Abstract
Aim : This research aims at validating an instrument to assess the perception of control over hot flushes, frequent symptoms during menopause. Method : A sample of 243 symptomatic women completed the Perceived Control over Hot Flushes Index, PCoHFI (Reynolds, 1997), two subscales from the Menopause Symptoms’ Severity Inventory, MSSI-38 (Pimenta et al., 2011) to assess perceived loss of control and vasomotor symptoms, as well as a socio-demographic questionnaire. The construct, criterion and external validity, reliability and sensitivity were explored. Results : The exclusion of item 15 is suggested since it presents a negative factorial weight (λ = -.105; p = .134) and only 1.1% of its variance is explained by the construct. The PCoHFI manifested two factors: internal and external control attribution. It does not present convergent validity, but it has discriminant validity. Criterion validity is confirmed by a significant correlation with other similar constructs. Moreover, the PCoHFI evidences a good reliability and sensitivity. Conclusion : The PCoHFI manifests good psychometric properties and is an adequate instrument to assess this variable, which has been identified as a strong predictor of vasomotor symptoms’ severity. Research and interventions with women who evidence severe hot flushes can benefit from the assessment of such construct.
Highlights
During menopause women can manifest vasomotor symptoms, that is, hot flushes and night sweats
Construct Validity Confirmatory Factor Analysis — The item 15 (“I want to learn as much as I can about hot flushes and the menopause”) was not significantly correlated with the construct, presenting a negative standardized estimate (λ = -.105; p = .134) and only 1.1% of its variance was explained by the construct
The confirmatory analysis showed that item 15, which expressed the will of learning as much as possible concerning both hot flushes and menopause, was not associated with the general construct being assessed by the other items
Summary
During menopause women can manifest vasomotor symptoms, that is, hot flushes and night sweats. The pathophysiologic understanding of these symptoms is still limited, the decrease of endogenous estrogens – that occurs during menopausal transition – seems to be critical for their appearance (Bachmann, 2005). Their manifestation can occur in an unforeseen way and, besides hormonal fluctuations other triggers of vasomotor symptoms include stressful situations (Chedraui et al, 2010; Reynolds, 2000). Vasomotor symptoms might start in the peri-menopause (phase when the hormonal fluctuations occur) and can be maintained until the post-menopause (Rödström et al, 2002)
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