Retest Analysis Research Articles

Test–Retest Reliability of Concentric and Eccentric Muscle Strength in Knee Flexion–Extension Controlled by Functional Electromechanical Dynamometry in Female Soccer

In the field of sports performance, sports medicine, and physical rehabilitation, there is a great interest in the development of protocols and reliable techniques and instruments for the evaluation of strength produced by athletes. In the last ten years, women’s football has increased its popularity and participation in numerous countries, which has contributed to players developing more professionally and requiring more specific muscle strength training to improve their performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the absolute and relative test–retest reliabilities of peak muscle strength in knee flexion (FLE) and extension (EXT) controlled using a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) in a group of seventeen professional female soccer players (age = 18.64 ± 0.62 years; weight = 54.72 ± 7.03 kg; height = 1.58 ± 0.04 m; BMI = 21.62 ± 2.70 kg/m2). Peak muscle strength was measured with knee flexion (FLE) and extension (EXT) movements at a speed of 0.4 m·s−1 unilaterally in a concentric phase (CON) and an eccentric phase (ECC). No significant mean differences were found in the test–retest analysis (p > 0.05; effect size < 0.14), and high reliability was reported for peak muscle strength assessments in both the CON (ICC) = 0.90–0.95) and the ECC (ICC = 0.85–0.97). Furthermore, stable repeatability was presented for extension in the CON (CV = 7.39–9.91%) and ECC (CV = 8.65–13.64). The main findings of this study show that peak muscle strength in knee flexion and extension in CON and ECC is a measure with acceptable absolute reliability and extremely high relative reliability using the FEMD in professional female soccer players.

A quick balance assessment tool for all clinical settings: validity and reliability of the Hungarian version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale

ABSTRACT Background The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was developed for testing the balance confidence of elderly individuals, and it has been used extensively for evaluating various patients. No such scale has been adapted for the Hungarian population. Objective To translate and culturally adapt the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and test the reliability and validity of the Hungarian version. Methods The study included 167 independently mobile subjects, of whom 39 filled in the questionnaire twice, 1 week apart. Beaton’s six-step principle was applied for cross-cultural adaptation. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency measured by Cronbach's alpha and through test–retest analysis. Types of validity evaluated were concurrent validity using the Berg Balance Scale and cross-cultural validity. Results Excellent internal consistency was shown by Cronbach’s alpha = 0.977. Test–retest analysis resulted in an Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient of 0.962 (0.865–0.961, 95% CI, p < .001) for the whole test; no floor or ceiling effects were found. The convergent validity of the scale was tested by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis using the Berg Balance scale for external validation and showed a strong positive correlation (Rho = 0.755, p < .001). Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis showed an Area Under the Curve of 0.821 (CI 95% 0.75, 0.892). Mean detectable change based on the 95% confidence interval was 10.49% on the scale ranging from 0 to 100%. Conclusions The Hungarian version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale provides a valid and reliable picture of the patients’ self-assessed balance. It is recommended both for clinicians and for clinical studies.

Assessing the reliability of a novel cancer-specific multi-attribute utility instrument (FACT-8D) and comparing its validity to EQ-5D-5L in colorectal cancer patients.

To examine the test-retest reliability of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - 8 Dimension (FACT-8D) for the first time, and to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the distribution properties and validity between the FACT-8D and EQ-5D-5L in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Patients. We conducted a longitudinal study on Chinese CRC patients, employing Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and EQ-5D-5L at baseline, and FACT-G during follow-up (2-7 days from baseline). Utility scores for FACT-8D were derived from all available value sets (Australia, Canada and USA), while EQ-5D-5L scores were obtained from corresponding value sets for various countries. We assessed convergent validity using pairwise polychoric correlations between the FACT-8D and EQ-5D-5L; known-groups validity by discriminating participants' clinical characteristics, and effect size (ES) was tested; test-retest reliability for FACT-8D using kappa and weighted Kappa for choice consistency, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman method for utility consistency. Among the 287 patients with CRC at baseline, 131 were included in the retest analysis. The utility scores of FACT-8D were highly positively correlated with EQ-5D-5L across various country value sets (r = 0.65-0.77), and most of the dimensions of FACT-8D and EQ-5D-5L were positively correlated. EQ-5D-5L failed to discriminate known-groups in cancer stage across all value sets, whereas both were significant in FACT-8D (ES = 0.35-0.48, ES = 0.38-0.52). FACT-8D showed good test-retest reliability (Cohen's weighted Kappa = 0.494-0.722, ICC = 0.748-0.786). The FACT-8D can be used as a valid and reliable instrument for clinical evaluation of patients with CRC, outperforming EQ-5D-5L in differentiating clinical subgroups and showing promise for cancer practice and research.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a pneumatic tourniquet work standards scale

ObjectivePneumatic tourniquets are among the most essential equipment for controlling bleeding in orthopedic surgeries. However, incorrect application of pneumatic tourniquets is accompanied by many hazards and complications for patients. Evaluation of surgical teams’ use of pneumatic tourniquets and establishment of protocols can play an important role in improving patient safety, minimizing risks, and increasing the lifetime of this equipment. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a pneumatic tourniquet work standards scale.MethodsThe present study is a methodological work carried out in two stages. In the first stage, an initial version of the scale was developed based on existing research and panel reviews. In the second stage, the psychometric properties of the scale were tested in terms of face validity (measured qualitatively and quantitatively), content validity (measured qualitatively and quantitatively), item analysis, construct validity, and reliability (internal consistency and stability).ResultsThe initial version of the scale consisted of 91 items. After several meetings of the research team, the number of items decreased to 81. In the course of face and content validity testing, 40 items were eliminated, leaving 41 items on the scale when it entered the construct validity testing stage. For evaluation of construct validity, a sample of 300 operating room nurses was recruited. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results showed a structure supported by seven factors and 41 items. The reliability of the scale was confirmed by internal consistency analysis, with a good Cronbach’s alpha (0.85), and test–retest analysis, with good values of ICC (0.95).ConclusionThe present instrument is a reliable and valid scale which fills the gap in assessment of surgical team members’ use of pneumatic tourniquets. The developed scale can be employed by researchers and managers of medical centers to identify hazards in applying pneumatic tourniquets and devise educational programs to eliminate or reduce the existing issues.

Validation of the Korean version of the Summated Xerostomia Inventory among older adults residing in nursing homes

BackgroundXerostomia is commonly experienced by older individuals. We sought to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Summated Xerostomia Inventory (K-SXI) among older adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Korea.MethodsIn this secondary data analysis study using cross-sectional data, a cross-cultural adaptation process was conducted for the Korean version before data collection. Data collection was conducted from July 2021 to January 2022, targeting 544 older adults in 16 LTCFs. Data analysis included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test–retest reliability, and Cronbach’s α for internal consistency reliability. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to verify construct and convergent validity. Test–retest analysis was performed 6 weeks after baseline. Convergent and concurrent validities were assessed with age group and the xerostomia standard single question, respectively.ResultsA total of 544 older adults participated in this study. The mean of total K-SXI score was 11.70 (standard deviation, 4.96) points. The ICC value was calculated to be 0.90, and Cronbach’s α of K-SXI was 0.92. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single factor, explaining 74.8% of the total variance, however, some goodness-of-fit indices of the single factor model were found to be unsuitable in confirmatory factor analysis. The convergent and concurrent validity were supported.ConclusionThe present study provides evidence supporting the validity and reliability of the K-SXI for measuring xerostomia in institutionalized older adults in Korea.

Validity and reliability of the heart failure-specific health literacy scale in Turkish

Inadequate health literacy is common among adults with HF. The disease management process in HF closely depends on health literacy. No questionnaire is used to assess health literacy among Turkish patients with heart failure. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish form of the ‘Heart Failure-Specific Health Literacy Scale’. The research is a methodological study design. The study was conducted at the cardiology clinic between May and July 2021, located in the eastern part of Türkiye. The study sample consisted of 121 patients with HF. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Heart Failure-Specific Health Literacy Scale. The patients’ mean age was 62.88 ± 12.55 and 66.9% were men. Based on the factor analysis, three factors with eigenvalue above 1 have been identified. These model has been determined as x2 = 80.209, sd = 49 and p = 0.003. The fit indices were as follows: x2/SD = 1.637; RMSEA = 0.073, GFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.94, IFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.92 and NFI = 0.87. The scale has a total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.66. With test–retest analysis, it was determined that it had a good, positive and significant correlation in terms of both the scale and its sub-dimensions. The Turkish form of the form is a valid and reliable tool.

NITES, a nocturnal bladder score to aid diagnosis during the transition to older age care.

As adults transition to older age, bothersome nocturnal lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) become common. There is need for a reliable assessment metric to detect and measure specific symptoms. To subject the nocturnal LUTS score for older individuals, Nocturia, Incontinence, Toileting and Enuresis Symptom Score (NITES), to psychometric analysis. Factor analysis of the metric was conducted with completed questionnaires from 151 older individuals who were either admitted to a tertiary hospital or attending an outpatient continence clinic. Test re-test reliability involved 18 older community dwelling individuals attending a Geriatrician clinic completing the metric at two timepoints separated by at least 1 week. Intra-class correlation coefficients were determined for reliability of each factor and item. The NITES metric was completed by 98 hospitalized older individuals and 53 attending a continence clinic (mean age 83.2 years [SD 7.0]). Factor analysis demonstrated that one item had a floor effect and two items had poor endorsement. After test re-test reliability analysis, a further three items were removed: one due to poor correlation between timepoints and two demonstrating inadequate internal consistency. The final NITES metric is comprised of three factors: Sleep 4-items, Incontinence 4-items, and Personal Bother 2-items. A 4-item short form for symptom screening was extracted from the longer measure. The final NITES metric is a 10-item questionnaire with an embedded 4-item short symptom screen. It has utility utilized to detect nocturnal bladder symptoms in both community dwelling and hospitalized older adults.

Salutogenic health measures: Psychometric properties of the Danish versions of the Flourish Index and the Secure Flourish Index.

Measurement of human flourishing represents a salutogenic approach to epidemiological and behavioral research emphasizing factors contributing to "good lives" rather than pathology. The objective of this study was to translate and psychometrically test the 10-item Flourish Index (FI) and 12-item Secure Flourish Index (SFI) in a convenience sample of Danish adults. A total of 325 participants completed a cross-sectional survey, with 148 of those participants completing the survey a second time (retest). Confirmatory factor analysis in a structural equation modelling framework was used to establish structural validity by comparing four different pre-specified models of the indexes. Additionally, internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity, and retest reliability were examined. The FI models exhibited superior structural validity compared with similar models of the SFI, although all models had good fits. Internal consistencies with McDonald's omega were 0.89 and 0.87 for the FI and SFI, respectively. The five (FI) or six (SFI) domains were happiness & life satisfaction, mental & physical health, meaning & purpose, character & virtue, close social relationships, and financial & material stability (λ4 = 0.51-0.91). Convergent and incremental validity tests supported predefined hypotheses. Retest analyses with the FI and SFI showed a high degree of retest reliability. Based on the psychometric evidence reported in this study, the Danish Flourish Index and Secure Flourish Index seem suitable for use with healthy adult Danes. The authors hope that this psychometric evaluation of the FI and SFI will stimulate research on patterns, health and economic outcomes, and predictors of human flourishing in Denmark.

Turkish adaptation of the reproductive autonomy scale: Validity and reliability study.

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the reproductive autonomy scale by adapting it to Turkish society. Designed with a methodological method, the study was conducted with an online form created by using Google Forms with 308 married women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 and 49 who use WhatsApp or Instagram. The cultural adaptation process of the scale was carried out in three stages: language validity, content validity, and pilot application. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the scale's construct validity. The scale's reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficient and test-retest analyses. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis conducted in the study, it was determined that reproductive autonomy scale (RAS) consists of 14 items and 3 subscales. Good fit index values were obtained in confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficients for the RAS total and subscale were found to be 0.66, 0.64, 0.89, and 0.92, respectively. Additionally, test-retest analysis of the scale was determined to have a high correlation. The reproductive autonomy scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for measuring the reproductive autonomy of Turkish society.

Sexual function index adaptation for breast cancer patients (FSFI-BC)- translation and psychometric properties of Persian version

BackgroundEffective interventions to improve sexual dysfunction in breast cancer survivors need screening of these dysfunctions with a suitable instrument. The aim of present study was translation and identifying psychometric properties of Female Sexual Function Index – Adapted for Breast Cancer (FSFI-BC) which has been specifically developed for breast cancer survivors.MethodThis methodological study was performed between February 2017 and October 2018. 200 breast cancer survivors in stage 1 or 2 who were selected through convenience sampling method, completed the questionnaire. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alfa and test re-test analysis and construct validity was performed through confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis( EFA).ResultsSix factors were extracted in exploratory factor analysis (EFA). These factors explained 74.6% of the total variance in in NSA group and 0.821 in SA group. Reliability evaluation indicated high internal consistency and good test re-test reliability. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in all areas of the tool was above 0.7 (the lowest and the highest measures were 0.885 and 0.945, respectively), which is a good indicator for reliability of an instrument. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fitness for seven factors of FSFI-BC questionnaire (Normed Fit Index or NFI = 0.9 for both groups, Comparative of Fit Index or CFI = 0.93 and 0.92, χ 2/df = 1.68 and 1.71 for SA(Sexually Active) and NSA(No Sexually Active) individuals, respectively) .ConclusionStudy findings suggest that Persian version of FSFI-BC is a suitable instrument for sexual dysfunction screening in breast cancer survivors.

Development of a human-analogue, 3-symptom domain Dog ADHD and Functionality Rating Scale (DAFRS)

The family dog, in its natural environment, exhibits neuropsychological deficits redolent of human psychiatric disorders, including behaviours that are similar to human attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Based on standard questionnaire methods in humans, we aimed to develop and validate a detailed, psychometrically improved tool to assess owner views on relevant dog behaviours. We modified available questionnaires by adding items that allow for separate analysis of impulsivity, and items on functional impairment. We collected data from 1168 owners for different validation steps of the new questionnaire and, similarly to assessment of humans where teachers also evaluate as an expert control, we collected data from dog trainers. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed 3 factors: inattention (IA), hyperactivity (H) and impulsivity (I), corresponding to all three human symptom dimensions in dogs. Test–retest analyses showed excellent agreement between measurements for all factors. Similarly to findings with humans, trainer-owner rating comparisons showed fair (IA) to moderate (H, I) agreement. As in humans, greater ADHD scores were associated with greater functional impairment scores. We suggest that in dogs, similarly to humans, parallel examination of (extreme) ADHD and functional impairment scores could help distinguish diagnosable individuals, after further validation of the questionnaire using a relevant behaviour test.

Development of a New Scale to Assess Students' Autodetermination At School (AAS).

The Autodetermination At School (AAS) hetero-evaluative scale was created and validated in a French teacher population with the aim of quantifying, in an ecological way, the commitment at school of elementary students. After establishing the scale's face validity, AAS was tested with an exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis, a convergent validity analysis, a test-retest analysis and an inter-individual analysis. The EFA highlighted three distinct factors and the CFA validated the reliability of a three-factor model for AAS with relevant fits and indices. The first dimension concerns teacher perception of academic commitment, reflecting both child performance and autonomous motivation. The second and third ones reflect teacher perception of the child's social commitment, to their peers as well as to their teacher. Consequently, AAS is a useful, reliable and robust psychometric instrument that emphases how intrinsic motivation and performance are closely linked. It also considers the importance of social child commitment at school. The inter-individual analysis revealed trends of grade, gender and school environment effects.

Assessment of Intercostal Muscle Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Estimating Respiratory Compensation Point in Trained Endurance Athletes.

This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of estimating the respiratory compensation point (RCP) in trained endurance athletes by analyzing intercostal muscles' NIRS-derived tissue oxygenation dynamics. Seventeen experienced trail runners underwent an incremental treadmill protocol on two separate occasions, with a 7-day gap between assessments. Gas exchange and muscle oxygenation data were collected, and the oxygen saturation breakpoint (SmO2BP) measured in the intercostal muscles was compared to the RCP, which was identified by the increase in the VE/V.CO2 slope and the point at which the PetCO2 started to decrease. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two methods for any of the variables analyzed. Bland-Altman analysis showed significant agreement between the NIRS and gas analyzer methods for speed (r = 0.96, p < 0.05), HR (r = 0.98, p < 0.05), V.O2 relative to body mass (r = 0.99, p < 0.05), and %SmO2 (r = 0.98, p < 0.05). The interclass correlation coefficient values showed moderate to good reliability (0.60 to 0.86), and test-retest analysis revealed mean differences within the confidence intervals for all variables. These findings suggest that the SmO2BP measured using a portable NIRS device in the intercostal muscles is a reliable and valid tool for estimating the RCP for experienced trail runners and might be useful for coaches and athletes to monitor endurance training.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Brief Pain Inventory in patients with knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) primarily presents with symptoms of pain and compromised functionality. Pain is a subjective manifestation that necessitates the employment of reliable evaluation tools for practical assessment, thereby enabling the formulation of appropriate interventional strategies. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is a widely utilized questionnaire for evaluating the status of chronic pain. The purpose of the present study is to translate the short form of BPI into Chinese version (BPI-CV) and conduct cross-cultural adaptation to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of BPI-CV in KOA patients.MethodsBPI-CV was translated and cross-culturally adapted according to internationally recognized guidelines. A cohort comprising 150 patients diagnosed with KOA successfully completed the demographic questionnaire, BPI-CV, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the EuroQoL Group's five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Internal consistency and test–retest analysis were used to evaluate the reliability. The internal consistency of the scale items was evaluated by calculating the Cronbach's α value (> 0.7). We chose to employ two scales commonly used in the evaluation of KOA patients: the disease-specific WOMAC scale and the universal EQ-5D scale. Construct validity was determined through Pearson correlation analysis, comparing BPI scores with those obtained from the WOMAC and EQ-5D scales. Exploratory factor analysis was used to structural validity.ResultsThe BPI-CV was well accepted with no ceiling or floor effect. Cronbach's α for assessing internal consistency was 0.894. Test–retest reliability was excellent with an ICC of 0.852 (95%CI 0.785–0.905). The BPI-CV showed moderate to strong correlations with the pain dimension (r = 0.496–0.860) and the functional interference dimension (r = 0.517–0.712) of the WOMAC and the EQ-5D (r = 0.527–0.743). Three factors resulted using exploratory factor analysis: pain severity, activity interference, and emotional interference, accounting for 79.0% of the total variance. Standard error of measurement was 0.539.ConclusionBPI-CV has good feasibility, reliability, and validity. It can be recommended for KOA patients in mainland China.

Validation of the developmental, dimensional and diagnostic interview -short version (3Di-sv) for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in Chinese children

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric features of the Chinese version of the developmental dimensional diagnostic interview-short version (3Di-sv). A total sample of 138 children including 79 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 59 typically developing children completed the 3Di-sv interview. The Chinese version of the 3Di-sv has a good internal consistency (0.94). Test–retest analysis confirmed the instrument’s time stability (0.89). The instrument’s concurrent validity with the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and clinical diagnosis was verified; the correlation between total scores was 0.72, 0.82 and 0.90, respectively. The 3Di-sv significantly distinguished between autistic children and non-autistic children in every area of autism symptoms. Optimal cutoffs were derived using receiver operating characteristics curves. Using clinical diagnosis as criterion, overall sensitivity was 98 % and specificity was 90 %. The study determined that the Chinese version of 3Di-sv can well distinguish autistic children from typically developing children.

Accounting for temporal variability in functional magnetic resonance imaging improves prediction of intelligence.

Neuroimaging-based prediction methods for intelligence have seen a rapid development. Among different neuroimaging modalities, prediction using functional connectivity (FC) has shown great promise. Most literature has focused on prediction using static FC, with limited investigations on the merits of such analysis compared to prediction using dynamic FC or region-level functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) times series that encode temporal variability. To account for the temporal dynamics in fMRI, we propose a bi-directional long short-term memory (bi-LSTM) approach that incorporates feature selection mechanism. The proposed pipeline is implemented via an efficient algorithm and applied for predicting intelligence using region-level time series and dynamic FC. We compare the prediction performance using different fMRI features acquired from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study involving nearly 7000 individuals. Our detailed analysis illustrates the consistently inferior performance of static FC compared to region-level time series or dynamic FC for single and combined rest and task fMRI experiments. The joint analysis of task and rest fMRI leads to improved intelligence prediction under all models compared to using fMRI from only one experiment. In addition, the proposed bi-LSTM pipeline based on region-level time series identifies several shared and differential important brain regions across fMRI experiments that drive intelligence prediction. A test-retest analysis of the selected regions shows strong reliability across cross-validation folds. Given the large sample size of ABCD study, our results provide strong evidence that superior prediction of intelligence can be achieved by accounting for temporal variations in fMRI.

P-560 Stigma related to male infertility in China: a scale development and validation study

Abstract Study question Is it possible to develop a trustworthy instrument to evaluate the infertile men's stigma and to document fully all methodological steps, including validation? Summary answer The Male Infertility Stigma Scale (MISS) has been developed to evaluate the stigma status of infertile men with a good reliability and validity. What is known already Infertile men regard childless as a hidden stigma, which influence all the dimensions of their lives and well-being. Most instruments focus exclusively on women and no questionnaires have been directed at infertile men. Study design, size, duration A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse the validity and reliability of MISS. This was a one-centre study in the Center of Reproductive Medicine of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between January 2019 to May 2019. Participants/materials, setting, methods This study was carried out on men (n = 432) with a diagnosis and treatment for male-factor infertility. Item generation and reduction of MISS was formed by combining literature review, interviews of experts and patients, and related scale. Exploratory factor analysis (n = 216) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 216) were performed to indicate the scale constructs. In addition, reliability analyses including internal consistency and test–retest analysis (n = 18)were carried out. Validity was analyzed by convergent validity and content validity. Main results and the role of chance This study developed a 18-item MISS with three dimensions (social marginalization, self-devaluation, psychological insecurity). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that these three dimensions explained 60.14% of total variances.The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the construct of the MISS fitted well with the hypothetical model. The Cronbach's α,split-half coefficient and test–retest correlation coefficient for the whole scale was 0.951, 0.884,and 0.945, respectively. The associations of the MISS with other measure suggested good convergent validity. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was 0.988. Limitations, reasons for caution The reliability and validity of the MISS developed in this study were verified only among the infertility men in Guangzhou and the discriminant validity of dimension 3(psychological insecurity) in this survey was a little poor. The convenience sampling method precluded the validity and generalization of the conclusions. Wider implications of the findings This study may create an effective evaluation measurement to understand the stigma status of infertile men. Future studies should focus on using the MISS in larger samples with different characterizations, such as different areas, and then taking some measures to help them . Trial registration number None

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Greek version of post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale: assessment of non-hospitalised post-COVID-19 survivors

The objective of the study was to translate and validate into the Greek language and setting the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale. Greeks aged ≥18 years who recovered form COVID-19 (≥ 14 days since diagnosis), were invited to participate. This cross-sectional study followed international guidelines regarding the translation process (forward and backward) and the evaluation of the PCFS. Reliability was assessed by test–retest analyses using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95%CI. For the validation, all participants completed the European Quality of Life-5 (EQ-5D-5L), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. 82 adults (49 females, aged 40.2 ± 6.1) participated in the study. The Greek version of the PCFS demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability, with an ICC of 0.9 (95% CI 0.90- 0.95). The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.9, indicating good internal consistency. The PCFS score was strongly correlated with the EQ-5D-5L (r=0.6, p≤0.001) and weakly correlated with the HADS (r=0.41;p≤0.001). The Greek version of the PCFS was successfully adapted into Greek and is recommended to be used across clinical settings and research.

The Brain Overwork Scale: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study on the Psychometric Properties of a New 10-Item Scale to Assess Mental Distress in Mongolia

Identifying mental distress is a complex task, particularly when individuals experience physical symptoms. Traditional self-report questionnaires that detect psychiatric symptoms using emotional words may not work for these individuals. Consequently, there is a need for a screening tool that can identify both the physical and mental symptoms of mental distress in individuals without a clinical diagnosis. Our study aimed to develop and validate a scale that measures mental distress by measuring the extent of brain overwork, which can be extrapolated as the burden of mental distress. In this population-based cross-sectional study, we recruited a total of 739 adults aged 16-65 years from 64 sampling centers of a cohort in Mongolia to validate a 10-item self-report questionnaire. Internal consistency was measured using McDonald's ω coefficient. Test-retest reliability was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct and convergent validities were examined using principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the abbreviated version of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to evaluate criterion validity. Among the participants, 70.9% were women, 22% held a bachelor's degree or higher, 38.8% were employed, and 66% were married. The overall McDonald's ω coefficient was 0.861, demonstrating evidence of excellent internal consistency. The total intraclass correlation coefficient of the test-retest analysis was 0.75, indicating moderate external reliability. PCA and CFA established a three-domain structure that provided an excellent fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.033, TLI = 0.984, CFI = 0.989, χ2 = 58, p = 0.003). This 10-item scale, the Brain Overwork Scale (BOS-10), determines mental distress in three dimensions: excessive thinking, hypersensitivity, and restless behavior. All the items had higher item-total correlations with their corresponding domain than they did with the other domains, and correlations between the domain scores had a range of 0.547-0.615. BOS-10 correlated with HADS, whereas it was inversely correlated with WHOQOL-BREF. In conclusion, the results suggest that BOS-10 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing mental distress in the general population. The scale screens for mental distress that is characterized by subjective symptoms such as excessive thinking, hypersensitivity, and restless behavior. The current findings also demonstrate that the BOS-10 is quantitative, simple, and applicable for large group testing. This scale may be useful for identifying at-risk individuals who may require further evaluation and treatment for mental distress.

Bangla Version of Lymphedema Life Impact Scale Version 2: Reliability and Validity

Background: The use of disease-specific scales would be more valuable for the evaluation of the effects of lymphedema. To manage accordingly, and maintain the optimum quality of life of lymphedema patient, a validated outcome measure is helpful.Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of Bangla Version of Lymphedema Life Impact Scale Version 2 (B-LLIS V2).Materials and Methods: A structured process that included translation, verification, compromise assessment, reverse translation, feedback, and final correction. B-LLIS V2 reliability and validity were conducted on 52 lymphedema patients. The reliability was evaluated by performing internal consistency and test–retest analyses. Its validity was assessed by comparing the B-LLIS V2 with other scales implying Pearson’s correlation.Results: Internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha was 0.92 for total score and 0.79, 0.82, 0.80 and 0.78 for physical, psychosocial, functional, and infection respectively. The calculated overall tool score in Intra-class correlation co-efficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability was 0.94 and among subscales, the scores were 0.92, 0.95, 0.91 and 0.93 for physical, Psychosocial, functional, and infection respectively, which signified substantial reliability. The overall values of Pearson’s correlation coefficient for the construct validity were 0.91, 0.78 and 0.86 against reference standard Bengali SF-36 Health Survey, Bangla version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Bangla Start Back Screening Tool, and they all were statistically significant.Conclusions: B-LLIS V2 is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of impairment due to lymphedema.&#x0D; KYAMC Journal Vol. 13, No. 04, January 2023: 198-203