Validity Of Items Research Articles

Testing the Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the German Version of Gray et al.’s (2003) Sexual Fantasy Questionnaire

Gray et al.’s (2003) Sexual Fantasy Questionnaire (SFQ) is becoming an increasingly used self-report measure of sexual fantasy use. The current study analyzed the factorial structure and construct validity of the behavioral items of the SFQ using a nomological network of other sexuality-related measures in a large German-speaking sample (N = 846). Participants’ (27.7% females) mean age was 30.8 years (SD = 11.0). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 65-item scale comprising five-factors, which were termed: normophilic sexual fantasies, sexualized aggression, sexualized submission, submissive courtship, and bodily functions. This German version of the SFQ was found to have high construct validity indicated by its association with other related constructs. Based on these results, we argue that the SFQ is a valid self-report measure that can be used in both research and clinical practice (foremost the factors sexualized aggression and sexualized submission). Suggestions for future research are discussed in light of the results and the study’s limitations.

Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS) in Adolescents

Friendship is a relationship that cannot be separated from human life. Friends are the most important thing for social needs for teenagers. Among the factors that influence the success of a friendly relationship is the quality of the friendship. The quality of friendship affects the success of social interaction with peers. The thing to do in knowing the quality of friendship in adolescents is to extract assessment data with standardized and standardized measuring tools. This study aims to adapt The Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS) to Indonesian language and culture and to analyze its psychometric characteristics. In scale translation, this study uses a backward translation technique. The range of Aiken's V index values for each item is between 0.58-1.00. The process of testing the validity using Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), showed that from 23 items, there were 22 valid items with a factor loading value range of 0.58-1.00 (n=426). The results of the analysis on the Indonesian version of the FQS show that the CR value is 0.94 and the AVE value is 0.44. The AVE value is less than the threshold (AVE > 0.50), but it is still acceptable because it meets the requirements. The Indonesian version of The Friendship Qualities Scale can be used by counselors for clinical purposes or by lecturers and students for research purposes.

Analysis of Difficulty Index, Discrimination Index and Distractor Efficiency in Multiple Choice Questions

Background: The item analysis of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is an essential tool that can provide input on validity and reliability of items. It helps to identify items, which can be revised or discarded, thus building a quality MCQ bank. Aim: The aim of the study to evaluate the quality of MCQs by analyzing DIF, DI and DE and to find out the association of MCQs having good difficulty and discrimination indices with DE. Method: The study was conducted in the Department of Maternity and Child Health Nursing at the College of Nursing during the academic year 2023, second semester. Students of level six who took the final exam of one-course second-semester academic year 2023, A total of 152 third-year Bachelor of Nursing. The item analysis explored the difficulty index (DIF I) and discrimination index (DI) with distractor effectiveness (DE). Data was kept confidential and the descriptive and inferential statistics will be computed using SPSS 22.0. Results: A total of 50 MCQs, the majority, that is, 74 (82%) MCQs had a good/acceptable level of difficulty with a mean DIF I of 94.94 ± 6.36 (mean ± SD); this indicates that, on average, the MCQs were relatively easy for the students, as the difficulty index is close to 100. The discrimination index, which assesses the ability of the MCQs to differentiate between high and low-performing students, had a mean of 0.11 and a standard deviation of 0.47. This relatively low mean value suggests that the MCQs had limited discriminatory power, meaning they did not effectively distinguish between students with different levels of performance. 150 (75%) were categorized as functional distractors (FDs). These FDs effectively served their purpose by distracting students from selecting the correct answer, challenging their knowledge and understanding. On the other hand, 50 distractors (25%) were classified as non-functional distractors (NFDs). Conclusion: The categorization of the MCQs based on distractor efficiency highlights the importance of having well-constructed and effective distractors. The presence of functional distractors challenges students' decision-making, while non-functional distractors need to be revised or replaced to improve the overall quality of the MCQs. This finding indicates a potential area for improvement in the construction and selection of MCQs to enhance their ability to differentiate student abilities

Capturing Exercise Psychological Need Satisfaction Among Older Adults: The BPNES

ABSTRACT Regular exercise participation which is a component of promoting health and healthy aging among older adults necessitates the creation of environments that fulfill participants’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, thus, providing opportunities to promote authentic interest in the activities and meaningful social engagement. Appropriate tools to capture satisfaction of these needs may prove invaluable to gain an understanding of the effectiveness of exercise programs from participants’ perspective. The aim of the study was to examine psychometric aspects of the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) scores based on responses of 675 older adult Greek exercise participants, men and women, aged 65 to 80 years, attending indoor group-based exercise programs. The data supported the factorial validity, internal reliability, nomological validity, and equivalent item interpretation of BPNES scores between groups differing in demographic characteristics. Older adults with exercise experience greater than three years reported higher exercise needs satisfaction for all three needs compared to those exercising less than three years. The favorable psychometric characteristics of the BPNES in this population make it a valuable tool for the assessment of the extent to which older adults’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are fulfilled in group-based exercise settings.

The Impact of Customer Intensity in Firm Performance: Tech Capabilities as A Moderating Variable

Entrepreneurial marketing “EM” is considered to be suitable for small businesses. However, since the perspective has shifted from product and sales to a market orientation, interest in the creation of customer value has grown and has been the subject of intense discussion. Thus, in this study, we aim to investigate and describe the significant relationship between Customer intensity “CI” and firm performance “FP” in SMEs operating in Khartoum-Sudan, by utilizing technological capabilities “TCPs” as a moderating variable. The resource-based view “RBV” provides the theoretical foundation for this study regarding the effect of CI on FP among TCPs. Regarding the study objective, we assumed the following hypothesis: H1: Customer intensity has a significant relationship with firm performance dimensions: {profitability, sustainability, and customer satisfaction}. H2: We assume that TCPs can positively moderate the relationship between CI and FP. Accordingly, this study is quantitative. Reliable with the purpose of this study. Furthermore, our study relied on the “Positivism philosophy”, a deductive approach to theory development. Therefore, overall, 255 responses were received from the community of SMEs in Khartoum. To analyze the data firstly the following principal component analysis PCA, Correlation, and Rotation matrix were utilized to test the appropriateness of the study structure “the pre-model” and check the validity of the questionnaire items. secondly, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) Path analysis to analyze and examine the significant relationships between all variables. The analysis revealed that customer intensity has a positive effect on profitability (p = 0.000), Customer intensity has also a positive effect on customer satisfaction (p = 0.001). Unlike, customer intensity has negative effects on sustainability (p = 0.216). Finally, the results show that technological capabilities positively moderate the relationship between Customer intensity and profitability (p = 0.000), sustainability (p = 0.007), and customer satisfaction (p = 0.000). Anyhow, these results confirmed the partial support for the first hypothesis and full support for the second hypothesis.

Pengembangan Instrumen Assesmen Literasi Sains Berbasis Kontekstual pada Materi Koloid

This research is a development research (Research and Development) with the objectives: (1) to assess the quality of the instrument in terms of content validity and empirical validity, (2) to determine the reliability of the developed instrument, and (3) to assess the practicality of the developed instrument. The product developed is a contextual science literacy assessment instrument on the topic of colloids. The developed contextual science literacy instrument is in the form of multiple-choice questions. The research was conducted using the 4D development model, which includes the stages of define, design, develop, and disseminate. The results of rational validation by two expert validators yielded 15 valid test items with an Aiken's index ≥ 0.75. The instrument was tested on 34 students from class XII MIPA 3 of SMAN 1 Gowa. The results of empirical validation using the point biserial formula at α=0.339 yielded 14 valid test items. The results of the reliability test using KR-20 showed that the instrument was categorized as reliable with a value of 0.831. The analysis of the item discrimination power showed that there were 2 very good items, 6 good items, 4 fair items, and 3 poor items. The distribution of the item difficulty level was 47% difficult items, 40% medium items, and 2% easy items. The practicality of the contextual science literacy assessment instrument on the topic of colloids was categorized as practical based on the positive results of the student questionnaire (85%) and the teacher questionnaire (95%).

Kualitas Soal Ujian Akhir Berstandar Nasional Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Arab Di MDTA

This research aims to evaluate the quality of Arabic language examination questions in the National Standardized Final Examination (Ujian Akhir Berstandar Nasional - UABN) at the Nurul Amal Madrasah Diniyah Takmiliyah Awaliyah (MDTA), Karawang, for the academic year 2022/2023. The evaluation involves aspects of validity, reliability, difficulty level, item discrimination, distractor effectiveness, and Bloom's Taxonomy cognitive level. The research method employs a quantitative approach with an ex post facto design. Data were obtained from the documentation of examination questions and answer sheets, as well as interviews with teachers and students. The participants comprised 14 fourth-grade students of MDTA, selected using a saturated sampling technique. Analysis was conducted using Microsoft Office Excel for validity and reliability, and Anbuso Ver.8 software for difficulty level, item discrimination, and distractor effectiveness. The validity analysis results showed that only 20% of the items were valid, highlighting the need for structural improvements in item formulation. The test reliability met the desired standard, with 8 valid items yielding higher reliability. The difficulty level exhibited variation, ranging from difficult to easy. Evaluation of students' and teachers' perceptions revealed differences in assessing the difficulty level of the questions. Item discrimination analysis identified items with good discrimination, but some were inadequate. The effectiveness of distractors in 67.5% of the items required revision due to unsatisfactory performance. This study contributes to understanding the quality of Arabic language examination questions at MDTA and offers improvement suggestions. HOTS and LOTS) indicate that 21 questions fall under the LOTS category, while 19 other questions fall under the HOTS category. The findings are expected to positively influence the development of Arabic language learning evaluations, especially at MDTA

Transcultural Adaption and Validation of Korean Version Freibrug Mindfulness Inventory (FMI): Assessing Mindfulness in Forest Therapy Sessions

Forest therapy is associated with several health advantages, such as stress reduction and improved psychological health. Mindfulness, an important component of forest therapy, is also associated with improved health outcomes. However, few studies have empirically evaluated mindfulness in forest therapy settings. This study translated the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) in the context of forest therapy into Korean and then validated it. (1) Methods: This study included 352 individuals. Four other psychometric tools were administered to ensure criterion validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were implemented to determine the factor structure. Furthermore, item validity was assessed using item response theory. (2) Findings: A two-factor structure of the FMI, comprising acceptance and presence, was the most suitable. However, excluding item 13 enhanced the model fit (χ2 [df] = 169.9 [64], comparative fit index = 0.93, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.92, root mean square error of approximation = 0.069). The FMI had satisfactory psychometric properties. (3) Conclusion: The FMI was translated into Korean and validated, serving as a valuable instrument for assessing mindfulness in the context of forest therapy. We identified that item 13 should be excluded. Our results demonstrate the potential effects of mindfulness on mental health in forest therapy.

Factorial analysis of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Work Ability Index, reproducibility and validity of the single item and the short version for online application

BackgroundThe Work Ability Index (WAI) assesses work demands, health status, and physical and mental resources. ObjectivesTo evaluate the measurement properties of the WAI, single-item work ability score (WAS), and short version for online applications. MethodsOne hundred three workers completed the 3 versions of the WAI and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire. The reproducibility and construct validity of the 3 versions of the WAI and their concurrent validity with the PSS-10 were tested. Statistical tests were performed with IBM® SPSS 28.0. ResultsThe test-retest reliability of the WAI, WAS, and WAI short version ranged from good to excellent. The WAI and WAI short version showed excellent internal consistency. The construct validity of the WAS was moderate and positive and it was excellent and positive for the WAI short version. Concurrent validity of the WAI, WAS, and WAI short version was moderate and negative, and item mental resources were strong and negative. Factor analysis reached an acceptable level for all indexes (≥ 0.90). The analysis with two factors reached an acceptable level for all indexes (≥ 0.90) and was the best model. ConclusionThe reliability and construct and concurrent validity of the various versions of the WAI were strong to excellent in online applications. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a new grouping of items for the WAI Brazilian version. However, it is necessary to be careful in the choice due to the distribution model of items in health domains and aspects of work.

Structural validation of the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire for use in foot and ankle surgery.

The Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ) is an anatomically specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) currently used to assess a wide variety of foot and ankle pathology. It consists of 16 items across three subscales measuring distinct but related traits: walking/standing ability, pain, and social interaction. It is the most used foot and ankle PROM in the UK. Initial MOxFQ validation involved analysis of 100 individuals undergoing hallux valgus surgery. This project aimed to establish whether an individual's response to the MOxFQ varies with anatomical region of disease (measurement invariance), and to explore structural validity of the factor structure (subscale items) of the MOxFQ. This was a single-centre, prospective cohort study involving 6,637 patients (mean age 52 years (SD 17.79)) presenting with a wide range of foot and ankle pathologies between January 2013 and December 2021. To assess whether the MOxFQ responses vary by anatomical region of foot and ankle disease, we performed multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. To assess the structural validity of the subscale items, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. Measurement invariance by pathology was confirmed, suggesting the same model can be used across all foot and ankle anatomical regions. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a two- to three-factor model, and suggested that item 13 (inability to carry out work/everyday activities) and item 14 (inability to undertake social/recreational activities) loaded more positively onto the "walking/standing" subscale than their original "social interaction" subscale. This large cohort study supports the current widespread use of the MOxFQ across a broad range of foot and ankle pathologies. Our analyses found indications that could support alterations to the original factor structure (items 13 and 14 might be moved from the "social interaction" to the "walking/standing" subscale). However, this requires further work to confirm.

Development and Psychometric Validation of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure to Assess the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Hand Eczema: The Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD).

Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) is an inflammatory skin disease of the hands. The Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD) is a new patient-reported outcome measure of worst severity of core CHE signs/symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate content and psychometric validity of the HESD. The HESD was developed based on the literature and concept elicitation interviews. Qualitative cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with CHE patients to assess relevance and understanding of items, response options and recall period. Psychometric properties of the HESD (item performance, dimensionality, reliability, validity, responsiveness and estimation of meaningful change thresholds) were then assessed, first using data from a phase 2b trial (NCT03683719), and confirmed using data from the first 280 participants completing the 16-week treatment phase of a phase 3 trial (NCT04871711). Cognitive debriefing supported item refinement and removal of items and confirmed all items were well understood and relevant to patients. Item properties and dimensionality analyses in the phase 2b data supported removal of additional items, resulting in the 6-item HESD included in the phase 3 trial. Unidimensionality was supported by inter-item correlations (all > 0.70) and Rasch analysis. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96) and test-retest reliability (IntraclassCorrelationCoefficient > 0.89) results were very strong. Construct validity was supported by moderate correlations with concurrent measures (0.53-0.64) and significant differences between severity groups (p < 0.001). Large effect sizes for mean change scores in participantsthat improved and significant differences between change groups indicatedthe ability to detect change. Anchor-based analyses supported within-individual responder definitions of ≥ 4-points for improvements in 7-day average HESD scores. The HESD is the first CHE-specific, patient-reported outcome measure of CHE signs/symptoms developed and validated in line with regulatory guidance. This article provides evidence of strong content validity and psychometric validity and shows improvements of ≥ 4 points on 7-day average HESD scores represent clinically meaningful, important changes. NCT03683719, NCT04871711.

A Flexible Inventory of Survey Items for Environmental Concepts Generated via Special Attention to Content Validity and Item Response Theory

We demonstrate how many important measures of belief about the environmental suffer from poor content validity and inadequate conceptual breadth (dimensionality). We used scholarship in environmental science and philosophy to propose a list of 13 environmental concepts that can be held as beliefs. After precisely articulating the concepts, we developed 85 trial survey items that emphasized content validity for each concept. The concepts’ breadth and the items’ content validity were aided by scrutiny from 17 knowledgeable critics. We administered the trial items to 449 residents of the United States and used item response theory to reduce the 85 trial items to smaller sets of items for use when survey brevity is required. The reduced sets offered good predictive ability for two environmental attitudes (R2 = 0.42 and 0.46) and indices of pro-environmental behavior (PEB, R2 = 0.23) and behavioral intention (R2 = 0.25). The predictive results were highly interpretable, owing to their robust content validity. For example, PEB was predicted by the degree to which one believes nature to be sacred, but not by the degree of one’s non-anthropocentrism. Concepts with the greatest overall predictive ability were Sacredness and Hope. Belief in non-anthropocentrism had little predictive ability for all four response variables—a claim that previously could not have been made given the widespread poverty of content validity for items representing non-anthropocentrism in existing instruments. The approach described here is especially amenable to incremental improvement, as other researchers propose more informative survey items and potentially important concepts of environmental beliefs we overlooked.

Development and preliminary evaluation of the Comprehensive Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CHSAQ) for individuals in the Chinese People Liberation Army

ObjectiveThere is currently no widely accepted multidimensional health assessment questionnaire for individuals in the Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA). This study developed a multidimensional health survey questionnaire (Comprehensive Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire, CHSAQ) suitable for personnel in the PLA and conducted a preliminary examination of its reliability, validity, and discriminative ability.MethodsAfter 183 items from 32 dimensions were selected to form the initial version of the CHSAQ, three groups of soldiers were selected from May 2022 to April 2023 and completed three survey rounds (with 183, 131, and 55 valid items). The items were screened based on classic test theory. After screening, the final questionnaire entries were formed, the structure of the questionnaire was explored through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and its reliability, structural validity, and discriminative ability were evaluated.ResultsThe final questionnaire consisted of 8 dimensions and 55 items on job satisfaction, anxiety and depression, daily activities, physical function, the otolaryngology system, the integumentary system, sleep disorders, and the visual system. The total cumulative variance contribution rate was 64.648% according to exploratory factor analysis. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, the normed fit index (NFI) was 0.880, and the comparison fit index (CFI) was 0.893 (close to 0.90). The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the total questionnaire was 0.970, the split half reliability coefficient was 0.937, and the retest reliability coefficient was 0.902. The results are presented as different pairwise comparisons.ConclusionOur study developed a self-report questionnaire for evaluating the comprehensive health status of personnel in the PLA in accordance with the standard procedure for questionnaire development. Our findings also showed that the CHSAQ for individuals in the PLA has good reliability and structural validity.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the fear of pregnancy scale: a translation and validation study.

Many women experience fear toward pregnancy, which can impact their desire to have children and the national birth rate. Thus, assessing women's fear of pregnancy is of great importance. However, there is currently no specialized tool for assessing women's fear of pregnancy in China. The purpose of this study is to translate the Fear of Pregnancy Scale into Chinese and test its reliability and validity among women of childbearing age. Using convenience sampling combined with a snowballing method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 886 women of childbearing age in two cities in China. The translation was strictly carried out according to the Brislin model. Item analysis, validity analysis, and reliability analysis were employed for psychometric assessment. The Chinese version of the Fear of Pregnancy Scale comprises 28 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted four factors with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 72.578%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed: NFI = 0.956, CFI = 0.986, GFI = 0.927, IFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.985, RMSEA = 0.032, and χ2/df = 1.444. The scale's Cronbach's α coefficient is 0.957, split-half reliability is 0.840, and test-retest reliability is 0.932. The Chinese version of the Fear of Pregnancy Scale possesses robust psychometric properties and can assess the degree of pregnancy fear among Chinese women of childbearing age. It provides a reference for formulating relevant policies in the prenatal care service system and implementing targeted intervention measures.

The Design and Validation of the Four Tier Test Instrument for Energy Literacy Using the Rasch Model Analysis

The science education curriculum needs to contain content on environmental issues including energy and its use as an effort to equip prospective physics teacher students with knowledge about the importance of reducing the impact of energy use. For this reason, it is important to measure energy literacy knowledge in prospective physics teacher students. This study aims to design and validate a four-tier test instrument to measure the energy literacy knowledge of prospective physics teacher students. The test instrument format used is a four-tier test. This test model has the advantage of being able to capture more accurate information with various answer patterns. The stages of developing this test used the design-based research model which consisted of five stages, namely developing an assessment framework, designing items, developing rubrics, conducting tests, and applying the Racsh Model analysis. The application of the Racsh Model analysis aims to obtain a valid and reliable test instrument with the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach assisted by the Winsteps program. The research method used is a descriptive-exploratory method to describe the results of the development and validation of the Four Tier test to measure Energy Literacy for prospective physics teacher student. The validation of the test was carried out through an assessment by five experts to assess the construct and content of the test instrument. The results of the item validation showed that the questions were acceptable in all aspects. The conclusion is that the test with four-tier format is suitable for identifying the knowledge of prospective physics teacher students about Energy Literacy. The four tier test model in exploring the energy literacy abilities of prospective teacher students can basically also be applied to students at the elementary school, middle school and high school levels. However, the complexity of the content tested needs to be adjusted to the existing curriculum at each level.

Development of the Talent Identification Questionnaire in Soccer for Outfield Players (TIDQ-OP): Coaches’ perceptions of the key attributes for player recruitment

ABSTRACT Talent identification in sports is a complex process, whereby the aim is to identify, select and promote players who are considered to have the necessary skills and competencies (e.g., technical, tactical, and physical attributes) to succeed in senior adult competition. To support this process, this study focused on the development of a questionnaire to assist in the identification of talent among South African youth soccer players. This will establish a measure of the attributes coaches consider important when making talent identification decisions for outfield soccer players. The questionnaire was constructed following established instrument development phases. In phase 1, 61 questionnaire items were generated based on a review of the relevant literature. In phase 2, a panel of experts examined the content validity of the preliminary items. In phase 3, the provisional 59-item questionnaire (Talent Identification Questionnaire in Soccer for Outfield Players; TIDQ-OP) was administered to 173 experienced South African soccer coaches (130 males and 43 females) who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years. In phase 3, the factorial structure of the questionnaire was established through principal component analysis. The final questionnaire consisted of 58 items. These preliminary analyses indicate the usefulness of the TIDQ-OP as a tool to assist South African coaches in the identification and selection of talented players.

The development of a cryptoglandular anal fistula quality of life scale (AF-QoL).

Quality of life (QoL) is a crucial and core outcome in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for cryptoglandular anal fistula. Despite its extensive impact, there is a lack of patient-centred, disease-specific QoL measurement instruments of adequate quality. The aim of this study is to develop a disease-specific measurement instrument that can accurately measure QoL for patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula. Semi-structured qualitative patient interviews and a systematic review of current instruments were used to generate items for the draft instrument. This underwent successive rounds of cognitive interviews to refine its wording and structure. Individual item and overall scale content validity were determined by asking experts to rate the relevance of each item and those deemed irrelevant were removed. The final instrument then underwent psychometric testing and test-retest analysis to determine its sensitivity and stability. A total of 148 patients were involved in item generation, scale development and psychometric testing. A 22-item measurement instrument has been developed; it is scored on a scale of 0-100, where 0 indicates the worst QoL and 100 demonstrates perfect QoL. The scale demonstrates excellent internal consistency (Cronbach-α = 0.927), strong content and construct validity [correlation with Perianal Disease Activity Index = -0.713, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Anxiety (-0.659) and Depression (-0.673) subscales and Short Form-12 physical (0.609) and mental (0.589) component scales] and strong reliability and responsiveness. We have developed a cryptoglandular Anal Fistula Quality of Life scale (AF-QoL), a comprehensive, disease-specific patient reported outcome measure assessing QoL in patients with cryptoglandular anal fistula.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the Frail Non-disabled tool (FiND)

BackgroundFrailty, a common geriatric syndrome of vulnerability, is associated with a decline in health and function. The most problematic expression of population ageing is associated with weakness, slowing, decreased energy, lower activity and when severe, unintended weight loss. Frailty is not consciously identified in clinical practice and is not widely studied in Sri Lanka. A validated tool for screening frailty in a busy clinical setting is therefore much needed. This study was done as a part of validating the Sinhala version of the Frail Non-Disabled (S-FiND) tool.MethodsThe FiND tool was translated from English to Sinhala by two translators, blinded to each other. They were combined and translated back to the original language by two separate translators. After verifying the content validity, unambiguity and clarity of items in a focused group discussion, the pre-final version was piloted among 30 volunteers. After assessing the psychometric properties of the pre-final version, the final version was tested among 100 adults older than 65 years from the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The tool was compared with Fried’s frailty phenotype taken as the gold standard.ResultsData were analysed for the agreement with the reference standard, the Fried Phenotype. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 73.9 (7.8) years. The overall time taken to fill out the questionnaire was 2 min. The agreement (Kappa) between the S-FiND questionnaire and the Fried phenotype was 0.7 (P < 001). The sensitivity and specificity of FiND in detecting frailty were 92% and 74%, respectively. The agreements (Kappa) between the individual items of S-Find: involuntary loss of weight/ more than 4.5 kg over one year, the feeling of effort/ not getting going and level of physical activity, with the Fried phenotype, were 0.28 (p = 0.001), 0.06 (p = 0.045) and 0.339 (p < 0.001). respectively. When subjects were categorized frail and robust based on FiND, frail subjects reported a higher incidence of falls (50%) during the previous 12 months, compared to those robust (13%) (p < 0.001 for Chi stat).ConclusionThe S-FiND is a reliable, valid and well-received tool that can be used in detecting the frailty of non-disabled Sinhala-speaking older adults.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Indonesian Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experiences Scale (SCSES) among Nursing Students

Virtual Reality is a technology that can simulate a virtual environment like a real one and make it seem like if users can interact in it. The development of learning to use Virtual Reality has begun to be used as a medium for learning skills to increase students' clinical knowledge and reasoning in nursing practice, so that students can show reasonable learning satisfaction in the learning process. Student satisfaction is needed to determine the effectiveness of using VR in nursing practice. Satisfaction with using virtual reality for student learning experiences can be evaluated using the SCSES (Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experience Scale), but there is no Indonesian language version for this instrument. This study aimed to translate and adapt the SCSES (Student Satisfaction with Cultural Simulation Experience Scale) instrument in the Indonesia context for nursing students. Methods: The SCSES translation uses the cross-sectional method and in the translation process refers to the five stages of international standard guidelines for translation. Results: The reliability and validity test of the SCSES instrument was tested on 92 Padjadjaran University nursing students. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was carried out to measure construct validity. It was found that all items of the Indonesian version of the SCSES instrument were declared valid with the value of all factor loading items &gt; 0.50 and the Cronbach's α test was performed to measure the consistency of measurements (α = 0.964). Conclusions: The Indonesian version of SCSES has good item validity and reliability as a measure of satisfaction in cultural simulation experiences. .

Fostering Expertise: Designing and Standardizing a Knowledge Test for Agricultural Scientists

The study adheres to a methodology for creating and standardizing test items designed to assess the knowledge of Agricultural scientists. Initially, 75 test items were identified through literature review. Subsequently, through consultation with experts, a refined set of 60 items emerged after screening, enhancement, and editing processes. These items underwent item analysis, including item difficulty index and discrimination index based on ratings from a panel of 60 experts. Thirty-four test items were retained for the standardization phase from the initial 60 items. To assess the validity of the test items, point biserial correlation was conducted, resulting in the final selection of 30 items for the knowledge test. The reliability of the test items was evaluated using the Spearman Brown split-half coefficient, yielding a value of 0.911, indicating high reliability and fairness for the study. Consequently, the standardized items proved the suitability for measuring the knowledge of Agricultural scientists.