Psychometric properties of the health literacy instrument in Brazil (HLS-EU-BR47).

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is a key component of health promotion and sustainability and contributes to well-being. Despite its global relevance, HL is an under-researched topic in South America but is now debuting its exploration in Brazil. To leverage its benefits for South America, the mere translation of validated tools into Portuguese is insufficient. Rather, it is necessary to examine their validity. This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-BR47) using the Item Response Theory (IRT) in a population-based sample of adults in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study was conducted across Brazil and included 1028 participants aged 18 years and above (80% women). Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, factor analysis, graded responses model, Item Characteristic Curve, HL levels based on this, HL standard calculation, IRT, and regular score correlation were computed. RESULTS: The instrument exhibit high reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.95). Factor analysis yielded one factor. IRT was appropriate for data analysis because it allowed quality evaluation of items and constructed a scale to quantify HL. The 47 items and latent features of respondents in the same unit of measurement are positioned in the construction of the HLS-EU-BR47 instrument. The percentages of individuals at each HL level, calculated using IRT, were found to be comparable to those obtained through the standard computation, e.g., 3.2% of people reported very low HL versus 10.8% inadequate HL, 56.2% reported low HL versus 39.5% problematic HL, 31.1% had moderate HL versus 30.1% sufficient HL, and 9.5% had high HL versus 19.7% with excellent HL. The mean HL scores were comparable between women and men (33.9 vs. 33.7, P = 0.36). CONCLUSION: This study provides new evidence of the validity of a widely used HL instrument for the population of South America (in this case, Brazil). This tool can be utilized by citizens, health professionals, and regional/national policymakers to inform the development of initiatives to assess and improve the HL of individuals, groups, and communities. Further studies are needed to confirm and extend the findings and to explore the influence of local cultures and practices in the vast Brazilian territory on HL.

Diseño, confiabilidad y validez de una escala de autopercepción de éxito para colaboradores de empresas medianas en México / Design, reliability and validity of a self-perception scale of success for collaborators of medium-sized companies in Mexico

Resumen La autopercepción del éxito se considera como una sensación de bienestar personal, laboral, económico o emocional que una persona experimenta a partir del logro de propósitos alcanzados en actividades que le apasionan. Hasta el momento se ha omitido su estudio en los trabajadores, quienes suelen ser los responsables del desarrollo operativo en cualquier organización. El propósito de esta investigación implicó el diseño, confiabilidad y validez de una escala de autopercepción de éxito para colaboradores de organizaciones medianas mexicanas. Los análisis de fiabilidad, factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio dan cuenta de una consistencia interna adecuada para la medición de la autopercepción de éxito, con una escala final integrada por ocho ítems (α=.805) que se validó con una muestra de 225 trabajadores pertenecientes a seis empresas. Conocer el nivel de autopercepción de éxito que manifiestan los trabajadores permitiría la generación de estrategias de apoyo o reforzamiento para promover un aumento en su seguridad, competencia y desempeño en las empresas.

Abstract The self-perception of success is considered as a feeling of personal, work, economic or emotional well-being that a person experiences from the achievement of goals achieved in activities that they are passionate about. However, the study of workers has been omitted, they are usually responsible for operational development in any organization. The purpose of this research was the design, reliability and validity of a scale of self-perception of success for collaborators of medium-sized Mexican organizations. The reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes show adequate internal consistency for measuring the self-perception of success, with a final scale made up of eight items (α = .805) that was validated in a sample of 225 workers belonging to six companies. Knowing the level of self-perception of success that workers manifest would allow the generation of support or reinforcement strategies to promote an increase in their safety, competence and performance in companies.

Reliability and validity of measuring scale for postoperative complications in third molar surgery.

BACKGROUND: Third molar removal surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the oral and maxillofacial field with a wide range of items in the quantification of postoperative complications. For their measure, in 2014 a previous scale design was presented. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a scale designed to measure and quantify postoperative complications in third molar surgery (TMS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a measurement model was designed. Sixty-two patients (mean age 20.5 ± 6.6 years; 36 women) underwent TMS in three Chilean hospitals. In the postoperative check-up on the 7th day, a maxillofacial surgeon and a surgical resident performed independent postoperative assessments, applying the scale. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to obtain validity, internal consistency, interobserver reliability and a score to categorize the severity of complications using structural equation model analysis. RESULTS: Nine patients (14.5%) had complications. The scale was defined by two components: "Secondary complication" and "Infection" (Cronbach's alpha 0.71; Interobserver reliability 87.7%) and three categories of postoperative complication: "without or mild", "moderate" and "severe". CONCLUSION: This study presents a reliability and validity scale called "Surgical complication assessment scale in TMS".

Percepción de innovación en las organizaciones. Percepción de innovación en organizaciones de España y Latinoamérica / Perception of innovation in organizations. Perception of innovation in organizations of Spain and Latin América

Se indaga sobre la percepción de factores psicosociales de la innovación en organizaciones de España y Latinoamérica utilizando una medida construida a partir de la evidencia meta-analítica. El inventario de conductas y actitudes colectivas favorables a la innovación muestra adecuada fiabilidad y validez predictiva, de criterio, convergente y discriminante. Se percibe que las características de rol laboral, el liderazgo, los factores grupales y de clima emocional se dan en forma moderada y en menor medida, los factores organizacionales. La importancia atribuida a la innovación y su valoración es percibida como superior a su presencia y en mayor medida en otras organizaciones que en la propia. La percepción global de innovación se asoció positiva y significativamente a los factores psicosociales mostrando relevancia las características de rol laboral, el factor organizacional y, en menor medida el liderazgo. Este es mediador entre los factores organizacionales, de rol y la innovación. Congruentemente con los meta-análisis la asociación fue menos relevante con los factores individuales, grupales y de clima socio-emocional. Se discuten resultados e implicaciones prácticas.

This study examines the perception of factors of innovation in samples of experts and workers from Spain and Latin-America, using a scale based on meta-analytic evidence. The scale of collective behavior and attitudes favorable to innovation shows satisfactory reliability and criterion validity. Participants perceive that role, group, leadership, climate and psychological factors of innovations exist at a moderate level, while perceive that organizational structure of innovation are present at a lower extent. Valuation of innovation is perceived as higher than actual degree of it, and both valuation and frequency of innovation are perceived as higher in others organizations than in the organization to which participants belongs. Perceived level of innovation was strongly associated to organizational and role factors, and in a lower extent to leadership factors, while individual and group factors were less relevant, congruently with meta-analysis. Positive and innovative leadership play a meditational rol between organizational and role factors and innovation. Implications of results for organizations are discussed.

Design and content validation of the oral hygiene habits scale / Diseño y validación de contenido de la escala de hábitos de higiene bucal

Abstract: the presence of dental plaque is associated with deterioration of oral health, tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontal disease. The study of content validity of a new instrument aims to determine whether the items included in the measuring instrument are representative of the assessed construct. The objective of this research was to design and validate the content of an oral hygiene habits scale. A Likert-like scale, named Oral Hygiene Habits Scale (OHHS), containing 10 items and five response options on frequency of behavior, was developed to assess the dimensions of toothbrushing and flossing. Six experts were recruited for the study. They were asked to conduct their evaluations individually. Four characteristics (adequacy, clarity, consistency and relevance) were evaluated for each item, using an assessment scale of four ordinal values (from 1="does not meet the criteria" to 4="high level of compliance"). Data were analyzed using the binomial test, Kendall’s W and Fleiss’s Kappa coefficient. The judges mostly indicated a high level of compliance with the characteristics evaluated for each item and their judgments were consistent with one another. It is concluded that the OHHS composed of 10 items showed content validity. Further studies are suggested to determine its reliability and construct validity.

Resumen: la presencia de placa bacteriana se asocia con el deterioro de la salud oral, aparición de caries, gingivitis y enfermedad periodontal. El estudio de la validez de contenido de un instrumento nuevo, se centra en que los ítems del instrumento de medición sean representativos del constructo evaluado. El objetivo de esta investigación fue diseñar y validar el contenido de una escala de hábitos de higiene bucal. Se creó una escala de 10 ítems tipo Likert con cinco opciones de respuesta sobre frecuencia de conducta para evaluar las dimensiones de cepillado y uso del hilo dental, denominada como Escala de Hábitos de Higiene Bucal (EHHB). Se reclutó a seis expertos quienes realizaron sus evaluaciones individualmente. Se valoraron cuatro características (suficiencia, claridad, coherencia y relevancia) en cada ítem, usando una escala de cuatro valores ordinales (de 1="no cumple" a 4="alto nivel"). Los datos fueron analizados mediante la prueba binomial, la W de Kendall y el coeficiente Kappa de Fleiss. Los jueces mayoritariamente indicaron alto nivel de cumplimiento de las características evaluadas para cada ítem y sus juicios fueron concordantes. Se concluye que la EHHB compuesta por 10 ítems presentó validez de contenido, y se sugiere seguir estudiando la escala para determinar su confiabilidad y validez de constructo.

Estilos promotores de salud y funcionamiento familiar: Comuna de Hualpén, Región del Bío Bío, Chile / Styles health workers and family functioning: Hualpén Commune Bío Bío Region, Chile

Estudio correlacional y de corte transversal que buscó conocer las variables del funcionamiento familiar presentes en la adopción de estilos promotores de salud, en la Comuna de Hualpén. El universo estuvo conformado por las usuarias del Programa de Salud de la Mujer de un centro de salud de la Comuna de Hualpén y que se hayan realizado el examen Papanicolaou entre los meses de enero y diciembre de 2011 y que pertenecieran a familias con hijos adolescentes. De las mujeres que cumplían los requisitos se obtuvo una población de estudio compuesta por un total de 141 mujeres. Destacaron correlaciones significativas inversas de estilos de vida saludable; la búsqueda de apoyo social y profesional. A partir de los resultados, se hace necesario fomentar la inclusión de factores determinantes sociales de la salud en las políticas públicas que permitan incentivar a las familias a participar como agente promotor en conductas de salud.

Study correlational and cross-sectional aimed to know the family functioning variables present in the adoption of health promoters styles, in the municipality of Talcahuano. The universe was made by the users of the Health Program for Women of a health center and Hualpén Commune have been performed Pap test between January and December 2011 and who belonged to families with teenage children. Of the women who qualified obtained a study population comprised a total of 141 women. Significant inverse correlations stressed healthy lifestyles, seeking social support and professional. From the results, it is necessary to promote the inclusion of social determinants of health in public policies to encourage families to participate as an advocate on health behaviors.