Consistent Correlation Research Articles

Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of Work-Related Questionnaire for Upper Extremity Disorders (WORQ-UP).

The Work-Related Questionnaire for Upper Extremity Disorders (WORQ-UP) serves as a patient-reported outcome measure to identify work-related limitations in individuals with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. This study aims to adapt the WORQ-UP into Turkish and subsequently evaluate its validity and reliability. The Turkish WORQ-UP, along with the previously validated Turkish Quick DASH, were administered to 136 patients. The Turkish WORQ-UP was applied twice within a 7-14 day interval to assess test-retest reliability. Reliability was assessed using measures of internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For validity assessment, Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between the Turkish WORQ-UP and Quick DASH, and Explanatory (EFA) and Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. In the reliability analysis, items 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16, which did not meet the criterion of item total score correlation >30, were excluded, resulting in a 12-item Turkish WORQ-UP with satisfactory validity and reliability outcomes. The Cronbach's alpha and ICC were calculated as 0.895 and 0.879, respectively, while the SEM and MDC were determined to be 0.93 and 1.85. In the EFA, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure (0.895) and Bartlett's tests were both significant (p < 0.001). Additionally, the CFA indicated an acceptable fit with two factors. The goodness of fit indices, including χ2/df = 2.09, CFI = 0.934, TLI = 0.918, and RMSEA = 0.08, confirmed the adequacy of the model. The 12-item Turkish WORQ-UP showed a significant and strong correlation (r = 0.754; p < 0.001) with Quick DASH. The Turkish version of WORQ-UP with 12 items had proper psychometric properties to identify work-related limitations in individuals with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.

Headache Disability Questionnaire: cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Turkish version

BackgroundThe Headache Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) evaluates pain intensity, daily activities, work/school disruptions, and the impact on recreational activities. It was aimed to translate the HDQ into Turkish and evaluate its reliability and validity.MethodsThis study included 130 participants, consisting of 105 females and 25 males. The original HDQ was translated into Turkish language using Beaton guidelines. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Exploratory (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to evaluate the structural validity. For convergent validity, the Turkish version of the HDQ, along with the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), was administered to individuals with headaches. The HDQ was retested one week later to assess its reliability.ResultsThe Turkish version of the HDQ demonstrated good reliability, with ICC and Cronbach’s α values of 0.842 and 0.914, respectively. Standard error measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) values were 5.89 and 16.33 units. Bland-Altman plots confirmed a high level of agreement between initial and retest scores EFA revealed a two-factor structure, clustering items into Factor 1 (items 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9) and Factor 2 (items 3, 4, 6, and 8), which was subsequently confirmed by CFA. Convergent validity was confirmed through good correlations with HIT-6, and MIDAS. No ceiling or floor effects were observed.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that the Turkish version of the HDQ is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the effect of headaches on daily living, exhibiting strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability, making it suitable for both clinical practice and research purposes.Trial registrationTrial registration date is January 30, 2021 (NCT04736654).Clinical trials registration numberNCT04736654.

Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population

BackgroundThis study examined the latent factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)—DERS-SF, DERS-18, and DERS-16—across large-scale samples of the Korean population.MethodsParticipants from two independent community samples (N = 862 and N = 1,242) completed an online self-report survey, including brief versions of the DERS and associated measures. Confirmatory factor analyses were employed to examine the latent factor structures of the brief versions of the DERS with comparable models. The internal consistency, concurrent validity, and convergent validity of the brief versions of the DERS were also assessed.ResultsThe findings revealed that the bifactor models of the DERS-SF and DERS-18, excluding the Awareness subscale, showed superior fit indices for latent factor structure and favorable reliability. By contrast, the DERS-16 exhibited inadequate fit. Scores from the DERS-SF and DERS-18 demonstrated significant associations with indicators of psychological distress, supporting their convergent validity. The Awareness subscale showed lower internal consistency and distinctive correlation patterns with clinical outcomes.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the robustness of the DERS-SF and DERS-18 as parsimonious and efficient measures of emotion dysregulation with fewer items than the original version. Furthermore, this study provides additional support for excluding the Awareness subscale when using the brief versions of the DERS.

Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the polycystic ovary syndrome quality of life questionnaire for married and unmarried women with PCOS: PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42

IntroductionThe incidence of PCOS is notably elevated in Iran, making it crucial to examine the quality of life among these individuals. This study aimed to thoroughly evaluate the psychometric properties of the Iranian adaptations of the PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42 questionnaires. The application of these tools is significant as they could enhance further research in in communities with similar social norms concerning marriage and sexuality.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design. Following the linguistic validation of the Iranian adaptation of the PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42, a panel of experts reviewed the items through an evaluation of the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Subsequently, a semi-structured interview was carried out to evaluate face validity. Consequently, discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42, SF-12 and body image questionnaire. Responsiveness was assessed by comparing two scales scoring in baseline and eight-week follow-up data of prescription contraceptive Daine-35. In addition, reliability analyses including internal consistency and test–retest analysis were carried out.ResultsThe CVR in this study for the total scale was 0.98 for two scales, indicating a satisfactory result. The CVI for the scale was found to be 0.98 and 0.99 for PCOSQoL-42 and PCOSQoL-47, respectively suggesting that it had a good content validity. Known groups comparison revealed that the two scales effectively distinguished between sub-groups of women with varying symptoms specific to PCOS, thereby supporting their discriminant validity. Additionally, convergent validity was evaluated and, as anticipated, a strong positive correlation was observed between corresponding subscales of the two instruments. The paired t-test showed significant changes in PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42 scores (p < 0.001) indicating as a responsive outcome measure to detect significant changes over time before and after treatment. Additional analyses indicated satisfactory results of PCOSQoL-42 for internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.72 to 0.78) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ranging 0.67 to 0.92; P < 0.05). regarding PCOSQoL-47, Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.80 to 0.82 and intraclass correlation coefficients (ranging 0.61 to 0.73; P < 0.05).ConclusionThe PCOSQoL-47 and PCOSQoL-42 have undergone thorough testing in Iran and may be utilized as outcome measures in forthcoming studies within this demographic.

Response of Topsoil Organic Carbon in the Forests of Northeast China Under Future Climate Scenarios

Soil organic carbon (SOC) serves as a highly sensitive indicator of climate change and plays a crucial role in terrestrial carbon cycles. Evaluating the impact of regional land use changes on SOC stocks is essential for assessing ecological and environmental effects. In this study, we utilized 157 soil samples and 11 environmental variables—including soil properties, topographic factors, and climatic conditions—to develop boosted regression tree (BRT) and random forest (RF) models to estimate topsoil SOC stocks for the year 2015. We used a 10-fold cross-validation approach, along with four validation metrics, to assess model performance. The BRT model demonstrated superior accuracy, with a higher R2 and Lin’s consistency correlation coefficient and a lower mean absolute error and root mean square error compared to the RF model. The key environmental factors influencing SOC stock variability in the BRT model included mean annual temperature, elevation, mean annual precipitation, the topographic wetness index (TWI), and catchment area. Based on this, we employed the space-for-time substitution approach and BRT model to forecast the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in Northeast China’s forested regions under future climate scenarios for the 2050s and 2090s. Our findings indicate that, compared to the 2015 levels, the forecast indicates that SOC stocks will decrease by 122 Tg carbon and 123 Tg carbon under two different future scenarios, SSP245 and SSP585, respectively, by the 2050s. By the 2090s, these figures are expected to decrease further by 127 Tg C and 126 Tg C, respectively. Throughout both future periods, SOC stocks will predominantly be concentrated in the northwest region. This research highlights the necessity of thoroughly considering climatic factors in future studies of regional SOC stock dynamics. Moreover, the high-resolution maps produced in this study offer a scientific foundation for enhancing the implementation of ecological management practices in the forested regions of Northeast China, fostering environmental improvement and bolstering SOC and soil management strategies in response to future climate change.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Form of the Family Support Scale for the Older People.

The Family Support Scale is a used scale to assess family support in older people. The purpose of this study was to test the Family Support Scale for older people in Turkish and to examine its validity and reliability. This was a methodological study. This study sample enrolled 250 older individuals. The study was conducted between July-December 2022. In data collection, sociodemographic information form and The Family Support scale were used. The inclusion criteria for this study selected participants who were 65 years or older, literate, open to communication, living with at least one family member, and who volunteered to participate in the research. In the study, who developed the original scale, was contacted via e-mail and the necessary permission was obtained for the Turkish validity and reliability of the scale. Language equivalence, content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis of the scale were performed. Internal consistency and total item score correlation were calculated to ensure validity and reliability. The scale is compatible in terms of language and content suitability, CVI (Language)= 0.87; CVI (Content)=0.099. In the validity analyzes of the scale; the factor loadings values of the scale were found to be between 0.36 and 0.83, and the explained variance (54.78%) was at a sufficient level according to the EFA results. It was determined that factor loading values for all items were varied between 0.58 and 0.97 and factor load values were statistically significant in CFA (p<.05). It was determined that the fit indices were RMSEA=0.064, GFI=0.99, CFI=0.99, NFI=0.99, x2/df=2.03 at the desired level. In the reliability analysis, it was found that the internal consistency coefficient (α: 0.94) was quite reliable, and the total correlation values of the scale ranged between 0.48 and 0.83. The cross-cultural adaptation of this scale has been realized successfully in Turkish. Health care providers may utilize this tool to evaluate family support for older people.

Validation analysis of Polish version of Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire - Short Form (NPQ-SF-PL) and assessment of quality of life in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

The aims of this study were to translate and culturally adapt the Polish version (PL) of the Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (NPQ-SF), as well as to compare this questionnaire to other diagnostic tools in terms of reliability and psychometric validity. Neuropathic pain (NP) affects up to 10% of the general population. Despite a large number of studies, almost 50% of patients have a poor therapeutic outcome. Diagnostic tools are intended to distinguish between NP and non-NP (NoP) and to guide the examiner to perform further diagnostics in accordance with the guidelines. A total of 140 patients with chronic pain (ChP), 90 with NP and 50 with NoP, were enrolled into this study. NPQ-SF-PL has been developed following the guidelines for translation and cultural adaptation. Reliability of the translated version was examined using internal consistency, predictive validity, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). In the study, women predominated over men, and the average age was 53.22. Cronbach's α value for the entire scale was 0.76 and ICC for test-retest reliability was 0.631. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis gave a sensitivity of 90.0% and a specificity of 88.0%. Area under the curve was 0.94. NPQ-SF-PL was moderately associated with self-completed Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) and weakly associated with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The NP group obtained statistically significantly lower scores than the NoP group in all domains of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), thus indicating worse health status. Patients aged over 41 years presented a worse quality of life compared to younger ones. Also, more than half of the patients with NP of both genders experienced symptoms of mild or more severe depression. NPQ-SF-PL is a valid screening tool for assessing NP in Polish chronic pain patients. The obtained results showed very good psychometric properties and adequate internal consistency. The repeatability of the questionnaire indicated moderate reliability. Clinical implications/future directions. We believe this study will provide physicians with a new instrument for the evaluation of NP for clinical and research purposes.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the spiritual needs assessment for patients (S-SNAP) questionnaire

BackgroundSpiritual support for patients and caregivers of critically ill patients is associated with improved quality of life. This aspect, however, is not incorporated into the current care pathways in Sri Lanka. The Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients (SNAP) questionnaire, comprised of 3 domains: psychosocial, spiritual and religious, gives a platform for clinicians to assess the spiritual needs of those patients. This study presents the results of validation of the Sinhala version of the SNAP (S-SNAP) questionnaire.MethodsThe SNAP was translated from English to Sinhala using the standard forward and backward translation process. After verifying the content validity, unambiguity and clarity of items in a focused group discussion, and a pilot study, the pre-final version was tested among 267 volunteers with cancer selected from three state-run cancer care institutions. Data were analysed for internal consistency and item-total correlations. Factor analysis was done using Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization. A Scree plot was also made to determine the number of factors.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of subjects was 63.2 (11.4) years. The total S-SNAP score ranged from 22 to 88 (maximum 88). The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94 while item-total correlations varied from 0.26 to 0.87. Total SNAP score showed inverse correlations with age, Charleson Comorbidity index and Barthel index while a positive correlation was seen with the Karnofsky performance status scale (p < 0.05). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkein value of 0.92 (P = < 0.001) for Bartlett’s test indicated adequate sampling and non-linearity of factors. The scree plot showed a four-factor structure explaining 76% variation. Meaning of life and relationship with a supernatural being and religious rituals are loaded as 2 different factors. Worries, fears and forgiveness are grouped as the third factor while relaxation, coping and sharing feelings are loaded separately.ConclusionsThe S-SNAP is a reliable and valid tool to assess spiritual suffering among patients with cancers conversant in the Sinhala language.

Brucellosis Prevention Questionnaire (BPQ): Adaptation to Turkish Culture, Validity and Reliability Study.

Brucellosis is the most common zoonosis worldwide. Prevention of brucellosis is based on surveillance and prevention of risk factors. The aim of this methodological study, conducted with breeders living in Kütahya, was to perform the Turkish adaptation, validity and reliability study of the Brucellosis Prevention Questionnaire (BPQ). This methodological study was conducted on breeders living in the villages of Kütahya in Türkiye between May and November 2021. Cultural adaptation-language validity and construct (concept) validity of the scale were evaluated. Item total score correlation, internal consistency, and test-retest correlation was used to evaluate the reliability of the scale. According to factor analysis, the variance explained in the five-dimensional structure was 61.8%. A positive correlation was found between the mean BPQ score and Health Perception Scale scores (r = 0.170; P = 0.005). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the BPQ was found to be 0.944. Findings from validity and reliability studies show that the Turkish version of the BPQ is a valid and reliable scale in Turkish society and culture.

Comparison of Subjective and Wavefront-Measured Refractions by InnovEyes Platform in Myopic Patients.

To compare the subjective refraction and Innov-Eyes (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) wavefront-measured refraction in patients with myopia and astigmatism before refractive surgery. Consecutive myopic patients planning to receive refractive surgery with ages between 18 and 50 years old were retrospectively enrolled. The subjective and wavefront-measured refraction (InnovEyes platform) were compared, and the influential factors for the measurement difference were analyzed. Of the 500 eyes enrolled, the mean age was 29.3 ± 6.8 years. Mean wavefront-measured refraction was 0.58 ± 0.62 diopters (D) more myopic and 0.10 ± 0.27 D more astigmatic than subjective refraction (P < .001). Wavefront-measured refraction exhibited excellent consistency and significant correlation with subjective refraction. Linear regression demonstrated that age (P = .008) and wavefront-measured sphere standard deviation (P < .001) were positively correlated with spherical measurement difference, and total quality score (P < .001) and accommodative response (binocular cross-cylinder) (P = .011) demonstrated a negative correlation with spherical and cylindrical measurement difference. The patients with low wavefront measurement quality had significantly greater spherical differences than those with high-quality measurement (P < .001). The patients with accommodative lead had greater spherical equivalent differences than other participants (P = .047). Wavefront-measured refraction had excellent consistency with subjective refraction, although it measured more myopia and astigmatism than subjective refraction. The spherical measurement difference was greater in older patients and those with accommodative lead. More stable and higher quality repeated measurements will yield closer results between wavefront-measured and subjective refraction. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(11):e836-e844.].

Associated factors and outcomes for quality of life in children receiving cochlear implantation before seven years of age.

To evaluate the relationship of cochlear implant-related factors with quality of life (QOL) outcomes in pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) recipients. In this cross-sectional study, data from 146 children who received CI before 7 years of age were collected. QOL was measured using the Children using Hearing Implants Quality of Life (CuHI-QoL) questionnaire. Auditory and language abilities were measured using categories of auditory performance II(CAP-II) scale and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) scale. The reliability and validity of the CuHI-QOL scale were tested using internal consistency tests and correlation analysis, respectively. Bivariate correlations were used to compare CuHI-QOL scores and educational placements to cochlear implant-related factors. QOL scores were further compared using ANOVA in different groups based on age at CI with different durations of implant use. The mean total CuHI-QOL scores was 60.13 (SD 8.97). The Cronbach's alpha of overall CuHI-QOL scale was 0.820. The CuHI-QOL total score was strongly to moderately correlated with CAP score (r = 0.542), SIR score (r = 0.545), duration of implant use (r = 0.403), and educational placement (r = 0.478). ANOVA showed the CuHI-QOL scores after 5 years post-CI were higher than those less than 2 years post-CI in children implanted ≤ 3 years of age. Good QOL could be obtained for children with CI and were significantly associated with young age at implantation, good auditory and speech abilities, speech rehabilitation training pre-CI, long duration of cochlear implant use, and mainstream educational placement.

Polish validation of the wisconsin stone quality of life questionnaire (POL-WISQoL)

PurposeUrolithiasis significantly affects patient quality of life, yet the global standard of care predominantly focuses on achieving a stone free status, often ignoring patient reported outcomes. Currently, there are no specific measures available to assess the quality of life in the Polish population suffering from kidney stones. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate the Polish version of the Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire.MethodsThe translation of WISQOL was carried out in accordance with the best available guidelines. Patients treated for kidney stones at a tertiary centre were recruited and completed both POL-WISQOL and SF36 questionnaires. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to assess internal consistency, inter-item and inter-domain correlations, as well as convergent and construct validity. Additionally, test-retest reliability was evaluated to ensure the accuracy and stability of the findings.ResultsA total of 102 participants fully completed both questionnaires and were included in the analysis. The translated survey demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s coefficient 0.967) and significant convergent validity (Spearman’s correlation = 0.847, p < 0.001). Furthermore, an ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis revealed a significant decline in WISQOL scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, thereby confirming tool’s construct validity.ConclusionPOL-WISQoL turned out to be a valid disease specific health related quality of life measuring tool. Its widespread utilisation has the potential to shift the standard of care towards patient centered outcomes.

The reliability and validity of in-person and remote behavioural screening tools for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of and relationships between total scores on different screening tools assessing behavioural change for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and whether administering the screens as online questionnaires (rather than on paper, in-person) influences total scores. MethodsThe behavioural component of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECASb); the behavioural component of the ALS Cognitive Behavioural Screen (ALS-CBSb), the ALS-Frontotemporal Dementia Questionnaire (ALS-FTD-Q), the Beaumont Behavioural Inventory (BBI), and the Motor Neuron Disease Behavioural Instrument (MiND-B) were administered to 35 informants on paper. Online questionnaire versions of the behavioural screens were administered to 49 informants.Forward stepwise linear regressions were conducted to assess whether scores on behavioural screens were predicted by scores on the other behavioural screens and to assess whether total scores were predicted by the mode of administration (paper or online) of the screens. ResultsBehavioural screening tools, except the ECASb, had good internal consistency but mixed item-total correlations. All regression models assessing whether behavioural screen scores predict other behavioural screen scores were significant. The BBI performed best and the ECASb performed worst in terms of their predictive relationships with other screening tools. The administration mode of the questionnaires did not significantly affect total scores. ConclusionsThe psychometric properties of the scales varied. The scales predicted each other's scores, supporting convergent validity. Online and paper versions performed similarly, and demographics did not predict scores.

Monitoring the Impact of Artificial Structure on Hydrogeological Environment: A Case Study of Hydraulic Tunnel at Pirot Hydropower Plant.

Artificial objects, particularly tunnels used for water transport under pressure, impact the geological and hydrogeological environment to a greater or lesser extent, and it is vital to assess their contributions to groundwater quality. Although tunnels are typically lined with concrete, their interaction with the hydrogeological environment intensifies over time. In this study, the detailed spatiotemporal monitoring of all hydrogeological features within the potential influence zone of the hydraulic tunnel of the Pirot Hydropower Plant has been conducted in order to determine the degree of interaction between the artificial object and the natural environment in real time, and to assess the correlation between monitored parameters. Natural conditions of the environment were defined, as well as potential changes through the observing groundwater regimes. The monitoring network included observations of groundwater regimes at seven springs located in close proximity to the hydraulic tunnel, within the tunnel, at three piezometers, and along the river, while methods employed were hydrological monitoring, physicochemical monitoring, and groundwater piezometer sensing. Cross-correlation analysis has been applied for assessing the impact of precipitation dynamics on the spring discharge regime. The results indicate a direct influence of the tunnel on the hydrogeological environment, proving the consistency and high correlation between the monitored parameters.

Measuring internalized health-related stigma across health conditions: development and validation of the I-HEARTS Scale.

Health-related stigma and its internalization among individuals with chronic health conditions contribute to impaired mental and physical health and quality of life. Research on health-related stigma has been siloed, with disease-specific measures that may not capture the experiences of individuals with multiple health conditions and that prevent comparisons across health conditions. The current study aimed to develop and test a transdiagnostic measure of internalized health-related stigma for use among adults with different physical health conditions. An existing measure of internalized mental health stigma was adapted to assess stigma due to chronic physical health conditions following COSMIN procedures, with input from advisory boards of community members living with a range of stigmatized health conditions (obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, skin diseases, HIV, chronic pain, and cancers) and of health professionals who specialized in these conditions. The new Internalized Health-Related Stigma (I-HEARTS) Scale was tested in an online sample of 300 adults with these health conditions, recruited from ResearchMatch. Additional psychosocial measures of mental health and quality of life were administered, and participants provided information about their health conditions and demographic characteristics. Exploratory factor analysis and tests of reliability and validity were conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the I-HEARTS Scale, and k-means clustering and receiver of characteristic curve analysis were used to determine a clinically meaningful cutoff score indicating high levels of internalized stigma. Factor analysis results yielded a 25-item scale with a 3-factor solution, with subscales of Perceived and Anticipated Stigma, Stereotype Application and Self-Devaluation, and Stigma Resistance. Psychometric properties for internal consistency, inter-item and item-total correlations, and test-retest reliability were strong. Certain demographics (e.g., younger age) and characteristics related to health conditions (e.g., greater symptom severity) were associated with higher levels of internalized stigma. I-HEARTS Scale scores correlated moderately to strongly with related but distinct psychosocial measures, and a cutoff score of 3.40 or higher on the 1-7 rating scale was determined to indicate clinically meaningful levels of internalized stigma. The I-HEARTS Scale is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of internalized health-related stigma among adults with varied stigmatized chronic health conditions. STUDY PRE-REGISTRATION: https://osf.io/84c5d/?view_only=87238512f6d6475c87f8f64280a8a15f .

Turkish Validity and Reliability of the Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS-T)

Objective Nursing care is a unique and indispensable concept for nursing that includes helping to meet the needs of an individual or a group of individuals offered by nurses. This study is aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS-T). Materials and Methods The methodological approach employed in this study spanned from April 25, 2021, to May 5, 2021, and enlisted the participation of 347 nurses. Data collection was executed utilizing a “Personal Information Form” and the “Quality Nursing Care Scale (QNCS).” The research comprised two phases: Phase 1 involved the adaptation of the scale, while Phase 2 focused on determining construct validity through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed through measures of internal consistency and item-total correlation coefficients. Results and Discussion The adaptation phase yielded affirmative outcomes, affirming the linguistic and content validation of the Turkish version of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a highly favorable fit for a sixfactor model. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the entire scale was determined to be 0.93, attesting to its strong internal consistency. Conclusion The Turkish version of the Quality Nursing Scale showed consistently good psychometric properties of reliability and validity. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1075-1082

Development and Validation the Mobile Toolbox (MTB) Spelling Test

BackgroundSpelling assessments can provide a valuable marker of cognitive change in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and play an important role in ADRD research. However, most commercial assessments are not well-suited to the needs of researchers or participants; they are expensive and often require face-to-face administration by a trained examiner. To help overcome these barriers and foster progress in ADRD research, the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Mobile Toolbox (MTB) offers a library of cognitive measures that can be self-administered remotely on a participant’s own smartphone, including a brand-new Spelling test.ObjectiveThe goal of this paper is to describe the design, piloting, calibration, and validation of the MTB Spelling test.DesignWe describe a pilot study, calibration study, and three validation studies, all of which use a cross-sectional design.SettingThe pilot study, calibration study, and validation studies 2 and 3 were conducted remotely, while validation study 1 was conducted in the lab.ParticipantsParticipants for all of the studies were recruited from the general population by a thirdparty market research firm and the samples were stratified by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and education to represent the U.S. population. The pilot sample included 1,950 participants and the calibration study included 1335 participants over the age of 8. Validation study 1 included 92 participants ages 20 to 84, validation study 2 included 1021 participants ages 18 to 90, and validation study 3 included 168 participants ages 28 to 87.MeasurementsParticipants in each of the studies completed the MTB Spelling test. Participants in validation studies 1 and 2 completed measures from the NIH Toolbox including Oral Reading Recognition as a measure of convergent validity, and Visual Reasoning and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning as measures of divergent validity. As an additional measure of convergent validity, participants in study 1 also completed the Spelling subtest from the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 4th Edition.ResultsThe MTB Spelling test demonstrated evidence of internal consistency (r=.79 to.83) convergent validity (r=.56 to.81, p<.01), discriminant validity (r =.23 to.36, p <.01), test-retest reliability (ICC=.63), and correlations with normal cognitive aging (r = −.06 to −.04, p >.01).ConclusionFindings suggest the MTB Spelling test is a reliable and valid measure of English spelling abilities in general population samples, and has potential in ADRD research.

Validation of the Valuing Questionnaire (VQ) to the Argentinian context

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the “Values Questionnaire” (VQ) in an Argentine sample. The VQ was administered to a total of 1596 participants. Measures of acceptance and action, cognitive fusion, life satisfaction, and sociodemographic variables were also included. The results confirmed the bifactor structure of the VQ. The scale showed adequate internal consistency and significant correlations with the former variables, which demonstrates adequate criterion validity. Furthermore, obstruction values emerged as a good predictor of low life satisfaction. In conclusion, the Argentine version of the VQ showed good psychometric properties to be used in the Argentinian context.

Validation of the PCL-5 in Dutch trauma-exposed adults

BackgroundThe PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is an internationally widely used self-report questionnaire that can be used to screen for probable diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Information on the psychometric properties of the Dutch PCL-5 is currently lacking.ObjectiveWe aimed to validate the Dutch PCL-5 in a sample of Dutch adults with prior (suspected) serious injury and establish the optimal cut-off for probable PTSD diagnosis herein.MethodsData for the current study were collected as part of a long-term follow-up measurement of the TraumaTIPS cohort, where adults admitted to an emergency department following (suspected) serious injury completed a follow-up measurement 12–15 years post-trauma. Of N = 333 eligible participants, n = 192 (57.7%) consented and completed the PCL-5 alongside self-report instruments measuring depression (QIDS), PTSD (IES-R), and quality of life (WHO-QOL and EQ-6D). In total, n = 185 participants also completed a clinician administered interview for PTSD (CAPS-5). Most participants were men (66%) and on average 54 years old (SD = 12.41). We evaluated the diagnostic utility of the PCL-5 using Youden index and tested reliability and convergent validity.ResultsThe PCL-5 demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy with a cut-off point of 16 resulting in an optimal Youden index (0.90) for screening purposes with a high sensitivity (1.00) and specificity (0.90). A cut-off of 22 yielded a slightly lower Youden index (0.84) but better positive predictive value (0.50 instead of 0.33) than the cut-off of 16. A cut-off of 29 resulted in the most accurate prevalence estimates. The PCL-5 showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.94), excellent inter-item and item-total correlations and good convergent validity (r > .5 for CAPS-5, IES-R and QIDS).ConclusionsThe PCL-5 is a reliable and valid measurement for PTSD symptoms and probable diagnosis and shows excellent screening abilities in Dutch adults with prior (suspected) serious injury, with a lower optimal cut-off compared to previously found in clinical populations. We recommend a cut-off of 22 for screening purposes and a cut-off of 29 for prevalence estimates in Dutch trauma-exposed adults.

Validity, reliability, and the factorial structure of bangla version depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among Bangladeshi healthcare professionals

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the validity, reliability, and factorial structure of the Bengali-translated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale—21 (DASS-21) among Bangladeshi health professionals.MethodsThis study incorporated the cross-sectional study design, conducted among 312 health professionals from 28 health facilities in 18 districts across Bangladesh. The internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient of the DASS-21 was assessed. The confirmatory factor analyses was done to assess the fitness of different structural models of DASS-21. The concurrent validity was estimated by using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales.ResultsIn total, 258 healthcare professionals (82.7%) out of 312 completed the whole survey questionnaire and were included in the study. The internal consistency of the DASS-21 exhibited satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.93) and ICC = 0.92). The conventional three-factor model appeared to best fit the Bengali-translated DASS-21 scale. The discriminant validity has been affirmed by strong evidence. The convergent validity of Bengali DASS-21 was confirmed by the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales.ConclusionsThis study found good validity, reliability, and suitability of the DASS-21 used among the Bangladeshi healthcare professionals. We warrant future research to explore the validity of this tool in other cohorts in Bangladesh.