Urdu translation and cross-cultural validation of the stroke self-efficacy questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) measures the self-confidence of the individual in functional activities after a stroke. The SSEQ is a self-report scale with 13 items that assess self-efficacy after a stroke in several functional domains. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to translate the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire into Urdu Language and to find out the validity and reliability of Urdu SSEQ among stroke patients. METHODS: The cross-cultural validation study design was used. Following COSMIN guidelines, forward and backward translation protocols were adopted. After pilot testing on 10 stroke patients, the final Urdu version was drafted. A sample of 110 stroke patients was used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the SSEQ-U. Content and Concurrent validity were determined. The intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha were used to measure internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25. RESULTS: The final version was drafted after application on 10 stroke patients. Content validity was analyzed by a content validity index ranging from 0.87 to 1. The internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach's alpha (α > 0.80). Test-retest reliability was determined by the Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1=0.956). Concurrent validity was determined by correlations with other scales by using the Spearman correlation coefficient; moderate to strong correlations (positive and negative) were found with the Functional Independence Measure (r = 0.76), Beck Depression Inventory (r=-0.54), Short Form of 12-item Scale (r = 0.68) and Fall Efficacy Scale (r = 0.82) with p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The Urdu version was linguistically acceptable and accurate for stroke survivors for determining self-efficacy. It showed good content and concurrent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Ostomy Self-Care Index and the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care in Ostomy Patient Index.

BACKGROUND: Living with an ostomy is a chronic condition, and self-care in such cases improves patient outcomes. PURPOSE: To adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Ostomy Self-Care Index (T-OSCI) and the Turkish version of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care in Ostomy Patient Index (T-CC-OSCI). METHODS: A psychometric study was conducted on a convenience sample of 202 adult patients with an ostomy and their 165 caregivers. Translation and back translation, face and content validity, construct validation, and reliability assessment of the T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI were performed. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the construct validity. Reliability was established using Cronbach α coefficients, ceiling and floor effects, and the Hotelling T2 test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Content validity values were in the range of 0.85 to 1 for both the T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated generally acceptable factor loadings. The overall index revealed a high level of internal consistency (T-OSCI = 0.968, T-CC-OSCI = 0.862). No statistically significant difference was found between test-retest measurements. There was no indication of either ceiling or floor effects, or response bias. CONCLUSION: The T-OSCI and the T-CC-OSCI are valid and reliable indexes to measure the self-care of patients with an ostomy and their caregivers. These indexes may allow health care professionals to evaluate self-care in research and clinical settings, identify educational needs, and collaborate in developing and supporting appropriate self-care initiatives for patients with an ostomy and their caregivers.

TORONTO: A trial-oriented multidimensional psychometric testing algorithm.

Bayesian adaptive methods for sensory threshold determination were conceived originally to track a single threshold. When applied to the testing of vision, they do not exploit the spatial patterns that underlie thresholds at different locations in the visual field. Exploiting these patterns has been recognized as key to further improving visual field test efficiency. We present a new approach (TORONTO) that outperforms other existing methods in terms of speed and accuracy. TORONTO generalizes the QUEST/ZEST algorithm to estimate simultaneously multiple thresholds. After each trial, without waiting for a fully determined threshold, the trial-oriented approach updates not only the location currently tested but also all other locations based on patterns in a reference data set. Since the availability of reference data can be limited, techniques are developed to overcome this limitation. TORONTO was evaluated using computer-simulated visual field tests: In the reliable condition (false positive [FP] = false negative [FN] = 3%), the median termination and root mean square error (RMSE) of TORONTO was 153 trials and 2.0 dB, twice as fast with equal accuracy as ZEST. In the FP = FN = 15% condition, TORONTO terminated in 151 trials and was 2.2 times faster than ZEST with better RMSE (2.6 vs. 3.7 dB). In the FP = FN = 30% condition, TORONTO achieved 4.2 dB RMSE in 148 trials, while all other techniques had > 6.5 dB RMSE and terminated much slower. In conclusion, TORONTO is a fast and accurate algorithm for determining multiple thresholds under a wide range of reliability and subject conditions.

The Brief Symptom Inventory in the Swiss general population: Presentation of norm scores and predictors of psychological distress.

Psychological distress is an important and frequent health problem. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) allows screening for psychological distress in clinical, general and research populations. We aimed to provide normative data for the BSI and the BSI-18 for the Swiss general population: We 1) present psychometric properties, 2) develop a Swiss T-standardization and validate it using a clinical sample, 3) describe psychological distress in the Swiss general population and the clinical sample, and 4) compare the means and T-standardized scores of the Swiss general population to different German norm populations. Using a cross-sectional study design, we invited a representative sample of the Swiss general population aged 18-75 years to the study. A sample of psychotherapy outpatients had competed the BSI before start of their therapy. We calculated scores for the nine scales of the BSI (three of them constitute the BSI-18), the T-standardization and the following BSI indices: Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Total (PST), Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI), and Caseness (reaching T≥63 on the GSI or T≥63 on at least two of the scales). A total of 1238 general population participants completed the BSI (41.8% male; mean age 48.9 years). The BSI had good psychometric properties. The Swiss T-standardization showed good validity when applied in the clinical sample. Females reached a significantly higher GSI score than males (p<0.001). Older participants (p = 0.026), those with higher education (p <0.001), and those employed or retired (p<0.001) reached lower scores than participants aged 18-25 years, those with compulsory schooling, and unemployed participants, respectively. A total of 18.1% (CI: 16.0-20.5) participants of the general population and 75.2% (CI: 73.7-76.7) of the psychotherapy patients were considered cases with psychological distress. Our study presents detailed normative data for the BSI and the BSI-18 based on a representative sample of the Swiss general population. This information will be helpful for clinical applications and research in the Swiss and international context.

Validation of the Hungarian version of the 6-item turnover intention scale among elderly care workers.

This research examines the psychometric characteristics and reliability of the 6-item turnover intention scale (TIS-6) by Bothma and Roodt (SA J Hum Resour Manag 11:a507, 2013) on a Hungarian sample. The internal validity of the TIS-6 was assessed using data from 269 Hungarian elderly care institution workers. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to analyse the structural validity. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined with questions on job characteristics and using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale. IBM SPSS 28.0 software was used for the statistical analysis, and the results were considered significant at p < 0.05. The internal consistency of the questionnaire's scale proved to be acceptable (α = 0.826). Convergent validity was confirmed by the relationships between the components of the questionnaire and burnout (rs = 0.512; p < 0.001; rs = 0.419; p < 0.001) and workplace stress (rs = 0.565; p < 0.001; rs = 0.310; p < 0.001). There were significant differences between the TIS-6 scores among the groups with different degrees of burnout (p < 0.001), which indicated adequate discriminant validity of the questionnaire. The structural validity of the questionnaire was acceptable, and the scale questions fit well. The Hungarian version of the TIS-6 scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing turnover intention among elderly care institution workers in Hungary.

The public's perception of the nursing profession: Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the nursing image scale in Taiwan.

The public's perception of the nursing image deeply influences nurses' work and professional development. However, the Taiwanese public's perception of nursing remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a Chinese version of the Nursing Image Scale (NIS) in Taiwan. This was a psychometric study using a cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited via the snowball sampling method through the online community software LINE from August 1 to 13, 2019. After data collection, the construction and validation of the NIS to measure public opinion were assessed, including content validity, corrected item-total correlation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and reliability. A total of 1331 valid responses were included in the analysis. After EFA analysis, the 20 scale items were divided across the four domains of prudence and care, innovation and cooperation, efficiency and division, and professionalism and respect. The NIS (Chinese version) was valid and reliable for measuring public opinion and may be used to examine changes in public perceptions of nursing.

Comparison of real data and simulated data analysis of a stopping rule based on the standard error of measurement in computerized adaptive testing for medical examinations in Korea: a psychometric study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare and evaluate the efficiency and accuracy of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) under two stopping rules (SEM 0.3 and 0.25) using both real and simulated data in medical examinations in Korea. METHODS: This study employed post-hoc simulation and real data analysis to explore the optimal stopping rule for CAT in medical examinations. The real data were obtained from the responses of 3rd-year medical students during examinations in 2020 at Hallym University College of Medicine. Simulated data were generated using estimated parameters from a real item bank in R. Outcome variables included the number of examinees' passing or failing with SEM values of 0.25 and 0.30, the number of items administered, and the correlation. The consistency of real CAT result was evaluated by examining consistency of pass or fail based on a cut score of 0.0. The efficiency of all CAT designs was assessed by comparing the average number of items administered under both stopping rules. RESULTS: Both SEM 0.25 and SEM 0.30 provided a good balance between accuracy and efficiency in CAT. The real data showed minimal differences in pass/fail outcomes between the 2 SEM conditions, with a high correlation (r = 0.99) between ability estimates. The simulation results confirmed these findings, indicating similar average item numbers between real and simulated data. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that both SEM 0.25 and 0.30 are effective termination criteria in the context of the Rasch model, balancing accuracy and efficiency in CAT.

Psychometric of the Persian version of Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) in the elderly with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Improving the quality of life (QoL) is a significant healthcare priority, and it is an important health outcome for elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) is a specific scale used to measure the QoL in elderly individuals with Alzheimer's. So far, limited quantitative research has been conducted on the psychometric properties of this scale. AIMS: This study was conducted to translate the QUALID Scale into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties among family and professional caregivers of elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease in Tehran. METHODS: A cross-sectional methodological study was conducted among family and professional caregivers of elderly individuals with Alzheimer's in Tehran, Iran in 2022. The questionnaire was translated into Persian using the forward-backward method. Face and content validity were assessed. Additionally, construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Equamax rotation (n=210) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n=155). Cronbach's alpha and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were estimated to determine reliability. RESULTS: A total of 365 caregivers with a mean age of 14.18±42.60 years participated in this study. In the face and content validity phase, all 11 items were retained. To determine the construct validity, two factors were extracted in the EFA phase, including behavioural signs of discomfort and behavioural signs of social interaction. The findings of the CFA also indicated that all goodness of fit indices supported the final model. The Cronbach's alpha was excellent for both factors (0.814), and the ICC was calculated as 0.98. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the Persian version of the QUALID Scale has sufficient validity and reliability for measuring the QoL in elderly Iranian individuals with Alzheimer's.

Exploring the Loss Aversion Scale's psychometric properties in Spain.

Loss aversion is a psychological construct defined as a tendency to value potential losses more than gains in a situation that requires decision-making. The Loss Aversion Scale (LAS, eight items) measures an individual's loss aversion to various situations. However, the generalization of its psychometric properties to different population groups is unknown. This study aimed to validate the LAS instrument for use among Spanish university adults. To this end, two studies were conducted: a content validity study calculating the substantive validity (N = 24) of the instrument's translation from original English to Spanish and a study of internal structure and association (N = 766) among Spanish university men and women aged 18-35. The analyses performed for each sample indicated that the instrument had adequate validity and reliability values as a one-dimensional measure; however, items 5 and 8 had to be removed. Their scores indicated moderate-magnitude correlations with social desirability. This article debates the study's limitations, practical implications, and future lines of research based on the results. The conclusion is that the Loss Aversion Scale instrument suits general Spanish population samples and requires probable methodological control concerning social desirability.

IAVRS-International Affective Virtual Reality System: Psychometric Assessment of 360° Images by Using Psychophysiological Data.

Virtual Reality is an effective technique for eliciting emotions. It provides immersive and ecologically valid emotional experiences while maintaining experimental control. Recently, novel VR forms like 360° videos have been used successfully for emotion elicitation. Some preliminary databases of 360° videos for emotion elicitation have been proposed, but they tapped mainly into an emotional dimensional approach and did not include a concurrent physiological assessment of an emotional profile. This study expands on these databases by combining dimensional and discrete approaches to validate a new set of 360° emotion-inducing images. Twenty-six participants viewed 46 immersive images, and their emotional reactions were measured using self-reporting, psychophysiological signals, and eye tracking. The IAVRS database can successfully elicit a wide range of emotional responses, including both positive and negative valence, as well as different levels of arousal. Results reveal an important correspondence between the discrete and dimensional models of emotions. Furthermore, the images that exhibit convergence between the dimensional and discrete emotional models are particularly impactful regarding arousal and valence values. The IAVRS database provides insights into potential relationships between physiological parameters and emotional responses. This preliminary investigation highlights the complexity of emotional elicitation processes and their physiological correlates, suggesting the need for further research to deepen our understanding.

Patient knowledge in anaesthesia: Psychometric development of the RAKQ-The Rotterdam anaesthesia Knowledge questionnaire.

The transition from in-person to digital preoperative patient education requires effective methods for evaluating patients' understanding of the perioperative process, risks, and instructions to ensure informed consent. A knowledge questionnaire covering different anaesthesia techniques and instructions could fulfil this need. We constructed a set of items covering common anaesthesia techniques requiring informed consent and developed the Rotterdam Anaesthesia Knowledge Questionnaire (RAKQ) using a structured approach and Item Response Theory. A team of anaesthetists and educational experts developed the initial set of 60 multiple-choice items, ensuring content and face validity. Next, based on exploratory factor analysis, we identified seven domains: General Anaesthesia-I (regarding what to expect), General Anaesthesia-II (regarding the risks), Spinal Anaesthesia, Epidural Anaesthesia, Regional Anaesthesia, Procedural sedation and analgesia, and Generic Items. This itemset was filled out by 577 patients in the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, and Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Based on factor loadings (≥0.25) and considering clinical relevance this initial item set was reduced to 50 items, distributed over the seven domains. Each domain was processed to produce a separate questionnaire. Through an iterative process of item selection to ensure that the questionnaires met the criteria for Item Response Theory modelling, 40 items remained in the definitive set of seven questionnaires. Finally, we developed an Item Response Theory model for each questionnaire and evaluated its reliability. 1-PL and 2-PL models were chosen based on best model fit. No item misfit (S-χ2, p<0.001 = misfit) was detected in the final models. The newly developed RAKQ allows practitioners to assess their patients' knowledge before consultation to better address knowledge gaps during consultation. Moreover, they can decide whether the level of knowledge is sufficient to obtain digital informed consent without face-to-face education. Researchers can use the RAKQ to compare new methods of patient education with traditional methods.

Measuring Strong, Skillful, Good and Transpersonal Will: The development of the Multidimensional Will Scale.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to provide a scale to assess different aspects of the will based on Roberto Assagioli's theory. METHODS AND RESULTS: The scale development followed three steps. Step 1 focused on operationalizing the construct and developing the items. It was carried out through several phases of item generation and refinement, resulting in a pool of 38 items. At Step 2 we tested the psychometric properties of the initial 38-item scale with the goal of excluding the items that weakened the structural validity and reliability of the scale. Descriptive, internal consistency, and exploratory factor analyses statistics were computed on a large sample (Sample 1: N = 587; age: M = 21.55, SD = 4.14, 66% female) and they led to a five-dimension model (Strong, Skillful, Good toward Self and Other, and Transpersonal Will) and the exclusion of 15 items. Analyses conducted at Step 3 on a different sample (Sample 2: N = 683; age: M = 34.09, SD = 16.27, 54% female) allowed for further refinement of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis conducted on the resulting 19-item scale showed a good fit for the five-factor model (χ2 (142) = 507.63, p< .001, TLI = .91; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .06 [90%CI: .06‒.07]), and evidence of its invariance across genders and ages was provided. Reliability indices (internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficients) were adequate (ranging from .66 to .83) and correlations with measures of related constructs supported the external validity of the scale. CONCLUSION: This study provides researchers, therapists, and counselors with an efficient measurement tool to assess Assagioli's construct of will.

Brief instruments for measuring nutrition literacy - the Nutrition Health Literacy Scale and the Self-Perceived Food Literacy Scale Short Form.

BACKGROUND: A healthy diet is a critical factor in maintaining long-term health. In addition to a health-promoting food environment, the nutrition health literacy (NHL) and food literacy (FL) of the population are important in this context. This paper describes the development and validation of two short instruments to measure the nutrition literacy of the population, used in the Austrian Nutrition Literacy Survey 2021. METHODS: An instrument to measure NHL (Nutrition Health Literacy Scale; NHLS) has been adapted and further developed. To measure FL, the Self-perceived Food Literacy Scale by Poelman et al. has been modified and shortened (SPFL-SF). Validation of the instruments was based on data from a web survey conducted in Austria in 2021 with almost 3,000 participants aged 18 years and older. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the factorial validity/dimensionality of the instruments. Additionally, internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, ordinal alpha, and McDonald's omega. RESULTS: Both instruments demonstrate excellent data-model fit. The NHLS also shows excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91), while the SPFL-SF displays a sufficient internal consistency for all (α between 0.70 and 0.89) but one sub-dimension (resisting temptation α = 0.61). Furthermore, the distribution of the items indicates that the measures are understandable and suitable, as evidenced by the absence of missing values in the sample. In addition, the items of both instruments differ in their level of difficulty or agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The NHLS and SPFL-SF are reliable and valid instruments for measuring NHL and FL in the general adult population. The brief instruments measuring the different aspects of nutrition literacy can be easily used in nutritional or evaluation studies. Further work is required to investigate other aspects of validity.

Development of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultural competence scale for nurses in South Korea: a methodological study.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a cultural competence scale for nurses regarding the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and to test its validity and reliability. METHODS: The study adhered to the 8-step process outlined by DeVellis, with an initial set of 25 items derived through a literature review and individual interviews. Following an expert validity assessment, 24 items were validated. Subsequently, a preliminary survey was conducted among 23 nurses with experience caring for LGBT patients. Data were then collected from a final sample of 322 nurses using the 24 items. Item analysis, item-total score correlation, examination of construct and convergent validity, and reliability testing were performed. RESULTS: The item-level content validity index exceeded .80, and the explanatory power of the construct validity was 63.63%. The factor loadings varied between 0.57 and 0.80. The scale comprised five factors: cultural skills, with seven items; cultural awareness, with five items; cultural encounters, with three items; cultural pursuit, with three items; and cultural knowledge, with three items; totaling 21 items. Convergent validity demonstrated a high correlation, affirming the scale's validity. Internal consistency analysis yielded an overall reliability coefficient of 0.97, signifying very high reliability. Each item is scored from 1 to 6 (total score range, 21-126), with higher scores reflecting greater cultural competence in LGBT care. CONCLUSION: This scale facilitates the measurement of LGBT cultural competence among nurses. Therefore, its use should provide foundational data to support LGBT-focused nursing education programs.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support tool: a methodological study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to translate the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support (PICSS) instrument into Chinese and to verify the reliability and validity of the translated version. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PICSS (C-PICSS). A cohort of 150 first-time mothers in China participated, attending hospital follow-up care at 6 weeks postpartum. Data were collected after obtaining informed consent from the mothers. RESULTS: The majority of mothers were aged between 20 and 29 years, with a mean age of 26.25 (±3.90) years. An item analysis of the 19 items in the C-PICSS showed that all items had an item-total score correlation above 0.2. This resulted in a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of 0.92 and a significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (χ2=1,778.65, p<.001), confirming the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Correlation analyses revealed a strong positive relationship between infant care social support and general social support (r=.62, p<.001), and a negative relationship between infant care social support and postpartum depression (r=-.38, p<.001). Higher scores for infant care social support were associated with reporting positive relationships with their husbands (t=3.72, p<.001) and high levels of spousal involvement (t=4.09, p<.001). In terms of structural support, spouses were identified as the primary source. CONCLUSION: The research results indicate that C-PICSS is reliable and valid as an indicator of social support for infant care among Chinese mothers.

Development of parenting difficulties in infectious disease pandemic inventory.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to develop the Parenting Difficulties in Infectious Disease Pandemic Inventory (PDIDPI) for the assessment of parenting difficulties during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to examine its psychometric properties. METHODS: The 31-item PDIDPI was developed on the basis of the results of focus group interviews. An exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring was conducted to examine the PDIDPI factor structure. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach α values. The test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The concurrent validity was established by examining the correlations of the PDIDPI with Fear of COVID-19 Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) scores. RESULTS: We determined that the PDIDPI has seven factors: infection, school and learning, life change, care burden, daily living, health care, and emotion and behavior. The PDIDPI also had good internal consistency (α = 0.685-0.929) and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.404-0.794). Regarding concurrent validity, the overall PDIDPI and its seven factors were all significantly associated with depression, determined by the CESD (r = 0.223-0.370), but not all factors were significantly associated with fear of COVID-19 (r = 0.082-0.203). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the psychometric properties of the PDIDPI, confirming its utility for evaluating the multifaceted challenges parents face in child management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Re-examining the factor structure of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and defining the meaningful within-individual change (MWIC) for subjects with insomnia disorder in two phase III clinical trials of the efficacy of lemborexant.

BACKGROUND: The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a widely used measure of insomnia severity. Various ISI research findings suggest different factor solutions and meaningful within-individual change (MWIC) to detect treatment response in patients with insomnia. This study examined an ISI factor solution and psychometric indices to define MWIC in a robust patient sample from clinical trial settings. METHODS: We endeavored to improve upon previous validation of ISI by examining structural components of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models using two large, placebo-controlled clinical trials of lemborexant for insomnia. Using the best-fitting two-factor solution, we evaluated anchor-based, distribution-based and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve methods to derive an estimate of the MWIC. RESULTS: The model structure for the 7-item scale proposed in other research did not fit the observed data from our two lemborexant clinical trials (N = 1956) as well as a two-factor solution based on 6 items did. Using triangulation of anchor-based, distribution-based, and ROC methods, we determined that a 5-point reduction using 6 items best represented a clinically meaningful improvement in individuals with insomnia in our patient sample. CONCLUSIONS: A 6-item two-factor scale had better psychometric properties than the 7-item scale in this patient sample. On the 6-item scale, a reduction of 5 points in the ISI total score represented the MWIC. Generalizability of the proposed MWIC may be limited to patient populations with similar demographic and clinical characteristics.

Factorial invariance of the abridged version of the Explicit Discrimination Scale among adults living in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The Explicit Discrimination Scale (EDS) was developed to assess experiences with discrimination in Brazilian epidemiologic surveys. Though previous analyses have demonstrated that the EDS has good configural, metric, and scalar properties, its invariance has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the factorial invariance of two abridged versions of the EDS, according to skin color/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, and their intersections. METHODS: Data from the EpiFloripa Adult Study were used, which include a representative sample of adults residing in a state capital of southern Brazil (n=1,187). Over half of the respondents were women, and around 90% identified as white; the mean age of the participants was 39 years. Two abridged versions of the EDS were analyzed, with seven and eight items, using Multigroup Confirmatory Analysis and the Alignment method. RESULTS: The two versions of the scale may be used to provide estimates of discrimination that are comparable across skin color/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, and their intersections. In the seven-item version of the scale, only one parameter lacked invariance (i.e., threshold of item i13 - called by names you do not like), specifically among black respondents with less than 12 years of formal education. CONCLUSION: The EDS may provide researchers with valid, reliable, and comparable estimates of discrimination between different segments of the population, including those at the intersections of skin color/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status. However, future research is needed to determine whether the patterns we identified here are consistent in other population domains.

Validity and reliability of the Greek Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ Version 2.1-GR).

BACKGROUND: To assess the validity and reliability of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire 2.1 (MSQv.2.1) in a group of Greek migraineurs. DESIGN-SAMPLE-METHODS: The Greek version of MSQv.2.1 (MSQv.2.1-GR), a self-report measure with 14 items in 3 domains (Role Restrictive (RR), Role Preventive (RP) and Emotional Function (EF)), was administered during a cross-sectional study to 141 Greek adult migraineurs and 135 controls without migraine or any other primary headache disorder, along with Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) to assess validity. MSQv.2.1-GR was re-administered in a group of participants with migraine two weeks afterwards to assess reliability. Content and construct validity was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Spearman rho, McDonald's omega, Cronbach's alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the latent structure of the MSQv.2.1-GR in migraineurs. RESULTS: A total of 276 adults participated in the study. Internal consistency of the three MSQv.2.1-GR scales RR, RP and EF yielded a range of McDonald's omega from 0.832 to 0.923 (Cronbach's alpha from 0.814 to 0.923). CFA confirmed the proposed three-factor MSQv.2.1-GR latent structure with acceptable goodness of fit indices and factor loadings. Correlations were established between MSQv2.1-GR component and MIDAS scores, showing moderate and statistically significant relationships (from - 0.519 to -0.562, all p < 0.001) for RR, RP and EF. Correlations between MSQv2.1-GR and SF-12 component scores were identified, with values from 0.1 to 0.4, indicating low to moderate associations. ICC was calculated at 0.997, indicating a high level of reliability between the measures. Notably, all MSQv2.1-GR scores (RR, RP, EF) were significantly higher in the controls compared to migraineurs (p < 0.001 for all scales). These findings suggest that MSQv2.1-GR is internally consistent, shows significant correlations with relevant measures, and is effective in discriminating controls from migraineurs. CONCLUSION: MSQv2.1-GR is a valid and reliable tool to determine the effect migraine has on the quality of life of Greek-speaking migraineurs.

Migraine is a major global health issue, ranking at the top leading causes of disability worldwide. The Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire 2.1 (MSQ v.2.10 is an effective instrument for measuring the influence of headaches on a patient's quality of life but it is not available for the Greek migraineurs. We therefore made this study to investigate the reliability and validity of MSQv.2.1 in Greek. The Greek version (MSQv2.1-GR) was administered on a total of 142 migraineurs and 136 non-migraineurs. In addition, other instruments such as MIDAS and SF-12 were applied to determine its validity. We concluded that MSQv2.1-GR is a valid measure. There was great reliability between the items because they were measuring the same thing. It had a good correlation with other tests that evaluate migraine-related disability and quality of life. It also differentiated migraineurs from non-migraineurs in terms of quality of life. Therefore, MSQv2.1-GR proves to be an appropriate measure for examining the consequences of migraine on the health-related quality of life among Greek individuals. This tool will be helpful for clinicians in Greece as well as for research purposes such as cross-cultural studies on effects of migraine on quality of life.

Capturing patient-reported sleep disturbance in atopic dermatitis clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Patient-focused approaches to capturing day-to-day variability in sleep disturbance are needed to properly evaluate the sleep benefits of new treatments. Such approaches rely on patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures validated in the target patient population. METHODS: Using atopic dermatitis (AD) as an example of a disease in which sleep is commonly disturbed, we developed a strategy for measuring sleep disturbance in AD trials. In developing this strategy, we conducted a targeted literature review and held concept elicitation interviews with adolescents and adults with AD. We subsequently identified potentially suitable PRO measures and cognitively debriefed them. Finally, we evaluated their psychometric properties using data from phase 2b (NCT03100344) and phase 3 (NCT03985943 and NCT03989349) clinical trials. RESULTS: The literature review confirmed that sleep disturbance is a key impact of AD but failed to identify validated PRO measures for assessing fluctuations in sleep disturbance. Subsequent concept elicitation interviews confirmed the multidimensional nature of sleep disturbance in AD and supported use of a single-item measure to assess overall sleep disturbance severity, complemented by a diary to capture individual components of sleep disturbance. The single-item sleep disturbance numerical rating scale (SD NRS) and multi-item Subject Sleep Diary (SSD)-an AD-adapted version of the Consensus Sleep Diary-were identified as potentially suitable PRO measures. Cognitive debriefing of the SD NRS and SSD demonstrated their content validity and their understandability to patients. Psychometric analyses based on AD trial data showed that the SD NRS is a well-defined, reliable, and fit-for-purpose measure of sleep disturbance in adults with AD. Furthermore, the SD NRS correlated with many SSD sleep parameters, suggesting that most concepts from the SSD can be covered using the SD NRS. CONCLUSIONS: Using these findings, we developed an approach for measuring sleep disturbance in AD trials. Subject to further research, the same approach could also be applied to future trials of other skin diseases where itch causes sleep disturbance.