Concurrent Validity In Relation Research Articles

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire in Cochlear Implant Users

Purpose: The Spatial Hearing Questionnaire (SHQ) is a self-report subjective questionnaire that includes eight subscales, including “understanding of male, female, and child’s voice”, “music”, “localization”, “speech understanding in quiet, noise-front, and noise-separate situations”. The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SHQ (K-SHQ) in cochlear implant (CI) users. Methods: Fifty-two adult CI users participated in this study. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the K-SHQ were evaluated. Concurrent validity was identified by comparing the K-SHQ responses with the “spatial hearing” subscale scores from the Korean version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (K-SSQ). We also examined the construct validity of the K-SHQ through an exploratory factor analysis. Results: Overall, the greatest difficulties were obtained from the subscale of “localization”, with the least difficulties in the subscale of “speech in quiet”. Both internal consistency and test-retest reliability were adequate for CI users based on all 24 items and the 8-subscale responses of the K-SHQ. The “localization” subscale responses of the K-SHQ were significantly correlated with the “spatial hearing”subscale responses of the K-SSQ, demonstrating a good concurrent validity in relation to localization performance. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that two factors, “speech understanding” and “localization”, explained 73.2% of the variance. Conclusion: The K-SHQ showed satisfactory reliability and validity in evaluating speech understanding as well as spatial hearing abilities in cochlear implant users, especially in complex listening situations.

Psychometric properties of the generalised version of the Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addictions (SSBA-G): A comprehensive screening tool for substance-related and behavioural addictions

Assessing addictive behaviours comprehensively and efficiently is a challenge in both research and clinical practice. Consequently, we tested the psychometric properties of the Generalized Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addictions (SSBA-G), a novel, brief screening tool measuring functional impairment resulting from both substance and behavioural addictions. The SSBA-G was developed from the Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addictions (Schluter et al., 2018) and tested in four samples including university students in Canada (n = 481) and the US (n = 164) as well as community adults in Canada (n = 301), and Hungary (n = 79). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized bifactor model of the SSBA-G. Receiver-operation characteristic analyses revealed high differentiation accuracy (AUC=0.86–.95), as well as identical ideal cut points across the Substance Addiction (SSBA-G-S) and Behavioural Addiction (SSBA-G-B) Subscales. Results indicated good-to-excellent sensitivity and moderate-to-good specificity. The SSBA-G demonstrated excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as promising concurrent validity in relation to the original SSBA and additional questions regarding addiction-related impairment. The SSBA-G also showed good convergent and divergent validity with indicators of general mental health. These results indicate that the SSBA-G is a psychometrically sound and efficient measure of addiction-related impairment across substances and excessive behaviours.

Factor Structure and Validation of the Revised Suicide Crisis Inventory in a Korean Population.

Because of the exceptionally high suicide rates in South Korea, new assessment methods are needed to improve suicide prevention. The current study aims to validate the revised Suicide Crisis Inventory-2 (SCI-2), a self-report measure that assesses a cognitiveaffective pre-suicidal state in a Korean sample. With data from 1,061 community adults in South Korea, confirmatory factor analyses were first conducted to test the proposed one-factor and five-factor structures of the SCI-2. Also, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to examine possible alternative factor structure of the inventory. The one-factor model of the SCI-2 resulted in good model fit and similarly, the five-factor model also exhibited strong fit. Comparing the two models, the five-factor was evaluated as the superior model fit. An alternative 4-factor model derived from EFA exhibited a comparable model fit. The Korean version of the SCI-2 had high internal consistency and strong concurrent validity in relation to symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety. The SCI-2 is an appropriate and a valid tool for measuring one's proximity to imminent suicide risk. However, the exact factor structure of the SCI-2 may be culture-sensitive and warrants further study.

Assessing children’s writing products using curriculum-based measures of writing (CBM-W)

AimWriting is key to academic success and job opportunities later in life. Nevertheless, every year children leave primary school struggling to write and few assessments enable schools to reliably identify and target weaknesses in children’s writing. This study explored curriculum-based measures of writing (CBM-W) for assessing writing in primary schools in the United Kingdom (UK).MethodTwenty-seven children from a Year Five class in an English primary school responded to a narrative prompt administered for five minutes once a fortnight for a 10-week period. Children completed a standardised assessment of writing quality (the WIAT) prior to the first CBM-W assessment. CBM-W measures included number of words written (WW), words spelled correctly (WSC), correct word sequences (CWS; any two adjacent words used correctly in context) and correct minus incorrect word sequences (C-IWS).FindingsAll four CBM-W measures demonstrated concurrent validity in relation to the WIAT and captured significant differences in writing performance between children with and without a SEN. Measures also captured pupil growth, demonstrating the utility of CBM-W both as a tool for screening and progress monitoring.LimitationsThe small sample placed limits on the generalisability of findings. Additionally, piloting the equivalence of the writing prompts used in this study may have reduced the risk of measurement error.ConclusionFindings demonstrate the technical adequacy of CBM-W and promising evidence of its potential use by teachers, SENCOs and EPs to assess the writing of primary school children in the UK.

Concurrent validity of the marijuana purchase task: a meta-analysis of trait-level cannabis demand and cannabis involvement.

The Marijuana Purchase Task (MPT) is increasingly used to measure cannabis reinforcing value and has potential use for cannabis etiological and regulatory research. This meta-analysis sought to evaluate for the first time the MPT's concurrent validity in relation to cannabis involvement. Electronic databases and pre-print repositories were searched for MPT studies that examined the cross-sectional relationship between frequency and quantity of cannabis use, problems, dependence, and five MPT indicators: intensity (i.e. unrestricted consumption), Omax (i.e. maximum consumption), Pmax (i.e. price at which demand becomes elastic), breakpoint (i.e. first price at which consumption ceases), and elasticity (i.e. sensitivity to rising costs). Random effects meta-analyses of cross-sectional effect sizes were conducted, with Q tests for examining differences by cannabis variables, meta-regression to test quantitative moderators, and publication bias assessment. Moderators included sex, number of MPT prices, variable transformations, and year of publication. Populations included community and clinical samples. The searches yielded 14 studies (n = 4077, median % females: 44.8%: weighted average age = 29.08 [SD = 6.82]), published between 2015 and 2022. Intensity, Omax , and elasticity showed the most robust concurrent validity (|r's| = 0.147-325, ps < 0.014) with the largest significant effect sizes for quantity (|r| intensity = 0.325) and cannabis dependence (|r| Omax = 0.320, |r| intensity = 0.305, |r| elasticity = 0.303). Higher proportion of males was associated with increased estimates for elasticity-quantity and Pmax -problems. Higher number of MPT prices significantly altered magnitude of effects sizes for Pmax and problems, suggesting biased estimations if excessively low prices are considered. Methodological quality was generally good, and minimal evidence of publication bias was observed. The marijuana purchase task presents adequateconcurrent validity to measure cannabis demand, most robustly for intensity, Omax , and elasticity. Moderating effects by sex suggest potentially meaningful sex differences in the reinforcing value of cannabis.

The Scale of Body Connection: A Multisample Study to Examine Sensitivity to Change Among Mind-Body and Bodywork Interventions.

Purpose: The purpose of this measurement study was to examine the Scale of Body Connection (SBC) sensitivity to change among mind-body or bodywork interventions and to explore the concurrent validity in relation to emotion dysregulation and mindfulness skills. Methods: This study was based on multiple clinical trials that had used the SBC to evaluate changes in body awareness (BA) and bodily dissociation (BD) in response to a mind-body or bodywork intervention. To test for sensitivity to change, t tests were used to examine change and estimate effect sizes. To explore convergent validity, Pearson's product-moment correlations between the SBC subscales and Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) were calculated among a subset of the studies, which also included these measures. Results: The BA and BD scales consistently detected significant positive responses to a range of intervention types (yoga, mindfulness meditation, BA, multimodal therapy, and bodywork), demonstrating SBC sensitivity to change. With a few exceptions, the effect sizes across studies for BA were above 0.35, indicating near moderate-to-large effect sizes. The effect sizes for BD, as a measure of responsiveness, were much smaller than for BA; however, four of the studies had effect sizes between 0.54 and 0.86. Concurrent validity with the DERS was supported by moderate-to-large correlations, and with the FFMQ, it was significant with the BA scale in one included study. Conclusions: The results of this study further establish SBC validity and sensitivity to change across a range of mind-body therapies and confirm prior findings of moderate-to-strong internal consistency reliability. The findings support the use of this brief scale to assess key dimensions of BA and BD in practice and research.

Translation and Validation of the Malay Version of the WHO-5 Well-Being Index: Reliability and Validity Evidence from a Sample of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

The translation and validation process of the WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) into Malay is still not yet available. This study is the first psychometric evaluation of the Malay version of the WHO-5 in a sample of 127 primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the internal consistency and 5-week test–retest reliability of the WHO-5 Malay, and three aspects of its validity—first, the factorial validity in relation to the factor structure of the WHO-5 Malay; second, the concurrent validity in relation to depression and diabetes-related distress; and third, the convergent validity in relation to diabetes management self-efficacy and diabetes self-care behaviors. This study had two phases. Phase 1 involved the translation of the WHO-5 into Malay language following established procedures, whereas Phase 2 involved the validation of the WHO-5 Malay. Excellent internal consistency and 5-week test–retest reliability estimates were obtained. The factorial validity of the WHO-5 was found to be unidimensional. As for concurrent validity, the WHO-5 Malay was found to be negatively correlated with depression and diabetes-related distress. The WHO-5 was found to be correlated with diabetes management self-efficacy and diabetes self-care behaviors, thereby establishing convergent validity. The WHO-5 Malay has reliable and valid psychometric properties and represents a promising tool that informs healthcare providers in making effective and holistic diabetes management.

Assessing lifetime stressor exposure in sport performers: Associations with trait stress appraisals, health, well-being, and performance

Research has found that greater lifetime stressor exposure increases the risk for mental and physical health problems. Despite this, few studies have examined how stressors occurring over the entire lifespan affect sport performers’ health, well-being, and performance, partly due to the difficulty of assessing lifetime stressor exposure. To address this issue, we developed a sport-specific stress assessment module (Sport SAM) for the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) and then analyzed the instrument’s usability, acceptability, validity, and test-retest reliability. Furthermore, we examined whether trait-like tendencies to appraise stressful situations as a challenge or threat mediated the association between lifetime stressor exposure and health, well-being, and performance. Participants were 395 sport performers (Mage = 22.50 years, SD = 5.33) who completed an online survey. Results revealed that the Sport SAM demonstrated good usability and acceptability, good concurrent validity in relation to the Adult STRAIN (rs = 0.23 to 0.29), and very good test-retest reliability (ricc = 0.87 to 0.89). Furthermore, the Sport SAM was significantly associated with symptoms of depression (β = 0.21 to 0.24, ps ≤ .001) and anxiety (β = 0.13 to 0.19, ps ≤ .012), and general physical (β = 0.24 to 0.27, ps = ≤ 0.001) and mental (β = 0.23 to 0.32, p ≤ .001) health complaints. Finally, we found that associations between total lifetime non-sport and sport-specific stressor severity and health were mediated by trait stress appraisals. Consequently, these findings may help practitioners better identify sport performers who are at risk of developing stress-related health problems.

"Comprehensive Assessment of ACT Processes CompACT. Romanian Adaptation and Short Form Validation"

"The current paper presents the translation and validation for Romanian non-clinical population of Comprehensive Assessment of ACT Processes – CompACT (Francis et al., 2016), an instrument that evaluates three dimensions of psychological flexibility: openness to experience, present moment awareness (mindfulness) and valued action. The psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the instrument were investigated, convergent validity in relation with AQQ-II and concurrent validity in relation with DASS-21 (with comparable results with ones reported for the original instrument). Considering modest model fit with theoretical factor structure of the instrument, current paper proposes a shorter, more stable Romanian Version, and tests its psychometric properties."

Assessment of a Multidimensional School Collective Efficacy Scale to Prevent Student Bullying: Examining Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance

The construct of a school collective efficacy to prevent bullying has attracted attention as a way to increase a positive, school-wide climate. The current study tested the fit of several first-order models of school collective efficacy to prevent (uni-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional) bullying using a sample of 579 male (Mage = 14.31, SD = 1.78 years old) and 589 female (Mage = 14.56, SD = 1.83 years old) Mexican adolescents. The models were validated by the extent to which the model was invariant by gender and by educational level (secondary vs. high school). Moreover, the discriminant and concurrent validity of model dimensions were examined through their relationships with other constructs. The results suggest that school collective efficacy is a three-dimensional construct, with supporting evidence for cohesion, students’ social control, and teachers’ social control dimensions. Measurement invariance was found in this three-dimensional measurement model by gender and educational level. The latent means difference analysis showed some differences by gender and educational level on factors of school collective efficacy. Finally, results support our hypotheses related to discriminant and concurrent validity in relation to external variables. Overall, findings indicate this three-dimensional model is useful to measure adolescents’ perceptions of school collective efficacy.

The Adolescent Vigor Measure: Explorations in Times of Crisis and Calm

Vigor is one of the terms that represents an individual’s positive affect, hence it is expected to be embedded in wellness measures. However, vigor is understudied especially when it comes to adolescents’ wellness. Two studies were performed to check the adaptability of the Adolescent Vigor Measure (AVM), a slightly revised version of Shirom-Melamed Vigor Measure (SMVM; Shirom, 2005) for the measurement of adolescents’ vigor. Study 1 was conducted among adolescents who experience stressful life-threatening circumstances (N = 563) and confirmed the internal structure of the AVM and concurrent validity in relation to measures of coping with stress. Study 2 was conducted among adolescents who live in peaceful and welcoming circumstances (N = 124) and replicated Study 1’s findings, including its structure and association to related measurements of students’ positive feelings. The similar findings in the two studies support the usefulness of the AVM as an easy tool to administer and an efficient scale of adolescents’ vigor.

Validation of the attitude towards sexuality scale in two samples of university students

There exists a scale, developed in Mexico, aimed to measure attitude towards sexuality. Good metric properties have been reported for this scale, but there have been no studies aimed at corroborating those observations. This study aims to verify the validity, as well as the invariance between two samples, of the three-factor model originally proposed for the scale, to estimate its internal consistency reliability, to describe its distribution, and to verify its concurrent validity in relation to the attitude towards homosexuality. Two incidental samples of 402 psychology students and 198 medical students were recruited. The Attitude towards Sexuality Scale (ASS-20) was applied to both samples. Likewise, the attitude towards homosexuality scale was also applied to the psychology students, whereas the factor of subtle rejection towards gay men, taken from the Mexican adaptation of Herek's Attitude towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale, was applied to medical students. Single-factor, correlated-factor, hierarchical, and bifactor models were tested. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the correlated-factor model had the best data fit as well as convergent and discriminant validity properties in both samples, although it was not invariant. The internal consistency of the scale was good. The total scores in ASS-20 followed a normal distribution and their average showed a liberal attitude with no difference between both samples. The correlation of ASS-20 with the two scales of attitude towards homosexuality was medium. It is concluded that AAS-20 shows internal consistency reliability, structural validity, and concurrent validity in relation to attitude towards homosexuality. Key words: Attitude, sexuality, homosexuality, psychometrics, students.

Validity and Reliability of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for Family Caregivers of Children with Cancer.

Currently, information about the psychometric properties of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in family caregivers of children with cancer is not available; thus, there is no empirical evidence of its validity and reliability to support its use in this population in Mexico or in other countries. This study examined the psychometric properties of the BAI in family caregivers of children with cancer and pursued four objectives: to determine the factor structure of the BAI, estimate its internal consistency reliability, describe the distribution of BAI scores and the level of anxiety in the sample and test its concurrent validity in relation to depression and resilience. This cross-sectional study was carried out with convenience sampling. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the BAI, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Measurement Scale of Resilience were administered to an incidental sample of 445 family caregivers of children with cancer hospitalized at the National Institute of Health in Mexico City. Confirmatory factor analysis using the maximum likelihood method was performed to determine the factor structure and exploratory factor analysis using axis factorization with oblique rotation was conducted. The two-, three- and four-factor models originally proposed for the BAI did not hold. The exploratory factor analysis showed a model of two correlated factors (physiological and emotional symptoms). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a lack of discriminant validity between these two factors and supported a single-factor model. The internal consistency of the scale reduced to 11 items (BAI-11) was good (alpha = 0.89). The distribution of BAI-11 scores was skewed to the left. High levels of symptoms of anxiety were present in 49.4% of caregivers. The scale was positively correlated with depression and negatively correlated with resilience. These findings suggest that a reduced single-factor version of the BAI is valid for Mexican family caregivers of children with cancer.

Frontal-Mental Line Inclination Test for assessment of cervical curvature: validation and applicability

Abstract Introduction: Alternative testing for X-rays in the assessment of the spine have the advantage of not causing radiation problems, but need to be validated. Objective: To propose a clinical test for assessment of the cervical spine based on the frontal-mental line inclination, identifying its concurrent validity in relation to the gold standard and determining its clinical applicability. Method: The present study was separated into two phases: (1) Test of Frontal-mental Line Inclination’s (TFMLI) validation protocol (evaluation of head position using X-ray analysis and computerized photogrammetry and assessment of cervical curvature using X-ray analysis and the TFMLI) (n = 35); (2) testing the possibility of performing the TFMLI with a universal goniometer (n = 23). Results: In phase 1, for the evaluation of head position, the gold standard and photogrammetry showed high and significant correlation (r = 0.602; p &lt; 0.001). When evaluating cervical curvature, the gold standard and the TFMLI showed high and significant correlation (r = 0.597; p = 0.019). In phase 2, for the evaluation of head position, photogrammetry and goniometry showed high and significant correlation (rs = 0.662; p &lt; 0.001). For the evaluation of cervical curvature, the TFMLI performed with photographs and with goniometry showed almost perfect and significant correlation (r = 0.969; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The TFMLI is suitable for an initial evaluation of the cervical spine posture of individuals with anterior head position and can be applied in clinical practice with the use of a universal goniometer.

Classroom Emotional Climate: Nature, Measurement, Effects and Implications for Education

Classroom emotional climate (CEC) is a variable that is been connected with academic skills, satisfaction, psychological wellbeing. However, its definition, the limits of the construct and the relationship with others classroom factors are not clearly established. This study we develop and validate and an instrument, the Classroom Emotional Climate Questionnaire (CEC-Q), to assess the CEC and analyze the relationships between different components of classroom climate as well as their relative role for predicting students’ satisfaction with teachers’ socioemotional support and with sense of community. A total of 749 Secondary and High School students formed the sample. Students completed five questionnaires: Classroom Emotional Climate Questionnaire (CEC-Q); Classroom Motivational Climate Questionnaire (CMC-Q); Disruption Management Climate Questionnaire (DMC-Q); Sense of Community Questionnaire (SoC-Q); Satisfaction with Teacher's way of treating students Questionnaire (SAT-TWTS). For validating the CEC-Q structure, several models were tested trough confirmatory factor analyses, and for testing construct validity, correlation and regression analysis were realized using children's sense of community and satisfaction with teacher's socio-emotional support as external criteria. Results support hypotheses related to CEC-Q structure, to discriminant validity in relation to the other components of classroom climate, and to concurrent validity in relation to external criteria. These results underlie the importance of acting on CEC-Q and CMC components to favor students’ emotional satisfaction and sense of community.

Clima emocional de clase: naturaleza, medida, efectos e implicaciones para la educación

Classroom Emotional Climate (CEC) is a variable that is been connected with academic skills, satisfaction, psychological wellbeing. However, its definition, the limits of the construct and the relationship with others classroom factors are not clearly established. This study we develop and validate and an instrument, the Classroom Emotional Climate Questionnaire (CECQ), to assess the CEC and analyze the relationships between different components of classroom climate as well as their relative role for predicting students’ satisfaction with teachers’ socioemotional support and with sense of community. A total of 749 Secondary and High School students formed the sample. Students completed five questionnaires: Classroom Emotional Climate Questionnaire (CEC-Q); Classroom Motivational Climate Questionnaire (CMC-Q); Disruption Management Climate Questionnaire (DMC-Q); Sense of Community Questionnaire (SoC-Q); Satisfaction with Teacher's way of treating students Questionnaire (SAT-TWTS). For validating the CEC-Q structure, several models were tested trough confirmatory factor analyses, and for testing construct validity, correlation and regression analysis were realized using children's sense of community and satisfaction with teacher's socio-emotional support as external criteria. Results support hypotheses related to CEC-Q structure, to discriminant validity in relation to the other components of classroom climate, and to concurrent validity in relation to external criteria. These results underlie the importance of acting on CEC-Q and CMC components to favor students’ emotional satisfaction and sense of community.

Individual differences in time perspective, age, and smoking behavior: A test of two present versus future conceptualizations

ABSTRACTWe evaluated the discriminant validity of the present and future time perspective constructs used in the Consideration of Future Consequences scale (CFCS) and Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) and their concurrent validity in relation to smoking behavior. We also assessed the moderating effect of age on the association between time perspective and smoking behavior. We found that although they are closely related, the present and future time constructs used in the two scales are distinct from one another. In both models, the present time perspective, but not the future time perspective, was significantly linked to smoking. Moreover, we found that Zimbardo present fatalistic perspective (ZPF) was more strongly associated with smoking than consideration of immediate consequences (CFC-I). Both models had higher predictive power in the younger group than the older group. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Charlotte Attitudes Towards Sleep (CATS) Scale: A validated measurement tool for college students

ABSTRACTObjective: Using a 4-phase study design, the present study developed and tested the Charlotte Attitudes Towards Sleep (CATS) Scale, a measurement tool for assessing sleep attitudes in college students. Participants: Participants were 706 undergraduate students recruited at a southeastern university and on a national recruitment Web site between October 2013 and April 2015. Methods: All participants completed the CATS Scale. Participants then completed either a measure of social desirability, faulty sleep beliefs, or measures of sleep and sleep hygiene. Phase 3 participants (N = 168) completed the CATS Scale 2 weeks later to examine test-retest reliability. Results: Analyses indicated that the scale was content valid, internally consistent, and independent of social desirability, yielded acceptable temporal stability, and demonstrated concurrent validity in relation to sleep behaviors and outcomes. Conclusions: The CATS Scale is a theoretically driven instrument with promising psychometric properties that may prove beneficial for future research and application efforts among college students.

Validation of the parent version of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale for adolescents

Objective: To investigate the validity of a parent version of the World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale for adolescents (ASRS-AP) and the 6-question screening version (ASRS-AP-S). Methods: Adolescent psychiatric outpatients (N = 112, mean age 15 years, 40% boys) and their parents were interviewed with the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS), and the parents reported on the ASRS-AP/ASRS-AP-S. Results: Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was 0.93 for ASRS-AP and 0.85 for ASRS-AP-S, 0.91 and 0.87 for the inattention subscale, and 0.91 and 0.72 for the hyperactivity subscale, respectively. The concurrent validity (Spearman’s correlation coefficient) between the total K-SADS ADHD symptom severity score and the sum of the score on the ASRS-AP/ASRS-AP-S was 0.75 and 0.66, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy measures for the ASRS-AP and ASRS-AP-S were 78% and 80% sensitivity, 75% and 74% specificity, 73% and 71% positive predictive value (PPV), and 81% and 82% negative predictive value (NPV), respectively. Conclusions: The ASRS-AP and ASRS-AP-S showed high internal consistency and concurrent validity in relation to total K-SADS ADHD symptom severity score. Both scales showed favourable diagnostic accuracy measures.

Validating the Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile for patients with severe traumatic brain injury who are slow-to-recover.

The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) is designed to measure disorders of consciousness in people with severe traumatic brain injury who are slow-to-recover. This study explores internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity of the WNSSP with function and two other consciousness measures. Retrospective chart audit of all severe traumatic brain injury patients admitted to a specialist neurological rehabilitation centre from January 2001 to December 2006 in a vegetative or minimally conscious state. Medical record of demographical, clinical and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) data were recorded. To be included in the study, patients needed admission and discharge WNSSP results; plus Functional Independence Measure™ (FIM™) and Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) scores. Of 37 potential participants, 33 had required WNSSP results (mean age 28years; 27 male participants). Internal consistency reliability was very high (α=0.933). Concurrent validity in relation to function was significant but weak at admission for FIM™ Total-scale but not subscales (rs =-0.146, P=0.0424). At discharge, there was a modest relationship with FIM™ Motor-subscale (rs =0.374; P=0.045), and FIM™ Cognition-subscale (rs =0.412; P=0.026) scores, but not the FIM™ Total-scale. Concurrent validity in relation to the RLAS was strong at admission (rs =0.693, P=0.01) and discharge (rs =0.788, P=0.01). The WNSSP and GCS scores were not associated. The WNSSP is sensitive to behavioural change in slow-to-recover patients with severe traumatic brain injury. It demonstrates very high internal consistency reliability, and positive evidence of concurrent validity with FIM™ and the RLAS providing detailed description of cognitive-sensory behaviour within RLAS-levels.