Circadian variations influence anxiety-related behaviour, olfaction, and hedonic response in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the acknowledged impact of circadian rhythms on various aspects of life, behavioural tests with laboratory animals often overlook alignment with their natural activity patterns. This study aims to evaluate the influence of circadian variations on the results, validity, and reliability of different behavioural tests in rats. METHODS: Three behavioural tests, the Light-Dark Box Test (LDB), assessing anxiety-related behaviour and locomotor activity; the Buried Pellet Test (BPT), revealing olfactory abilities and motivation issues; and the Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), studying the anhedonic response, were employed to encompass multiple daytime-dependent behavioural aspects in male Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: Our findings underscore distinct circadian effects on locomotor activity, exploratory behaviour, olfactory acuity, motivation, and hedonic response. Notably, anxious behaviour remained unaffected by daytime conditions. Furthermore, decreased data variance was found to be correlated with conducting behavioural tests during the subjects' active phase. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates extensive circadian influences on nearly all parameters investigated, coupled with a significant reduction in data variability during the active phase. Emphasising the importance of aligning experimental timing with rats' natural activity patterns, our results suggest that conducting tests during the active phase of the animals not only refines test sensitivity , reduces stress, and provides more representative data, but also contributes to ethical animal research (3 R) and improves test relevance. This, in turn, enhances the reliability and validity of experimental outcomes in behavioural research and promotes animal welfare.

Development of a brief core set for knee dysfunction based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: assessing construct validity and measurement potential.

BACKGROUND: The comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction was developed to classify the functioning of people with any knee dysfunction. To be used as a clinical instrument to measure the functioning of people with knee dysfunction, the construct validity of the core set still needs to be assessed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the construct validity of the comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction as an instrument to measure functioning. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 200 participants with knee dysfunction with or without clinical diagnosis of knee pathology, with or without complaint of pain, with or without instability, and/or with or without knee movement restriction of any type. Participants were assessed using the comprehensive core set for knee dysfunction with 25 categories, the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, and measures of self-perceived general health and functioning. The construct validity of the core set was assessed by Rasch analysis, and the external construct validity was assessed by correlation between the score of the brief core set for knee dysfunction with the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, and scores of self-perception of health and functioning. RESULTS: Twelve categories were consistent with a unidimensional construct, with no difference in the response pattern for age, sex, educational level, and time of complaint. These categories were included in the brief core set for knee dysfunction. The mean score of the brief core set was 37 ± 21 points, a value classified as moderate impairment regarding functioning. Correlations with the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale and scores of self-perception were adequate (p < 0.01; r > 0.5). CONCLUSION: The brief core set for knee dysfunction, a set with 12 categories, can be used as a clinical instrument to measure and score the functioning of people with knee dysfunction, aged between 18 and 89 years, with adequate construct validity.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the sexual satisfaction questionnaire for postmenopausal women (PWSSQ): an exploratory mixed method study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The concept of sexual satisfaction in menopausal women is very different from that in premenopausal women, and this difference is due to aging and physical, hormonal, cultural, and psychological changes. Therefore, the first step in discovering methods for assessing sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women is to develop a measurement instrument. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a sexual satisfaction instrument for postmenopausal women. METHODS: The current study is an exploratory-sequential mixed-methods research project that will be divided into two parts: qualitative and quantitative. Aligned with the primary objective of the research, which is to elucidate the concept of sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women, the hybrid concept analysis model developed by Schwartz and Kim will be employed. This model comprises three key phases: the theoretical phase, the fieldwork phase, and the final analytical phase. Those who met the inclusion criteria and exhibited maximum variance in terms of age, educational level, employment status, and menopausal duration were recruited. The conventional content analysis will be carried out following the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Second, in the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated, including the content, face and construct validity and reliability via internal consistency and stability. The psychometric properties described in the COSMIN checklist will be utilized for designing the instrument. DISCUSSION: A valid and reliable scale for evaluating the sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women should be developed, and educational content should be designed to improve the sexual satisfaction of this group of women.

Menopause is a natural event that is accompanied by numerous physical and psychological changes that create a complex period in the life of postmenopausal women. Sexual satisfaction is a component related to human sexuality and is known as the last stage of the sexual response cycle. Sexual satisfaction is defined as the emotional response resulting from the mental evaluation of positive and negative things in a sexual relationship. Sexual satisfaction is one of the important factors of satisfaction in married life. People who have sexual satisfaction have a significantly better quality of life than those who do not have sexual satisfaction. The concept of sexual satisfaction in menopausal women is very different from that in premenopausal women, and this difference is due to aging and physical, hormonal, cultural, and psychological changes. Sexual satisfaction is important for researchers for two reasons. First, sexual satisfaction provides a mechanism through which to assess a relationship partner's performance. Second, sexual satisfaction is a predictor of other aspects of the relationship, such as marital quality and stability. To discuss feelings and discover methods for achieving sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women, it is necessary to understand the factors affecting sexual satisfaction and dissatisfaction in this group. The existing tools in the field of women's sexual satisfaction are not designed for this age group (menopausal women) and do not have the necessary comprehensiveness and adequacy to assess sexual satisfaction in menopausal women. Therefore, this study will be conducted to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women.

How Can Qualitative Methods Be Applied to Behavior Analytic Research: A Discussion and Suggestions for Implementation.

Behavior analysts in research and clinical practice are interested in an ever-expanding array of topics. They are compelled to explore the social validity of the interventions they propose and the findings they generate. As the field moves in these important directions, qualitative methods are becoming increasingly relevant. Representing a departure from small-n design favored by behavior analysts, qualitative approaches provide analysts a unique set of tools to answer questions that prioritize voice, experience, and understandings in context. Despite recognition of the value of qualitative approaches in other disciplines, application of qualitative methods in behavior analysis remains limited. One likely explanation is that behavior analysts are not yet fluent in applying qualitative approaches within their clinical and research investigations. To address this issue, exploration of qualitative research approaches in behavior analytic literature is needed, alongside practical advice for analysts who are interested in using qualitative methods. This article briefly outlines qualitative literature which pertains to behavior analysts wanting to incorporate qualitative methods into their inquiries. Attention is primarily drawn to the need for coherence in designing and implementing a robust qualitative study that aligns with the behavior analyst's aims and perspective on knowing. A set of guiding questions are provided to orient behavior analysts to considerations in qualitative research and outline how analysts can conceptualize a strong qualitative study. This article aims to support increased application of qualitative methods by behavior analysts, where these methods best address the function of the behavior analytic investigation.

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Patient Outcome Planning Calculator (POP-C): A Tool for Determining Treatment Dosage in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Board certified behavior analysts (BCBA) are responsible for determining the medically necessary treatment dosage for patients (i.e., the number of hours of therapy a patient should receive per week to optimize progress) during applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. However, because there is currently no standard method for making these determinations, BCBAs must rely on their own clinical judgment. Given that clinical judgment may be underdeveloped in some BCBAs, particularly those who are newly certified, more formal strategies are needed to guide decision making as it relates to medical necessity and treatment dosage. In this article we describe the development of the Patient Outcome Planning Calculator (POP-C), a standardized decision-making tool designed to assist novice practitioners in determining the medically necessary ABA treatment intensity and appropriate treatment setting for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We present preliminary reliability data as well as construct validity data indicating statistically significant correlations between the POP-C and several norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments commonly used to estimate skill level and the corresponding degree of support needed within the ASD population to inform the ABA treatment model and goals. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-023-00861-6.

Teacher-assigned grades and external exams: sources of discrepancy.

Modest correlations between teacher-assigned grades and external assessments of academic achievement (r = .40-.60) have led many educational stakeholders to deem grades subjective and unreliable. However, theoretical and methodological challenges, such as construct misalignment, data unavailability and sample unrepresentativeness, limit the generalisability of previous findings. We overcome these challenges by exploiting rich, population-wide data from the National Registries in Norway (n = 511,858), where state regulations require close construct alignment between grades and external exams. Correlations between lower-secondary education final grades and external exam results (r = .64-.86) suggest that grades are better measures of academic achievement than previously acknowledged. Dominance analyses and multivariate regression analyses indicate that external exam results are the best predictor of grades in the same subject. However, our results also indicate that state regulations and quality assurance systems cannot completely eradicate potential sources of discrepancy.

Italian normative data for the Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering (UTBAS) Scales for adults who stutter.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Italian translation of the Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering (UTBAS) scales for adults who stutter, as there are no assessment tools currently available in Italy. The UTBAS scales provide a comprehensive stuttering-specific measure of the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that can be used to screen for indicators of social anxiety in adults who stutter. Additionally, the UTBAS scales also allow the identification of negative thoughts and beliefs that negatively impact speech treatment outcomes. METHOD: The translation of the UTBAS scales into Italian (UTBAS-ITA) was completed using the forward-backward translation process and it was administered to 98 adults who stutter (AWS) and 98 adults who do not stutter (AWNS). Both groups were matched for gender and age. We also administered the UTBAS-ITA to 76 AWS a second time within a two-week interval to assess test-retest reliability. Additionally, we administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale to 20 AWS to assess concurrent validity. RESULTS: The UTBAS-ITA showed good power of discrimination between AWS and AWNS, high internal validity, high internal consistency, good construct validity, and good test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: Since there is a scarcity of clinical assessment tools for adults who stutter in Italy, the UTBAS-ITA could serve as an assessment tool and outcome measure for clinical and research environments.

The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the parents' perception of satisfaction with care from pediatric nurse practitioners instrument.

AIM: This study was carried out to adapt a measurement tool that can be used to measure the perceived satisfaction level of parents of pediatric patients hospitalized in a pediatric clinic with care from pediatric nurses and to examine its psychometric properties. DESIGN AND METHOD: The study was conducted methodologically with 301 parents of children who were hospitalized in the pediatric clinic of a university hospital between September and December 2023. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the data to establish the validity of the scale, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, split-half, item-total score methods were utilized to test its reliability. RESULTS: The scale consisted of 26 items and a single dimension. It was determined that the total explained variance ratio was 79.246%. According to the confirmatory factor analysis results, goodness of fit values were determined as RMSEA = 0.077, CFI = 0.96, IFI = 0.97, RFI = 0.92, NFI = 0.93, and TLI = 0.96. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as α = 0.989 for the total scale. CONCLUSION: The Parents' Perception of Satisfaction with Care from Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Instrument is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to measure the perceived satisfaction level of parents of pediatric patients hospitalized in a pediatric clinic with nursing care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The scale can contribute to determining the perceived satisfaction levels of parents of pediatric patients hospitalized in the pediatric clinic with nursing care and, if there is a problem, to providing regular in-service training for pediatric nurses who are responsible for pediatric patient safety and quality of care.

Validating the Ontario Child Health Study Emotional Behavioural Scales-Brief Version (OCHS-EBS-B) in children with chronic physical illness.

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of children have a physical illness; these children commonly experience physical-mental comorbidity. To assess child mental health, brief scales that can be used in clinical and research settings are needed. This study assessed the validity and reliability of parent-reported Ontario Child Health Study Emotional Behavioural Scale-Brief Version (OCHS-EBS-B) scores. METHODS: Data come from a longitudinal study of children aged 2-16 years with a physical illness recruited from outpatient clinics at a pediatric hospital. Confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald's coefficient assessed the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the OCHS-EBS-B, respectively. Point biserial correlations assessed agreement between the OCHS-EBS-B and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID), a structured diagnostic interview. The Wilcoxon rank sum test compared OCHS-EBS-B scores between children with versus without physical-mental comorbidity (known-group validity). RESULTS: The three-factor structure of the OCHS-EBS-B was replicated in this sample of children with physical illness (χ2 = 196.23(272), p < 0.001; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98; SRMR = 0.06; RMSEA [90% CI] = 0.034 [0.027, 0.044]). It had excellent internal consistency reliability (ω = 0.86-0.92) and was moderately correlated with the MINI-KID (baseline: rpb = 0.43-0.51; 6 months: rpb = 0.55-0.65). OCHS-EBS-B scores were significantly higher among children with versus without physical-mental comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings confirm psychometric evidence that the OCHS-EBS-B is a valid and reliable measure of mental health in children with chronic physical illness. Its brevity and robust psychometric properties make the OCHS-EBS-B a strong candidate for routine use in integrated pediatric physical and mental health services.

Reliability and validity study of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale in patients with cerebellar injury.

PURPOSE: To preliminarily investigate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale (CCAS scale) in the cerebellar injury population. METHODS: In this study, 40 patients with cerebellar injury and 39 normal individuals hospitalized in a stroke center were assessed using the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A, MMSE, and PHQ2, and the results were analyzed using content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, inter- rater agreement, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients of semantic fluency, phonemic fluency, category switching, digit span forward, digit span backward, cube, verbal recall, similarities and Go No-Go subscores in the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A were 0.586-0.831 (P ≤ 0.05) with the total score, but there was no significant correlation between the affect and the total score (P = 0.110). The total cognitive score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A was correlated with the (r = 0.807, P ≤ 0.01), and the total score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A affect was correlated with the total score of PHQ2 (r = 0.884, P ≤ 0.01). The 2 factors were extracted using principal component analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 59.633%. The factor loadings of each of the corresponding factors were > 0.5, indicating good structural validity of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A. Cronbach α = 0.827 indicated good internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability (ICC > 0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.717-0.895)indicated that the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A had good inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the CCAS scale A has good reliability and validity in the cerebellar injury population and is useful for screening cerebellar cognitive-emotional syndrome.

Validating the AI-assisted second language (L2) learning attitude scale for Chinese college students and its correlation with L2 proficiency.

The positive impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on second language (L2) learning is well-documented. An individual's attitude toward AI significantly influences its adoption. Despite this, no specific scale has been designed to measure this attitude, particularly in the Chinese context. To address this gap, our study aims to construct the AI-Assisted L2 Learning Attitude Scale for Chinese College Students (AL2AS-CCS) and evaluate its reliability, validity, and relationship with L2 proficiency. Our research comprises two phases, each involving separate samples. In Phase One (Sample 1: n = 379), we conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the factor structure of the AL2AS-CCS. The resulting two-factor structure consists of 12 items, categorized into cognitive and behavioral components. In Phase Two (Sample 2: n = 429), we performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the factor structure and assess model fit. CFA in Sample 2 confirmed the factor structure and demonstrated a good model fit. Additionally, the AL2AS-CCS exhibited high criterion validity, internal consistency, and cross-gender invariance. Our findings suggest that the AL2AS-CCS is a valid measurement tool for assessing Chinese college students' attitude toward AI-assisted L2 learning. Moreover, Chinese college students were discovered to maintain a moderately positive attitude toward AI-assisted L2 learning. Additionally, a positive correlation was identified between this attitude and their L2 proficiency.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Quality of Life Index Among Hausa-Speaking People with Spinal Cord Injury in Northwest Nigeria.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome that is used to measure the success of healthcare interventions. Valid and reliable instruments are required to assess QoL. Hence, we conducted this study to adapt and validate the QoL Index (QLI) among Hausa-speaking people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in northwest Nigeria. Method: Using the International Society for Pharmacoeconomic and Outcome Research principles of good practice and the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments guidelines, the QLI-SCI version was translated into Hausa language and tested for content validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability among people with SCI in northwest Nigeria. Result: The Hausa QLI (HQLI) demonstrated good content validity (CVI = 92.18%), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.855), and test-retest reliability (ICC =0.949 [95% CI, 0.916-0.969]). Conclusion: The HQLI can be deployed to assess QoL among Hausa-speaking people with SCI, thus promoting robust measurement of QoL in an SCI population.

Factorial invariance of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition, across the UK, US and Australia & New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the factorial invariance of the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) across the UK, US and Australia & New Zealand (A&NZ). The factorial equivalence of cognitive assessments should be demonstrated before assuming cross-culture generalizability and interpretations of score comparisons. METHODS: Data were obtained from the UK, US and A&NZ normative standardizations of the WISC-V. The samples consisted of 415 UK, 2200 US and 528 A&NZ children, aged 6-16. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied separately in each sample to establish the baseline model. Next, tests of factorial invariance were undertaken using the recommended hierarchical approach, firstly across the UK and A&NZ samples and then across the UK and US samples. RESULTS: The five-factor first-order scoring model was found to be excellent fit across all three samples independently. Strict factorial invariance of the WISC-V was demonstrated firstly across the UK and A&NZ and secondly the UK and US nationally representative standardization samples. Comparison of latent means found small but significant differences in female children across the UK and A&NZ samples. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research, these results demonstrate the generality of the WISC-V factor structure across the UK, US and A&NZ. Furthermore, as the WISC-V factor structure aligns with the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities, the results add further support to the cross-cultural generalizability of the CHC model. Small but significant differences in latent factor scores found across samples support the development and use of local normative data.

Turkish psychometric characteristics of the humanistic practice ability of nursing scale: differences by education, working year, and professional satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Humanistic nursing practices scientifically improve the knowledge structure of nursing, enrich its theoretical system and support its development. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the humanistic practice abilities of nurses. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the psycholinguistic features, language and construct validity of the Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale and to examine it according to nurses' demographic characteristics. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a methodological type of analytical research conducted with 397 clinical nurses working in a hospital. A questionnaire including demographic information and evaluating empathy and compassion adequacy was used. Data were analyzed using explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, item-total score correlation, split-half analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and correlation analysis. RESULTS: The scale consists of 29 items and four factors, explaining 61.15% of the total variance. Factor loads were > 0.30. confirmatory factor analysis results were χ2/df: 2.58, GFI: 0.86, TLI: 0.91, IFI: 0.92, CFI: 0.92, RMSEA: 0.06, and SRMR: 0.03. The Cronbach alpha value for the full scale is 0.95. A significant relationship was found between the scale and empathy and compassion proficiency. It was observed that the scale scores differed according to the nurses' education level, working years and job satisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the Turkish version of the HPAN scale is valid and reliable for 29 items and four factors. The humanistic practice ability of nurses differ according to postgraduate education, years of working in the profession and professional satisfaction.

Positive predictive value and sensitivity of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism diagnoses in the Danish National Patient Register.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital discharge diagnoses from administrative registries are frequently used in studies of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism, but the validity of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes for identifying such events is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using patient samples from the Danish National Patient Register, we calculated positive predictive values (PPV), i.e., the proportion of registered ICD codes, which could be confirmed after manual search of the electronic health record. Sensitivity was estimated in a sample of patients with imaging-verified venous thromboembolism but without prior knowledge about their ICD coding status. Sensitivity was calculated as the proportion of these patients, who were discharged with an ICD code for venous thromboembolism. RESULTS: The overall PPV of an ICD-10 diagnosis of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism was 75.9 % (95 % confidence interval 71.3-80.0). In subgroups, the PPV was particularly low for recurrent venous thromboembolism (44.2 %), diagnoses in a secondary position (55.7 %), outpatient diagnoses (65.3 %), and diagnoses given at surgical (66.7 %), emergency wards (48.4 %), or via hospices/palliative teams (0 %). The overall sensitivity was 68 %, meaning 32 % of patients with cancer diagnosed in hospital with venous thromboembolism were discharged without any registered ICD code for venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: The positive predictive value of an ICD diagnosis of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism in the Danish Patient Register was overall adequate for research purposes, but with notable variation across subgroups. Sensitivity was limited, as 1/3 of patients with venous thromboembolism were discharged without any relevant ICD code. Cautious interpretation of incidence of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism based on administrative register-based data is warranted.

Methodological quality of 100 recent systematic reviews of health-related outcome measurement instruments: an overview of reviews.

PURPOSE: Systematic reviews evaluating and comparing the measurement properties of outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) play an important role in OMI selection. Earlier overviews of review quality (2007, 2014) evidenced substantial concerns with regards to alignment to scientific standards. This overview aimed to investigate whether the quality of recent systematic reviews of OMIs lives up to the current scientific standards. METHODS: One hundred systematic reviews of OMIs published from June 1, 2021 onwards were randomly selected through a systematic literature search performed on March 17, 2022 in MEDLINE and EMBASE. The quality of systematic reviews was appraised by two independent reviewers. An updated data extraction form was informed by the earlier studies, and results were compared to these earlier studies' findings. RESULTS: A quarter of the reviews had an unclear research question or aim, and in 22% of the reviews the search strategy did not match the aim. Half of the reviews had an incomprehensive search strategy, because relevant search terms were not included. In 63% of the reviews (compared to 41% in 2014 and 30% in 2007) a risk of bias assessment was conducted. In 73% of the reviews (some) measurement properties were evaluated (58% in 2014 and 55% in 2007). In 60% of the reviews the data were (partly) synthesized (42% in 2014 and 7% in 2007); evaluation of measurement properties and data syntheses was not conducted separately for subscales in the majority. Certainty assessments of the quality of the total body of evidence were conducted in only 33% of reviews (not assessed in 2014 and 2007). The majority (58%) did not make any recommendations on which OMI (not) to use. CONCLUSION: Despite clear improvements in risk of bias assessments, measurement property evaluation and data synthesis, specifying the research question, conducting the search strategy and performing a certainty assessment remain poor. To ensure that systematic reviews of OMIs meet current scientific standards, more consistent conduct and reporting of systematic reviews of OMIs is needed.

The Factor Structure and Generalizability of the Iranian Socioeconomic Status (SES) Questionnaire Administered in a Nationally Divergent Population.

Background: Measuring socioeconomic status (SES) as an independent variable is challenging, especially in epidemiological and social studies. This issue is more critical in large-scale studies on the national level. The present study aimed to extensively evaluate the validity and reliability of the Iranian SES questionnaire. Methods: This psychometric, cross-sectional study was conducted on 3000 households, selected via random cluster sampling from various areas in East Azerbaijan province and Tehran, Iran. Moreover, 250 students from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected as interviewers to collect data from 40 districts in Iran. The construct validity and internal consistency of the SES questionnaire were assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and the Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was performed in SPSS and AMOS. Results: The complete Iranian version of the SES questionnaire consists of 5 factors. The Cronbach's alpha was calculated to be 0.79, 0.94, 0.66, 0.69, and 0.48 for the occupation, self-evaluation of economic capacity, house and furniture, wealth, and health expenditure, respectively. In addition, the confirmatory factor analysis results indicated the data's compatibility with the 5-factor model (comparative fit index = 0.96; goodness of fit index = 0.95; incremental fit index = 0.96; root mean square error of approximation = 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the confirmed validity and reliability of the tool indicated that the Iranian version of the SES questionnaire could be utilized with the same structure on an extensive level and could be applicable for measuring the SES in a broader range of populations.

Anterior cruciate ligament-Return to sport after injury scale brief version after ACL reconstruction: Persian translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the short anterior cruciate ligament return to sport after injury (ACL-RSI) (Persian) version's cultural adaption and validity. Methods: To assess test-retest reliability, 102 participants were filled out the short ACL-RSI(Per) scale 6 months or more after ACLR surgery. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients), construct validity (Pearson's r) and sensitivity (floor/ceiling effect) were determined. In addition, patient completed other relevant measures such as Lysholm scores, the hospital for special surgery ACL satisfaction survey (HSS ACL-SS), the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain and patient's satisfaction, the Tegner activity score (TAS), the single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE) and the Cincinnati Knee Rating System (CKRS). Results: The short ACL-RSI(Per) scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.923). Significant correlations between short ACL-RSI(Per) and other scales supported validity. There was a statistically significant connection between the short ACL-RSI(Per) and the following outcomes: HSS ACL-SS (r = 0.698, p < 0.001), VAS pain (r = 0.356, p < 0.001), CKRS (r = 0.644, p < 0.001), TAS (r = 0414, p < 0.001), Lysholm score (r = 0.467, p < 0.001) and SANE score (r = 0.536; p < 0.001). In addition to a satisfactory ceiling impact (15%), a sizeable floor effect (16.7%) was also seen. Conclusion: The short ACL-RSI(Per) scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing psychological readiness for return to sport after ACL reconstruction in Persian. Level of Evidence: III.

Sensory Phenomenon Assessment Scale: a new tool for assessment of tic-associated sensations.

Background: Sensory symptoms linked to tic disorder (TD) are challenging to quantify via self- or parent-reported measures. The current study aimed to develop a novel observer-rated semi-structured interview, namely, the Sensory Phenomenon Assessment Scale (SPAS), to aid clinical evaluation on symptoms of TD among children. Methods: To test its psychometric properties, tic, premonitory urge (PU), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were also assessed in 223 children via the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the Premonitory Urge for Tic Scale (PUTS), and the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Factor analysis and internal consistency test were carried out using data from TD-diagnosed individuals. Results: Good internal consistency and test-retest reliability were observed. Criterion validity was established by significant correlations between the PUTS, the YGTSS, the CY-BOCS, and scores of the SPAS. Factor analyses supported a single-factor model of the SPAS, in which the five items each showed a factor loading above 0.6. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the SPAS is reliable and valid and, thus, can serve as a good and concise measure of clinical symptoms among children and adolescents with TD.

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.