Psychometric assessment of the EMIC Stigma Scale for Brazilians affected by leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The Stigma Scale of the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC-SS) is a useful option to investigate leprosy-related stigma, but its psychometric qualities are unknown in Brazil. This study investigated the factor structure, the convergent and known-groups validity, and the reliability of the EMIC-SS for Brazilians affected by leprosy. METHODOLOGY: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the EMIC-SS was validated in 180 persons affected by leprosy at a Reference Center in Rio de Janeiro. Confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) and Cronbach alpha were used to assess the EMIC-SS internal consistency. The Construct validity was tested using Spearman Correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests comparing with the Participation Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire. Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation (ICC). MAIN FINDINGS: CFA confirmed the one- and two-dimensional models of the scale after retaining 12 of the 15 EMIC-SS items. The 12-item EMIC-SS was consistent (α = 0.78) and reproducible (ICC = 0.751, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.657-0.822, p < 0.0001). A significant correlation was observed between the EMIC-SS and the other scales confirming convergent validity. The EMIC-SS and its factors were able to differentiate several hypothesized groups (age, change of occupation, monthly family income, communicating others about the disease, and perception of difficulty to follow treatment) confirming the scale known-groups validity, both in its one and two-dimensional models. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study found support for the construct validity and reliability of the EMIC-SS as a measure of stigma experienced by people affected by leprosy in Brazil. However, future studies are necessary in other samples and populations with stigmatizing conditions to determine the optimal factor structure and to strengthen the indications of the validated scale.

[Factorial structure of the questionnaire for the inclusion of in natura vegetable oil in the diet of children]. / Estrutura fatorial do questionário de adoção do óleo vegetal in natura de acréscimo na dieta infantil.

The scope of this study was to investigate the factorial structure of the questionnaire for the inclusion of vegetable oil in natura in the diet of children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 mothers using the Likert Scale questionnaire. Thirteen Child Nutrition experts/judges semantically evaluated the items and the Generalizability Coefficient (GC) assessed the errors according to a one-off, two-facet random model (item/judge). The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) indicated dimensionality of the tools applied: Doornik-Hansen Test; Main Factor Analysis; Kaiser Guttman criterion; Promax rotation; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (KMO); convergent and discriminant validities, Cronbach's Alpha; Composite Reliability. The GC = 0.8407 was considered satisfactory. The Doornik-Hansen test (chi2 (28) = 198.053, prob>chi2 = 0.0000) confirmed the multivariate normality of data. The Kaiser Guttman criterion explained 76.32% of the latent construct. The correlation between factors 1 and 2 (-0.4042) suggests the two-dimensional nature of the instrument. The KMO (0.8440) indicated the adequacy of the data to perform EFA. Cronbach's alpha showed values around 0.70, considered acceptable. The two-dimensionality of the questionnaire was verified to assess the inclusion of in natura vegetable oils in the diet of children.

O objetivo foi verificar a estrutura fatorial do questionário de adoção do óleo vegetal in natura de acréscimo na dieta infantil. Estudo transversal, com 220 mães de crianças, e questionário em escala Likert. Treze juízes, especialistas em nutrição infantil, avaliaram semanticamente os itens, enquanto que o Coeficiente de Generalização (CG) mensurou erros de avaliação, segundo modelo randômico de duas facetas (item/juiz), uma ocasião. A Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE) indicou dimensionalidade do instrumento aplicado: teste Doornik-Hansen, Análise de Fator Principal, critério Kaiser Guttman, rotação Promax, teste Kaiser-MeyerOlkin (KMO), validades convergente e discriminante, coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, Confiabilidade Composta. O CG = 0,8407 foi considerado satisfatório. O teste Doornik-Hansen (Qui2 (28) = 198,053, prob > Qui2 = 0,0000) inferiu sobre a normalidade multivariada dos dados. O critério de Kaiser Guttman indicou 76,32% da latência do construto. A correlação entre os fatores 1 e 2 (-0,4042) sugere a bidimensionalidade do instrumento. KMO (0,8740) indicou a adequação dos dados para AFE. O alfa de Cronbach apresentou valores em torno de 0,70, considerados aceitáveis. Verificou-se bidimensionalidade do questionário para avaliar a adoção da prática do acréscimo de óleos vegetais in natura na dieta infantil.

Estrutura fatorial do questionário de adoção do óleo vegetal in natura de acréscimo na dieta infantil / Factorial structure of the questionnaire for the inclusion of in natura vegetable oil in the diet of children

Resumo O objetivo foi verificar a estrutura fatorial do questionário de adoção do óleo vegetal in natura de acréscimo na dieta infantil. Estudo transversal, com 220 mães de crianças, e questionário em escala Likert. Treze juízes, especialistas em nutrição infantil, avaliaram semanticamente os itens, enquanto que o Coeficiente de Generalização (CG) mensurou erros de avaliação, segundo modelo randômico de duas facetas (item/juiz), uma ocasião. A Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE) indicou dimensionalidade do instrumento aplicado: teste Doornik-Hansen, Análise de Fator Principal, critério Kaiser Guttman, rotação Promax, teste Kaiser-MeyerOlkin (KMO), validades convergente e discriminante, coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, Confiabilidade Composta. O CG = 0,8407 foi considerado satisfatório. O teste Doornik-Hansen (Qui2 (28) = 198,053, prob > Qui2 = 0,0000) inferiu sobre a normalidade multivariada dos dados. O critério de Kaiser Guttman indicou 76,32% da latência do construto. A correlação entre os fatores 1 e 2 (-0,4042) sugere a bidimensionalidade do instrumento. KMO (0,8740) indicou a adequação dos dados para AFE. O alfa de Cronbach apresentou valores em torno de 0,70, considerados aceitáveis. Verificou-se bidimensionalidade do questionário para avaliar a adoção da prática do acréscimo de óleos vegetais in natura na dieta infantil.

Abstract The scope of this study was to investigate the factorial structure of the questionnaire for the inclusion of vegetable oil in natura in the diet of children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 mothers using the Likert Scale questionnaire. Thirteen Child Nutrition experts/judges semantically evaluated the items and the Generalizability Coefficient (GC) assessed the errors according to a one-off, two-facet random model (item/judge). The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) indicated dimensionality of the tools applied: Doornik-Hansen Test; Main Factor Analysis; Kaiser Guttman criterion; Promax rotation; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (KMO); convergent and discriminant validities, Cronbach's Alpha; Composite Reliability. The GC = 0.8407 was considered satisfactory. The Doornik-Hansen test (chi2 (28) = 198.053, prob>chi2 = 0.0000) confirmed the multivariate normality of data. The Kaiser Guttman criterion explained 76.32% of the latent construct. The correlation between factors 1 and 2 (-0.4042) suggests the two-dimensional nature of the instrument. The KMO (0.8440) indicated the adequacy of the data to perform EFA. Cronbach's alpha showed values around 0.70, considered acceptable. The two-dimensionality of the questionnaire was verified to assess the inclusion of in natura vegetable oils in the diet of children.

Chinese version of the treatment of autoimmune bullous disease quality of life questionnaire: Reliability and validity.

BACKGROUND: Treatments for autoimmune blistering disease carry significant risks of medical complications and can affect the patient's quality of life. Recently, the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life questionnaire was developed in Australia. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life questionnaire in Chinese patients with autoimmune blistering diseases. METHODS: The Chinese version of the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life questionnaire was produced by forward-backward translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original English version. Autoimmune blistering disease patients recruited in the study self-administered the Chinese Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life questionnaire, the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. Reliability of the Chinese Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life was evaluated using internal consistency and test-retest (days 0 and 7) methods. Validity was analyzed by face, content, construct, convergent and discriminant validity measures. RESULTS: A total of 86 autoimmune blistering disease patients were recruited for the study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.883 and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.871. Face and content validities were satisfactory. Convergent validity testing revealed correlation coefficients of 0.664 for the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life and Dermatology Life Quality Index and -0.577 for the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. With respect to discriminant validity, no significant differences were observed in the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life scores of men and women (t = 0.251, P = 0.802), inpatients and outpatients (t = 0.447, P = 0.656), patients on steroids and steroid-sparing medications (t = 0.672, P = 0.503) and patients with different autoimmune blistering disease subtypes (F = 0.030, P = 0.971). LIMITATIONS: Illiterate patients were excluded from the study. The patients were from a single hospital and most of their conditions were in a relatively stable status. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument to measure treatment burden and to serve as an end point in clinical trials in Chinese autoimmune blistering disease patients.

La lepra en Colombia: estigma, identidad y resistencia en los siglos XX y XXI / Leprosy in Colombia: stigma, identity and resistance in XX and XXI centuries

Este artículo analiza la historia de la lepra o enfermedad de Hansen como un concepto reelaborado a lo largo de la historia por los discursos científicos, políticos, religiosos y por los saberes populares, puesto en relación al problema de la estigmatización. Buscamos realizar un análisis desde la teoría del estigma como un proceso social, que produce el aislamiento, la exclusión, discriminación y rechazo al enfermo y su familia, deteriorando la identidad de los mismos. Encontramos y analizamos cómo se produce en la interacción social la estigmatización, y a su vez, cómo los enfermos reelaboran su identidad, generando una serie de estrategias de afrontamiento y ocultamiento del estigma, estrategias de resistencia con las que reconstruyen su tejido social. Las categorías de análisis de la información fueron percepciones y creencias sobre la enfermedad, relaciones sociales y familiares, construcción de la imagen del enfermo y las metáforas de la enfermedad, actos de discriminación y rechazo, y actos de ocultamiento y afrontamiento del estigma. En este trabajo de carácter cualitativo, analítico y diacrónico, se utilizaron metodologías de investigación cualitativa, consistentes en entrevistas, observación etnográfica, trabajos de memoria y cartografía social, y revisión y análisis de fuentes primarias y secundarias, recolectando información de Colombia, específicamente los municipios de Agua de Dios, Cundinamarca y Contratación, Santander, considerando como marco temporal los siglos XX y XXI.

This article analyzes the history of leprosy or hansens disease as a concept that has been re elaborated throughout history by popular opinion and political, religious and scientific influence, all in relation with the problem of stigmatizing. Here we seek to make an analysis of the theory of stigma as social process that produces isolation, exclusion, discrimination and rejection of the sick and his family, reducing their own identity. We find and analyze how social interaction in stigmatization works, and how those with the disease recreate their identity, generating a series of coping strategies, ways of hiding the cause of stigma, and resilience strategy with which they rebuild their social network. The information was analyzed through the categories of perceptions and believes of the disease, social and family relations, self image construction of the sick and the metaphors of the disease, acts of discrimination and rejection, acts of hiding and confronting the stigma. In this work of analytic, qualitative and diachronic characteristics, we used qualitative investigation methodologies, consisting in interviews, ethnographic observation, social cartography and memory exercises, and reviews and analysis of primary and secondary sources. Information was collected from Colombia, specifically the towns of Agua de Dios, Cundinamarca and Contratacion, Santander, taking into account the XX and XXI century as the time frame.

The pits and falls of graphical presentation.

Graphics are powerful tools to communicate research results and to gain information from data. However, researchers should be careful when deciding which data to plot and the type of graphic to use, as well as other details. The consequence of bad decisions in these features varies from making research results unclear to distortions of these results, through the creation of "chartjunk" with useless information. This paper is not another tutorial about "good graphics" and "bad graphics". Instead, it presents guidelines for graphic presentation of research results and some uncommon, but useful examples to communicate basic and complex data types, especially multivariate model results, which are commonly presented only by tables. By the end, there are no answers here, just ideas meant to inspire others on how to create their own graphics.

Rasch analysis of the Outcome Questionnaire with African Americans.

Effectively diagnosing African Americans' mental health with a single intake checklist has posed an unresolved challenge, as most intake checklists were developed from White perspectives. In this study, Rasch analysis was used to assess the psychometric characteristics of a common measure of clinical distress, the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ; Lambert, Lunnen, Umphress, Hansen, & Burlingame, 1994), for a sample of African American students split into a calibration and validation subsample. OQ subscales were first identified and were then held up under cross-validation with a second subsample. Rasch analysis of the OQ clearly indicated the measure was multidimensional among African American students with 2 subscales titled Well-Being and Psychological Distress. Our results also indicated appropriate response scale use, adequate person separation, strong stability across subsamples, and little differential item functioning. Moreover, our analysis showed items of the 2 subscales to be well-targeted for African American students. However, if subscales were to be revised for African American students, some items at the same logit position might be deleted and replaced with either very easy or more difficult items or with items at intermediate positions to extend and to fill in gaps in construct coverage. Implications for theory and research on multicultural mental health scales were discussed.

Vitiligo impact scale: an instrument to assess the psychosocial burden of vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Previous studies have shown that vitiligo has an impact that may not correlate with the size and extent of depigmentation, indicating a need for an independent measure of the psychosocial burden. AIMS: To develop a rating scale to assess the psychosocial impact of vitiligo. METHODS: The study was undertaken in three broad phases: item generation, pre- and pilot testing, and test administration. Items were generated largely from a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of patients. Face and content validity were assessed through pre- and pilot testing in 80 patients and the final version was administered to 100 patients who also received the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Skindex-16. Each patient also underwent a physician global assessment (PGA) of the impact of vitiligo. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 20 patients. RESULTS: Of 72 items initially generated for the scale, 27 were retained in the final version. Subjects were able to comprehend the items and took about 5-7 min to complete the instrument. The scale was internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.85). Scores on the scale correlated moderately well with the DLQI and the Skindex (Spearman rank correlation: 0.51 and 0.65, respectively). The scale was able to discriminate between patients having mild and those having moderate and severe impact as assessed by PGA. The test-retest reliability coefficient (Spearman rank correlation) was 0.80. CONCLUSION: The Vitiligo Impact Scale appears to be a valid measure of the psychosocial impact of vitiligo and this instrument may be useful both in the clinic and in clinical trials.

Impact of psoriasis on quality of life in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) questionnaire is a widely used instrument to measure psychological morbidity in plaque-type psoriasis patients. AIMS: This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the PDI and to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on quality of life (QOL). METHODS: The English language version of the PDI was translated into Persian (Iranian official language) and was used in this study. The questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of 125 chronic plaque-type psoriasis patients and statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on QOL. The other health-related QOL assessment tool included the Persian version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). RESULTS: Overall, 125 patients who had received the PDI and DLQI completed all the questions. Reliability analysis showed a satisfactory result (Cronbach's a coefficient=0.92 and 0.79 for PDI and DLQI, respectively). There was a strong statistical correlation between mean PDI and DLQI scores, with mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (P=0.005 and 0.02). Also, a significant correlation coefficient existed between DLQI and PDI (r=0.94). The higher the PASI index, the higher the PDI and DLQI scores, which indicated greater impact on QOL. In the patients with lesions on visible exposed skin areas, the correlation was statistically significant (P=0.002 and 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Persian PDI is an acceptable, reliable and valid measure of psychological distress, with more suitable content validity than DLQI for assessment of impact of psoriasis on QOL among psoriasis patients. Data provided may improve the physicians' awareness of the importance of the patients' QOL.

Recidivas en pacientes de Lepra MB tratados con 24 meses de MDT en el suroeste de China: Un informe breve / No disponible

Este estudio evalúa el índice de recidivas entre los pacientes de lepra tratados con 24 meses de MDT en el suroeste de China. Para ello se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo de recidivas en esta parte del país. Se diseñó un cuestionario muy detallado para recoger los datos sobre las recidivas entre pacientes MB que habían completado 2 años de tratamiento OMS/MB desde 1989 a 2000. Los datos se obtuvieron sobre 2.517 pacientes multibacilares en 27 países del suroeste de China. Entre los 2.517 pacientes MB, 235 pacientes fallecieron o se dieron de baja durante el seguimiento y 2.374 fueron controlados durante más de 3 años después de completar la MDT. La duración total del seguimiento fue de 20,825 personas-año, con una duración media de 8.27 años por paciente. Se identificaron cinco pacientes con recidivas con un índice acumulado de recidivas de 0-21/1.000 personas-año. Los IB iníciales variaron entre 1.8 a 5. Las recidivas se presentaron entre 48-158 mese después de completar la MDT. El índice de recidivas de los pacientes MB tratados con 24 meses con una pauta OMS/MB se consideró muy bajo después de un largo período de seguimiento

This study investigates the relapse rate among multibacillary leprosy patients treated with 24 months of MDT in south west China. A retrospective relapse survey was conducted in the southwest of China. A detailed questionnaire was designed to collect the data on relapse among MB patients who completed 2 years of the WHO/MB regimen, from 1989 to 2000. The data about 2.517 multibacillary leprosy patients in 27 counties in the southwest of China were collected. Among 2.517 MB patients, 235 patients died or were lost to follow-up and 2.374 were followed up for more than 3 years after completion of MDT. The total duration of follow-up was 20,825 person-years, with a mean duration of 8.27 years per patient. Five patients with relapse were identified with an accumulated relapse rate of 0.21-/1.000 person-years. Their initial Bls ranged from 1.8 to 5. The patients with relapse occurred 48-158 months after the completion of MDT. The relapse rate of MB patients treated with 24 months of the WHO/MB regimen was observed to be very low after long-term follow-up

The Participation Scale: measuring a key concept in public health.

PURPOSE: To develop a scale to measure (social) participation for use in rehabilitation, stigma reduction and social integration programmes. METHOD: A scale development study was carried out in Nepal, India and Brazil using standard methods. The instrument was to be based on the Participation domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), be cross-cultural in nature and assess client-perceived participation. Respondents rated their participation in comparison with a "peer", defined as "someone similar to the respondent in all respects except for the disease or disability". RESULTS: An 18-item instrument was developed in seven languages. Crohnbach's alpha was 0.92, intra-tester stability 0.83 and inter-tester reliability 0.80. Discrimination between controls and clients was good at a Participation Score threshold of 12. Responsiveness after a "life change" was according to expectation. CONCLUSIONS: The Participation Scale is reliable and valid to measure client-perceived participation in people affected by leprosy or disability. It is expected to be valid in other (stigmatised) conditions also, but this needs confirmation. The scale allows collection of participation data and impact assessment of interventions to improve social participation. Such data may be compared between clients, interventions and programmes. The scale is suitable for use in institutions, but also at the peripheral level.