Validation of the spanish version of the discrimination and stigma scale (DISC 12).

AIMS: The "Discrimination and Stigma Scale" (DISC) was the first instrument specifically designed to evaluate reported experiences of discrimination by people with mental disorders. This study aims to validate DISC-12 version in Spanish population with Schizophrenia and, as specific objectives, to do the external validation with the Self-Stigma Questionnaire (SSQ) scale and Link PDD scale and to validate their internal consistency, temporal and inter-rater reliability. METHODS: 86 individuals with schizophrenia were interviewed at two time points (between one to two weeks) by two raters. Additionally to assess their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, following scales were administered: DISC 12, SSQ, PDD, Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and Global Assessment of Function (GAF). RESULTS: Internal consistency as a whole results a Cronbach a between 0.741 and 0.850. Subscales "Unfair treatmen" and "Positive treatment" have a Cronbach a higher than 0.79, but the both subscales "Stopping Self" and "Overcoming stigma" do not have in themselves an adequate consistency. Test-retest reliability shows that four subscales have values higher than 0.67. Inter-rater reliability assessment result that 21 items score values above 0.8, 10 between 0.6-0.8 and one lower than 0.6. DISC-12 was significantly related with the second factor of the PDD (self-stigma) and SSQ. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the DISC 12 scale is valid, has good internal consistency, is reliable both in terms of test-retest and inter-rater reliability and has good convergent validity with the SSQ and PDD, and the "Unfair treatment" and "Positive Treatment" subscales were the most robust of the four subscales.

Validación de la versión española de la escala de discriminación y estigma (DISC 12) / Validation of the spanish version of the discrimination and stigma scale (DISC 12)

Objetivos. La "Escala de Discriminación y Estigma" (DISC) fue el primer instrumento diseñado para evaluar experiencias de discriminación referidas por pacientes con trastornos mentales. El objetivo principal de este estudio es validar la versión española de la escala DISC 12 en población con esquizofrenia y, como objetivos específicos, realizar la validación externa con el Cuestionario de Autoestigma (SSQ) y la Escala de Link (PDD) y validar su consistencia interna y la fiabilidad temporal y entre observadores. Métodos. 86 individuos con esquizofrenia fueron entrevistados en dos tiempos (entre una y dos semanas) por dos evaluadores. Se estudiaron sus características sociodemo-gráficas y clínicas y se aplicaron las escalas: DISC-12, SSQ, PDD, Escala de Funcionamiento Social (SFS) y Evaluación del Funcionamiento (GAF). Resultados. La consistencia interna resultó un a Cronbach entre 0,741 y 0,850. Las subescalas "Trato injusto" y "Trato positivo" tuvieron a Cronbach superior a 0,79, pero las subscalas "Anticipación de la discriminación" y "Superación del estigma" no tuvieron adecuada consistencia. La fiabilidad test-retest de las cuatro subescalas fue superior a 0,67. La fiabilidad entre evaluadores mostró que 21 ítems tuvieron puntuación superior a 0,8, 10 entre 0,6-0,8 y uno, menos de 0,6. DISC-12 se relacionó significativamente con el Segundo factor de PDD (self-stigma) y con SSQ. Conclusiones. La versión española de la escala DISC 12 es válida, tiene una buena consistencia interna, buena fiabilidad test-retest y entre evaluadores y tiene una buena validez convergente con la SSQ y PDD. Las subescalas "Trato injusto" y "Trato positivo" son las más robustas"

Aims. The "Discrimination and Stigma Scale" (DISC) was the first instrument specifically designed to evaluate reported experiences of discrimination by people with mental dis-orders. This study aims to validate DISC-12 version in Spanish population with Schizophrenia and, as specific objectives, to do the external validation with the Self-Stigma Questionnaire (SSQ) scale and Link PDD scale and to validate their internal consistency, temporal and inter-rater reliability. Methods. 86 individuals with schizophrenia were interviewed at two time points (between one to two weeks) by two raters. Additionally to assess their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, following scales were administered: DISC 12, SSQ, PDD, Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and Global Assessment of Function (GAF).Results. Internal consistency as a whole results a Cronbach a between 0.741 and 0.850. Subscales "Unfair treatment" and "Positive treatment" have a Cronbach a higher than 0.79, but the both subscales "Stopping Self" and "Over-coming stigma" do not have in themselves an adequate consistency. Test-retest reliability shows that four subscales have values higher than 0.67. Inter-rater reliability assessment result that 21 items score values above 0.8, 10 be-tween 0.6-0.8 and one lower than 0.6. DISC-12 was significantly related with the second factor of the PDD (self-stigma) and SSQ. Conclusions. The Spanish version of the DISC 12 scale is valid, has good internal consistency, is reliable both in terms of test-retest and inter-rater reliability and has good convergent validity with the SSQ and PDD, and the "Unfair treatment" and "Positive Treatment" subscales were the most robust of the four subscales

Correction of systematic set-up error in breast and head and neck irradiation through a no-action level (NAL) protocol.

PURPOSE: To quantify systematic and random patient set-up errors in breast and head and neck conventional irradiation and to evaluate a no-action level (NAL) protocol for systematic set-up error off-line correction in head and neck cancer and breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Verification electronic portal images of orthogonal set-up fields were obtained daily for the initial four consecutive fractions for 20 patients treated for breast cancer and for 20 head and neck cancer patients. The calculated systematic error was used to shift the isocentre accordingly on the fifth treatment day. From then until the end of the treatment course, pair orthogonal portal images of set-up fields were obtained weekly. To assess the impact of the protocol, pre- and post-correction systematic errors were compared and PTV margins were estimated before and after correction using published margin recipes. RESULTS: Population systematic set-up error decreased in the breast cancer patient group after the implementation of NAL protocol from 4.0 to 1.7 mm on the x-axis, from 4.7 to 2.1 mm on the y-axis and from 2.8 to 0.9 mm on the z axis. The percentage of patients with individual systematic set-up error reduction was 80%, 90% and 80% on the x-, y and z-axes respectively. Population systematic set-up error decreased also in the head and neck cancer patient group from 2.3 to 1.1 mm on the x-axis, from 1.6 to 1.4 mm on the y-axis and from 1.7 to 0.7 mm on the z-axis. The percentage of patients with individual systematic set-up error reduction was 70%, 65% and 85% on the x-, y- and z-axes respectively. Margin reduction achievable with NAL protocol implementation on the x-, y- and z-axes was 6.3, 7.2 and 4.8 mm for breast cancer patients and 3.3, 0.6 and 2.8 mm for head and neck cancer patients. CONCLUSION: NAL off-line protocol is useful for systematic set-up error correction and PTV margin reduction in conventional breast and head and neck irradiation.