Assess Construct Validity Research Articles

The 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-9) has adequate measurement properties in patients with chronic low back pain.

To assess the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia in patients with chronic low back pain. Questionnaire validation study. Study was conducted in an online environment. We included people aged 18 to 50 years with self-reported low back pain lasting > three months and assessed the Pain-Related Catastrophizing Thoughts Scale and the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. We used intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, minimum detectable change, and Cronbach's alpha to assess the reliability and internal consistency of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. We tested correlations between the domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and the other variables to assess construct validity. A total of 174 participants with chronic low back pain were included in the analysis. No ceiling or floor effect was found. In terms of construct validity, there was a positive correlation between the domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and the other variables. In the reliability analysis, there was adequate test-retest reliability of the two domains of the 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia: intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99, standard error of measurement = 3.4%, and minimum detectable change = 9.6% for the activity avoidance domain; and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99, standard error of measurement = 3.5%, and minimum detectable change = 9.9% for the somatic focus domain. There was acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.68) for both domains. The 9-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia has adequate measurement properties in patients with chronic low back pain.

Assessment of the validity and reliability of the nurses’ professional values scale—revised in Persian version among nursing students

BackgroundEvaluating professional values is crucial to developing effective strategies for integrating them into professional performance and clinical education. A standard questionnaire is an instrument that can be used to evaluate professional values. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) among nursing students in the Persian language.MethodsThis methodological and cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the NPVS-R among nursing students. Following a back-translation process, the Persian version was subjected to face, content, and construct validity assessments. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 439 nursing students during their internships at 16 public universities of medical sciences in Iran between April and July 2019. Additionally, convergent and divergent validity were assessed on a separate sample of 105 nursing students. The reliability of the instrument was assessed using both internal consistency measures and the test–retest method. Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were analyzed using Samejima’s Gradual Response Model. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 19) and MPLUS (version 5.1).ResultsAll components had a content validity ratio greater than 0.6 and a content validity index of 1, indicating excellent content validity. Exploratory factor analysis reduced the items to 25, with five factors explaining 52.26% of the variance. The scale exhibited strong convergent validity (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) and satisfactory divergent validity (r = 0.12, p = 0.21; r = 0.07, p = 0.47). Test–retest reliability was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.92. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.53 to 0.83 for the factors and 0.91 for the entire scale, showing good internal consistency. IRT analysis confirmed that alpha parameters for all items were statistically significant and at an acceptable level. Thus, the Persian NPVS-R, with 25 items and 5 factors, is a valid and reliable tool for nursing students.ConclusionsThe Persian NPVS-R, comprising 25 items and 5 factors, demonstrated excellent validity and reliability. This scale serves as a standardized tool for evaluating the professional values of nursing students, suitable for application in educational and clinical settings to enhance nursing practice and education.

P0240 Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Crohn’s Anal Fistula – Quality of Life scale in Dutch patients with active perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background Perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease (pCD) is associated with debilitating symptoms such as fecal incontinence and perianal pain, and can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life (QoL)1. The Crohn’s Anal Fistula Quality of Life (CAF-QoL) scale has recently been developed as the first disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure for patients with pCD2, but has yet to be validated in an independent cohort. Therefore, we aimed to adapt and validate the CAF-QoL scale in a Dutch cohort of patients with active pCD. Methods Patients with active pCD were retrieved from a prospective multicenter study performed in 41 Dutch (non-)academic hospitals between September 2022 and March 2023. Respondents of the CAF-QoL scale and other health-related QoL questionnaires (sIBDQ and EQ-5D-5L3,4) at baseline were included. After translation of the CAF-QoL scale to Dutch, patient representatives verified the questionnaire’s comprehensibility. Prospective validation comprised the assessment of construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and responsiveness. Item response theory (IRT) was used to investigate the discriminative power of individual CAF-QoL items and to test for differential item functioning (DIF), examining whether each item behaves equally across all respondents. Results Questionnaires were completed by 264 patients (response rate 64%; female 56%) (Table 1). The median pCD duration at inclusion was 3.0 years (IQR 1.0 – 8.0). Evaluation of construct validity found a moderate correlation between CAF-QoL and sIBDQ (r -0.61, p&amp;lt;0.01) and EQ-5D-5L (r -0.58 [utility] and r -0.42 [VAS], p&amp;lt;0.01) scores. Furthermore, the CAF-QoL scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.93), good stability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.83) and responded well to improvement and worsening of pCD symptoms (p&amp;lt;0.01)(Table 2). Discrimination values revealed that most items (73%) possessed a moderate to high ability to predict poor QoL; items pertaining to the impact of pCD on daily life had the greatest predictive abilities. No clinically relevant DIF was found among patients of different ages, sexes or education levels. Conclusion In this prospective multicenter study, the CAF-QoL scale was validated as a robust tool to measure pCD-specific QoL among Dutch patients with active pCD. Therefore, this scale appears to be well suited for use in clinical practice. Further studies are required to establish a minimal clinically important difference for the CAF-QoL scale; this would determine the smallest change in test scores perceptible to the patient, enabling effective monitoring of treatment outcomes.

Psychometric Validation of the Hemophilia Functional Ability Scoring Tool (Hemo-FAST).

The Hemophilia Functional Ability Scoring Tool (Hemo-FAST), consisting of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) part and a clinician-reported outcome (ClinRO) part, was developed as a rapid and effective tool to assess functional mobility in clinical practice. This study (NCT04731701) aimed to validate the psychometric properties of Hemo-FAST for assessment of joint health in people with haemophilia (PwH). PwH A or B aged ≥18 years completed questionnaires including the PRO part of Hemo-FAST and the short-form 36 health survey (SF-36) during one study visit. Clinicians completed the Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) and the ClinRO part of Hemo-FAST at the same visit. Validation was performed using reliability, construct validity, and structure validity assessments. The study enrolled 180 PwH A or B from 14 centres across France. Estimated time to complete the PRO part was mean (standard deviation) 4.6 (5.4) minutes. PRO items showed good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient value ≥0.70). Inter-rater values were >0.70 for 7/9 ClinRO items, indicating good reliability. All items (15 PRO; 9 ClinRO) had high internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient alpha: 0.97). Hemo-FAST demonstrated convergent construct validity with HJHS and the SF-36 physical component and discriminant construct validity with the SF-36 mental health component. Hemo-FAST scores distinguished between subgroups of people with expected differences in joint health status, including by haemophilia severity (p < 0.0001). This study successfully validated Hemo-FAST as a rapid and reliable tool for the functional assessment of joint health in adults with haemophilia, both in clinical practice and clinical research settings.

Translation And Validation Of Bahasa Indonesia Version Of Mental Health Literacy In Adolescent

Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) is crucial for adolescents to recognize, manage, and prevent mental health issues. In Indonesia, increasing adolescent mental health challenges and limited culturally adapted MHL tools highlight the need for a validated Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) in Bahasa Indonesia. Objective: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the MHLS for Indonesian adolescents to assess their mental health literacy accurately. Methods: The study followed a three-stage validation process: translation, cultural adaptation, and content validation with a sample of 435 adolescents. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess construct validity, and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for reliability. Results: The translated MHLS showed high content validity (CVI ≥ 0.87) and good construct validity with fit indices (RMSEA = 0.046, CFI = 0.956). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.907), indicating reliability. Conclusion: The Bahasa Indonesia version of MHLS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental health literacy in Indonesian adolescents, supporting culturally relevant interventions.

Psychometric Properties and Network Analysis of the Arabic Version of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Scale-Short Version in Patients with Anxiety Disorders.

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of a short version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ-S) among a sample of 700 patients with anxiety disorders (53.1% were female). Participants completed the RST-PQ-S, NEO-FFI, Positive Mental Health (PMH), and Kessler Psychological Distress scale. Both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were employed to test the construct validity of the scale. This study also utilized a network perspective, incorporating Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) and centrality measures. As a result of the EFA and CFA, it was determined that the scale consists of 22 items and six subdimensions. These subdimensions were named as follows: "Flight Fight-Freeze System", "Behavioral Inhibition System", "Reward Interest", "Reward Reactivity", "Goal-Drive Persistence", and "Impulsivity". Additionally, the network analysis's findings confirmed the six-factor structure derived from the construct validity assessment. The results of this study demonstrated that the Arabic version of the personality scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing personality in Arabic-speaking individuals with anxiety disorders. It has the potential to serve as an important diagnostic instrument in clinical and research settings. These findings may assist psychologists and clinicians in Arabic-speaking countries to better understand how the personality traits and anxiety disorders are related.

Translation, Validity, and Reliability of the Indonesian Version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).

The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a widely used 13-item shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measure for shoulder pain disorders. The English version of SPADI is easy to use and demonstrates excellent measurement properties for clinical and research settings. To translate and culturally adapt an Indonesian version of SPADI (SPADI-IDN) and then validate its use in Indonesian patients. Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Through a forward and a backward translation process, the validity of the questionnaire was investigated. The study population was 100 patients with shoulder pain who were treated in a hospital in Indonesia. The patients were asked to fill out the SPADI-IDN during their visit. To evaluate the validity of SPADI-IDN, the patients were also asked to fill out the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Oxford Shoulder Score. To assess the test-retest reliability, the same patients were asked to fill out the SPADI-IDN questionnaire again 1 week later. The assessment of construct validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, floor and ceiling effect, and measurement of error followed the COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) guidelines. The Bland-Altman method was used to explore absolute agreement. Of the 100 eligible patients, all were used to assess construct validity, and 87 patients (87%) were used to assess test-retest reliability. Almost every established hypothesis about the correlations between SPADI-IDN and other questionnaires could be confirmed, implying good construct validity. No floor or ceiling effects were found. The intraclass correlation value was 0.99, indicating strong test-retest reliability. A Cronbach α was 0.95, indicating a good internal consistency. The Bland-Altman analysis did not reveal any bias. The standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change at the individual and group levels were 2.65, 7.3, and 0.7, respectively. The SPADI-IDN represents a valid and reliable tool for measuring pain and disability in patients with shoulder pain disorders.

The Development of a Non-Cognitive Instrument to Measure Learning Motivation in Physics Among Students of The Radiology Engineering Program

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable non-cognitive instrument to measure the learning motivation in Physics among students of the Radiology Engineering Program. Learning motivation is one of the psychological factors that influence students' academic achievement. In the context of Physics, which is often considered a difficult subject, learning motivation becomes a key element in overcoming challenges and enhancing understanding. Therefore, it is important to have an instrument that can accurately measure students' learning motivation, especially in relation to Physics material that is highly relevant to the Radiology Engineering field.The instrument developed in this study is based on learning motivation theory, which includes two main dimensions: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Research Method The development process of the instrument was carried out through several stages. The first stage was the identification of motivation indicators relevant to these two dimensions. These indicators were then used to construct the instrument blueprint, which was later validated by experts to ensure the alignment of the items with the existing theory. The instrument was then empirically tested on a sample of students to assess its validity and reliability. Data analysis was performed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess construct validity, that is, whether the instrument accurately measures the dimensions of learning motivation. Additionally, the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient was used to measure the instrument's internal consistency, ensuring that the instrument provides consistent results. Research Findings The findings show that the developed instrument has good construct validity, with a total variance explained of 65%, indicating that the instrument can explain most of the variation in students' learning motivation in Physics. Furthermore, the instrument also demonstrates high reliability, with a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.89, indicating excellent internal consistency. Regression analysis shows that learning independence significantly affects concept understanding in Physics, with a value of F(2, 85) = 15.940, p &lt; 0.001. This indicates that students with higher motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, tend to have a better understanding of Physics concepts.

Development and validation of the renal dosing questionnaire (RDQ-13) for pharmacists.

Pharmacists, as an integral part of the healthcare team, can play a crucial role in preventing drug-related problems in patients with chronic kidney disease that arise due to inappropriate doses. This study aimed to develop and validate a new tool, the renal dosing questionnaire (RDQ-13), for pharmacists working across hospital, community, and retail pharmacy settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2023 among pharmacists working in different settings. The RDQ-13 scale consists of 3-sections, encompassing demographic details, a knowledge section with 6 domains, each having 4 questions with the choice of "yes/no," an attitude section featuring a Likert scale for 4 items, and a perception section featuring a Likert scale for 3 items. The assessment of construct and discriminative validity was performed along with testing for reliability. The average variance extracted value and the composite reliability value were used for convergent validity. A total of 65 pharmacists completed the RDQ-13, but at retest n = 2 participants were dropped (response rate at retest was 96.9%). Exploratory factor analysis revealed 3-factor loadings with 59.1% of the variance, whereas the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin value was 0.60. The Cronbach alpha value of 0.700 indicates good internal consistency, whereas the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the test and retest showed that most domains/scores were statistically significant (P < .001), showing an excellent agreement between the test and retest. The RDQ-13 underwent extensive validation through a cross-sectional survey, demonstrating high content and face validity. The scale showed consistent responses over time (test-retest stability) and good internal consistency.

The Slovenian Version of the Thirst Distress Scale for Patients with Heart Failure: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation.

To translate and evaluate psychometric properties of the Slovenian version of the Thirst Distress Scale for Patients with Heart Failure (TDS-HF). The English version of the TDS-HF was translated back and forth into the Slovenian language. The psychometric evaluation included content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and concurrent validity assessments. For this purpose, we also evaluated thirst intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 100 mm). Overall, 159 patients with HF (mean age 71 ± 9 years, 69% male, 77% in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-III, mean Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) 36 ± 12%) completed the TDS-HF. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the one-factor structure of the scale. The Slovenian version demonstrated good content validity (scale content validity index based on the average method (S-CVI/Ave) 0.96) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.83). In terms of concurrent validity, a positive correlation was observed between TDS-HF and thirst intensity (r = 0.36, p ≤ 0.01). The psychometric evaluation of the Slovenian version of the TDS-HF showed adequate psychometric properties, indicating that the scale is suitable for clinical practice and research in Slovenia to measure thirst distress in patients with HF.

HPV vaccination and anal HPV infection in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have a higher risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related diseases and would benefit from preventive measures such as HPV vaccination. We assessed the association between HPV vaccination and anal HPV infection in HIV-negative gbMSM and gbMSM living with HIV from the Lubricant Investigation in Men to Inhibit Transmission of HPV Infection study. Participants attended 7 visits over 12months where they provided a nurse-collected anal sample and self-completed a questionnaire on risk factors and HPV vaccination. Samples were tested for HPV using polymerase chain reaction assays. We assessed the association with HPV vaccination and anal HPV prevalence and incidence using logistic and Cox regression, respectively. Analyses at the individual- (unit of analysis=participant) and HPV-level (unit of analysis=HPV type) considered vaccine-targeted types (any of HPVs 6/11/16/18) as the outcome. To assess construct validity, we repeated analyses considering incidence of non-vaccine-targeted (within- and cross-species) HPV types at the HPV-level. Estimates were adjusted for a propensity score to predict cumulative HPV positivity based on selected study and participant characteristics. Of 258 enrolled participants (18.2-71.7years; 69 being HIV-positive), 23.3% were vaccinated at baseline. At the individual-level, there was no association between vaccination and HPVs 6/11/16/18 prevalence (n=250, aOR=1.12, 95% CI=0.56-2.22) or incidence (n=152, aHR=0.34, 95% CI=2.19×10-18-1.38). At the HPV-level, while there was no association with HPVs 6/11/16/18 prevalence (n=1000, aOR=0.99, 95% CI=0.57-1.71), vaccination was associated with a reduction in HPVs 6/11/16/18 incidence (n=754, aHR=0.22, 95% CI=6.01×10-18-0.79). Vaccination was not associated with incidence of within-species (n=2299, aHR=0.76, CI=0.42-1.24) or cross-species (n=3774, aHR=1.28, CI=0.89-1.85) HPV types. Results were similar by HIV status. Our findings support that HPV vaccination protects against incident anal infection of vaccine-targeted HPV types, thus, gbMSM should be encouraged to get vaccinated against HPV.

Assessing hand motor function in chronic immune-mediated neuropathies: a proof-of-concept study using a data glove

BackgroundChronic immune-mediated neuropathies are clinically heterogeneous and require regular, objective, and multidimensional monitoring to individualize treatment. However, established outcome measures are insufficient regarding measurement quality criteria (e.g., reliability, objectivity) or functional relevance. Wearables such as data gloves might be helpful, allowing repeated quantification of complex everyday life-relevant motor function of the hand.Methods25 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or multifocal motor neuropathy were followed-up at five time points during maintenance therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin. 14 of them showed clinically relevant hand motor impairment. We examined the patients’ hand function using a data glove which quantifies the active range of motion (ROM) of the hand based on three different movement patterns. In addition, clinical outcome parameters (grip strength measurement, MRC Sum Score, INCAT disability score), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) were performed, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) like the Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale (R-ODS) were assessed. We calculated correlation coefficients, performed Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, as well as correlation analyses for the glove data and clinical outcome parameters. Longitudinal analyses were based on a Linear Mixed Model, and we assessed construct validity of the data glove by analyzing correlations between the glove measurements and well-established clinical parameters.ResultsWe found good to excellent test–retest reliability for the ROM in all glove movement patterns (Intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.83–0.94), underlining the ability to capture clinical stability. Moreover, the glove demonstrated adequate, sensitivity and specificity in detecting hand motor impairment (area under the curve (AUC): 0.714–0.780), and it performed better than NCS and HRUS (AUC: 0.552/0.701). The AUC values for the metrically scaled parameters include: Vigorimeter (AUC: 0.929) and R-ODS (AUC: 0.698). Additionally, the data glove proved to be a valid tool, as we demonstrated moderate to strong, significant correlations between the glove and established clinical parameters (especially Vigorimeter), as well as PROMs (especially R-ODS).ConclusionsThis data glove allowed for a non-invasive assessment of the hand motor function and yielded investigator-independent results that reliably reflected individual functional deficits with relevance to everyday life. Future studies should explore the ability to predict clinically meaningful responses to immunomodulatory treatment and to support and monitor rehabilitation progress, with potential applications in other neurological diseases as well.Trial registration at the German Clinical Trials Register, Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS: 00027345), retrospectively registered on 23rd March 2022: https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00027345

Validating the Q1.6 Inguinal Hernia application using prospective data from a randomised clinical trial.

The Q1.6 Inguinal Hernia application remotely and continuously collects patient-reported outcomes from inguinal hernia patients. Previous research has explored its technical, legal, and ethical aspects, along with face, content, and construct validity assessments. This study aims to examine its concurrent validity by comparing prospective data with that from the ENTREPPMENT trial, a randomised study. A small cohort of patients participating in the ENTREPPMENT trial were asked to use the Q1.6 application in addition to their standard care. Corresponding prospective data points, in terms of content and timing relative to the operation date, were identified. Correlation coefficients were calculated for matching variables, and a repeated measures model was created to analyse pain and limitation measures during the first two postoperative weeks. Twenty-eight patients were analysed. Preoperative variables, such as hernia side and painkiller use, demonstrated a predominantly high level of agreement between the two measurement methods, ranging from 'substantial' (0.61-0.8) to 'perfect' (1.0) agreement. Evaluating immediate postoperative outcomes, including pain and limitation scores, revealed a prevalent 'substantial' (0.61-0.8) to 'almost perfect' (0.81-1.0) agreement. In a repeated measures model, the overall within-subjects correlation demonstrated levels of agreement ranging from 'moderate' (0.41-0.6) to 'almost perfect' (0.81-1.0). This study demonstrates strong agreement between data from the Q1.6 Inguinal Hernia application and the ENTREPPMENT trial, supporting its concurrent validity. This makes the application a reliable tool for collecting PROs before and immediately after inguinal hernia repair, offering a promising alternative to traditional follow-up methods. Future research will focus on enhancing compliance and refining functionality.

Translation, cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese, and validation of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility.

Several outcome measures can be performed to assess and quantify mobility after a lower limb amputation. The Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M) is a self-report instrument developed to assess mobility in prosthesis users. It has already been translated into different languages but not into Brazilian Portuguese. To perform the translation and cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese of the PLUS-M and to assess its validity and reliability. Observational cross-sectional study. Translation and cultural adaptation were performed by following internationally recognized standards. To assess construct validity, the T-scores of PLUS-M/12-Item Short Form-Brazilian Portuguese (BR-12) item short form were correlated to the 2-Minute Walk Test and the scores from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Short Form Health Survey domains by the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). A second administration of the PLUS-M/BR-12 was done by phone call to assess test-retest reliability. Some cultural adaptations were made to improve understanding. The PLUS-M/BR-12 T-scores of 61 participants showed a strong correlation between the scores of the 2-Minute Walk Test (ρ = 0.69) and the Physical Function domain of the 36-Short Form Health Survey (ρ = 0.83), and an excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.90 [IC 95% = 0.833-0.943]; F(49,49) = 19,037; P < 0.001). The PLUS-M/BR-12 demonstrated evidence of validity and reliability in assessing mobility in Brazilian adults with lower limb amputations who use a prosthetic device, and it is suitable for use in clinical care.

Validation of the Japanese version of the Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale for esophageal symptoms.

The Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale (EHAS) is an English questionnaire created in the USA to assess these factors in all patients with esophageal diseases. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Japanese version of EHAS and investigate the relationship between EHAS scores and symptoms in untreated disorders of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow. This prospective study recruited patients who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) at six tertiary centers in Japan. The EHAS was translated to Japanese using standard forward and backward translation methods. Patients completed the following questionnaires: the Japanese EHAS, Eckardt score, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for assessment of construct validity. Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with esophageal symptom severity in untreated disorders of EGJ outflow. Overall, we analyzed 432 patients. Their main symptoms were dysphagia and reflux. The most common HRM diagnosis was normal (35.9%), followed by achalasia (29.4%). The Japanese EHAS demonstrated excellent reliability, and construct validity, with two subscales similar to the original EHAS. Total EHAS score moderately correlated to Eckardt score (r = 0.545, p < 0.001). In 113 patients with untreated disorders of EGJ outflow, multivariable analysis demonstrated that younger age, type II achalasia, and higher EHAS score were independently associated with higher Eckardt score. The Japanese EHAS is a reliable and valid questionnaire. Its subscale scores can be used as in the original version with some caution. Future studies are warranted to assess the appropriateness of factor loading.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric analysis of the Indonesian version of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), patient self-report section

Purpose To translate the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score into Indonesian and to assess its psychometric properties. Materials and methods The ASES score was translated into Indonesian following the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Next, the validity and reliability of the Indonesia-ASES (I-ASES) were investigated. Patients with shoulder problems at a hospital in Indonesia who were willing to participate completed three questionnaires: the I-ASES, the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Participants were asked to complete the I-ASES a second time after a one-week interval. In adherence to COSMIN guidelines, we assessed construct validity using hypothesis testing, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, floor and ceiling effects, and measurement error. The Bland–Altman method was used to evaluate systematic bias. Results The I-ASES showed good construct validity. No floor or ceiling effects were found. An ICC value of 0.82 was found, indicating a robust level of test–retest reliability. A Cronbach α of 0.90 implied good internal consistency. Bland and Altman analysis showed no systematic bias. The standard error of measurement (SEM), the minimal detectable change at the individual level (MDCind) and at the group level (MDCgrp) were 2.3, 6.5, and 0.6, respectively. Conclusions The I-ASES shows good validity and reliability for evaluating shoulder problems in Indonesian-speaking patients and reveals comparable psychometric properties to those of the other languages version of ASES. Implications for rehabilitation The Indonesian version of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (I-ASES) is now available. I-ASES demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity. I-ASES can be considered a valid and reliable questionnaire for use in Indonesian patients with shoulder problem.

Psychometric Validation of Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral to Care (SPARC) in Korean Cancer Patients.

Identifying the palliative care needs of patients with advanced cancer is important for maintaining quality of life and timely transition to palliative care. We aimed to validate the Korean Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (K-SPARC) in such patients and establish its psychometric properties, including reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change. We used the forward-back translated version of SPARC, which was verified through a pilot study, to assess the palliative care needs of patients with advanced cancer. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficients and test-retest reliability. Criterion validity was analyzed against other questionnaires, including the Korean versions of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G Korean) and Korean versions of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (K-ESAS). Factor analysis was used to assess construct validity. Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included from 2019 to 2022. Forty-nine percent of all patients were women, and the median age was 63 years. Cronbach's alpha coefficient (range, 0.642-0.903) and test-retest reliability (range, 0.574-0.749) indicated acceptable reliability. The correlation coefficients between K-SPARC and FACT-G Korean suggested significant criterion validity. The correlation coefficients for the physical, social, emotional, and functional domains were 0.701, 0.249, 0.718, and 0.511, respectively (p-value <0.001, all). Factor analysis demonstrated satisfactory construct validity of the tool. This study demonstrated the utility of K-SPARC as an evaluation tool for providing palliative care to patients with advanced cancer through psychometric validation; the tool had good internal consistency, reliability, and acceptable validity.

Establishing construct validity for dynamic measures of behavior using naturalistic study designs.

There has been a recent surge of naturalistic methodology to assess complex topics in psychology and neuroscience. Such methods are lauded for their increased ecological validity, aiming to bridge a gap between highly controlled experimental design and purely observational studies. However, these measures present challenges in establishing construct validity. One domain in which this has emerged is research on theory of mind: the ability to infer others' thoughts and emotions. Traditional measures utilize rigid methodology which suffer from ceiling effects and may fail to fully capture how individuals engage theory of mind in everyday interactions. In the present study, we validate and test a novel approach utilizing a naturalistic task to assess theory of mind. Participants watched a mockumentary-style show while using a joystick to provide continuous, real-time theory of mind judgments. A baseline sample's ratings were used to establish a "ground truth" for the judgments. Ratings from separate young and older adult samples were compared against the ground truth to create similarity scores. This similarity score was compared against two independent tasks to assess construct validity: an explicit judgment performance-based paradigm, and a neuroimaging paradigm assessing response to a static measure of theory of mind. The similarity metric did not have ceiling effects and was significantly positively related to both the performance-based and neural measures. It also replicated age effects that other theory of mind measures demonstrate. Together, our multimodal approach provided convergent evidence that dynamic measures of behavior can yield robust and rigorous assessments of complex psychological processes.

Comparing the Different Sets of Item-Level Diagnostic Criteria of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R): A Measurement-Based Approach Driven by Rasch Analysis.

(1) To replicate the assessment of the internal construct validity of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) within the Rasch Measurement Theory framework using a larger multicenter sample size and (2) to compare the different sets of item-level diagnostic criteria against the measurement ruler constructed from Rasch analysis to understand how those criteria relate to the overall level of persons' consciousness. Multicenter retrospective study. Seven centers. A total of 380 inpatients with a disorder of consciousness with one or more observations, for a total sample of 1460 observations. Not applicable. CRS-R. We created 2 subsamples: a validation subsample of 1 randomized assessment per subject (N=380) and a confirmation subsample using the further available assessments per subject (N=347). The Rasch analyses, conducted on the validation subsample and replicated on the confirmation one, demonstrated adequate satisfaction of all the model's requirements, including monotonicity, unidimensionality, local independence, invariance (χ2df=40.224; P=.020), and absence of significant differential item functioning across all person factors explored, including etiology. The reliability (Person Separation Index>0.870) was sufficient for individual person measurement, with the distinction of five Distinct Levels of Performance Ability. The CRS-R rulers based on the Rasch calibration allowed the visual comparison of the various sets of disorder of consciousness diagnostic criteria available, suggesting the possibility of a further refinement of these criteria. This study improved the results of a previous Rasch analysis published in 2013. It delivered a new stable Rasch calibration of the CRS-R within the largest multicenter sample size available to date and without any differential item functioning by patient's etiology. The adopted measurement-based approach provided further insights into the diagnostic meaning of several score categories of the CRS-R, confirming previous findings and suggesting that "automatic motor response" (item: motor function) and "object recognition" (item: visual function) are likely to represent behavioral manifestations of MCS+ and eMCS, respectively.

Development and Validation of an Index to Measure and Quantify Pet-Related Barriers to Healthcare Access and Utilization

ABSTRACT Issues such as inadequate transportation, language barriers, being uninsured, and living in geographic locations with poor service availability can prevent people from accessing necessary healthcare. In addition, approximately 60% of the US population has pets, which can also create barriers to healthcare that are related to pet caregiving responsibilities and concerns about pet welfare, particularly when they have inadequate social and economic resources. This study introduces a new index to measure pet-related barriers to healthcare: the Pet-Related Barriers to Healthcare Index (PRBH). We first describe the development of the index based on previous literature and expert consultation. Next, we evaluate the psychometric properties of the index in a sample of 219 pet-owning people with HIV in Florida. We use three validation approaches: (1) confirmatory factor analysis to test the hypothesized two-factor structure of the PRBH measure and to compare the fit of this model with alternative models, (2) assessment of construct validity for the PRBH factors with validated measures of commitment to pets, comfort derived from pets, and social support from people, and (3) latent class analysis to identify underlying patterns of endorsement of items. Additionally, we assessed differences in index scores by sociodemographic characteristics. Our results indicate that: (1) a modified 2-factor model that split items based on item phrasing fit the data best: one factor measured previously experienced barriers, while the other factor measured anticipated future barriers. This factor structure was further supported by the results of the latent class analysis. (2) Poorer social support from people was associated with higher endorsement of both factors. And (3) Twenty percent of the participants were characterized by high endorsement of the index items. The use of the PRBH in research and clinical settings is an important step in standardizing the quantification of this construct, identifying populations most at risk for pet-related barriers to their healthcare, and moving toward systematized support services for those groups and their animal companions.