIS-29 and a custom five-item cognitive function measure. We evaluated (1) reliability through inter-item correlations within each domain and (2) criterion validity by comparing PROMIS-16 profile with the corresponding longer PROMIS measures: (a) standardized mean differences in domain scores, (b) correlations, and (c) concordance of change (i.e., got worse, stayed the same, got better) among those with back pain from baseline to six months later using the reliable change index. We report the Kappa coefficient of agreement and the frequency and percentage of participants with concordant classifications. RESULTS: Inter-item correlations for the PROMIS-16 domains ranged from 0.65 in cognitive function to 0.92 in pain interference. Standardized mean differences between PROMIS-16 and the scores for the corresponding longer PROMIS domains were minimal (< 0.2). Correlations among the corresponding domain scores ranged from 0.82 for sleep disturbance to 0.98 for pain interference. The percentage of concordance in change groups ranged from 63% for sleep disturbance to 88% for pain interference. Except for sleep disturbance, the change groups derived from the PROMIS-16 showed moderate to substantial agreement with scores estimated from the longer PROMIS measures (Kappa coefficients ≥ 0.41). CONCLUSION: The PROMIS-16 domain scores perform similarly to the longer PROMIS measures and can be interpreted in the same way. This similarity indicates that PROMIS-16 can be useful for research as a brief health-related quality-of-life profile measure.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System^® (PROMIS^®)-16 Profile assesses eight health-related quality of life domains (physical function, ability to participate in social roles and activities, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, pain interference, cognitive function ­ abilities, and fatigue) using two items per domain. We evaluated the PROMIS-16 profile in a sample drawn from a nationally representative, probability-based internet panel. The study supports the reliability and criterion validity of the PROMIS-16, showing that the domain scores closely align with and have high concordance in change with the PROMIS-29 scores and a custom five-item cognitive function score. The PROMIS-16 has the potential to be a brief health-related quality-of-life profile measure in research and clinical settings.

Validation of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis among children. It can cause joint pain and permanent physical damage, which affects mobility and daily activities. The EQ-5D-Y-3L self-report version has been validated in JIA, but the validity of EQ-5D-Y-5L remains unknown. We examined the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with JIA. METHODS: We used data from the Understanding Childhood Arthritis Network Canadian-Dutch collaboration study cohort, including patients with new-onset JIA, and those starting or stopping biologics. Clinical data and the parent-proxy version of the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) and EQ-5D-Y-5L were collected. We evaluated the ceiling and floor effect; convergent and divergent validity using Spearman's rank correlation; known-group validity using one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and effect size; and informativity using Shannon's evenness index. RESULTS: 467 patient visits representing 407 patients were analyzed. The EQ-5D-Y-5L had no ceiling/floor effect. The EQ-5D-Y-5L showed good convergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ pain index (Spearman's r = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (C.I.): 0.69-0.79)), divergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ eating dimension (Spearman's r = 0.19, 95% C.I.: 0.09-0.29)) and known-group validity (e.g., mean EQ-5D-Y-5L level summary score for patients with inactive versus active disease status, 6.34 vs. 10.52 (p < 0.001, effect size = 1.20 (95% C.I.: 0.95-1.45)). Shannon's evenness index ranged from 0.52 to 0.88, suggesting most dimensions had relatively even distributions. CONCLUSIONS: In this patient sample, EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version exhibited construct validity and informativity, suggesting the EQ-5D-Y-5L can be used to measure the quality of life of children with JIA.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting children. It can cause pain and permanent physical damage to joints and affects mobility and daily activities. While there is no cure yet, new therapies like biologics are effective. However, biologics are expensive and can have side effects. To decide when is the best time to use these biologics, we need to understand their cost and impact on patients. EQ-5D-Y-5L is a common tool to measure how the disease affects a patient's life. It is unclear whether EQ-5D-Y-5L works well for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In this study, we compared the EQ-5D-Y-5L to another tool that measures how the illness impacts functional ability. We looked to see if the EQ-5D-Y-5L could tell the difference between children who were more or less sick. We also assessed whether the EQ-5D-Y-5L has the ability to describe patients with different severity in health status. This study indicates that the EQ-5D-Y-5L is a good tool to measure the health of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Findings from this study support the use of the EQ-5D-Y-5L among this patient population in future clinical trials and research studies.

Validity, reliability, responsiveness, and clinically meaningful change threshold estimates of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Symptom Index (NFBSI-16).

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Patient-reported outcome measures are used to evaluate patients' health-related quality of life in clinical breast cancer studies. This study evaluated the structure, validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Symptom Index (NFBSI-16) subscales in a clinical trial featuring patients with advanced/metastatic breast cancer (aBC), and estimated NFBSI-16 meaningful change thresholds. METHODS: Data from 101 patients with aBC enrolled in a phase II trial (Xenera-1) were included for psychometric evaluation of the NFBSI-16. Subscale structure was evaluated by assessing inter-item correlations, item-total correlations, and internal consistency (cycles 2 and 5). Validity was assessed using scale-level convergent validity (cycles 2 and 5) and known-groups (Baseline). Reliability was analysed via test-retest at cycles 3-4, and responsiveness to improvement and worsening was evaluated at cycles 5, 7, and 9. Meaningful change thresholds were estimated using anchor-based methods (supported by distribution-based methods) at cycles 5, 7, and 9. RESULTS: NFBSI-16 internal consistency was acceptable, but item-total correlations suggested that its subscales and the GP5 item (side-effect of treatment) scores may be preferred over a total score. Convergent and known-groups evidence supported NFBSI-16 validity. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent for Total and DRS-P (disease-related symptoms: physical) scales, and moderate for the GP5 item. Responsiveness to worsening was generally demonstrated, but responsiveness to improvement could not be demonstrated due to limited observed improvement. Anchor-based meaningful change thresholds were estimated for DRS-P and Total scores. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the NFBSI-16 has desirable psychometric properties for use in clinical studies in aBC. It also provides estimates of group- and individual-level meaningful change thresholds to facilitate score interpretation in future aBC research.

Translation and psychometric validation of the Patient Participation Culture Tool for healthcare workers in Chinese nursing context.

BACKGROUND: Promoting patient participation stands as a global priority in nursing care. Currently, there is a lack of a standardized tool to assess the culture of patient participation from the perspective of nurses in China. AIMS: To translate and examine the validity and reliability of the Patient Participation Culture Tool for healthcare workers (PaCT-HCW) on general hospital wards in Chinese nursing context. METHODS: A cross-sectional research study was conducted among 812 nurses. Brislin's recommendations were adhered to during the translation of the scale. Validity was assessed using construct validity, content validity, and face validity. Split-half reliability, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency reliability were used to evaluate dependability. The study was guided and reported following the STROBE checklist and recommendations for reporting the results of studies of instrument and scale development and testing. RESULTS: The Chinese version of PaCT-HCW (the PaCT-HCW-C) exhibits good face validity and content validity. A rigorous exploratory factor analyse verified a six-factor (competence, support, perceived lack of time, information sharing and dialogue, response to questions and acceptance of a new role) scale structure with a cumulative variance contribution of the factors with 44 items of 68.840%. With a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.962, split-half reliability of 0.866, and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.989, the instrument demonstrates great reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis results validated the consistency of the six factors with the structure of the PaCT-HCW-C scale. CONCLUSIONS: The 44-item PaCT-HCW-C is a valid and reliable instrument with satisfactory psychometric properties. It could serve as a tool for assessing the effectiveness of international programs aimed at fostering patient participation from the perspective of nurses, while also providing insights from China's practical experiences.

Trauma-informed care beliefs scale-comprehensive for child welfare carers using Rasch analysis.

BACKGROUND: The literature on trauma-informed care practices (TIC) indicates that this framework is beneficial for young people, carers, and staff. However, a significant gap in the literature and practice is the absence of psychometrically sound scales to measure carer adherence to TIC principles. Emerging evidence suggests that TIC practices shift carer attitudes and beliefs, which mediate positive outcomes for both carers and young people. OBJECTIVE: To develop a theoretically comprehensive and psychometrically sound measure of carer TIC beliefs using Rasch methodology. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Active carers (N = 719, M = 43 years, SD = 10.7 years) from online support groups in Australia, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland completed the questionnaire online. METHODS: Based on previous research (e.g., limitations of the Trauma-Informed Belief Scale-Brief [TIBS-B]; Beehag, Dryer, et al., 2023a) and a scoping review of the TIC literature (Beehag, 2023), 61 candidate items were created that covered the three main characteristics of carer-related TIC theory (i.e., beliefs on TIC strategies to manage trauma symptoms, beliefs on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and beliefs on the importance of self-care/reflection). The resulting data was subjected to Rasch analyses. RESULTS: Following analyses and minor modifications, a 35-item version of the questionnaire was confirmed, which fitted the Rasch model and demonstrated unidimensionality, reasonable targeting, and sound internal consistency reliability (Person Separation Index = 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The TIBS-C is a psychometrically sound measure of child welfare carer TIC beliefs. Future studies are needed to provide further evidence of its validity (e.g., predictive validity), reliability (e.g., test-retest reliability) and clinical utility.

German translation and psychometric evaluation of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS-GER) in a general population sample and in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) is a scale-based measure with 35 items that assesses various aspects of mental health literacy. The original English version was developed in Australia and has been translated into several languages. The present study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the questionnaire for its use in Germany and to determine the psychometric properties of the German version of the MHLS (MHLS-GER) in two different samples. METHODS: After translation and cultural adaptation, the MHLS-GER was administered via an online survey in a general population sample and via a postal survey in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to determine the dimensionality. Furthermore, internal consistency, known-groups-validity and measurement invariance were evaluated. RESULTS: Data of 517 participants of the general population sample and 786 participants of the AMI sample were analyzed. In both samples a four-factor structure yielded good model fit indices. The four subscales of the MHLS-GER including 31 items comprise the topics 'knowledge' (11 items), 'information seeking' (4 items), 'stigmatization' (9 items) and 'social distance' (7 items). All four subscales showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.80 to 0.90, average inter-item correlation: 0.30-0.59) and were mostly invariant across the two samples. Participants with previous experience with mental disorders (personal or professional context) showed higher scores on the four subscales. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the unidimensional structure of the original version, the MHLS-GER comprises four subscales. All subscales showed acceptable to good psychometric properties and can now be used to assess mental health literacy. Further validation studies to evaluate test-retest-reliability and responsiveness are required.

Validation and Measurement Invariance of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) Among Thai Young Adults.

Examining ways of reducing physical inactivity has been at the forefront of public health research. Moreover, valid and reliable scales are needed to objectively assess physical activity (PA) avoidance. Previous research has shown that experiencing weight stigma and physical appearance-related concerns are associated with physical inactivity. However, there is currently no Thai instrument that assesses physical inactivity in relation to weight stigma. Therefore, the present study examined the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS). Thai university students (N = 612) recruited via convenience sampling completed an online survey using SurveyMonkey between September 2022 and January 2023. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multigroup CFA, and Pearson correlations (between TAPAS scores, age, body mass index, and time spent exercising) were used to analyze the data. The CFA showed robust psychometric properties for the Thai version of TAPAS regarding its unidimensional structure. The TAPAS was measurement invariant across sex, weight status, and daily hours of exercise. However, no significant Pearson correlations were found. In general, the results showed that the TAPAS is a good scale for assessing PA avoidance among Thai young adults across different sexes, weight status, and daily hours of exercise.

Somatosensory Amplification Scale-Chinese version: psychometric properties and its mediating role in the relationship between alexithymia and somatization.

The Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) was designed to measure individual's tendency to experience visceral and somatic sensations as unusually intense, disturbing and alarming. In this study, we aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the SSAS in the Chinese general population, as well as the mediating effect of somatosensory amplification in the relationship between alexithymia and somatization. A total of 386 healthy adults were enrolled in this study. Participants completed the Chinese versions of the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS-C), the somatization subscale of the Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90 som), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Short form Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). One hundred and thirty-three participants were randomly selected to complete the SSAS-C again two weeks after the initial assessment. The reliability and validity of the SSAS-C were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the one-factor model achieved adequate model fits; one item was deleted due to low factor loading. The revised SSAS-C showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The SSAS-C scores correlated positively with the scores of SCL-90 som, TAS-20 and the SHAI, showing good convergent validity. In addition, somatosensory amplification mediated the association between alexithymia and somatization. The Chinese version of SSAS has acceptable reliability and validity for the general population. In addition, alexithymia may increase somatization through higher somatosensory amplification.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the resilience scale for parents of children with cancer.

Background: Pediatric cancer ranks among the leading causes of mortality in children globally. While serving as primary caregivers, certain parents may experience anxiety, depression, and other related challenges. However, not all parents succumb to such psychological distress. Resilience emerges as a potential protective factor. Assessing parental resilience holds paramount importance for healthcare professionals in identifying issues and offering tailored interventions. Yet, mainland China lacks adequate tools for this assessment. Hence, this study endeavors to translate the Resilience Scale for Parents of Children with Cancer (RSP-CC) into Chinese and scrutinize its psychometric properties. Methods: From April 2023 to January 2024, a methodological study was conducted in Chengdu, Chongqing, and Jinzhou, China, recruiting 377 eligible parents via convenience sampling for a multicenter cross-sectional survey. The translation process of the RSP-CC adhered rigorously to the Brislin model, involving forward and back-translation, followed by necessary modifications. Item analysis was assessed using the critical ratio and the item-total correlation coefficient. Validity evaluation encompassed content and internal validity assessments. Scale reliability was determined through Cronbach's α coefficient, retest reliability, and split-half reliability coefficients. Results: The Chinese version of the RSP-CC comprises 4 dimensions and 24 items, explaining a cumulative variance contribution of 63.58%. In this investigation, the content validity index attained a score of 0.97. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yielded four factors consistent with the original scale, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated satisfactory fit indices. Both Cronbach's α coefficient and retest reliability stood at 0.95, with a split-half reliability coefficient of 0.82. Conclusion: After rigorous translation and verification, the RSP-CC was adapted in China, demonstrating favorable psychometric characteristics. It stands as an effective instrument for parents of children diagnosed with cancer in China. Additionally, this scale could serve as a crucial tool for clinical staff in formulating specific interventions.

Assessing social connection for long-term care home residents: Systematic review using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines.

Social connection is important for long-term care (LTC) residents' quality of life and care. However, there is a lack of consensus on how to measure it and this limits ability to find what improves and impairs social connection in LTC homes. We therefore aimed to systematically review and evaluate the measurement properties of existing measures of social connection for LTC residents, to identify which, if any, measures can be recommended. We searched eight electronic databases from inception to April 2022 for studies which reported on psychometric properties of a measure of any aspect(s) of social connection (including social networks, interaction, engagement, support, isolation, connectedness, and loneliness) for LTC residents. We used COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines to evaluate the measurement properties reported for each identified measure and make recommendations. We identified 62 studies reporting on 38 measures; 21 measured quality of life, well-being or life satisfaction and included a social connection subscale or standalone items and 17 measures specifically targeted social connection. We found there was little high-quality evidence on psychometric properties such as sufficient content validity (n = 0), structural validity (n = 3), internal consistency (n = 3), reliability (n = 1), measurement error (n = 0), construct validity (n = 4), criterion validity (n = 0) and responsiveness (n = 0). No measures demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties on all these aspects, so none could be recommended for use. Thirty-four measures have the potential to be recommended but require further research to assess their quality and the remaining four are not recommended for use. Our review therefore found that no existing measures have sufficient evidence to be recommended for assessment of social connection in residents of LTC homes. Further validation and reliability studies of existing instruments or the development of new measures are needed to enable accurate measurement of social connection in LTC residents for future observational and interventional studies. Highlights: Social connection is fundamental to person-centered care in long-term care homes.There is insufficient evidence for the reliability and validity of existing measures.No current measures can be recommended for use based on existing evidence.A reliable and valid measure of social connection is needed for future research.