Version Of Instrument Research Articles

Turkish Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity Study of the Vaccine Acceptance Instrument.

This research study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Vaccine Acceptance Instrument (VAI). The VAI is a 20-item Likert-type scale, with responses ranging across seven points. A systematic approach was followed to translate the scale into Turkish, involving translation, expert panel evaluation, back-translation, and pilot testing. The Vaccine Acceptance Instrument and a sociodemographic data form were used for data collection. The reliability of the scale was tested by test-retest analysis, and its internal reliability was examined by Cronbach's alpha test. The factor structure was examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to assess the scale's fit. Overall, 229 participants were included in the study. In test-retest reliability analysis, the intraclass correlation coefficient of the scale was 0.992 (95% CI: 0.987-0.996). The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.824. A four-factor structure was determined. The model had an acceptable fit [χ2/df = 380.04/164 (2,317) p < 0.001, CFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.90, AGFI = 0.906, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.076]. The mean total VAI score was 112.71 ± 17.02. The low education level of the mother, being a housewife, and parents not having the COVID-19 vaccine were statistically significantly associated with a low scale score and low vaccine acceptance (p < 0.05). The Turkish adaptation of the VAI demonstrated satisfactory levels of validity and reliability following rigorous testing.

The Adaptation of the Indonesian Version of the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire (MQ) Among Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Patients: A Rasch Analysis

Background – The Indonesian version of the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire (MQ) is an instrument for assessing vital exhaustion in CHD patients. However, the psychometric results of this instrument have yet to be identified in the population of CHD patients in Indonesia. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the MQ instrument using Rasch analysis. Methods – The population of this study was all CHD patients undergoing outpatient treatment at a hospital in West Java. There were 97 respondents using convenience sampling. The instrument used is the Indonesian version of MQ. The reliability and validity of the instrument were analyzed using Rasch analysis and the Winsteps application by considering the Cronbach's Alpha value, Mean square fit statistic (MNSQ), Standardized fit statistics (ZSTD), separation of strata (Separation), and unidimensionality. Findings – α-Cronbach 0.78 with item reliability 0.95 indicates very good reliability; person and item strata separation &gt;2.4 and &gt;5.9, indicating the instrument can identify respondent groups well; MNSQ item infit-outfit 1-0.94 is close to ideal (1) as is ZSTD infit-outfit 0.11 – 0.03 (close to 0); Unidimensionality measurements show a total raw variance of 32.4% with unexplained eigenvalues all &lt;10% indicating good validity. Conclusions - The internal consistency of the instrument is reliable. The data fits the model because the items can measure, have logical predictions, and functionally show unidimensionality. Based on the results, the Indonesian version of the MQ was proven valid and reliable for identifying vital exhaustion in CHD patients in Indonesia.

Development and testing of a four-item version of the physical resilience instrument for older adults (PRIFOR-4)

The 16-item Physical Resilience Instrument for Older Adults (PRIFOR) has good clinimetric properties; however, a shortened PRIFOR would greatly enhance physical resilience measurements in clinical settings. The current analysis aimed to reduce the number of PRIFOR while maintaining its clinimetric properties, emphasizing on its factor structure and convergent validity. A longitudinal study was conducted among 863 patients aged 65 years or older. Four PRIFOR items with high factor loadings were selected to generate the short version of PRIFOR (PRIFOR-4). The PRIFOR-4 was found to have a unidimensional structure (comparative fit index = 0.999; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.998 in the confirmatory factor analysis results) with good convergent validity with various external measures (absolute r = 0.109–0.597; p-values<0.01). Because the PRIFOR-4 contains only four items, the completion time for the respondents reduced three fourths from the original PRIFOR, which may have a marked reduction in the response burden. The PRIFOR-4 is thus an easy-to-use measurement that saves time for healthcare professionals in clinical practice.

Fitness promotion in college: the relationships among students' perceived physical literacy, knowledge, and physical fitness.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived physical literacy (PPL), knowledge of physical activity and fitness (PAF knowledge), and physical fitness. Undergraduates (N = 968, female = 414; Mage = 18.64) from a public university in central China completed a simplified Chinese version of the PPL instrument, an online test for PAF knowledge, and seven health-related physical fitness tests. The PPL includes three dimensions: (a) confidence and physical competence, (b) motivation, and (c) interaction with the environment. The fitness tests measured lung capacity, body mass index (BMI), and performances in 800 (female)/1000 (male) meters run, 50 meters dash (50 M), sit-up (female) / pull-up (male), standing long jump (SLJ), and sit-and-reach. PPL and its dimensions significantly predicted six fitness test performances both in male (β: -0.42 - 0.37; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.01-0.13) and female (β: -0.59 - 0.49; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.03-0.13) students. PAF knowledge (β: -0.17 - 0.18; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.01-0.05) significantly predicted BMI (males) and performances in 50 M (females) and SLJ (females) tests. To support college students' fitness development and maintenance, tailored physical activity and fitness promotion programs are needed to strengthen students' PPL and PAF knowledge.

Mental health during ecological crisis: translating and validating the Hogg Eco-anxiety Scale for Argentinian and Spanish populations

BackgroundEco-anxiety is increasingly recognized as a shared experience by many people internationally, encompassing fear of environmental catastrophe and anxiety about ecological crises. Despite its importance in the context of the changing climate, measures for this construct are still being developed in languages other than English.MethodsTo contribute to global eco-anxiety research, we translated the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) into Spanish, creating the HEAS-SP. We validated this measure in samples from both Argentina (n = 990) and Spain (n = 548), performing measurement invariance and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency of the scale and score stability over time were investigated through reliability analyses. Differences in eco-anxiety across sociodemographic variables were explored through Student’s t-tests and Pearson’s r tests.ResultsThe four-factor model of the HEAS-SP comprising affective and behavioural symptoms, rumination, and anxiety about personal impact demonstrated excellent model fit. We found good internal consistency for each subscale, and established measurement invariance between Spanish and Argentine samples, as well as across genders and participants’ age. Spanish participants reported higher scores on the affective symptoms and personal impact anxiety factors compared to the Argentinian sample. Also, men reported lower levels than women on the subscales of affective symptoms, rumination, and personal impact anxiety. It was found that the relationship between both age and personal impact anxiety and age and affective symptoms varies significantly depending on the gender of the individuals. Younger participants tended to report higher scores on most dimensions of eco-anxiety.ConclusionsThese findings enhance the global initiative to investigate, explore and therefore comprehend eco-anxiety by introducing the first valid and reliable Spanish-language version of this psychometric instrument for its use within Spanish and Argentinian populations. This study augments the body of evidence supporting the robust psychometric properties of the HEAS, as demonstrated in prior validations for Australian, Turkish, Portuguese, German, French, and Italian populations.

The Arabic EAT-10 and FEES in dysphagia screening among cancer patients: a comparative prospective study.

Head and neck cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, have diverse effects on patients, leading to dysphagia as a significant post-treatment issue. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Arabic version of the EAT-10 screening instrument (A-EAT-10) using Fiber-Optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) as an imperfect gold standard. Additionally, we seek to establish a correlation between A-EAT-10 and PEG tube insertion in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Our sample comprised 130 head and neck cancer patients with varying cancer types at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC). We followed these patients throughout their distinct treatment plans up to one month after their final treatment session. During follow-up visits, we administered the A-Eat-10 instrument to monitor dysphagia. FEES were conducted at the initial and concluding visits to compare results with A-EAT-10 scores. The results in our tests, assuming independence or dependence, demonstrated excellent agreement. A-EAT-10 exhibited outstanding predictive capabilities with an AUC ranging from 93 to 97%. A-EAT-10 tended to slightly overestimate dysphagia at later treatment stages by approximately 20% compared to FEES, with an RR of 1.2 (95% CI 0.91, 1.56, p-value = 0.21), indicating statistical insignificance. In conclusion, A-EAT-10 is an excellent option for dysphagia evaluation, offering non-invasive, straightforward, and cost-effective advantages compared to FEES. Its utility extends to predicting the need for PEG tube insertion at initial patient visits, making it a valuable tool for informed treatment decisions. Notably, A-EAT-10 demonstrates a diminishing correlation with FEES over time.

Rating Patients in Different Languages: Reliability and Validity.

Research outcomes in mental health disciplines are usually assessed using rating instruments that were developed as English language versions. However, in countries such as India, English is not the native language, and patients at even a single research center may speak in different regional tongues. It is permissible to assess such patients using rater-administered English language instruments designed to be scored after an unstructured interview conducted in the patient's preferred language. For many reasons, related to reliability and validity, it is not permissible to assess such patients in their preferred language by translating, impromptu, from English language versions of instruments that were designed to be self-administered or administered as a structured interview. In such situations, standardized, local language versions of the instruments should be used; that is, local language versions with established reliability and validity.

A Psychometric Study of the Arabic Version of the "Searching for Hardships and Obstacles to Shots (SHOT)" Instrument for Use in Saudi Arabia.

Vaccines are considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century and the most cost-effective public health intervention to overcome diseases and disease-associated mortality. This study translated the "Searching for Hardships and Obstacles to Shots" (SHOT) instrument from English to Arabic and conducted a psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version to measure parental barriers to childhood immunization. The cross-sectional study utilized multistage cluster random sampling to recruit parents visiting 70 primary health centers in Jizan. Scale translation and cultural adaptation were used to translate the SHOT survey into Arabic. The survey revealed that the best-factor model was a one-factor solution for "barriers to child immunization." The first principal component explained the highest variance (56.22%), and subsequent components explained decreasing percentages of variance. The third principal component explained the decreased variance (4.61%), and subsequent components explained the decreasing percentages of variance. The overall reliability (determined by Cronbach's alpha) was 0.96. The strong internal consistency of the Arabic version of the SHOT instrument (as indicated by the high Cronbach's alpha coefficients) indicates that researchers and practitioners can confidently use this scale to measure parents' attitudes toward and perceptions of vaccinations. Furthermore, the study results will help policymakers develop programs or interventional initiatives to overcome these barriers.

Internal Quality Management Model in Islamic Boarding School-Based Madrasah

This research aims to (1) analyze the need for an internal quality management model and (2) design an internal quality management model in Islamic boarding school-based madrasas. This research uses the Research and Development (R&amp;D) method using ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) procedures and steps. The research results show that the Pesantren-Based Madrasah Quality Assurance Team must receive full support from the Islamic boarding school leadership. The Ministry of Religion's version of the Madrasah Self-Evaluation Instrument (EDM) must be developed to accommodate educational evaluations in Islamic boarding schools. Islamic boarding school-based madrasa's internal quality management model consists of four stages. First, the planning stage which consists of (1) mission alignment, (2) SWOT analysis, (3) EDM gap analysis, and (4) preparation of a quality plan. Second, the quality fulfillment stage consists of (1) determining the person responsible for the program, (2) funding allocation, and (3) reporting on quality implementation. Third, the quality evaluation stage consists of (1) formative evaluation, (2) summative evaluation, (3) preparation of evaluation instruments, (4) data collection, and (5) analysis and preparation of recommendations. Fourth is the quality follow-up stage, which consists of (1) follow-up improvement and (2) follow-up standardization of changes.

Perceived parental bonding and cortisol awakening response in people with eating disorders

IntroductionEarly life experiences may have an impact on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in eating disorders (EDs). Parental bonding is defined as the parental contribution of care and control to parent–child relationships. We evaluated whether perceived care and protection of parental bonding in childhood and adolescence were associated with HPA axis functioning in adult patients with EDs. The activity of the HPA axis was assessed by measuring the salivary cortisol awakening response (CAR).ObjectivesWe evaluated whether parental care and control in childhood and adolescence were associated with HPA axis functioning in adults with EDs. On the basis of literature data on healthy participants, we hypothesized that people with high levels of parental care would show a reduced CAR compared to people with low levels of parental care.MethodsWe admitted patients according to the following inclusion criteria: (a) female sex, (b) age &gt; 18 years, (c) current diagnosis of AN or BN according to DSM-5 criteria, (d) absence of severe physical disorders, (e) no history of endocrine disorders, psychoactive substance use, schizophrenia or other psychoses, bipolar disorders or head trauma. Participants completed the Italian version of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). To measure the CAR, participants were instructed to collect saliva samples at awakening and 15, 30, and 60 min after awakening.Results64 women with EDs participated in the study: 37 with AN and 27 with BN. 28 participants reported low levels of both maternal and paternal care while 12 participants reported high levels of care from both parents; 31 participants reported high levels of both maternal and paternal control, while 12 participants reported low levels of control from both parents. When maternal care was entered as between factor in the analysis, the repeated measures 3-way ANOVA showed a significant time effect (F3, 180 = 2.81, p &lt; 0.05) and a significant maternal care X time interaction (F3, 180 = 2.99, p &lt; 0.05), while, when paternal care was entered as between factor, the repeated measures 3-way ANOVA did not show significant effects for time and no significant paternal care X time interaction.ConclusionsOur results show an association of perceived maternal care with the time pattern of CAR in female patients with ED, while perceived parental control was not associated with any CAR feature in EDs. Maternal control, paternal care and paternal control were not associated with any difference in the CAR.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Translation and Validation of Hindi Version of Adolescent Peer Relation Instrument for Bullying Victimization

Translation and Validation of Hindi Version of Adolescent Peer Relation Instrument for Bullying Victimization

Screening children in conflict with the law in Kenya for mental health needs using the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Version 2

A growing body of research shows that justice-involved children, particularly those in conflict with the law, present with symptoms of a diagnosable mental disorder. Routine screening and assessment of young offenders assists justice actors in determining the most appropriate treatment interventions, ensures effective rehabilitation, and enhances public safety. Conversely, some child-justice jurisdictions such as Kenya have not integrated mental health screening for children entering the justice system. This lack of internal audit mechanisms by agencies can contribute to worsening of the young person’s mental status. This study sought to determine the mental health needs of 153 children in conflict with the law committed by courts to remand homes, reception centers, rehabilitation schools, Borstal institutions, youth corrective centers, probation hostels, and on community probation supervision in Nairobi country. Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version-2 was used to screen the children. The findings revealed that thought disturbance in boys was the highest endorsed scale as 58.9% were within warning range scores. Clinically significant caution level scores were reported for somatic complaints (66.7%), angry-irritable (54.2%), and depressed-anxious (45.1%). There were statistically significant gender differences in somatic complaints (p = 0.021), suicidal ideation (p < 0.001) and traumatic experiences (p = 0.034). Respondents with a history of offending had higher mean scores in alcohol/drug use (M = 2.92, SD = 2.36). Significant differences were found between the institution where the child was screened and alcohol/drug use. The findings of this study could assist the Kenyan child justice system to institute mechanisms for mandatory mental health screening, assessment, and treatment of young offenders.

Mind your language! Lessons from the application of an English published version of a Japanese horse personality instrument to a French population

Replicability is a fundamental tenet of the scientific method and scientific reporting, but there is a preponderance to publish scientific research in English to increase international recognition, regardless of the country of origin of the research. Questionnaires are widely used to assess personality in animals. These psychometric instruments are mainly published in English but can be used all over the world in other languages. However, without safeguards relating to the translation process, the replicability of the quality of the instrument may change from its originally reported value. This study focuses on the particular issue of cross-cultural reliability of psychometric instruments used for assessing animals that have been translated from their original context. We examined the replicability of the structure of a personality scale originally used in Japanese (but reported in the English literature) on an English population (n=100), and then the reliability of the structure of a French translation of the English version with additional translational safeguards (e.g. back-translation and sense checking) on a French population (n = 159 horses). Horses were rated by 3 evaluators to also allow calculation of inter-rater reliability. We found that there was greater reliability and similarity of structure between the adapted English translation and French version of the Japanese scale, than with the originally published structure of the instrument used in Japan. These results highlight the importance of never assuming the reliability and thus validity of semantic instruments used to assess animal behaviour which have been published in a different language to that in which they were originally developed.

Validity and reliability of Turkish version of the secondary screening instrument for targeting educational risk questionnaires

ABSTRACT Objective The Secondary Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk Questionnaires (Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R.) is a scanning tool for teachers to evaluate the challenges and educational risks faced by deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students. In Turkey, there is a need for a screening tool to identify academic risks among DHH students. This study aimed to adapt the Turkish version of the Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R. (Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R.-T) and evaluate its validity and reliability. Materials and Methods The Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R.-T was translated and cross-culturally adapted. Subsequently, the Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R.-T was administered by teachers of 104 DHH students (group 1) and 69 normal-hearing students (group 2) in the 6th to 12th grades to evaluate. Results In the validity analysis of the Secondary S.I.F.T.E.R.-T, the item-total correlation coefficients, content validity ratio, and index were found to be compatible with the literature, and the subscale and total scale scores of the two groups were significantly different. High internal consistency reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha, split-half Spearman-Brown correlation, and Guttman's coefficients. A scoring grid was developed to identify low-, middle-, and high-performing students. Conclusions The validity and reliability analyzes of the Secondary-S.I.F.T.E.R.-T were found to be acceptable, and scoring grids were determined. Secondary-S.I.F.T.E.R.-T can be used as a screening tool to identify academic risks among DHH students in Turkey.

Health-related quality of life among celiacs in Portugal: a comparison between general and specific questionnaires.

This study aimed to compare the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument version 2 (SF-36-v2) (generic) and Celiac Disease Questionnaire (CDQ) (specific) questionnaires used to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in celiac Portuguese adult individuals. This cross-sectional study used non-probabilistic sampling based on Portuguese celiac patients who accessed the online survey in 2022. The online data collection used a self-reported instrument composed of three parts: (i) socioeconomic, health, and gluten-free diet (GFD) adherence questions; (ii) SF-36 v2 - Portuguese version (generic questionnaire) and (iii) Celiac Disease Questionnaire (CDQ) (specific questionnaire). A total of 234 individuals who accessed the survey completed the questionnaire. Seven of the eight SF-36 domains positively correlated to the specific questionnaire CDQ. The "General Health" domain (domain 4) showed a negative correlation with the CDQ. Differences in content between the two instruments might be able to explain this finding since the CDQ explores issues regarding the specificities of celiac disease (CD) and the lifelong GFD burden. About half of the sample from this study displayed poor diet adherence, it is possible that the SF-36 could not reflect the impact of CD treatment - the complete elimination of gluten from the diet - on patients' health. Therefore, this issue should be carefully evaluated in future research. Specific validated questionnaires for CD individuals, such as the CDQ, contemplate social, economic, and clinical variables that permeate the patient's life context. Therefore, these instruments may be more suitable for evaluating QoL in this public. However, using a general questionnaire such as the SF-36 would be indicated for comparing QOL between celiac patients and the general population or even between CD and other disease individuals. In this case, we recommend assessing GFD compliance for control parallelly.

Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS): Validity and reliability of an Indonesian version

Background: One of the health problems that often occurs in old age is musculoskeletal disorder, especially osteoarthritis which is a disorder of the joint cartilage. Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score is one of the measuring tools uses to access the function of patient with knee injuries and knee osteoarthritis. Purpose: To determine the cross-cultural adaption of modifications to the Indonesia version of the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score questionnaire by conducting validity and reliability tests. Method: This research was conducted in September 2023 at Islamic General Hospital Kustati and Sebelas Maret University Hospital with a sample size of 55 participants. Sampling was carried out using purposive sampling technique. The KOOS instrument was given 2 times with an interval of 2 weeks. Results: The test-retest reliability result of the Indonesia version of the KOOS instrument between the two measurement sessions were very good (ICC 0.965, p&lt;0.001, and 95% CI: 0.939-0.979). Internal consistency was confirmed to be very good with the Cronbach’s alpha test of 0.974. Conclusion: Based on the content validity result shown, there are 39 items with corrected correlation item values above 0.3 the conclusion was the Indonesia version of the KOOS instrument declaring reliable, but the content validity of the 2 items needs to be re-examined.

Validity and responsiveness of EQ-5D-Y in children with haematological malignancies and their caregivers.

The psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-Y have not been widely tested in severely ill children. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L in paediatric inpatients with haematological malignancies and caregivers. Respondents completed the interviewer-administered self-complete or proxy version of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L and an overall health assessment twice on different days. Known-groups validity was assessed by comparing patients who differed in overall health and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance. Responsiveness to worsened health was assessed using standardised effect size (SES) for patients with worsened ECOG grade, self-reported rating, or chemotherapy initiation. Ninety-six dyads completed the baseline questionnaires. A smaller proportion of patients reported "no problems" on the EQ-5D-Y-5L compared to EQ-5D-Y-3L for most of the five dimensions. Patients in poor health reported more problems in all dimensions and had higher EQ-5D-Y-5L level sum score, lower EQ VAS and EQ-5D-Y-3L index scores (Cohen's d ES: 0.32-1.38 for patients; 0.50-2.05 for caregivers). There was a mild to good responsiveness to worsened health condition based on ECOG (SES: 0.14-0.61 for patients; 0.40-0.96 for caregivers), suggesting the proxy version was slightly responsive than the self-complete version of both instruments. The results demonstrated validity and responsiveness for both the self-complete and proxy versions of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L. The proxy and 5-level versions of the instrument were more sensitive than the self-complete and 3-level versions in this patient group.

Parent-proxy pediatric CMT quality of life outcome measure: Validation of the Italian version.

The parent-proxy reports can offer complementary informations or be the only source of Quality of Life measurement in young children. The aim of this study was to provide and validate the Italian version of the recently published parent-proxy pCMT-QOL for patients aged 8-18 years old, making it available for possible trials in Italian speaking children. The English-language instrument was translated and adapted into the Italian language using standard procedures: translation, transcultural adaptation, and back-translation. Parent-proxy pCMT-QOL was administered to parents of patients with a genetic diagnosis of CMT, aged 8-18 years old. All parents were retested 2 weeks later to assess reliability. A total of 21 parents of CMT patients (18 CMT1A, 2 CMT2A, 1 CMT2K) were assessed during their children clinical appointments. The Italian-pCMT-QOL showed a high test-retest reliability; none of the parents had any difficulties with the completion of the questionnaire and no further revisions were necessary after completion. The Italian parent-proxy pCMT-QOL is a reliable, culturally adapted, and comparable version of the original English instrument. This questionnaire will improve the quality of the follow-up and will make it possible to monitor more accurately the severity of the disease in Italian-speaking families.

Examining resting state functional connectivity and frequency power analysis in adults who stutter compared to adults who do not stutter.

Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by impaired connections between brain regions involved in speech production. This study aimed to investigate functional connectivity and frequency power during rest in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to fluent adults (AWNS) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), dorsolateral frontal cortex (DLFC), supplementary motor area (SMA), motor speech, angular gyrus (AG), and inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). Fifteen AWS (3 females, 12 males) and fifteen age- and sex-matched AWNS (3 females, 12 males) participated in this study. All participants were native Persian speakers. Stuttering severity in the AWS group was assessed using the Persian version of the Stuttering Severity Instrument Fourth Edition (SSI-4). Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded for 5 min while participants sat comfortably with their eyes open. We analyzed frequency band power across various frequency bands and investigated functional connectivity within the specified speech region. Significant between-group differences were found in band powers including alpha, beta, delta, theta, and gamma, specifically in the premotor, SMA, motor speech, and frontal regions. AWS also showed increased coherence between the right motor speech region compared to controls. We demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical false discovery rate (FDR) method is the most effective for both simulations and experimental data. In the expected regions, this method revealed significant synchrony effects at an acceptable error rate of 5%. The results highlight disrupted functional connectivity in AWS at resting state, particularly in speech-related and associated areas. Given the complex neurological basis of developmental stuttering, robust neural markers are closely linked to this phenomenon. These markers include imbalanced activity within brain regions associated with speech and motor functions, coupled with impaired functional connectivity between these regions. The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical system governs the dynamic interplay between cortical regions, with SMA as a key cortical site. It is hypothesized that the aberrant resting state functional connectivity will impact the language planning and motor execution necessary for fluent speech. Examining resting-state metrics as biomarkers could further elucidate the neural underpinnings of stuttering and guide intervention.

Adaptation and validation of the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) in a Chilean sample.

Self-efficacy is a cognitive-emotional factor that is consistently associated with behavioral change and, in particular, with changes in health behavior. Eating self-efficacy, understood as adopting and maintaining behaviors such as controlling one's weight and trusting in one's ability to control one's eating behavior, has been proposed for managing obesity. This study aimed to validate the Chilean version of the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) in a sample of adults from the general population. Four hundred sixty-nine individuals (69.08% women, mean age = 38.02; SD = 10.31) participated in the study. An instrumental design was used geared toward developing tests and psychometric instruments, including adapting existing ones. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The instrument version validated in Spain was applied in the study. The analysis obtained an instrument of 11 items with adequate psychometric properties allowing its use in clinical and research settings. It can help assess eating self-efficacy in the general population.