Total Score Correlations Research Articles

Development of Attitudes toward Future Scale and evaluation of the reliability and validity in Turkish population

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a data collection tool which targets to determine individuals’ attitudes toward future. Methods: This methodological study was carried out on 870 individuals who agreed to participate in the study in Istanbul. Data were collected by a survey consisted of an Information Form and the Attitudes toward Future Scale (Draft). During the development of the scale, researchers created a draft pool of 55 scale items. The draft scale consisted of 32 items after content validity and it consisted of 21 items after the item total correlation analyzes. In the second stage of the scale development, construct and criterion validities, time stability and internal consistency reliability of the draft scale have been tested. Percentage, item total score correlations, exploratory factor analysis, paired samples t test and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were performed for data analyses. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.10±10.56; 66.8% of them were women, 28.6% of them were married, 68.4% had a bachelor’s degree, 22.7% had a child, 60% of them had mid-level of income. It was found that content validity indices of 32 items were over 0.80, item total correlation values of 21 items were over .350 and these items separated four factors that explain 55.26% of total variance. It was found that internal consistency coefficients varied between 0.70-0.87 in subscales and 0.91 in total scale. Conclusion: Attitudes Toward Future Scale which consists of 21 statements in four subscales is valid and reliable tool.

Clinical utility of the Negative Symptom Assessment-16 in individuals with schizophrenia

This study examined the clinical utility of the Negative Symptom Assessment-16 (NSA-16) in schizophrenia. 274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the NSA-16, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Assessment for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and the Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale (SAS). Factor analyses were conducted and Cronbach's alpha was computed. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. The 5-factor model of the NSA-16 did not give good fit statistics from our sample. Exploratory factor analysis on a randomly selected split-half of the sample followed by confirmatory factor analysis on the remaining sample supported a 4-factor structure with 12 items. The factors were: Restricted speech, Poor quality of speech, Affective blunting and Amotivation. The NSA-16 with the 12 items was termed as the NSA-12. The NSA-12 showed good internal reliability. The NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating had strong correlations with CAINS total and PANSS negative factor scores, suggesting good convergent validity. Weak correlations of the NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating with PANSS positive, CDSS and SAS scores suggested good divergent validity. The NSA-12 total score and global negative symptom rating were strongly and inversely associated with SOFAS and positively associated with NSA-12 global level of functioning. In conclusion, the NSA-12 is useful to evaluate negative symptoms in clinical and research settings in individuals with schizophrenia. Our study results also support a 4-factor structure of the NSA-12 in outpatients with schizophrenia.

Validation of Instrument to Assess Hemophilia-Related Distress

Introduction: In chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer, disease-related distress is known to impact disease management and health outcomes (Barry et al. J Health Psychol 2019). We sought to develop and validate an instrument to measure hemophilia-related distress (HRD). Methods: Using themes raised during qualitative interviews, questions were written to assess HRD. Questions were revised after review by clinicians and patient focus groups. The final formatted HRD instrument comprised 24 Likert scale questions (response level 0-5) plus a numerical rating of current distress on a 1-10 scale. The HRD total score is the sum of all domain scores and could range from 0-120 with lower scores indicating less HRD. Adults (≥18 years) with hemophilia receiving care at one of two hemophilia treatment centers were recruited to participate in the validation study. After informed consent, participants reported demographic and clinical information then completed the HRD instrument and questionnaires that measured characteristics similar to HRD including: the National Cancer Center Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer, Kessler 6+ (K6), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), 5-level EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-5L), Haem-A-Qol, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire plus Classroom Impairment (WPAI), and PROMIS-29. Analysis included factor analysis and assessment of internal consistency using Cronbach's α, construct validity using Pearson's correlation coefficient and discriminant validity by comparing subgroups of patients. A subset of participants electronically completed the HRD instrument a second time within 7 days of initial assessment. Test-retest reliability was assessed using an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Among 130 enrolled participants, 126 completed the HRD instrument in a median time of 5.4 minutes (Q1;Q3 3.5;14.4) with overall HRD scores ranged from 2-83 (median=31.5). Subject characteristics are shown in table 1. Factor analysis of 1-5 domains was undertaken with final selection of a 4-domain instrument (RMSEA 0.057 [90% CI 0.041,0.072]; CFI 0.97). The 4 domains are (# of items, Cronbach's α): Hemophilia Management Concerns (7 items, 0.81); Financial Concerns (3 items, 0.81); Perceived Self-efficacy (3 items, 0.79); Daily Function Concerns (7 items, 0.85). Assessment of convergent validity (table 2) demonstrated a moderate correlation (>0.60) of the HRD total score with the NCCN Distress Thermometer, Haem-A-Qol total Score, and PROMIS social role domain. The HRD 0-10 scale correlated well with NCCN Distress Thermometer, PHQ-9 score, EQ-5D Index score, Haem-A-Qol total score, PROMIS anxiety, depression, and pain interference domains. Domain 4 (Daily Function Concerns) was well correlated with Haem-A-Qol total score as well as physical health and view of self domains, WPAI total activity impairment, and PROMIS pain interference. The HRD total score and domains 1-4 were mild to moderately correlated with the K6 measure of general psychological distress (0.3-0.54, p< 0.05). Distress was higher among those with less education than standard college or graduate degree (median score 36 vs. 23, p=0.018), not employed (median total score 42 vs 26, p=0.002), and disabled (median score 43 vs 30, p=0.010). The total score was not significantly different among those with severe hemophilia compared with non-severe disease. However, domain 1 (hemophilia management concerns) was higher among those with non-severe disease (median 9 vs 6, p=0.033). Test-retest reliability was assessed in 38 subjects. ICC values were 0.84 (95% CI 0.71-0.91) for the total score and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.30-0.75), 0.51 (95% CI 0.40-0.81), 0.67 (95% CI 0.45-0.81) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.53-0.85) for domains 1-4 respectively. Conclusions: The HRD instrument measures the subjective emotional state associated with chronic management of hemophilia. The instrument demonstrates good internal consistency, construct and discriminant validity, and retest-reliability with a low responder burden. Interestingly HRD was not greater among those with severe disease, which in combination with results from analysis of domain 1, may reflect greater unease and less mastery in managing their disease among adults with non-severe hemophilia. Future studies can explore how HRD is associated with disease management and outcomes and healthcare utilization. Disclosures Kempton: Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Octapharma: Honoraria; Genentech: Honoraria; Spark Therapeutics: Honoraria. Buckner:Genentech: Consultancy; Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy; Kedrion: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy.

Reliability and Validity of Disability Literacy Scale for Medical School Students

Abstract Background Disability literacy is the ability to perceive definition of disabled person, their characteristics, difficulties in daily life and solution suggestions, their rights and false thoughts and orientations about them. The aim of the study was to develop the Disability Literacy Scale (DLS) to determine the disability literacy of medical school students with a high probability of encountering disabled people. Methods This study was conducted in 1110 medical school students in 2018-2019 academic year. By using literature 97 questions were collected. DLS was created with 22 questions by taking expert opinions. Correct answer was scored as 1, while wrong or ’do not know’ answer as 0. In order to evaluate the reliability of the scale, item total score correlation and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) analyzes and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used for construct validity. Results Of the 51.1% students were female and their age ranged from 17-40, the mean was 21.1±2.2. After the scale development study, the scale consisted of 14 items and 3 sub-dimensions. Scale items explain 43.21% of total variance and factor loadings ranged from 0.37-0.80. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.61, 0.64, 0.51 for communication, health problems and social life sub-dimensions, and 0.68 for the whole scale. The fit of scale and the fit index were found to be acceptable after confirmatory factor analysis. In the last form of the scale, the score that can be taken from scale range 0-14. It was accepted that by increasing of the score, disability literacy level was increased. The mean score of students was 9.79±2.57 and the median was 10.0. The scores obtained from DLS were found to be lower in the first 3 grades (p < 0.001), low level mother and father education (p < 0.001/p=0.012) and who have not yet taken lesson about disability (p = 0.021). Conclusions DLS is a valid-reliable tool for assessing disability literacy levels of medical school students. Key messages It is essential to place disability related lessons from the earliest grades of medical school curriculum. In the literature, DLS seems the first scale about disability literacy and needs to be tested in large communities.

Developing the Turkish version of the exercise benefits/barriers for the elderly scale

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was develop the Turkish version of the exercise benefits and barriers scale for elderly people. Methods The study was carried out with the methodological research design with a total of N = 300 individuals living in a nursing home (n = 134) and applying to the Family Health Center (n = 131) between October 2017 and May 2018. The study included subjects aged 65 years and older who had no dementia, communication or physical disability. The item pool of the scale consisted of 36 items. Items were structured in five-likert form. Expert opinions of eleven individuals were received for Content Validity Index (CVI). The data of the study were collected with 26-question socio-demographic characteristics form, the Mini Mental Test and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale for the Elderly (EBBSE). Approval and consents were obtained from the relevant Ethics Committee, from the healthcare facility and participants. For the validity and reliability; CVI, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) Hotelling’s T2, paired sample t test have been carried out. Results The mean age of the subjects was 72.44±5.94 years. Scale’s CVI was 90. The factor analysis demonstrated that the scale included three sub-dimensions of 18 items in Physical and Psychological Benefits of Exercise, 2 items in Social Benefits of Exercise and 8 items inExercise Barriers accounting for 55.36 % of the total variance of the scale. Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficients of the scale was .84. All of the four fit indices obtained in the CFA had desirable magnitudes (RMR=.05;RMSEA=,07;NFI=.81;CFI=.87), indicating a good fit between the model and the data. The item total score correlations ranged from .40 to .69. The scale’s test-retest correlation was .99. Conclusions EBBSE is a valid and reliable scale that can be used to evaluate benefits and barriers perceptions in physical activity practices. Key messages Developed EBBSE can be used to determine the perceptions of exercise for elderly. Developed EBBSE can be used to change barrier perceptions of exercise.

Development of Mathematics Collaborative Problem-Solving Skills Scale

Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) is one of the most critical and necessary skills in education and workplace; hence, its assessment is a necessary subject of research. CPS assessment tools must be crafted to establish the effectiveness of the pedagogies to CPS development. Therefore, to address these gaps, this study developed a Likert scale called Mathematics Collaborative Problem Solving Skills (MaCoPSS) Scale. The scale development followed the process: (1) item generation, (2) item evaluation, (3) try-outs, (4) Exploratory Analysis, (5) final evaluation. Open-ended questionnaires were administered to 273 respondents. After analysis, 551 statements were produced as initial item pool. The items are evaluated and only 59 of them are used for the draft scale for the try-outs. The scale was administered to 648 students for the try-outs and responses were cleaned then subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Two factors, namely social skills (SS) and problem-solving skills (PSS) were extracted. To establish internal consistency, the factors are correlated to one another (r=0.708), and factor to total raw score (TRS) correlations are highly correlated: SS-TRS (r=0.955) and PSS-TRS (r=0.894). The final scale consists of 27 SS and 17 PSS items. The overall reliability coefficient of the scale is α=0.941. The resulting scale is considered valid and reliable.

Validation of a self-completed Dystonia Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire.

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a novel 14‐item self‐completed questionnaire (in English and German) enquiring about the presence of non‐motor symptoms (NMS) during the past month in patients with craniocervical dystonia in an international multicenter study.MethodsThe Dystonia Non‐Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (DNMSQuest) covers seven domains including sleep, autonomic symptoms, fatigue, emotional well‐being, stigma, activities of daily living, sensory symptoms. The feasibility and clinimetric attributes were analyzed.ResultsData from 194 patients with CD (65.6% female, mean age 58.96 ± 12.17 years, duration of disease 11.95 ± 9.40 years) and 102 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (66.7% female, mean age 55.67 ± 17.62 years) were collected from centres in Germany and the UK. The median total NMS score in CD patients was 5 (interquartile range 3–7), significantly higher than in healthy controls with 1 (interquartile range 0.75–2.25) (P < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U‐test). Evidence for intercorrelation and convergent validity is shown by moderate to high correlations of total DNMSQuest score with motor symptom severity (TWSTRS: r s = 0.61), clinical global impression (r s = 0.40), and health‐related quality of life measures: CDQ‐24 (r s = 0.74), EQ‐5D index (r s = −0.59), and scale (r s = −0.49) (all P < 0.001). Data quality and acceptability was very satisfactory.InterpretationThe DNMSQuest, a patient self‐completed questionnaire for NMS assessment in CD patients, appears robust, reproducible, and valid in clinical practice showing a tangible impact of NMS on quality of life in CD. As there is no specific, comprehensive, validated tool to assess the burden of NMS in dystonia, the DNMSQuest can bridge this gap and could easily be integrated into clinical practice.

Adaptation and validation of the memorial anxiety scale for prostate cancer (MAX-PC) in a sample of French men

IntroductionThe Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC, 18 items) was developed to assess anxiety in prostate cancer patients. In the absence of a French version of this scale, we adapted the original English scale and evaluated its psychometric properties in a sample of French men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the previous 12 months.MethodsThe MAX-PC was translated from English to French and distributed online by two non-profit organizations (Seintinelles and ANAMACaP). The French questionnaire, which also included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a measure of health-related quality of life (SF12), was intended for adults diagnosed with prostate cancer in the previous 12 months. Factor structure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on data from 56.2% of the sample (n = 104, Seintinelles subsample) and confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on data from the rest of the sample (n = 81, ANAMACaP subsample). The reliability of the scale was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Construct validity was assessed by calculating the correlation of the MAX-PC total score and subscale scores with the HADS total score and subscale scores and with the SF12 total score and subscale scores.ResultsOf the 185 respondents, 168 (90.8%) had complete data on all MAX-PC items. The average age of participants was 65.1 years (SD: 7.7). The three-factor structure defined in the original validation study was very similar in EFA and then confirmed by CFA. The MAX-PC showed good reliability, as Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the scale and for its three subscales were 0.92, 0.90, 0.68, and 0.87, respectively. It also showed good construct validity. As expected, the MAX-PC total score was positively correlated with the HADS-Anxiety subscale score (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the SF12-MCS subscale score (r = − 0.35, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe French version of the MAX-PC shows adequate psychometric properties among French men with prostate cancer. This scale may be used in future studies and in routine clinical care to help health care providers identify patients who need psychological support due to prostate-cancer related anxiety.

Development of "Cologne Culture ADL" for dementia diagnosis in individuals with Turkish migration background and in German patients

Neuropsychological dementia diagnosis of migrants are limited regarding the testing of cognitive abilities as well as the recording of everyday activities (Activities of Daily Living, ADL) such as linguistic, educational, lifestyle and cultural-religious factors have not been taken into account in psychometric instruments. We aimed to develop a culturally sensitive ADL scale, which is suitable for both German people and Turkish migrants that takes into consideration gender, cultural-religious and lifestyle aspects. A further aim was to determine the quality criteria for the newly proposed ADL scale. After the initial phase, including qualitative interviews (N = 15) with cognitively unimpaired German participants and Turkish migrants, a first version of the ADL instrument was developed. This version was then completed by cognitively unimpaired Germans (n = 197) and Turkish participants (n = 53) and the shortened ADL scale was generated based on an item analysis. It consisted of the three subscales 'cognition', 'Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL)' and 'Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)'. For Turkish participants, questions about Islamic prayers were added. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were applied to rule out cognitive impairment and depression. The 'Bayer-ADL' was used to measure the validity of the scale. The everyday life of Germans and Turkish migrants differs in aspects of religious practice and in terms of sociocultural activities, which are taken into account in the CC-ADL. The reliability of the new ADL scale in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) were regarding 'cognition' α = .43 for Germans and α = .80 for Turkish migrants; 'BADL' α = .55 for Germans and α = -.04 for Turkish migrants; 'IADL' α = .91 for Germans and α = .83 for Turkish migrants and α = .73 for Turkish migrants under the 'prayer items'. The correlation of the ADL total score with the Bayer ADL for Germans was ρ = .347 (p < .00) and for the Turkish sample ρ = .520 (p < .01). The development of a final version of the CC-ADL scale requires further data from healthy participants and patients (Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia).

Attitudinal and Mathematical Assessments as Measures of Student Success in a College General Chemistry II Course

This study reports results from administering unannounced attitudinal and mathematical assessments to 118 students, at the beginning of the term, in second-semester general chemistry classes (designed for science majors) at Eastern Michigan University. Testing was conducted during the 2010-2011 school year. The question to be answered was: which is more important in determining student course grades, attitudes toward chemistry and mathematics, or mathematical skill? The hypothesis was that attitudes and mathematical skill equally affect final course grade. A modified Wiebe instrument was selected to evaluate student attitudes toward chemistry and mathematics. To evaluate student mathematical skills, this study employed a mathematics assessment developed and performed at the University of Minnesota, and hence will be called the Minnesota Mathematics Assessment or MMA—a 20-question, multiple choice quiz designed for second-semester general chemistry students. Results were inter-correlated to determine what factors influenced student success. This study found a strong correlation between mathematics attitudes and chemistry attitudes, with a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) of 0.50. Between course grade vs. either chemical attitudes or mathematics attitudes, the r values were 0.25 and 0.23 respectively, showing weak correlations. The correlation of course grade versus total MMA score gave an r value of 0.35, a moderate correlation. Comparison of the current study's MMA results with those of a previous Minnesota study demonstrates that the MMA is reproducible. The correlation coefficient found for course grade vs. total MMA score was comparable to that found in the Minnesota study. Analysis of the 20-question MMA data resulted in a 10-question subgroup whose r = 0.41. Although some gender attitude differences were found, these did not correlate with course grade.

Cross-cultural adaption and validation of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) in the Italian language

The evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic otitis media COM has gained attention over the past years and several questionnaires have been developed to evaluate it in affected patients. The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) is a widely used disease-specific tool that evaluates the severity of symptoms, the specific impact on work and lifestyle, the effects on the health service, and general impact of the disease in patients with COM. The COMQ-12 questionnaire has been translated and validated into different languages; however, an Italian version is not yet available. The aim of this original study was to translate the COMQ-12 questionnaire into the Italian language and validate this new Italian language version in Italian-speaking patients with COM. The COMQ-12 was translated into Italian (COMQ-12-It) following international guidelines. Validation was performed comparing and correlating COMQ-12-It with (1) a question that addresses HRQoL, and (2) the results of a generic questionnaire assessing HRQoL, namely the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Forty-eight patients with COM were included in the study. Cronbach's alpha was 0.80 indicating a high reliability. There was a strong positive correlation between the question that directly addressed HRQoL and total score (correlation coefficient = 0.62), while the regression analysis between total score of COMQ-12-It and EQ-5D-5L showed a positive relation but only a weak positive correlation (correlation coefficient 0.36). Our study showed evidence that the Italian version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate HRQoL in Italian-speaking patients with COM.

Validation of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in an Italian Clinical Sample of Young Children With Autism and Other Developmental Disorders.

Background: The Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) is parent-report screening questionnaire for detecting threshold and sub-threshold autistic features in toddlers. The Q-CHAT is a dimensional measure normally distributed in the general population sample and is able to differentiate between a group of children with a diagnosis of autism and unselected toddlers. Objectives: We aim to investigate the psychometric properties, score distribution, and external validity of the Q-CHAT in an Italian clinical sample of young children with autism versus children with developmental delay and typically developing children. Method: N = 126 typically developing children (TD), n = 139 children with autism, and n = 50 children presenting developmental delay (DD) were administered the Q-CHAT. Standardized measures of cognitive functions, language, and behaviors were also obtained. Results: The Q-CHAT scores were normally distributed and demonstrated adequate internal consistency and good item to total score correlations. The mean Q-CHAT score in the autism group was significantly higher than those found in the DD sample and TD children. No difference on the mean Q-CHAT score between DD and TD children was found. The accuracy of the Q-CHAT to discriminate between autism and TD was very good. Two different cut-points (27 and 31, respectively) maximized sensitivity and specificity for autism versus TD and DD, respectively. Finally, higher Q-CHAT scores were correlated with lower language and social communication skills. Conclusions: In clinical settings, the Q-CHAT demonstrated good psychometric properties and external validity to discriminate autism children not just from children with typical development but also from children with developmental delay.

Caregiver Burden in Gastroparesis and GERD: Correlation with Disease Severity, Healthcare Utilization and Work Productivity.

Caregiver burden can be significant in chronic gastrointestinal diseases. No studies have been performed to evaluate caregiver burden in gastroparesis or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). (1) Assess the caregiver burden in gastroparesis and GERD patients and healthy volunteers (HVs); (2) correlate the caregiver burden of these patients to the severity of patients' symptoms, healthcare utilization, and work productivity of the patients and the caregivers. Patients with gastroparesis and GERD, seen between June 2018 and November 2018, completed Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) and healthcare utilization questionnaires. The caregivers of these patients completed Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and WPAI questionnaire. HVs and their potential caregivers also completed these questionnaires. Forty-seven patients (gastroparesis = 31, GERD = 17), 12 HVs, and their caregivers completed questionnaires. Caregivers of gastroparesis patients reported high burden on ZBI (27.7 ± 2.9), greater than the caregivers of GERD (14.9 ± 2.5) and HVs (5.5 ± 1.6, p < 0.01). Among all patients, the caregiver burden had a strong correlation with patients' Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI) total score (rs = 0.63, p < 0.01) and moderate correlations with the number of patients' physician office visits (rs = 0.46, p < 0.01) and the number of work hours missed by caregivers due to patients' symptoms (rs = 0.36, p = 0.04). Using multivariable regression, both presence of gastroparesis and other comorbidities significantly predicted caregiver burden, F(2, 33) = 15.94, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.491. Caregivers of gastroparesis patients have high caregiver burden that strongly correlates with patients' GCSI total score. Interventions to reduce symptom severity of Gp patients may reduce the caregiver burden.

Equivalency of the diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) queries about thoughts of death and self-harm, but not suicidality. Although it is sometimes used to assess suicide risk, most positive responses are not associated with suicidality. The PHQ-8, which omits Item 9, is thus increasingly used in research. We assessed equivalency of total score correlations and the diagnostic accuracy to detect major depression of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis. We fit bivariate random-effects models to assess diagnostic accuracy. 16 742 participants (2097 major depression cases) from 54 studies were included. The correlation between PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 scores was 0.996 (95% confidence interval 0.996 to 0.996). The standard cutoff score of 10 for the PHQ-9 maximized sensitivity + specificity for the PHQ-8 among studies that used a semi-structured diagnostic interview reference standard (N = 27). At cutoff 10, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive by 0.02 (-0.06 to 0.00) and more specific by 0.01 (0.00 to 0.01) among those studies (N = 27), with similar results for studies that used other types of interviews (N = 27). For all 54 primary studies combined, across all cutoffs, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive than the PHQ-9 by 0.00 to 0.05 (0.03 at cutoff 10), and specificity was within 0.01 for all cutoffs (0.00 to 0.01). PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 total scores were similar. Sensitivity may be minimally reduced with the PHQ-8, but specificity is similar.

Psychometric properties of the German version of the pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaire-revised 2 (PRAQ-R2) in the third trimester of pregnancy

BackgroundPregnancy-related anxiety (PrA) has been identified as a construct distinct from general stress and anxiety with a negative impact on birth and child outcomes. Validated instruments with good psychometric properties to assess pregnancy-related anxiety in German-speaking expectant mothers are still lacking. The Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire revised for its use independent of parity (PRAQ-R2) assesses fear of giving birth (FoGB), worries of bearing a physically or mentally handicapped child (WaHC) and concerns about own appearance (CoA). The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the PRAQ-R2 in a German sample of pregnant women in their third pregnancy trimester.MethodsThe PRAQ-R2 and several questionnaires measuring different forms of anxiety as well as depressive symptoms and perceived general self-efficacy were administered cross-sectionally in a sample of nulliparous and parous women (N = 360) in the third trimester of pregnancy.ResultsReliability was satisfactory to excellent for the PRAQ-R2 total scale (Cronbach’s α = .85) and the subscales (α = .77 to .90). Confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis confirmed the three-factorial structure of the instrument. The three factors together explained 68% of variance. Construct validity was confirmed by positive low- to moderate-sized correlations of the PRAQ-R2 total score and the subscales with measurements of anxiety and depression and by negative low correlations with general self-efficacy.ConclusionsThe German version of the PRAQ-R2 is a valid and feasible measurement for pregnancy-related anxiety for research and clinical practice.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Health Cognitions Questionnaire in Chinese college students.

PurposeThe cognitive behavioral model is considered the most comprehensive for explaining the pathogenesis of health anxiety (HA). The model proposes 4 dysfunctional beliefs that play a vital role in developing and sustaining HA: a) the likelihood of contracting or having an illness, b) awfulness of the illness, c) difficulty coping with illness, and d) inadequacy of medical services. The Health Cognitions Questionnaire (HCQ), widely used in English populations, was developed for assessing these core cognitions. As HA is a growing problem in China, we translated the HCQ into a Chinese version (CHCQ) and examined its psychometric properties. These core cognitions were compared among individuals with and without medical conditions.MethodsA set of questionnaires that included the CHCQ and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) was used to gather data from 1,319 Chinese college students. After 4 weeks, 145 of the students completed the CHCQ again. The validity, reliability, and measurement invariance were evaluated among individuals with various medical conditions.ResultsThe final CHCQ included 19 items. A 4-factor structure was well suited to the data. Good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α for total score was 0.849, subscales ranged from 0.753 to 0.841), test–retest reliability (the interclass correlation coefficient for total score was 0.762, subscales ranged from 0.626 to 0.683), and criterion validity of the CHCQ were demonstrated. Measurement and structural invariance were established. Individuals with a diagnosed disease scored higher on the likelihood-of-illness subscale (Cohen’s d =0.22, p < 0.01) than those without an illness.ConclusionThe CHCQ shows promise for the assessment of 4 core HA-related cognitions in the Chinese population.

Validation of the Lithuanian version of sarcopenia-specific quality of life questionnaire (SarQoL®).

The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the SarQoL® questionnaire into Lithuanian and investigate its main psychometric properties. A cross-sectional study was performed on community-dwelling Lithuanian people aged ≥ 60years. The revised criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People were used. A forward-backward methodology was used for the translation, with a pre-test of the final version of the Lithuanian SarQoL® questionnaire. Adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to compare sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic subjects. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The correlation of total score of the SarQoL® and each domain of the Short-form General Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaires was measured using Spearman's correlations. Test-retest reliability was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient. The study was performed on 176 subjects. Fifty-eight subjects were diagnosed with sarcopenia. After adjustment for confounders, the total score of the SarQoL® questionnaire was significantly lower for sarcopenic subjects compared to non-sarcopenic subjects (50.32 ± 8.58 vs 73.75 ± 13.51, p < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.95. Neither floor nor ceiling effects were found. The SarQoL® questionnaire revealed good correlation with similar domains of the SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires for convergent validity and weak correlations with different domains for divergent validity, confirming its construct validity. An excellent agreement between test and retest was found with an ICC of 0.976 (95% CI 0.959-0.986). Lithuanian version of the SarQoL® is valid, reliable and consistent and could be used to assess quality of life in sarcopenic population.

Development of the Persian syntax comprehension test

ObjectivesLack of formal tests to assess the various dimension of language in Persian is one of the main challenges of speech and language pathologists in Iran. The purpose of this study was to develop a Persian Syntax Comprehension Test to assess the syntax comprehension in Persian speaking children aged 4–10 years old. Methodsthe study included four phases. In the first phase, syntactic structures of Persian were extracted and then, items generation was performed. In the second phase, content validity was determined and images were designed for the items. In the third phase, two pilot studies were carried out and difficulty and discrimination indices for items were determined and in the last phase, 788 typically-developing children (436 children aged 4–6 and 352 children aged 6–10 years old) and 15 children with Developmental language disorder were recruited then, psychometric properties (construct and concurrent validity, test-retest, and split-half reliability) were evaluated. In the final step, standard score and percentile were calculated. We used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 24.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) for the statistical analysis of the data. The significance level was (P < 0.05). ResultsFinal version of Persian syntax comprehension test contains 24 syntactic structures and 96 items. Items' Difficulty indices were between 0.33 and 0.90. There was a significant difference among the age groups for the mean total score of the Persian syntax comprehension test. In addition, a high correlation existed between total scores of this test and those of grammar understanding subtest of Test of langue development (r = 0.52, P < 0.001). The correlation of total Persian syntax comprehension test score of the two rounds of test performance and the split-half coefficient were estimated to be 0.56 and 0.85, respectively. ConclusionIt seems that the Persian Syntax comprehension test has satisfactory values for the reliability and validity measures, and it can be used as a suitable instrument by researchers and clinicians.

Validity and Reliability of Cognitive Attentional Syndrome-1 Questionnaire.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Cognitive Attentional Syndrome-1 (CAS-1) questionnaire. Methods221 participants were included in the study who do not meet any psychiatric diagnosis. Participants were applied SCID I and II and filled CAS-1 scale, Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale, and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Testing the reliability Cronbach’s alpha, item analysis and Item and total score correlation coefficients were applied. For testing structural validity, Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used, and for testing the content validity, the relationship between each item of CAS-1 and MCQ-30, BDI, BAI, GAD-7, PSWQ was examined. ResultsThe correlation reliability coefficients were statistically significant except for using alcohol/drugs as a coping mechanism. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 16 items was 0.771 whereas, this ratio was 0.772 for the first eight items (CAS) and 0.685 for the last eight items (Metacognitive Beliefs) which showed that the internal consistency of CAS-1 was high. Structural and Content Validity of the scale was significant. ConclusionThe Turkish version of the CAS-1 was a reliable and valid measure to evaluate CAS in a Turkish population.

The Patient Needs in Asthma Treatment (NEAT) questionnaire: Further evidence on its psychometric properties.

Building on previous psychometric work, we sought to assess the Patient Needs in Asthma Treatment (NEAT) questionnaire's validity, responsiveness to change, and the minimal important change (MIC) over a 3-year period (Study 1) and its reliability and the smallest detectable change (SDC) in a test-retest study (Study 2) among patients self-reporting physician-diagnosed asthma. In Study 1, a total of 207 patients completed a survey which included the NEAT, the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-Sydney (AQLQ-S), and a question on treatment satisfaction in 2014 and 2017. In Study 2, a total of 78 patients completed NEAT twice on average four weeks apart in 2018. Concurrent validity: In linear regressions, unmet patient needs were cross-sectionally associated with poorer asthma control (β=-0.21; P=0.01), asthma-related quality of life (QoL) (β=0.31; P<0.01), and treatment satisfaction (β=-0.59; P<0.01). Predictive Validity: Higher unmet needs at baseline predicted worse treatment satisfaction at follow-up (β=-0.28; P<0.01), but neither asthma control nor asthma-related QoL. Responsiveness to change was demonstrated by linear regressions of changes in the total NEAT score and changes in AQLQ-S (β=0.21; P<0.01) and treatment satisfaction (β=-0.36; P<0.01). MIC: Patients whose NEAT score increased between baseline and follow-up by the identified MIC (0.301) reported lower treatment satisfaction at follow-up (β=-0.17; P=0.01). Test-retest reliability was demonstrated by correlations between NEAT baseline and follow-up scores (eg, intra-class correlation coefficients for total score=0.78). The SDC (0.384) was slightly larger than MIC. NEAT is a promising tool for assessing asthma treatment needs.