Reviewer training for improving grant and journal peer review.

BACKGROUND: Funders and scientific journals use peer review to decide which projects to fund or articles to publish. Reviewer training is an intervention to improve the quality of peer review. However, studies on the effects of such training yield inconsistent results, and there are no up-to-date systematic reviews addressing this question. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of peer reviewer training on the quality of grant and journal peer review. SEARCH METHODS: We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 27 April 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs; including cluster-RCTs) that evaluated peer review with training interventions versus usual processes, no training interventions, or other interventions to improve the quality of peer review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were 1. completeness of reporting and 2. peer review detection of errors. Our secondary outcomes were 1. bibliometric scores, 2. stakeholders' assessment of peer review quality, 3. inter-reviewer agreement, 4. process-centred outcomes, 5. peer reviewer satisfaction, and 6. completion rate and speed of funded projects. We used the first version of the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the risk of bias, and we used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence. MAIN RESULTS: We included 10 RCTs with a total of 1213 units of analysis. The unit of analysis was the individual reviewer in seven studies (722 reviewers in total), and the reviewed manuscript in three studies (491 manuscripts in total). In eight RCTs, participants were journal peer reviewers. In two studies, the participants were grant peer reviewers. The training interventions can be broadly divided into dialogue-based interventions (interactive workshop, face-to-face training, mentoring) and one-way communication (written information, video course, checklist, written feedback). Most studies were small. We found moderate-certainty evidence that emails reminding peer reviewers to check items of reporting checklists, compared with standard journal practice, have little or no effect on the completeness of reporting, measured as the proportion of items (from 0.00 to 1.00) that were adequately reported (mean difference (MD) 0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.02 to 0.06; 2 RCTs, 421 manuscripts). There was low-certainty evidence that reviewer training, compared with standard journal practice, slightly improves peer reviewer ability to detect errors (MD 0.55, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90; 1 RCT, 418 reviewers). We found low-certainty evidence that reviewer training, compared with standard journal practice, has little or no effect on stakeholders' assessment of review quality in journal peer review (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.13 standard deviations (SDs), 95% CI -0.07 to 0.33; 1 RCT, 418 reviewers), or change in stakeholders' assessment of review quality in journal peer review (SMD -0.15 SDs, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.10; 5 RCTs, 258 reviewers). We found very low-certainty evidence that a video course, compared with no video course, has little or no effect on inter-reviewer agreement in grant peer review (MD 0.14 points, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.35; 1 RCT, 75 reviewers). There was low-certainty evidence that structured individual feedback on scoring, compared with general information on scoring, has little or no effect on the change in inter-reviewer agreement in grant peer review (MD 0.18 points, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.50; 1 RCT, 41 reviewers, low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from 10 RCTs suggests that training peer reviewers may lead to little or no improvement in the quality of peer review. There is a need for studies with more participants and a broader spectrum of valid and reliable outcome measures. Studies evaluating stakeholders' assessments of the quality of peer review should ensure that these instruments have sufficient levels of validity and reliability.

Overlooked advantages of interactive book reading in early childhood? A systematic review and research agenda.

Previous reviews of the nature and consequences of adult-child book reading have focused on seeking impacts of interactive reading on the acquisition of vocabulary and emergent literacy skills. In this systematic review we examined to what extent there has been systematic study of the effects of interactive reading on four less frequently studied developmental outcomes important to children's academic and life prospects: socio-emotional and socio-cognitive (SEL) skills, narrative skills, grammar, and world knowledge. We identified 67 studies of interactive reading that met the inclusion criteria and that examined the targeted outcomes, using either experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, or single-group intervention methods. We found that studies of effects on grammar and world knowledge outcomes were very sparsely represented; though narrative was often studied as an outcome, the wide variation in conceptualizing and assessing the construct hampered any clear conclusion about book-reading effects. The most robust research strand focused on SEL skill outcomes, though here too the outcome assessments varied widely. We speculate that better instrumented approaches to assessing vocabulary and emergent literacy have led to the persistent emphasis on these domains, despite robust evidence of only modest associations, and argue that work to develop sound shared measures of narrative and SEL skills would enable cross-study comparison and the accumulation of findings. In addition, we note that the various studies implicated different explanatory principles for the value of reading with children: specific interactional features (open-ended questions, following the child's lead, expanding child utterances) or content features (emotion-enhanced books, talk about mental states, science topics), raising another topic for more focused study in the future.

Work participation in adults with rare genetic diseases - a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Work participation is a crucial aspect of health outcome and an important part of life for most people with rare genetic diseases. Despite that work participation is a social determinant of health and seems necessary for understanding health behaviours and quality of life, it is an under-researched and under-recognized aspect in many rare diseases. The objectives of this study was to map and describe existing research on work participation, identify research gaps, and point to research agendas in a selection of rare genetic diseases. METHODS: A scoping review was performed by searching relevant literature in bibliographic databases and other sources. Studies addressing work participation in people with rare genetic diseases published in peer reviewed journals were assessed using EndNote and Rayyan. Data were mapped and extracted based on the research questions concerning the characteristics of the research. RESULTS: Of 19,867 search results, 571 articles were read in full text, and 141 satisfied the eligibility criteria covering 33 different rare genetic diseases; 7 were reviews and 134 primary research articles. In 21% of the articles the primary aim was to investigate work participation. The extent of studies varied between the different diseases. Two diseases had more than 20 articles, but most had only one or two articles. Cross-sectional quantitative studies were predominant, with few utilizing prospective or qualitative design. Nearly all articles (96%) reported information about work participation rate, and 45% also included information about factors associated with work participation and work disability. Due to differences in methodologies, cultures and respondents, comparison between and within diseases are difficult. Nevertheless, studies indicated that many people with different rare genetic diseases experience challenges related to work, closely associated to the symptoms of the disease. CONCLUSION: While studies indicate high prevalence of work disability in many patients with rare diseases, the research is scarce and fragmented. More research is warranted. Information about the unique challenges of living with different rare diseases is crucial for health and welfare systems to better facilitate work participation. In addition, the changing nature of work in the digital age, may also open up new possibilities for people with rare genetic diseases and should be explored.

The epidemiology of human Taenia solium infections: A systematic review of the distribution in Eastern and Southern Africa.

BACKGROUND: Taenia solium is a tapeworm that causes taeniosis in humans and cysticercosis in humans and pigs. Within Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), information on the presence of human taeniosis and cysticercosis seems scarce. This systematic review aimed to describe the current information available and gaps in the epidemiology of human T. solium infections in ESA. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: Scientific literature published between 1st January 2000 and 20th June 2022 in international databases [MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Global Health (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), African Index Medicus (via WHO Global Index Medicus), and Open Grey] was systematically reviewed for ESA. The study area included 27 countries that make up the ESA region. Information on either taeniosis, cysticercosis or NCC was available for 16 of 27 countries within the region and a total of 113 reports were retained for the review. Most case reports for cysticercosis and NCC were from South Africa, while Tanzania had the most aggregated cysticercosis reports. Eleven countries reported on NCC with seven countries reporting data on NCC and epilepsy. Unconfirmed human T. solium taeniosis cases were reported in nine countries while two countries (Madagascar and Zambia) reported confirmed T. solium cases. The cysticercosis seroprevalence ranged between 0.7-40.8% on antigen (Ag) ELISA and between 13.1-45.3% on antibody (Ab) ELISA. Based on immunoblot tests the Ab seroprevalence was between 1.7-39.3%, while the proportion of NCC-suggestive lesions on brain CT scans was between 1.0-76% depending on the study population. The human taeniosis prevalence based on microscopy ranged between 0.1-14.7%. Based on Copro Ag-ELISA studies conducted in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia, the highest prevalence of 19.7% was reported in Kenya. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the public health and economic impact of T. solium in ESA, there are still large gaps in knowledge about the occurrence of the parasite, and the resulting One Health disease complex, and monitoring of T. solium taeniosis and cysticercosis is mostly not in place.

Aetiology and diagnostics of paediatric hydrocephalus across Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify the aetiological distribution and the diagnostic methods for paediatric hydrocephalus across Africa, for which there is currently scarce evidence. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE (Ovid), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Wiley), Embase (Ovid), Global Health (Ovid), Maternity & Infant Care (Ovid), Scopus, African Index Medicus (Global Index Medicus, WHO) and Africa-Wide Information (EBSCO) from inception to Nov 29, 2021. We included studies from any African country reporting on the distribution of hydrocephalus aetiology in children aged 18 years and younger, with no language restrictions. Hydrocephalus was defined as radiological evidence of ventriculomegaly or associated clinical symptoms and signs of the disorder, or surgical treatment for hydrocephalus. Exclusion criteria were studies only reporting on one specific subgroup or one specific cause of hydrocephalus. We also excluded conference and meetings abstracts, grey literature, editorials, commentaries, historical reviews, systematic reviews, case reports and clinical guidelines, as well as studies on non-humans, fetuses, or post-mortem reports. The proportions of postinfectious hydrocephalus, non-postinfectious hydrocephalus, and hydrocephalus related to spinal dysraphism were calculated using a random-effects model. Additionally, we included a category for unclear cases. Diagnostic methods were described qualitatively. To assess methodological study quality, we applied critical appraisal checklists provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The study was registered in Prospero (CRD42020219038). FINDINGS: Our search yielded 3783 results, of which 1880 (49·7%) were duplicates and were removed. The remaining 1903 abstracts were screened and 122 (6·4%) full articles were sought for retrieval; of these, we included 38 studies from 18 African countries that studied a total of 6565 children. The pooled proportion of postinfectious hydrocephalus was 28% (95% CI 22-36), non-postinfectious hydrocephalus was 21% (95% CI 13-30), and of spinal dysraphism was 16% (95% CI 12-20), with substantial heterogeneity. The pooled proportion of hydrocephalus of unclear aetiology was 20% (95% CI 13-28). INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that postinfectious hydrocephalus is the single most common cause of paediatric hydrocephalus in Africa. For targeted investments to be optimal, there is a need for consensus regarding the aetiological classification of hydrocephalus and improved access to diagnostic services. FUNDING: Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Top-down self-regulation processes as determinants of oral hygiene self-care behaviour: A systematic scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the psychological mechanisms that moderate oral hygiene self-care behavior is anticipated to benefit efforts to change such behavior. Top-down self-regulatory (TSR) processes represent one group of relatively unexplored, yet potentially influential, moderating factors. This systematic scoping review aims to explore whether there is evidence that TSR processes moderate oral hygiene self-care engagement within the current literature. METHODS: CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to April 2020 for articles that compared measures of TSR processes (such as self-monitoring, inhibitory control, and task switching) to oral hygiene self-care behavior, or tested interventions that aimed to change or support TSR processes. RESULTS: The search returned 6626 articles, with 25 included in the final sample. Weak evidence supported both the role of TSR processes as moderators of interdental cleaning and the value of interventions targeting self-monitoring of interdental cleaning behavior. Overall, methodological limitations rendered the findings somewhat inconclusive, with an absence of objective assessments of TSR capacity, and little focus on TSR processes as moderators of intervention effects. CONCLUSIONS: The inconclusive, but reasonably promising, findings point to the value of continuing to apply TSR processes within studies of oral hygiene behavior. Exploring why interdental cleaning appears more reliant on TSR processes than toothbrushing, employing objective neuropsychological assessment, and measuring TSR constructs within interventions targeting TSR processes, are encouraged. As a scoping review, the study hopes to generate interest and serve as a starting point for further investigation.

Experienced fatigue in people with rare disorders: a scoping review on characteristics of existing research.

BACKGROUND: Experienced fatigue is an under-recognized and under-researched feature in persons with many different rare diseases. A better overview of the characteristics of existing research on experienced fatigue in children and adults with rare diseases is needed. The purpose of this review was to map and describe characteristics of existing research on experienced fatigue in a selection of rare diseases in rare developmental defects or anomalies during embryogenesis and rare genetic diseases. Furthermore, to identify research gaps and point to research agendas. METHODS: We applied a scoping review methodology, and performed a systematic search in March 2020 in bibliographic databases. References were sorted and evaluated for inclusion using EndNote and Rayyan. Data were extracted on the main research questions concerning characteristics of research on experienced fatigue (definition and focus on fatigue, study populations, research questions investigated and methods used). RESULTS: This review included 215 articles on ten different rare developmental defects/anomalies during embryogenesis and 35 rare genetic diseases. Of the 215 articles, 82 had investigation of experienced fatigue as primary aim or outcome. Included were 9 secondary research articles (reviews) and 206 primary research articles. A minority of articles included children. There were large differences in the number of studies in different diseases. Only 29 of 215 articles gave a description of how they defined the concept of experienced fatigue. The most common research-question reported on was prevalence and/ -or associations to fatigue. The least common was diagnostics (development or validation of fatigue assessment methods for a specific patient group). A large variety of methods were used to investigate experienced fatigue, impeding comparisons both within and across diagnoses. CONCLUSION: This scoping review on the characteristics of fatigue research in rare diseases found a large variety of research on experienced fatigue. However, the minority of studies had investigation of experienced fatigue as a primary aim. There was large variation in how experienced fatigue was defined and also in how it was measured, both within and across diagnoses. More research on experienced fatigue is needed, both in children and adults with rare diseases. This review offers a basis for further research.

Effects of Physicians' Information Giving on Patient Outcomes: a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Providing diagnostic and treatment information to patients is a core clinical skill, but evidence for the effectiveness of different information-giving strategies is inconsistent. This systematic review aimed to investigate the reported effects of empirically tested communication strategies for providing information on patient-related outcomes: information recall and (health-related) behaviors. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and relevant bibliographies were systematically searched from the inception to April 24, 2020, without restrictions, for articles testing information-giving strategies for physicians (PROSPERO ID: CRD42019115791). Pairs of independent reviewers identified randomized controlled studies with a low risk of selection bias as from the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Main outcomes were grouped into patient information recall and behavioral outcomes (e.g., alcohol consumption, weight loss, participation in screening). Due to high heterogeneity in the data on effects of interventions, these outcomes were descriptively reported, together with studies', interventions', and information-giving strategies' characteristics. PRISMA guidelines were followed. RESULTS: Seventeen of 9423 articles were included. Eight studies, reporting 10 interventions, assessed patient information recall: mostly conducted in experimental settings and testing a single information-giving strategy. Four of the ten interventions reported significant increase in recall. Nine studies assessed behavioral outcomes, mostly in real-life clinical settings and testing multiple information-giving strategies simultaneously. The heterogeneity in this group of studies was high. Eight of the nine interventions reported a significant positive effect on objectively and subjectively measured patients' behavioral outcomes. DISCUSSION: Using specific framing strategies for achieving specific communication goals when providing information to patients appears to have positive effects on information recall and patient health-related behaviors. The heterogeneity observed in this group of studies testifies the need for a more consistent methodological and conceptual agenda when testing medical information-giving strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019115791.

Health-related quality-of-life questionnaires for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: A systematic review on questionnaire development and methodology.

To improve the quality and accuracy of the patient-reported outcome measures that assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), guidelines have been developed to standardize the development and validation process. Considering the increasing importance of HRQoL questionnaires in research, we set out to review the literature and evaluate whether existing questionnaires developed for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) fulfill state-of-the-art requirements. The literature search was conducted in March 2019 and updated in September 2020. Seven databases were searched. No time limit was set for the search to include all available questionnaires. The inclusion criteria were original publications describing the development of disease-specific HRQoL questionnaires specific to DVT or PE in adults and available in English. The questionnaires were assessed to determine whether they fulfill the requirements in the latest guidelines. A total of 3826 references were identified. After the exclusion process, 15 papers were reviewed in full, of which 7 were included. Four questionnaires were developed for chronic venous disease, two were specific to DVT, and one was specific to PE. Most questionnaires we found in this review, fulfilled some but none fulfilled all recommendations in existing guidelines. Because the development of current available HRQoL questionnaires specific to DVT or PE do not fulfil all recommendations of existing guidelines, there is room for improvements within this field. Such improvements could likely enhance the quality associated with the use of these end points in clinical trials and practice.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET for Assessment of Primary and Recurrent Prostate Cancer with Histopathology as Reference Standard: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen PET is a promising diagnostic tool in prostate cancer. The gold standard for the detection of prostate tumor and lymph node metastases is histopathology. The aim of the present review was to investigate accuracy measures of 68Ga/18F-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET tracers in primary and recurrent prostate cancer with systematic sector-based histopathology as the reference standard. A systematic literature search was performed and 34 studies were included. Overall, prostate-specific membrane antigen PET showed high specificity, but variable sensitivity to localize known prostate cancer and detect pelvic lymph node metastases.

18F-Fluciclovine PET for Assessment of Prostate Cancer with Histopathology as Reference Standard: A Systematic Review.

The PET tracer 18F-fluciclovine (Axumin) was recently approved in the United States and Europe for men with suspected prostate cancer recurrence following prior treatment. This article summarizes studies where systematic sector-based histopathology was used as reference standard to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the tracer 18F-fluciclovine PET in patients with prostate cancer.

Training interventions for healthcare providers offering group-based patient education. A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: To provide overview of research on training interventions for healthcare providers aimed at promoting competencies in delivering group-based patient education. METHODS: A systematic literature search identified relevant studies. Data was extracted on training details, study design, outcomes and experiences. Results were summarized and qualitative data analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies exploring various training interventions were included. Ten studies used qualitative methods, eight quantitative and nine mixed methods. Use of a comparison group, validated instruments and follow-up measures was rare. Healthcare providers' reactions to training were mostly positive. Several studies indicated positive short-term effects on self-efficacy and knowledge. Results on observed skills and patient outcomes were inconclusive. Results on healthcare providers' experience of delivery of group-based patient education following training were categorized into 1) Benefits of training interventions, 2) Barriers to implementation and 3) Delivery support. CONCLUSIONS: Further evaluation of training for healthcare providers delivering group-based patient education is needed before conclusions on training efficacy can be drawn. The results indicate an expanding research field still in maturation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Efficacy studies evaluating theoretically grounded training with clear attention on group facilitation and follow-up support are needed. Inclusion of validated instruments and long-term outcomes is encouraged.

Tested communication strategies for providing information to patients in medical consultations: A scoping review and quality assessment of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To systematize the scientific knowledge of empirically tested strategies for verbally providing medical information in patient-physician consultations. METHODS: A scoping review searching for terms related to physician, information, oral communication, and controlled study. Four pairs of reviewers screened articles. For each selected study, we assessed the quality and summarized aspects on participants, study, intervention, and outcomes. Information provision strategies were inductively classified by types and main categories. RESULTS: After screening 9422 articles, 39 were included. The methodological quality was moderate. We identified four differently used categories of strategies for providing information: cognitive aid (n = 13), persuasive (n = 8), relationship- (n = 3), and objectivity-oriented strategies (n = 4); plus, one "mixed" category (n = 11). Strategies were rarely theoretically derived. CONCLUSIONS: Current research of tested strategies for verbally providing medical information is marked by great heterogeneity in methods and outcomes, and lack of theory-driven approaches. The list of strategies could be used to analyse real life communication. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Findings may aid the harmonization of future efforts to develop empirically-based information provision strategies to be used in clinical and teaching settings.

Effects of preventive use of compression stockings for elderly with chronic venous insufficiency and swollen legs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many home-dwelling elderly use medical compression stockings to prevent venous insufficiency, deep venous thrombosis, painful legs and leg ulcers. Assisting users with applying and removing compression stockings demands resources from the home based health services, but the effects are uncertain. This systematic review aims to summarize the effects of preventive use of medical compression stockings for patients with chronic venous insufficiency and swollen legs. METHODS: We conducted a search in six databases (Epistemonikos, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL) in March 2018. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the preventive effects of European standard compression stockings class 3 or 2 for elderly with chronic venous insufficiency and swollen legs were included. Primary outcomes were thrombosis, leg ulcers and mobility. Secondary outcomes were other health related outcomes, e.g. pain, compliance. We assessed risk of bias in the included studies and used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool for evaluating the overall quality of evidence. RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Comparing compression stockings class 2 to class 1, meta-analysis showed a reduction in leg ulcer recurrence at 12 months (RR 0.52; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.88). The quality of evidence was assessed as moderate by GRADE. One study (100 participants) did not detect a difference between compression stockings class 3 versus class 2 on ulcer recurrence after six months (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.20 to 2.03). In another study, patients wearing class 3 compression stockings had lower recurrence risk compared with patients without stockings (RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.76) at six months and (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.69) at 12 months. We found no difference between class 2 and class 1 stockings on subjective symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency or outcomes of vein thrombosis or mobility. CONCLUSION: Compression stockings class 2 probably reduce the risk of leg ulcer recurrence compared to compression stockings class 1. It is uncertain whether the use of stockings with higher compression grades is associated with a further risk reduction. More randomized controlled trials on vein thrombosis and mobility are needed.

Simulation-based training for nurses: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training is a widespread strategy to improve health-care quality. However, its effect on registered nurses has previously not been established in systematic reviews. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate effect of simulation-based training on nurses' skills and knowledge. METHODS: We searched CDSR, DARE, HTA, CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC, and SveMed+ for randomised controlled trials (RCT) evaluating effect of simulation-based training among nurses. Searches were completed in December 2016. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts and full-text, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We compared simulation-based training to other learning strategies, high-fidelity simulation to other simulation strategies, and different organisation of simulation training. Data were analysed through meta-analysis and narrative syntheses. GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. For the comparison of simulation-based training to other learning strategies on nurses' skills, six studies in the meta-analysis showed a significant, but small effect in favour of simulation (SMD -1.09, CI -1.72 to -0.47). There was large heterogeneity (I2 85%). For the other comparisons, there was large between-study variation in results. The quality of evidence for all comparisons was graded as low. CONCLUSION: The effect of simulation-based training varies substantially between studies. Our meta-analysis showed a significant effect of simulation training compared to other learning strategies, but the quality of evidence was low indicating uncertainty. Other comparisons showed inconsistency in results. Based on our findings simulation training appears to be an effective strategy to improve nurses' skills, but further good-quality RCTs with adequate sample sizes are needed.

Translation, cross-cultural adaption and measurement properties of the evidence-based practice profile.

BACKGROUND: The evidence-based practice profile (EBP2) questionnaire assesses students' self-reported knowledge, behaviour and attitudes related to evidence-based practice. The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt EBP2 into Norwegian and to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Norwegian version. METHODS: EBP2 was translated and cross-culturally adapted using recommended methodology. Face validity and feasibility were evaluated in a pilot on bachelor students and health and social workers (n = 18). Content validity was evaluated by an expert panel. Nursing students (n = 96), social educator students (n = 27), and health and social workers (n = 26) evaluated the instrument's measurement properties. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM). Discriminative validity was assessed by independent sample t test. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the structural validity of a five-factor model (Relevance, Sympathy, Terminology, Practice and Confidence) using the comparative fit index (CFI) and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). A priori hypotheses on effect sizes and P values were formulated to evaluate the instrument's responsiveness. RESULTS: The forward-backward translation was repeated three times before arriving at an acceptable version. Eleven of 58 items were re-worded. Face validity and content validity were confirmed. Cronbach's alpha was 0.90 or higher for all domains except Sympathy (0.66). ICC ranged from 0.45 (Practice) to 0.79 (Terminology) and SEM from 0.29 (Relevance) to 0.44 (Practice). There was a significant mean difference between exposure and no exposure to EBP for the domains Relevance, Terminology and Confidence. The CFA did not indicate an acceptable five-factor model fit (CFI = 0.69, RMSEA = 0.09). Responsiveness was as expected or better for all domains except Sympathy. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-culturally adapted EBP2-Norwegian version was valid and reliable for the domains Relevance, Terminology and Confidence, and responsive to change for all domains, except Sympathy. Further development of the instrument's items are needed to enhance the instruments reliability for the domains Practice and Sympathy.