Split-half Analysis Research Articles

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Symptom Assessment Scale for Turkish Children with Cancer

Objective: The present study was conducted to developed the Symptom Assessment Scale for Children with Cancer (SAS-CC) and assessed its reliability and validity for Turkish children. Methods: This research was conducted among in 497 children with cancer who were between 7 and 18 years old. The data were collected with a demographic form and SAS-CC. Descriptive statistics, reliability and validity analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of children with cancer was 12.02 +3.38 years. The scale consists of 16 items and 3 sub-dimensions. Total factor loads were more than 0.30 in factor analyses. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed all fit indexes as higher than 0.91, and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was less than 0.080. Cronbach’s alpha values of total was 0.96. According to the split-half analysis, α values of the first and second halves were 0.94 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that SAS-CC is the first study to develop and test and a valid scale to evaluate symptoms in children with cancer. Effective strategies of coping with symptoms in children with cancer are required to improve prognosis, increase survival, and improve the quality of life. Therefore, assessing symptoms and their frequency in children with cancer is an majority initiative of nurses working in the pediatric oncology clinic.

Turkish psychometric characteristics of the humanistic practice ability of nursing scale: differences by education, working year, and professional satisfaction

BackgroundHumanistic nursing practices scientifically improve the knowledge structure of nursing, enrich its theoretical system and support its development. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the humanistic practice abilities of nurses.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test the psycholinguistic features, language and construct validity of the Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale and to examine it according to nurses’ demographic characteristics.Design and methodsThis study was a methodological type of analytical research conducted with 397 clinical nurses working in a hospital. A questionnaire including demographic information and evaluating empathy and compassion adequacy was used. Data were analyzed using explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, item-total score correlation, split-half analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and correlation analysis.ResultsThe scale consists of 29 items and four factors, explaining 61.15% of the total variance. Factor loads were > 0.30. confirmatory factor analysis results were χ2/df: 2.58, GFI: 0.86, TLI: 0.91, IFI: 0.92, CFI: 0.92, RMSEA: 0.06, and SRMR: 0.03. The Cronbach alpha value for the full scale is 0.95. A significant relationship was found between the scale and empathy and compassion proficiency. It was observed that the scale scores differed according to the nurses’ education level, working years and job satisfaction (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study shows that the Turkish version of the HPAN scale is valid and reliable for 29 items and four factors. The humanistic practice ability of nurses differ according to postgraduate education, years of working in the profession and professional satisfaction.

Deep learning models with optimized fluorescence spectroscopy to advance freshness of rainbow trout predicting under nonisothermal storage conditions

This study established long short-term memory (LSTM), convolution neural network long short-term memory (CNN_LSTM), and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) based on optimized excitation-emission matrix (EEM) from fish eye fluid to predict freshness changes of rainbow trout under nonisothermal storage conditions. The method of residual analysis, core consistency diagnostics, and split-half analysis of parallel factor analysis was used to optimize EEM data, and two characteristic components were extracted. LSTM, CNN_LSTM, and RBFNN models based on characteristic components of EEM used to predict the freshness indices. The results demonstrated the relative errors of RBFNN models with an R2 above 0.96 and relative errors less than 10% for K-value, total viable counts, and volatile base nitrogen, which were better than those of LSTM and CNN_LSTM models. This study presents a novel approach for predicting the freshness of rainbow trout under nonisothermal storage conditions.

Validity and Reliability of the Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test for Use in Turkey.

To assess the validity and reliability of the Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PZ-PUKT) for use in Turkey. This methodological study was carried out at a state hospital from June to November 2022. The authors used the PZ-PUKT and nurse identification form for data collection. They assessed the validity and reliability of the PZ-PUKT for Turkish society by evaluating language validity, content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach α, Spearman-Brown Split-Half analysis, item-scale correlations, and test-retest correlations. Item-level content validity indices ranged from .778 to 1.000 and the scale-level content validity index was .960. Factor loadings of the Turkish version of the PZ-PUKT ranged between .297 and .671. Cronbach α coefficients for the scale subsections were .838 for wounds, .851 for prevention, and .844 for staging; the Cronbach α coefficient was .936 for the total scale score. The PZ-PUKT is valid and reliable for use with nurses in Turkey. The authors recommend using the Turkish version of the tool in education and research to assess nurses' pressure injury knowledge.

Development of Adolescents' perceptions of the nursing image scale and evaluation of its psychometric properties: A methodological study

Background and purposeIt is important to assess the perception of the nursing image among adolescents, the group closest to the career decision, to enhance their view of the nursing image. This study was conducted to develop the Adolescents' Perceptions of Nursing Image Scale (APNIS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. MethodThe study has a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational, and methodological design. The study was conducted with 614 adolescents aged 12–18 years in Turkey between October 15, 2022, and December 15, 2022. The data were analyzed using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient, Barlett's test, factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, split-half analysis, item sum statistics, Hotelling's T2, and test-retest analysis. ResultsAs a result of the explanatory factor analysis, the items on the scale were collected under six sub-dimensions, and the scale explained 62.843% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit was adequate. The total internal consistency Cronbach alpha value of the scale is 0.90, and the sub-dimension Cronbach alpha values are between 0.70 and 0.90. The Spearman-Brown coefficient of the scale was 0.94, the Guttman-split-half coefficient was 0.94, Hotelling's T2 value was 373.829, F = 9.510, and p < 0.001. As a result of the Tukey summability analysis, F = 0.431 and p > 0.05, the scale was found to be summable. The test-retest result of the scale was r = 0.899. ConclusionThe 38-item APNIS is a valid and reliable tool that assesses adolescents' perceptions of the nursing image. Practice implicationsThe scale, including universal items about the nursing image, is easy and practical to use.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the medical outcome study social support survey among mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia

BackgroundSocial support significantly influences a mother's adherence to complementary feeding guidelines, with family support fostering a positive attitude towards this practice. The Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) is a multidimensional scale designed to evaluate functional aspects of social support, but no instrument has been validated for Indonesia. PurposeThe study aims to validate the MOS-SSS instrument for measuring mothers' social support in providing complementary food to infants and young children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 196 mothers with children aged 6–23 months in West Sumatera, Indonesia. The MOS-SSS's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach alpha, composite reliability, and split-half analysis, while its construct validity was evaluated using convergent and discriminant validity. ResultsThe Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS among mothers with children aged 6–23 months has been found to be satisfactory in content validity through translation and expert review. The questionnaire exhibits strong convergent and discriminant validity, reliable construct reliability, and internal consistency. Conclusions and implicationsThe MOS-SSS questionnaire was found to be reliable and valid in measuring the social support mothers perceive in providing complementary feeding to their infants and young children. Future research should explore the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS in various populations, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and women with special conditions.

Turkish Adaptation of the ADORE: A Study of Validity and Reliability.

It is obvious that current tools in literature that are used to measure female's sexual quality of life focus only on the objective dimension of sexual function, failing to examine quality of life on a multidimensional level. The aim of this research is to examine the validity and reliability of the ADORE for Turkish society. In the methodological research, 500 females were included. The research data was collected with "Descriptive Information Form" "ADORE" and "Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F)." ADORE is a five-Likert-type type and 36-item scale that was developed to assess female's sexual quality of life. It has six sub-dimensions. It is stated that ADORE can better evaluate female's sexual quality of life holistically and contextually. The validity of ADORE was analyzed as linguistic, content, and construct validities. In determining the reliability of the scale, item-total score correlation, Cronbach alpha (Cr α) coefficient, Pearson correlation, split-half analysis, test-retest, and parallel form were used. Content validity index was found to be 0.90. The confirmatory factor analysis was performed for construct validity. ADORE's Cr α reliability coefficient was determined to be .95. According to ADORE test-retest analyses, it was found that there is a positively strong and statistically high significant correlation among scores of the scale. It was determined that there is an acceptable correlation between ADORE and SQOL-F. In determining female's sexual quality of life in Turkish society, ADORE is a valid and reliable scale. It is a useful scale for health professionals working in the clinic to evaluate female's sexual quality of life.

Using the design-thinking method to develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning (PES-TBL) for nursing students

BackgroundPeer evaluation in team-based learning provides meaningful information about the learning process and dynamics. Despite the importance of peer evaluation in learner-centred learning, there is a lack of valid and reliable scales that reflect students' experiences in the classroom. ObjectivesTo develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning. DesignA cross-sectional methodological study. SettingFour universities located in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. ParticipantsEight nursing students exposed to team-based learning voluntarily participated in a design-thinking project, and eight nursing professors were selected for content validity. For the validation of the Scale, 722 nursing students were randomly selected. MethodsThe design-thinking method was implemented to develop the Scale, and a questionnaire was used to assess the Scale's construct validity and reliability. The construct validity was examined in a split-half analysis with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and composite reliability were investigated for the peer evaluation scale for team-based learning. ResultsA 12-item tool, with each item using a 5-point scale for peer evaluation, was developed through the empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages of the design-thinking method. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors from the 12 items: responsibility, initiative, and collaboration. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the tool had acceptable convergent and discriminant validity, thus confirming good construct validity. All values for reliability were >0.70. ConclusionsThis study was noteworthy in that it employed the design-thinking method to reflect learners' opinions in developing a peer evaluation instrument. Moreover, the study demonstrated adequate evidence of reliability and validity. Consequently, the developed Scale can be effectively applied to team-based learning assessments for nursing students.

Application of PARAFAC Technique to Compare Fluorescence Property of Different Dissolved Organic Matters

Objectives : It provides a detailed procedure for analyzing dissolved organic matter (DOM) by the PARAFAC technique and aims to identify compare different fluorescent components of DOM with various water sources.Methods : PARAFAC modeling was performed based on the PARAFAC tutorial by Stedmon et al. [11] using a total of 160 samples originated from wetlands, river, wastewater treatment plant influent and effluent. The procedure includes data preprocessing, initial model creation, outlier analysis, split-half analysis, core consistency, and sum of squared error analysis (SSE). After finishing the model validation step, the samples were analyzed through the verified PARAFAC model.Results and Discussion : An initial model with 2 to 4 components was created, and as a result of outlier analysis, the four WWTP Influent samples were removed as outliers. As a result of SSE analysis, the model with two components has a relatively higher SSE value than the model with three or four components. In the case of core consistency, the model with 2, 3, and 4 components scored 99.6%, 94.9%, and 65.7%, respectively. As a result of the split-half analysis, the spectra of the model having the three components of the split data were the same, so it was finally determined that the number of three components was appropriate in the model. The DOM samples were analyzed by the developed PARAFAC model. It was confirmed that the ratio of humic components was higher in the order of WWTP effluent ≈ wetland &gt; river &gt; WWTP influent, and the ratio of protein components affected by microbial activity was in the order of WWTP influent &gt; river &gt; wetland ≈ WWTP effluent.Conclusion : In this paper, the procedure of PARAFAC modeling was described and the DOM fluorescence properties were compared. This research provides a practical method for increasing the utilization of the PARAFAC model in the water treatment research field. In addition, the result of the PARAFAC model is useful data to control DOM efficiently in water treatment facilities.

Validity and reliability of the Professionalism Assessment Scale in Turkish medical students.

Medical professionalism is a basic competency in medical education. This study aimed to adapt the Professionalism Assessment Scale, which is used to evaluate the professionalism attitudes of medical students, into Turkish and to assess its validity and reliability. First, the scale's translation-back-translation was performed and piloted on 30 students. Then, the final scale was applied to medical students to ensure the scale's validity. The Penn State University College of Medicine Professionalism Questionnaire was used for external validation to assess criterion validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed for structure validity. Test-retest, item correlations, split-half analysis, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were evaluated to determine the scale's reliability. SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 24.0 package programs were used for statistical analysis. The statistical significance level was accepted as P<0.05. The mean age of the participants was 21±2 years, and 50.5% (n = 166) were female. Three hundred thirty-five students were invited, and 329 participated in the study. The response rate was 98%. The mean total Professionalism Assessment Scale score was 96.36±12.04. The three-factor structure of the scale, "empathy and humanism," "professional relationship and development," and "responsibility," was confirmed. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.94, and both the Spearman-Brown and Guttman split-half coefficients were 0.89. The three-factor structure of the scale, consisting of 22 items, explained 59.1% of the total variance. The intraclass correlation coefficient between test-retest measurements was 0.81. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a model suitable for the original version of the scale (χ2/sd = 2.814, RMSEA = 0.074). The Turkish version of the Professionalism Assessment Scale is a valid and reliable tool to determine the professionalism attitudes of medical students in Turkey.

Standardization and normative data of the 48-item Yoni short version for the assessment of theory of mind in typical and atypical conditions.

The Yoni task is a computerized tool assessing first-and second-order affective and cognitive Theory of Mind (ToM), accounting for the multidimensional and multi-level mentalizing features. The Italian Yoni task has been validated and standardized in its 98-item version, and a 48-item short version has been proposed for a quick digital evaluation of ToM in clinical contexts. The present study aimed to test the Yoni-48's convergent validity, correlating the tool score with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (ET) and Gender Test (GT), its items discrimination ability through the Classical Test Theory, and Rash model, its reliability by evaluating the internal consistency (McDonald's ω, Cronbach's α, Guttman's λ 2, and Guttman's λ 6) and Spearman-Brown ϱSP split-half analysis, and to provide standardization and normative data in the Italian population. Results suggested a good convergent validity with a statistically significant association with ET (p < 0.001), while a null correlation was observed with GT (p = 0.947). The Classical Test Theory and Rash model confirmed a good discrimination ability of the Yoni-48's second-order affective and cognitive ToM items, while weaker discrimination capacity was registered for the first-order ToM items. The inter-item reliability was optimal for clinical purposes (ω, α, λ 2, λ 6 ≥ 0.90). Also, the split-half reliability was high (Spearman-Brown ϱSP = 0.90). For standardization, age and education were revealed as significant predictors of Yoni accuracy scores, except for the first-order ToM score. Instead, age was the only predictor of Yoni's response speed score. The Italian normative data showed a high Yoni accuracy in healthy adults (mean accuracy = 0.85) and speed (mean response time = 0.92). Finally, both accuracy and response time level was balanced between the affective and cognitive components of ToM. This study supports the psychometric properties of the Yoni-48 and provides normative data for the Italian population. Further studies are needed to test the suitability of this short version for profiling the social cognition neurocognitive phenotype.

Reward sensitivity and internalizing symptoms during the transition to puberty: An examination of 9-and 10-year-olds in the ABCD Study

Early pubertal timing has been linked to increased risk for internalizing psychopathology in adolescents. Work in older adolescents and adults suggests that heightened reward sensitivity may buffer risk for internalizing symptoms. However, few studies have investigated these associations during the early transition to puberty, a window of vulnerability to mental health risk. In this preregistered study, we investigated the associations among pubertal timing, internalizing symptoms, and reward sensitivity in a large, population-based sample of 11,224 9–10 year-olds from the ABCD Study®. Using split-half analysis, we tested for within-sample replications of hypothesized effects across two age- and sex-matched subsets of the sample. Early pubertal timing was associated with higher internalizing symptoms in female and male participants across samples, with 9–10 year-olds in the mid-pubertal stage at the highest risk for internalizing symptoms. Additionally, early pubertal timing was robustly associated with greater self-reported reward sensitivity in both female and male participants. We observed inconsistent evidence for a moderating role of reward sensitivity across measurement domains (self-report, behavioral, and fMRI data), several of which differed by sex, but none of these interactions replicated across samples. Together, these findings provide unique insights into early indicators of risk for internalizing psychopathology during the transition to puberty in a large, population-based, demographically diverse sample of youth.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Parent Attitudes About Childhood Vaccines (PACV) scale

AimsThis study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the “Parental Attitudes toward Childhood Vaccines” (PACV) scale. Materials and methods: A two-stage observational validation study was conducted. A back-translation technique was used and then the scale was validated with a sample of 343 parents with children aged 0–72 months. The test–retest method, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Split-half analysis, and item analysis methods were used to determine the reliability of the scale, factor analyses were run to determine construct validity. Explanatory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were applied to assess construct validity. ResultsCronbach's alpha coefficient was measured as .84. The Spearman–Brown coefficient was .82 and the Guttman Split-half coefficient was .81. According to the item-total correlation and Cronbach's alpha values when the item was deleted, no item was deleted from the scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the test–retest measurements was .79. The three-factor structure consisting of 15 items explained 51.6% of the total variance. As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis, a sufficient fit of the model to the model proposed in the original version of the scale was evident (χ2/sd=2.214, RMSEA=.06). ConclusionThe Turkish version of the PACV is a valid and reliable scale and can be used to identify parental attitudes toward childhood vaccines.

Individual Uniqueness in the Neonatal Functional Connectome.

The functional connectome is highly distinctive in adults and adolescents, underlying individual differences in cognition and behavior. However, it remains unknown whether the individual uniqueness of the functional connectome is present in neonates, who are far from mature. Here, we utilized the multiband resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 40 healthy neonates from the Developing Human Connectome Project and a split-half analysis approach to characterize the uniqueness of the functional connectome in the neonatal brain. Through functional connectome-based individual identification analysis, we found that all the neonates were correctly identified, with the most discriminative regions predominantly confined to the higher-order cortices (e.g., prefrontal and parietal regions). The connectivities with the highest contributions to individual uniqueness were primarily located between different functional systems, and the short- (0-30mm) and middle-range (30-60mm) connectivities were more distinctive than the long-range (>60mm) connectivities. Interestingly, we found that functional data with a scanning length longer than 3.5min were able to capture the individual uniqueness in the functional connectome. Our results highlight that individual uniqueness is present in the functional connectome of neonates and provide insights into the brain mechanisms underlying individual differences in cognition and behavior later in life.

Breastfeeding competency scale (BCS); development and validation of an evaluation instrument on breastfeeding competency in third trimester pregnancy

BackgroundBreastfeeding plays an important role in the early stages of humans and throughout the development process. Breastfeeding competency is a self-assessment of pregnant women’s overall competency to breastfeeding which could predict the breastfeeding behaviours of pregnant women. However, a valid and reliable scale for assessing breastfeeding competency has not yet been developed and validated. This study was conducted to develop and validate an assessment scale designed to assess pregnant women’s breastfeeding competency in the third trimester: the Breastfeeding Competency Scale (BCS).MethodsThe BCS was developed and validated over three phases between September 2018 and September 2019, and these phases included item statistical analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), content validation, internal consistency assessment, split-half reliability assessment and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsThe item statistical analysis and EFA resulted in 38 items and 4 factors that explained 66.489% of the total variance. The Cronbach’s α coefficients for the total scale and the 4 factors were 0.970, 0.960, 0.940, 0.822 and 0.931. The split-half reliability of the BCS was 0.894 and 0.890. CFA model showed that the 4-factor model fits the data well.ConclusionsThe BCS is a new valid and reliable instrument for assessing the breastfeeding competency of pregnant women in the third trimester.

Special Forces Medical Sergeant/Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman Candidates: Large Animal Module.

Medical care provided by Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat medics is vital for establishing communication with local populations. In many of these communities, livestock hold a valuable position within the social, political, and cultural structure. The West Virginia University (WVU) Special Forces Medical Sergeant/Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman (SFMS/SOIDC) Large Animal Module is designed to provide a foundational experience in livestock husbandry and veterinary procedures to SOF combat medic candidates. This study was conducted to determine the participants' base knowledge of food animal production and to evaluate if the program content was sufficient for increasing their knowledge of the subject matter. A quasi-experimental design utilizing pre-test and post-test instruments was used. The validity of the testing instruments was established by a panel of subject matter experts and the instruments' reliability was determined by a split-half analysis using SPSS® statistical software. The difference between the pre-test and post-test examinations were compared for 66 candidates who were assigned to WVU Health Sciences Center for the applied medical experience program and 46 counterparts assigned to other institutions by a match pair analysis. Seventy-five percent of the subjects had no previous livestock exposure, and only 7% had previously participated in the 4-H program or Future Farmers of America (FFA). The average improvement in scores, pre-test versus post-test, was significantly greater for those that attended the module (18.5 versus 0.9). Few SFMS/SOIDC candidates have prior knowledge of livestock husbandry practices. The large animal module successfully provides education on livestock husbandry practice to participants. Knowledge of livestock production can assist SOF medics in establishing rapport with indigenous populations while on mission.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version: the challenges to stopping smoking (CSS-21) scale

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Challenges to Stopping Smoking Scale-21 (CSS-21). Methods: The methodological study was conducted with 235 participants who meet the inclusion criteria. “Social-demographics Questionnaire”, “Challenges to Stopping Smoking Scale”, “Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence”, and “General Self-Efficacy Scale” were used for data collection. In the validity-reliability analysis of the scale, language and content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient, item-total score correlation, split-half reliability analysis, floor and ceiling effects, and test-retest reliability methods were used. Results: Using exploratory factor analysis, it was found that the CSS-21 has two factors. Its two-factor structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha values of subscales were 0.84 and 0.83, respectively. In addition, item subscale total correlations and test-retest analysis of the scale had a high correlation. Conclusions: It was concluded that the Turkish version of the CSS-21 is a reliable and valid instrument to identify the factors affecting quitting smoking.

Self-reported pedestrian behaviour in Australia

Internationally, there have been a number of self-reported questionnaires developed to classify pedestrians’ engagement in aberrant behaviours while walking. However, there is yet to be consensus regarding the most appropriate factor structure for these models. Furthermore, to our knowledge, a pedestrian behaviour questionnaire (PBQ) has not been validated to investigate Australian pedestrians. As such, the aim of this research was to build on the previous international instances of pedestrian behaviour questionnaires and validate a questionnaire for a cohort of Australians. Nine hundred and sixty eight participants (80.8% female) completed an online survey which included 128 items describing pedestrian behaviour, identified in international versions of PBQs. A split half analysis was conducted to determine the most appropriate configuration of the scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis conducted on half of the sample identified a 32-item four factor model of pedestrian behaviour. These factors broadly described unintentional errors, deliberate violations, aggression and engagement with technology. Confirmatory Factor Analysis on the remaining sample confirmed the proposed factor structure.Across the four factors, pedestrians reported low mean scores for all items; indicating that errors, violations, technology engagement and aggression were rarely exhibited behaviours. The highest mean scores were for engagement with technology. While the least common pedestrian behaviours were errors while walking. Male participants were found to self-report higher rates of all behaviours, while age was negatively associated with violations, errors and technology engagement. Overall, the research presents a validated measure of aberrant pedestrian behaviour in Australia.

The development and psychometric evaluation of the Clinicians' Attitudes towards Responding and Escalating care of Deteriorating patients scale

BackgroundValidated measures of ward nurses' safety cultures in relation to escalations of care in deteriorating patients are lacking. ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Clinicians' Attitudes towards Responding and Escalating care of Deteriorating patients (CARED) scale for use among ward nurses. MethodsThe study was conducted in two phases: scale development and psychometric evaluation. The scale items were developed based on a systematic literature review, informant interviews, and expert reviews (n = 15). The reliability and validity of the scale were examined by administering the scale to 617 registered nurses with retest evaluations (n = 60). The factor structure of the CARED scale was examined in a split-half analysis with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent validity, and known-group validity of the scale were also analysed. ResultsA high overall content validity index of 0.95 was obtained from the validations of 15 international experts from seven countries. A three-factor solution was identified from the final 22 items: ‘beliefs about rapid response system’, ‘fears about escalating care’, and ‘perceived confidence in responding to deteriorating patients’. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was supported with a good Cronbach's alpha value of 0.86 and a Spearman-Brown split-half coefficient of 0.87. An excellent test–retest reliability was demonstrated, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92. The convergent validity of the scale was supported with an existing validated scale. The CARED scale also demonstrated abilities to discriminate differences among the sample characteristics. ConclusionsThe final 22-item CARED scale was tested to be a reliable and valid scale in the Singaporean setting. The scale may be used in other settings to review hospitals' rapid response systems and to identify strategies to support ward nurses in the process of escalating care in deteriorating ward patients.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of a Turkish Version of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ-Turkish).

Purpose The Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) is an instrument based on the International Classification of Functioning Vocational rehabilitation core set. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity, reliability and cross-cultural adaptation of the WORQ to Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods The cross-cultural adaptation and translation procedures were conducted following Beaton's guidelines. The test-re-test reliability was examined by Spearman Brown Coefficient (split half analysis), internal consistency was examined by Cronbach's alpha. Criterion related validity of the WORQ was determined by Beck Depression Inventory using Pearson correlation coefficient and known group differences regarding age, gender, work and educational levels using one-way ANOVA and t test. Construct validity was examined by confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS. Results Two hundred and fifty-seven participants with disabilities were included to the study from seven different provinces of Turkey. The WORQ-Turkish showed excellent internal consistency (0.906), good test-retest reliability (0.811), and good construct validity (good model fit indices). Criterion related validity analysis showed medium correlations between WORQ and Beck Depression Inventory (p < 0.001), however there were no statistical significant differences regarding known group parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusions In this study, the cross-cultural adaptation, and validity and reliability of WORQ-Turkish self-reported version were examined and the results indicated that WORQ-Turkish was a valid and reliable scale for analyzing vocational rehabilitation process of people with disabilities.