Psychometric analysis of the problem rating scale for outcomes.

The current emphasis on outcomes management and outcomes research projects is stimulating interest in the psychometric properties of computerized clinical data bases among nurses and other health care providers. The knowledge, behavior, and status subscales of the Omaha System's Problem Rating Scale for Outcomes (PRSO) were evaluated for interrater reliability and content validity. The authors describe the methods used and the results of that research.

The Omaha System. A research-based model for decision making.

This article describes the value, diversity, and potential benefits of the Omaha System in generalizing and manipulating client, clinical, and financial data. The authors provide examples of its utility for day-to-day and long-range clinical and financial decision making in home and public health agencies, colleges of nursing, and ambulatory care centers throughout the United States and Canada.

An examination of the construct validity of the Social Anhedonia Scale.

Two studies bearing on the construct validity of the Social Anhedonia Scale (SA) are reported. Study 1 reported convergent validity coefficients between the SA scale and numerous measures of traits reflecting a generalized attitude toward others (e.g., social interest and empathy) as well as several traits reflecting maladjustment without a social component as a test of discriminant validity (e.g., pessimism and rigidity). Study 1 found impressive convergent validity for the SA scale and mixed discriminant validity. Study 2 found that the SA scale was related to two dimensions of striving for security, one of which is strongly influenced by negative interpersonal tendencies, suggesting support for the validity of the SA scale. Implications for the measurement and concept of social anhedonia are presented.

Decision support and outcomes of nurses' care planning.

One hundred forty-three nurses served as their own controls in planning care for hypothetical patients under three different manipulated conditions of decision support: (A) use of traditional resources; (B) use of a printout of a computerized protocol for care planning (NPC); and (C) use of an NPC protocol and a self study guide. A series of 3 x 5 repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to evaluate the main effects and interactions of the experimental treatment conditions and the two nurse attribute variables of education and experience (each with five levels). The case problems and conditions were counterbalanced to control for extraneous variables. The repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significantly higher mean ratings of quality for care planned under both computerized decision support conditions than the traditional condition on all three patient problem situations F(2, 270) = 7.9, p less than .01. Time on task was also significant F(2, 272) = 5.8, p less than .01 with use of the decision support consultants tending to increase time in planning.

Relationship between type A behavior subscales and measures of positive mental health.

Recent evidence suggests that the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey, a major measure of the Type A behavior pattern, is composed of heterogeneous items and, as a consequence, attenuates correlations with measures of psychological traits. The present study used two homogeneous subscales from the JAS to establish the relationship between two aspects of positive mental health (self-actualization and self-esteem) and components of the Type A syndrome (N = 68). As expected, self-actualization and self-esteem are related to only one aspect of the Type A behavior pattern. This result is obscured when only total JAS scale scores are used. Implications for future Type A behavior research and for improving the JAS subscales are discussed.

A multidimensional assessment of the validity of the Personal Orientation Inventory.

The present study investigated the validity of a global measure of self-actualization derived from the POI. The POI Inner-directed scale was related to numerous objective indices of self-actualizing characteristics (e.g., self-esteem, rigidity, empathy). Bivariate and multivariate correlational techniques presented a consistent picture of the self-actualizing dimensions tapped by the POI Id scale (e.g., self-esteem) as well as the self-actualizing characteristics unrelated to Id scale scores (e.g., machiavellianism). The results help to clarify the specific nature of the attributes measured by the Id scale, partially supporting its construct validity as an omnibus measure of actualizing tendencies. Finally, a new, face-valid measure of self-actualization is introduced which proved as valid as the POI as an index of self-actualization, with a considerable gain in parsimony.

Prediction of self-disclosure from objective personality assessment techniques.

Prior theory and research have suggested that self-disclosure may have a curvilinear relationship with psychological disturbance. The present study investigated the hypothesis using the CPI, MMPI, and Bipolar Psychological Inventory and employing Ss (N = 28) from a correctional institution. Analyses involved correlational, multiple regression and discriminant analysis techniques. The results offer partial support for the hypothesis and add substantially to the external validity of prior research.