Preliminary Evidence Of Validity Research Articles

Measuring Scholarly Practice in Respiratory Therapists: The Development and Initial Validation of a Scholarly Practice Tool.

Respiratory therapists (RTs) must apply competencies to address the health care needs of the public. Although all competencies are deemed essential, scholarly practice requires that professionals critically assess their practices, integrate evidence-based literature, and enhance the care they deliver to patients. Though scholarly practice is also associated with professional empowerment, role satisfaction, and improved patient care, it is rarely measured. The purpose of this study was to develop, pilot, and generate preliminary validity evidence of a tool designed to measure scholarly practice among RTs. We used DeVellis' nine-step scale development process and exploratory factor analysis to develop the tool. The results of a scoping review and qualitative study were used to generate an item pool and pilot test it with 81 RTs across Canada. The refined tool was tested on a larger sample (n = 832) and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. Using principal axis factoring with Promax rotation, we retained 18 items across 4 factors, explaining 56.7% of the variance in the data (31.7%, 10.2%, 8.6%, 6.2%): (Factor 1) professional development and credibility, (Factor 2) elements supporting scholarly practice, (Factor 3) the perceived impact of scholarly activities on practice, and (Factor 4) scholarly practitioner identity and ability. Internal consistency of the final 18-item scale was suitable overall (Cronbach alpha = 0.879) and for each factor (F1 = 0.888; F2 = 0.774; F3 = 0.842; F4 = 0.746). Our results provide preliminary evidence for a scholarly practice tool that can encourage self-reflection and/or foster peer-based reflection. Using the tool with other health care professionals and conducting confirmatory factor analysis could generate additional validity evidence.

Curious About Curiosity: Preliminary Validity Evidence for a Multidimensional Curiosity Scale in Medical Students

Curious About Curiosity: Preliminary Validity Evidence for a Multidimensional Curiosity Scale in Medical Students

Development and validity evidence of an interactive 3D model for thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures pedagogy: a first step of validity study.

Thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures are common in trauma care, requiring accurate classification to guide appropriate treatment. While traditional teaching methods use static 2D images, there is a growing need for interactive tools to improve understanding. This study addresses the lack of interactive three-dimensional (3D) models for teaching the AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen) Spine classification for thoracic and lumbar fractures. A free and open-access interactive 3D model of thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures was developed. The study aimed to provide preliminary validity evidence. We hypothesized that this model would be a valid educational tool for teaching the AO Spine classification, receiving high scores from senior spine surgeons on a validation questionnaire regarding anatomical realism and pedagogical value. The primary endpoint was the percentage of surgeons rating the model ≥ 8/10 on the Likert scale for content validation. We hypothesized that the 3D model would be validated by at least 75% of participating senior spine surgeons (rating ≥ 8/10) for anatomical realism and pedagogical value. The 3D model was created using the Blender® software, incorporating CT-scan images of a lumbar spine. AO Spine classification was used to recreate spinal fractures animations. The model could be used on any computer or smartphone, directly online. A total of 24 senior spine surgeons (5 professors, 6 fellows, 8 hospital practitioners, and 5 private practitioners) evaluated the 3D model using a structured questionnaire with seven Likert-scale items, assessing anatomical realism, fracture representation, adherence to the AO Spine classification, pedagogical value, and ease of use. A score of ≥ 8/10 was considered a positive validation. Group comparisons were made based on hospital activity and age. The 3D model was positively validated by 92% of surgeons for anatomical realism, 88% for fracture representation, and 92% for adherence to the AO Spine classification. The model's educational value for junior residents was rated positively by 100% of participants. Six out of 24 surgeons (25%) rated the ease of navigation < 8/10. Group comparisons revealed that university-affiliated surgeons rated the model higher overall (mean score 9.25/10) compared to private practitioners, who gave the lowest ratings (mean score 8.6/10). No significant correlation was found between age and ease of navigation (p = 0.948). The developed 3D model of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures is the first of its kind. It provides an innovative, open-access and freely online accessible tool for teaching the AO Spine classification. The findings demonstrate that it is a valid pedagogical tool for teaching the AO Spine classification, with strong support for its anatomical accuracy and pedagogical effectiveness. This study sets the stage for a future validation study with surgical residents. III.

Adapting the Planetary Health Report Card for Graduate Medical Training Programs.

Background Leading medical organizations recognize climate change as an urgent threat to public health and social justice. Medical students created the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) to evaluate and spur climate action in medical schools. Graduate medical trainees lack a similar tool to evaluate and improve their training programs and institutions. Objective To adapt the PHRC to graduate medical education (GME) contexts and report preliminary validity evidence. Methods In 2023, based on literature review, we adapted the 2022 undergraduate medical PHRC metrics on curriculum and sustainability. We modified keywords in all PHRC domains to apply to GME. We recruited participants with expertise in planetary health, sustainability, and health equity affiliated with GME. Using a modified Delphi Panel method, we surveyed participants on adapted metric validity. We determined percent agreement among participants. Results We recruited 45 eligible participants, of whom 20 (44%) completed a first-round survey. Participants included a senior medical student, residents, fellows, faculty, and program directors from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Participants had a high level of agreement on metrics in the domains of curriculum, support for trainee-led initiatives, and sustainability. Some metrics in research and community engagement domains fell below the agreement threshold. Conclusions In the first round of a modified Delphi Panel survey, trainees and faculty agreed that metrics adapted from the PHRC are relevant to evaluating GME programs on planetary health, sustainability, and environmental justice.

Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children (PAUACS) - an Instrument Development Study.

Currently there are no instruments designed to assess parents' acceptance and understanding of their autistic child. We aimed to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of a parent-report scale assessing parents' acceptance and understanding of their autistic child - the Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children Scale (PAUACS). A total of 158 parents (74 non-autistic, 42 autistic, 42 questioning; mean age 42.69 years) of autistic children (mean age 10.80 years) completed an online survey comprising the prototype PAUACS as well as validated measures of parental sensitivity, neurodiversity affirming attitudes, autistic traits, mental health, and child adjustment and family experience. A subsample of participants (n = 97; 61.4%) completed the PAUACS questionnaire a second time, 2 weeks later, to assess for test-retest reliability. The final 30-item scale demonstrated excellent internal reliability (α = 0.89) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.92). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a clean structure comprising four distinct factors: Understanding (α = 0.86), Innate (α = 0.74), Acceptance (α = 0.82), and Expectations (α = 0.73). Overall, the PAUACS demonstrates good construct validity. Preliminary evidence of convergent validity and divergent validity was demonstrated. Preliminary evidence suggests PAUACS is a reliable and valid tool in assessing parents' acceptance and understanding of autistic children.

The cognitive structure of gross anatomy knowledge in physiotherapy students.

Cognitive structures are the mental representation of domain knowledge and its organization. A preliminary investigation of the cognitive structure of gross anatomy knowledge was conducted on physiotherapy students. The criterion-related validation study examined two data modeling strategies (multidimensional scaling and Pathfinder networks) as potential visual and quantitative representations of cognitive structure. Two criterion standards were used: expert cognitive structure (concurrent) and the student's unit grade (predictive). The raw data for both data modeling strategies were generated from an online survey of paired comparisons of 20 anatomical structures and concepts relevant to musculoskeletal clinical practice. Convenience sampling was used to recruit first-semester physiotherapy students (n = 31), gross anatomy course instructors (n = 4), and domain experts (n = 3) who completed the online survey. The results indicated moderate-to-high effect sizes, regarding the level of agreement (reliability, accuracy, and association) between student and expert cognitive structures. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the potential relationships with unit grades. Six predictor variables accounted for 68.9% of the variance in unit grade, indicating a large effect size. The results provide preliminary evidence of concurrent and predictive criterion-related validity for using data modeling strategies to represent cognitive structure in this knowledge domain and population. Further research is indicated to assess the potential impact of this innovative use of data modeling strategies for cognitive structure mapping on gross anatomy education, adaptive learning, and competency-based education, leading to the long-term development of expertise.

Associations between an open-response situational judgment test and performance on OSCEs and fieldwork: implications for admissions decisions and matriculant diversity in an occupational therapy program

BackgroundCasper, an online open-response situational judgement test that assesses social intelligence and professionalism [1], is used in admissions to health professions programs.MethodThis study (1) explored the incremental validity of Casper over grade point average (GPA) for predicting student performance on objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and fieldwork placements within an occupational therapy program, (2) examined optimal weighting of Casper in GPA in admissions decisions using non-linear optimization and regression tree analysis to find the weights associated with the highest average competency scores, and (3) investigated whether Casper could be used to impact the diversity of a cohort selected for admission to the program.ResultsMultiple regression analysis results indicate that Casper improves the prediction of OSCE and fieldwork performance over and above GPA (change in Adj. R2 = 3.2%). Non-linear optimization and regression tree analysis indicate the optimal weights of GPA and Casper for predicting performance across fieldwork placements are 0.16 and 0.84, respectively. Furthermore, the findings suggest that students with a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.5–3.6) could be successful in the program as assessed by fieldwork, which is considered to be the strongest indicator of success as an entry-level clinician. In terms of diversity, no statistically significant differences were found between those actually admitted and those who would have been admitted using Casper.ConclusionThese results constitute preliminary validity evidence supporting the integration of Casper into applicant selection in an occupational therapy graduate program.

Infant bronchial tree simulator: Success of a built-from-scratch model for single lung isolation

BackgroundOne-lung ventilation in infants is a high-risk procedure. Complications include endotracheal tube occlusion, with grave consequences. Although there are commercially available bronchoscopy simulators, there are no realistic models of infant patients. This limits access to training opportunities that would ensure safe and efficient lung isolation. To bridge this gap, we developesd a realistic infant bronchial tree model for single lung intubation and evaluated preliminary validity evidence of its features and clinicians’ ability to perform critical skills associated with pediatric one-lung ventilation. MethodsUsing computed tomography imaging, a stereolithography file of an infant airway was generated to 3D print a model. This model was inserted into a commercially available airway trainer to allow lung isolation using standard bronchoscopy techniques. Ten experienced pediatric anesthesiologists independently evaluated the simulator’s physical attributes, realism, value, and relevance using a 29-item paper survey and rated using 4-point rating scales (4 = highest). Participants’ ability to complete 5 critical tasks was self-reported using 5-point rating scales (5 = too easy). Item and domain mean ratings were calculated, and comments reviewed. ResultsOverall, reviews were positive, with mean scores indicating adequate realism and high value. Specific challenges were associated with right mainstem bronchus and upper lobe takeoff. Performance scores indicated that most tasks were “somewhat easy to perform,” suggesting that the model’s anatomy did not hinder physicians’ ability to perform one-lung ventilation. ConclusionPreliminary findings indicate that the novel simulator holds promise for training in lung isolation techniques after refinement. Future research will target refinement, expanding evaluation, and developing a comprehensive curriculum and competency assessment program.

Multidimensional Self-Regulation Battery for Reading Comprehension: Preliminary Evidence for Criterion Validity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity based on relationships with other variables of the Self-Regulation for Reading Comprehension Multidimensional Battery (BAMA-RC). This study was developed quantitatively, with a cross-sectional and correlational design. Participants were 182 middle school students from Brazil. Nine BAMA-RC scales and a Cloze test were used to assess reading comprehension. The data were analyzed using statistics that evaluate relationships between variables (correlation, linear regression, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney). The results identified preliminary evidence of criterion validity, confirming the hypotheses of relationships between the dimensions of self-regulation for learning and reading comprehension. These findings encourage new studies to extend the psychometric properties of the BAMA-RC.

Measurement of Patients' Acceptable Symptom Levels and Priorities for Symptom Improvement in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Limited research has evaluated the success criteria and priorities for symptom improvement of patients with cancer to inform patient-centered care. In this study, we adapted and tested a measure of these constructs, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Questionnaire (PCOQ), for patients with advanced prostate cancer. We compared acceptable symptom severity levels following symptom treatment across 10 symptoms and identified patient subgroups based on symptom importance. Patients with advanced prostate cancer (N = 99) participated in a one-time survey, which included a modified version of the PCOQ, standard symptom measures, and additional clinical characteristics. The modified PCOQ demonstrated construct validity through its correlations with related theoretical constructs. There was a moderate correlation between symptom severity and importance. Acceptable symptom severity levels were generally low, with sexual dysfunction having a higher acceptable severity than most other symptoms. Three patient subgroups were identified: (1) those who rated all symptoms as low in importance (n = 43); (2) those who rated all symptoms as moderately important (n = 33); and (3) those who rated all symptoms as highly important (n= 18). Subgroups were associated with functional status, fatigue, sleep problems, pain, and emotional distress. The modified PCOQ demonstrated preliminary evidence of construct validity. Patients generally considered low symptom severity to be acceptable, with variations across symptoms. Results suggest that symptom severity and importance are related but distinct aspects of the symptom experience in advanced prostate cancer. Patients' diverse priorities for symptom improvement point to the need for individualized treatment plans.

Initial Development of the Child Responsiveness Scale for Early Childhood Settings

This article presents initial psychometric data for scores on the Child Responsiveness Scale (CRS), an observational measure to assess child responsiveness to teacher delivery of practices designed to promote social-emotional competencies. In Study 1, 633 live observations conducted with 54 teachers and 91 children at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders in early childhood classrooms were rated independently by two coders. Interrater reliability, ICC(2,2), for the CRS item scores, averaged .67 ( SD = .06; range .55 to .72). The CRS scale scores demonstrated sensitivity to variation across teachers, children, and coders. In Study 2, 634 recorded observations with 52 teachers and 52 children in early childhood classrooms were rated independently by two coders. Interrater reliability, ICC(2,2), for the item scores, averaged .62 ( SD = .08; range .53 to .74). An exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis conducted on separate samples indicated that the items were best represented as two correlated factors, one for positive and one for negative items. Analyses provided preliminary evidence for CRS scale score validity. Future research directions are discussed regarding using the CRS to evaluate child responsiveness’s role in promoting child outcomes in early childhood classrooms.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief Resilience Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Among Older Sexual Minority Women in the U.S.

Objective This study sought to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) among older sexual minority women with disabilities. Method Participants (n = 208) consisted of sexual minority women aged 55 and older with disabilities recruited online. Results CFA results showed a one-factor structure fit BRS data, RMSEA = .050 (90% CI [.00, .107]), SRMR = .015, CFI = .990, TLI = .975, with good internal consistency (alpha = 0.863, omega = .864). For the MSPSS, CFA showed a three-factor structure fit the data, RMSEA = .080 (90% CI [.064, .096]), SRMR = .037, CFI = .959, TLI = .947, with excellent internal consistency (alpha = 0.937, omega = .937). Full scalar invariance was achieved for both BRS and MSPSS when comparing single and partnered individuals. Additionally, full scalar invariance was also achieved for MSPSS when comparing individuals with a single and multiple health conditions. For BRS, partial scalar invariance was established across health conditions. Conclusions The original factor structures of the BRS and MSPSS fit with good internal consistency, providing preliminary evidence of construct validity and reliability of scores on both scales in this population.

The Motives for Solo Masturbation Scale: Development and Preliminary Validation

Solo masturbation is prevalent across adulthood. However, there are conflicting findings regarding how masturbation is associated with well-being. Understanding individuals’ motives for masturbating might help disentangle these conflicting findings; yet, existing measures are suboptimal for assessing motives for solo masturbation. In this study, 2960 adults (18-84 years old, M age = 32.62, SD age = 11.36, 60.2% men, 36.8% women) who had engaged in solo masturbation within the past year responded to items, written based on existing literature, reflecting a wide range of motives for masturbating. Exploratory factor analysis revealed eight factors that warranted retention (Fantasy, Pleasure/Arousal, Compulsion, Improvement, Sexual Dissatisfaction, Coping, Efficiency, and Avoidance of Risky Sex), and this structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement invariance was established across men and women, and individuals in and not in a sexually active romantic relationship. The resultant measure comprises 24 items assessing eight distinct motives. Fit indices and scale reliabilities suggest this new measure of masturbation motives is psychometrically sound. Correlations with related constructs (e.g., sex drive, dissatisfaction with partnered sex, religiosity, depression, anxiety, and attitudes toward masturbation) provide preliminary evidence of validity. Suggestions for future investigations and further development of this new measure are discussed.

Toward a More Gender-Inclusive Sexual Experiences Survey: Development and Preliminary Validation With Transgender and Gender-Expansive Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault

We adapted the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) to be more inclusive of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people and undertook preliminary validation of the measure. We added gender-neutral language, assault types thought to be more common and more emotionally impactful among these individuals, and coercion tactics specific to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expensive people. We piloted this Gender-Inclusive SES (GI-SES) with an online survey of transgender and gender-expansive undergraduates who experienced campus sexual assault. We assessed acceptability via rapid qualitative analysis of feedback. We gathered preliminary evidence of validity by calculating the agreement in assault type and coercion tactic between open-ended descriptions of the assault and the GI-SES response, as well as by testing four hypotheses about the relative frequency and severity of different types of assaults within the sample. Three hundred eighty-eight transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expensive students completed the survey. Qualitative responses indicated that participants felt the GI-SES was inclusive and respectful. Results were partially consistent with hypotheses supporting validity, and there was 90.9% agreement in assault type and 85.9% agreement in coercion tactics between GI-SES responses and written narratives. The GI-SES provides researchers, clinicians, and service providers with a tool, preliminarily validated with a trans and gender-diverse college sample, to capture the unique experiences of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expensive sexual assault survivors.

An examination of the association between neurotypical school-age children’s performance on two pretend play assessments

ABSTRACT Pretend play is an important developmental milestone. Therefore, clinicians need access to validated pretend play assessments. The study investigated the convergent validity between the Animated Movie Test (AMT) and the Affect in Play Scale-Brief Rating Version (APS-BR) when completed by a sample of neurotypical school-aged children. Fourteen participant pairs of 14 children (9 girls, 5 boys) between eight and 10 years of age and one of their parents took part in the study. Children completed the AMT and APS-BR, and parents completed the Parent Report of Children’s Pretend Play (PRCPP). Spearman rho correlations were used to measure the association between each of the pretend play assessments. Significant positive associations were found between the AMT Initiation of Ideas subscale score and two of the APS-BR pretend play factor scores: Organization (rho = 0.571, p = .033) and Comfort in Play (rho = .537, p = .048). A significant positive association was also found between the AMT Total Setup and Preparation Score and the PRCPP’s total score (rho = .539, p = .047). The results of this preliminary study provide preliminary convergent validity evidence between the AMT and APS-BR. Further psychometric research of pretend play scales is recommended.

Conceptualization and validation of the TILT questionnaire: relationship with IGD and life satisfaction.

Currently, the study of esports is growing within the field of psychology. Among the different variables attracting interest - including stress or psychological factors associated with performance - an emerging concept known as tilt is gaining prominence in the literature. However, this construct has yet to be operationalized or defined. Thus, the present study aims to address this gap by defining and conceptualizing TILT while devising and validating a questionnaire to measure the construct in esports players. The initial phase of the study comprised 27 interviews conducted with professional players (n = 6), semi-professionals (n = 8), amateurs (n = 8), and coaches (n = 5) to characterize the concept of tilt. Following these interviews, a definition of tilt was formulated, and a panel of five experts in sports psychology and esports proposed a comprehensive set of 53 items. A total of 488 participants (278 males, 210 females), aged 18-50 (mean age = 26.9 years, SD = 7.57), completed the survey, including the 53 tilt items, a questionnaire measuring toxic behavior, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF). The tilt construct is primarily characterized as a state of frustration escalating into anger, resulting in diminished performance, attention, and recurring negative thoughts about errors. Its onset typically coincides with stressful situations, persisting for approximately 30 min. Through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), 18 items were retained and categorized into two factors: Causes (7 Items) and Consequences (11 Items) of tilt. The entire questionnaire yielded a Cronbach's α of 0.922, with the first and second factors showing values of 0.854 and 0.890, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed an acceptable fit for the 2-factor solution. Correlations with related constructs, such as Toxic Behavior and IGD, provided preliminary evidence of external validity. Empirical evidence for the validity and internal consistency of the Tilt Scale is robust, indicating its potential utility in future research on the psychological experiences of esports players.

Preliminary Evidence of Validity for the Verbally Pressured and Illegal Sexual Exploitation Modules of the Sexual Experiences Survey-Victimization

ABSTRACT The Sexual Experiences Survey-Victimization (SES-V; see Koss et al., 2024) revises the prior 2007 Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) in many ways, including expanded measurement of verbally pressured and illegal sexual exploitation, as well as the addition of items that assess being made to perform a sexual act or to penetrate another person sexually. The current article describes two initial validity studies of the SES-V. Study 1 compared rates of self-reported verbal pressure and illegal sexual exploitation (e.g. rape) on a preliminary version of the SES-V and the SES-SFV in a sample of higher education students who completed both questionnaires online in a randomized order (N = 460). As expected, the preliminary SES-V produced higher rates than the SES-SFV, and continuous scores were strongly correlated. Responses to the made-to-penetrate (MTP) items suggested that some cisgender men and women may have misunderstood those items. Study 2 explored responses to the MTP items further by randomly assigning participants to complete items with either the Study 1 MTP language (n = 269) or revised language (n = 245). The revised language produced fewer implausible responses and was adopted in the final version of the SES-V. These findings provide initial support for the validity of the SES-V and the value of expanding the conceptualization of victimization to include a wider range of sexual exploitation. A research agenda for future validity research is suggested.

Implementing discourse-gating tasks to study the timing of speech act recognition

This paper presents the development of two novel discourse-gating tasks to investigate the processing of pragmatic information, namely, the timing of the recognition of genuine (sincere) and ostensible (transparently insincere) refusals in Chinese and provides preliminary validity evidence for the tasks. Gating tasks were introduced to investigate spoken word recognition and have been successfully extended to spoken language processing, most notably sentences. Following Grosjean's (1996) observation that gating tasks could be used to investigate a variety of linguistic features, we extended the gating tasks to spoken discourse using turns as gates. The open-prediction gating task allows participants to make a single prediction about the outcome of each of 12 recorded conversations as soon as they can. The fixed-prediction gating task asks participants to make predictions at regular intervals while listening to a second set of 12 conversations. One hundred and seven participants (60 L1 speakers and 47 third- and fourth-year learners of Chinese) were recruited to test the tasks. The tasks reveal a lag in speech-act identification not found when retrospective speech-act identification tasks are used. The fixed-prediction task additionally reveals alternatives that are considered during processing. The paper discusses the benefits of the discourse gating tasks and the merits of each, the quantitative and qualitative evidence for the tasks, and future directions for discourse gating tasks.

Validity of the I‑FEED classification in assessing postoperative gastrointestinal impairment in patients undergoing elective lumbar spinal surgery with general anesthesia: a prospective observational study

BackgroundThe I-FEED classification, scored 0–8, was reported to accurately describe the clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal impairment after colorectal surgery. Therefore, it is interesting to determine whether the I-FEED scoring system is also applicable to patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.MethodsAdult patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery were enrolled, and the I-FEED score was measured for 4 days after surgery. The I-FEED scoring system incorporates five elements: intake (score: 0, 1, 3), feeling nauseated (score: 0, 1, 3), emesis (score: 0, 1, 3), results of physical exam (score: 0, 1, 3), and duration of symptoms (score: 0, 1, 2). Daily I-FEED scores were summed, and the highest overall score is used to categorize patients into one of three categories: normal (0–2 points), postoperative gastrointestinal intolerance (POGI; 3–5 points), and postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (POGD; 6 + points). The construct validity hypothesis testing determines whether the I-FEED category is consistent with objective clinical findings relevant to gastrointestinal impairment, namely, the longer length of hospital stay (LOS), higher inhospital medical cost, more postoperative gastrointestinal medical treatment, and more postoperative non-gastrointestinal complications.ResultsA total of 156 patients were enrolled, and 25.0% of patients were categorized as normal, 49.4% POGI, and 25.6% POGD. Patients with higher I-FEED scores agreed with the four validity hypotheses. Patients with POGD had a significantly longer length of hospital stay (1 day longer median stay; p = 0.049) and more inhospital medical costs (approximately 500 Taiwanese dollars; p = 0.037), and more patients with POGD required rectal laxatives (10.3% vs. 32.5% vs. 32.5%; p = 0.026). In addition, more patients with POGD had non-gastrointestinal complications (5.1% vs. 11.7% vs. 30.0%; p = 0.034).ConclusionThis study contributes preliminary validity evidence for the I-FEED score as a measure for postoperative gastrointestinal impairment after elective lumbar spine surgery.

Construct validity of the simplified Chinese version of the instrument ‘Picture My Participation’

Background Preliminary evidence of the content validity of the simplified Chinese version of ‘Picture My Participation’ (PMP-C; Simplified) items and reliability of the subscale attendance for the effectiveness of the use with children and youth in mainland China has been collected. However, evidence of construct validity for the instrument is not yet available. Aim To explore the construct validity of the attendance scale in PMP-C (Simplified). Methods A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted using PMP-C (Simplified) with a picture-supported interview for 290 children and youths aged 5–21 with and without ID in urban and rural areas of mainland China. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed using the principal component analysis (PCA) to analyse the resulting data. Results The EFA extracted five factors with eigenvalues greater than one and the cumulative contribution rate of factors accounted for 51.62% of the variance. All items had factor loadings above 0.50. The five subcomponents included: organised activities, social activities, taking care of others, family life activities and personal care and development activities. Conclusion The results of the factor analysis support the construct validity of the PMP-C (Simplified) attendance scale. It provides further psychometric evidence that PMP-C (Simplified) is a sound measure to assess participation for children and youths in mainland China.