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Background: A common practice in assessment development, fundamental for fairness and consequently the validity of test score interpretations and uses, is to ascertain whether test items function equally across test-taker groups. Accordingly, we conducted differential item functioning (DIF) analysis, a psychometric procedure for detecting potential item bias, for three preclinical medical school foundational courses based on students' sex and race. Methods: The sample included 520, 519, and 344 medical students for anatomy, histology, and physiology, respectively, collected from 2018 to 2020. To conduct DIF analysis, we used the Wald test based on the two-parameter logistic model as utilized in the IRTPRO software. Results: The three assessments had as many as one-fifth of the items that functioned statistically differentially across one or more of the variables sex and race: 10 out of 49 items (20%), six out of 40 items (15%), 5 out of 45 items (11%) showed statistically significant DIF for Anatomy, Histology, and Physiology courses, respectively. Measurement specialists and subject matter experts independently reviewed the items to identify construct-irrelevant factors as potential sources for DIF as demonstrated in Appendix A. Most identified items were generally poorly written or had unclear images. Conclusions: The validity of score-based inferences, particularly for group comparisons, requires test items to function equally across test-taker groups. In the present study, we found DIF of some items for sex and race in three content areas. The present approach should be utilized in other medical schools to address the generalizability of the present findings. Item level DIF should also be routinely conducted as part of psychometric analyses for basic sciences courses and other assessments. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived stress is a construct of crucial importance to health and well-being, necessitating the provision of economic, psychometrically sound instruments to assess it in routine clinical practice and large-scale survey studies. Two competing short versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), each consisting of four items, have been proposed. In the present study, we compare the two in a sample representative of the German general population (n = 2,527). Our analyses show that both versions are sufficiently reliable and valid, given the right measurement model. Specifically, the original PSS-4 by Cohen et al. suffers from response style effects, which we remedied using random intercept factor analysis. With the addition of the method factor, it is a highly reliable and valid scale. The PSS-2&2 by Schäfer et al. is more complex in its interpretation since it is split into two facets which cannot be summarized into a single score. Specifically, the Helplessness subscale correlates with related constructs very similar to the original unifactorial model but its reliability is lackluster. In contrast, the Self-Efficacy subscale is reliable but diverges in terms of its correlational pattern. In sum, both versions can be recommended for research designs in need of a brief measure of stress and offer unique contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students' beliefs and attitudes concerning concussion, and masculinity norms, were examined in relation to stigma and willingness to seek treatment for possible concussion. Beliefs were measured using a revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ). Participants: Participants were 631 undergraduates at a Northeastern university, most of whom were nonathletes with no concussion. Methods: Data were collected online. Regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of stigma and treatment willingness. Results: Beliefs that concussion symptoms reflect malingering, are controllable, and have psychological causes were related to more stigmatizing attitudes, as was endorsement of masculinity norms regarding winning and risk-taking. Believing that concussion symptoms are long-lasting and endorsing competitiveness, pain discounting, and self-reliance predicted willingness to seek treatment. Preliminary structural models showed adequate fit. Conclusions: In addition to beliefs assessed by the IPQ, traditional conceptions of masculinity warrant greater attention in the study of concussion-related stigma and willingness to seek treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief report examines both within-network and between-network construct validity of the Burnout Assessment Tool for Students (BAT-S) in a sample of 461 Chilean undergraduate university students (70.9% female) ranging between 18 and 58 years old (M = 21.6, SD = 4.34). The reliability analysis results showed adequate internal consistency for the overall burnout score and for each dimension. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a second-order factor (academic burnout) and four first-order factors (exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment) solution. Moreover, the results of multiple-group CFA supported gender invariance. Finally, structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that academic resources and academic demands are associated with academic burnout. Overall, the BAT-S was found to be a reliable and valid tool to assess academic burnout in chilean sample of undergraduate university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Methods Results Conclusion To develop and assess the psychometrics of the Chronic Headache Self‐Efficacy Scale (CHASE).Existing scales assess self‐efficacy in coping strategies and management of symptoms and triggers but do not measure other important self‐efficacy domains, such as performing daily activities and socializing in patients with chronic daily headache (CDH).The study had two phases: (i) Development of the 14‐item CHASE, with items derived from patients with CDH and a multidisciplinary healthcare team; (ii) longitudinal observational study for psychometric evaluation. Participants with CDH (N = 79) completed the CHASE, Headache Management Self‐Efficacy Scale (HMSE), six‐item Headache Impact Test‐6 (HIT‐6), and 12‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐12) at baseline, 24–72 h after baseline, and 12 weeks after baseline. The Global Rating of Change (GROC) assessed perceived change in symptoms. We assessed internal consistency, day‐to‐day reliability, convergent and known group discriminant validity, dimensionality, and responsiveness via minimal clinical important difference (MCID).For day‐to‐day reliability, the CHASE intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.49–0.81), with standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change of 10.3% and 24%, respectively. The CHASE had two independent factors (total R2 = 54.5%) that can be combined into a single score (Cronbach's alpha internal consistency 0.88). For convergent validity, the CHASE score was related to the HIT‐6, HMSE, and SF‐12 (R2: 0.17–0.29, all p < 0.001). For known group discriminant validity, individuals with an active headache had a lower CHASE score than those without (mean [standard deviation] 47.7 [17.3]% vs. 57.2 [19.8]%, p < 0.001). Classification and regression tree analysis showed the MCID for meaningful positive symptom change on the GROC was a CHASE change of >8% or CHASE change of 8% with baseline CHASE >67%.The CHASE is a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing self‐efficacy in performing daily activities, socializing, managing headache symptoms and triggers, and guiding treatment plans for patients with CDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This psychometric analysis generated evidence to support the use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy item GP5 (GP5) as a measure of tolerability and confirms the appropriateness of categorizing "high side-effect burden" using a rating of 3 or 4 (score ranges 0–4) in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methodology: Blinded, pooled interim data from the safety population (n=290) enrolled in the phase 3 LIBRETTO-531 trial (NCT04211337) were used. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for test-retest reliability using data from cycles 1-2 post-baseline. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the correlations of GP5 ratings with (a) symptomatic adverse events (AEs; measured by the PRO-CTCAE), and (b) functioning scores of EORTC QLQ-C30. The ability to detect change over time was examined by Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel tests for GP5 ratings and PRO-CTCAE. The relationship of "high side-effect burden" categories with QLQ-C30 functioning scores was examined. Results: ICCs for the GP5 ratings after cycle 1 ranged between 0.80 and 0.85, indicating good reliability. Correlations between GP5 and PRO-CTCAE items ranged from 0.18 to 0.62 and ranged from -0.37 to -0.50 for QLQ-C30 functioning scores, consistent with study assumptions. Post-baseline GP5 ratings showed significant associations with PRO-CTCAE scores (p<0.001). Participants with GP5 ratings of 3 or 4 had worse physical function than those with GP5 ratings of 0 to 2 (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This analysis generated evidence supportive of the psychometric properties of the GP5 as a fit-for-purpose measure to assess treatment tolerability in patients with advanced/metastatic MTC. The definition of "high side-effect burden" was associated with the clinical feature of tolerability. Key summary points: This psychometric analysis provides evidence to support the usefulness of the categorization of "high side-effect burden" using GP5 scores of 3 and 4. The GP5 has good reliability and construct validity for assessing patient-reported tolerability. This analysis supports the use of the GP5 to assess patient-reported tolerability in patients with advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentric and eccentric contractions show different patterns of neural activity at both peripheral and cortical levels, which are thought to influence the perception of action properties such as the weight of objects moved by others. The aim of this study was to investigate how the type of muscle contraction influences weight estimation during action observation. Forty‐eight volunteers completed the Main experiment and the Control experiment. In the Main experiment, they performed a weight discrimination video task in which they watched videos of an actor moving two objects, a comparison, and a reference box, executing concentric or eccentric contractions and they had to indicate which box was the heaviest. Sensitivity analysis and psychometric functions were used to analyse the data. In the Control experiment, observers judged the actor's effort in moving the boxes. The results of the Main experiment showed that the weight discrimination sensitivity was higher in the eccentric condition for the light boxes. Conversely, for the heaviest boxes, discrimination sensitivity was higher in the concentric condition. These results were confirmed by the psychometric function analysis. The control experiment showed that the perceived difference in effort between the comparison and reference stimuli was greater in the eccentric than in the concentric condition for light stimuli. These results showed that the ability to evaluate the weight of the object involved in the observed action was influenced by the type of contraction and the amount of weight. The effort attributed to the actor influenced the observer's perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This psychometric analysis generated evidence to support the use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy item GP5 (GP5) as a measure of tolerability and confirms the appropriateness of categorizing “high side-effect burden” using a rating of 3 or 4 (score ranges 0–4) in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methodology Blinded, pooled interim data from the safety population (n=290) enrolled in the phase 3 LIBRETTO-531 trial (NCT04211337) were used. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for test-retest reliability using data from cycles 1-2 post-baseline. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the correlations of GP5 ratings with (a) symptomatic adverse events (AEs; measured by the PRO-CTCAE), and (b) functioning scores of EORTC QLQ-C30. The ability to detect change over time was examined by Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel tests for GP5 ratings and PRO-CTCAE. The relationship of “high side-effect burden” categories with QLQ-C30 functioning scores was examined. Results ICCs for the GP5 ratings after cycle 1 ranged between 0.80 and 0.85, indicating good reliability. Correlations between GP5 and PRO-CTCAE items ranged from 0.18 to 0.62 and ranged from -0.37 to -0.50 for QLQ-C30 functioning scores, consistent with study assumptions. Post-baseline GP5 ratings showed significant associations with PRO-CTCAE scores (p

Background. The Existential Isolation Scale (EIS) appears to be the most successful psychometrically valid instrument for the study of existential isolation. Since the scale’s development, the number of existential isolation studies worldwide has increased significantly. Objective. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Russian-language version of the EIS. Study Participants. The number of participants of the study amounted to 300 people aged 18 to 72 years, including 200 women and 100 men. Methods. The study participants filled out the Russian-language version of the EIS and instruments assessing the expression of different aspects of loneliness, self-esteem, Big Five traits, and life satisfaction. Results. The reliability of the Russian-language version of the EIS, measured using the Cronbach’s α coefficient, demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency and amounted to 0.816. Factor validity was checked by confirmatory factor analysis. As a result, the one-factor structure of the questionnaire was confirmed to be consistent with the original version. Convergent validity of the scale was determined using correlation analysis, which demonstrated relationships between existential isolation scores and theoretically similar constructs such as isolation, alienation, and loneliness. At the same time, existential isolation differs from the named constructs in its correlations with phenomena such as dysphoria, dependence on communication, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and extraversion, which allowed us to conclude that the scale has sufficient discriminant validity. Conclusions. The Russian-language version of the EIS measures the degree of expression of the phenomenon of existential isolation, different from those measured by loneliness questionnaires in Russian. The adapted EIS scale is a reliable and valid instrument that can be recommended for assessing existential isolation among Russian-speaking research participants.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this research was to generate psychometric evidence supporting the myasthenia gravis (MG) symptoms patient-reported outcome (PRO) scales as a fit-for-purpose measure of severity of core symptoms of MG and provide information allowing their meaningful interpretation using data from a phase 3 study in MG. METHODS: Data from the MycarinG study, a phase 3 study of rozanolixizumab in patients with generalized MG who experience moderate to severe symptoms (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03971422) were analyzed with both classical test theory (CTT) and Rasch measurement theory (RMT). Meaningful within-individual change and group-level meaningful change were estimated for three MG Symptoms PRO scales using anchor- and distribution-based methods. Anchor-based methods used patient global impression of severity (PGIS) and change (PGIC) in MG symptoms as anchors. RESULTS: Good measurement properties of the MG Symptoms PRO scales were shown in the sample of 200 participants: good to excellent reliability (test-retest and internal consistency reliability) and validity (associations between items and scores within the MG Symptoms PRO scales and between the MG Symptoms PRO scores and other clinical outcomes-MG ADL, QMG score, MGC score, and MGFA classes-were as expected); and the items showed good coverage of the continuum and fit to the Rasch model. Triangulation of the anchor- and distribution-based method results led to the definition of clinically meaningful within-patient improvement in scores for Muscle Weakness Fatigability (-16.67), Physical Fatigue (-20.00), and Bulbar Muscle Weakness (-20.00), with associated ranges. Benchmarks are also proposed for the interpretation of group-level results. CONCLUSION: The strong psychometric performance of the MG Symptoms PRO scales and the information generated to guide its interpretation supports its use in clinical trials for demonstrating the clinical benefits of new treatments targeting core symptoms of MG (muscle weakness fatigability, physical fatigue, bulbar muscle weakness, respiratory muscle weakness, and ocular muscle weakness).

BACKGROUND: The three-item Sexual Distress Scale (SDS-3) has been frequently used to assess distress related to sexuality in public health surveys and research on sexual wellbeing. However, its psychometric properties and measurement invariance across cultural, gender and sexual subgroups have not yet been examined. This multinational study aimed to validate the SDS-3 and test its psychometric properties, including measurement invariance across language, country, gender identity, and sexual orientation groups. METHODS: We used global survey data from 82,243 individuals (Mean age=32.39 years; 40.3 % men, 57.0 % women, 2.8 % non-binary, and 0.6 % other genders) participating in the International Sexual Survey (ISS; https://internationalsexsurvey.org/) across 42 countries and 26 languages. Participants completed the SDS-3, as well as questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, including gender identity and sexual orientation. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a unidimensional factor structure for the SDS-3, and multi-group CFA (MGCFA) suggested that this factor structure was invariant across countries, languages, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Cronbachs α for the unidimensional score was 0.83 (range between 0.76 and 0.89), and McDonalds ω was 0.84 (range between 0.76 and 0.90). Participants who did not experience sexual problems had significantly lower SDS-3 total scores (M = 2.99; SD=2.54) compared to those who reported sexual problems (M = 5.60; SD=3.00), with a large effect size (Cohens d = 1.01 [95 % CI=-1.03, -0.98]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The SDS-3 has a unidimensional factor structure and appears to be valid and reliable for measuring sexual distress among individuals from different countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Abstract Background The shift towards person-centred care has become integral in achieving high-quality healthcare, focusing on individual patient needs, preferences, and values. However, existing instruments for measuring person-centred practice often lack theoretical underpinnings and comprehensive assessment. The Person-centred Practice Inventory – Staff (PCPI-S) and the Person-centred Practice Inventory – Care (PCPI-C) were developed in English to measure clinicians’ and patients’ experience of person-centred practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the French version of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. Methods A multi-centred cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland. Construct validity of the PCPI-S and the PCPI-C was evaluated by using confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald’s Omega coefficient was used to determine the internal consistency. Results A sample of 558 healthcare professionals and 510 patients participated in the surveys. Psychometric analyses revealed positive item scores and acceptable factor loadings, demonstrating the meaningful contribution of each item to the measurement model. The Omega coefficient indicated acceptable to excellent internal consistency for the constructs. Model fit statistics demonstrated good model fit for the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. Conclusions The findings support the construct validity and internal consistency of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C in assessing person-centred practice among healthcare professionals and patients in French-speaking Switzerland. This validation offers valuable tools for evaluating person-centred care in hospital settings.

Life satisfaction is associated with adolescents' adaptability, academic achievement, and mental health, and it reflects the profile of a country's economic development. In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the Russian version of the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). The initial adaptation of the MSLSS was performed using a sample of primary school students. Validation on a sample of early-to-middle adolescents is necessary to assess its reliability and validity for this age group. The sample comprised 2826 adolescents between ages 10 and 16 (Mage = 12.6, SD = 1.2, 41.3% girls) who completed the Russian version of the MSLSS assessing their perceived life satisfaction across five scales. While the five-factor structure of the MSLSS was confirmed, the psychometric analysis indicated that the statements function more effectively measured life satisfaction as a singular one-factor construct. We also observed a significant age-related decline in overall life satisfaction and satisfaction with family, self, school, friends, and teachers. Boys reported significantly lower satisfaction with school compared to girls. This study confirms the validity and reliability of the Russian version of the MSLSS, thereby augmenting its general applicability. Furthermore, we replicated previously reported age and gender differences in life satisfaction among early-to-middle adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on interprofessional identity using the Extended Professional Identity Theory (EPIT) has shown promising results in measuring this identity, predicting interprofessional collaboration, and improving team outcomes. However, EPIT-based interprofessional identity has not been studied in Türkiye due to the absence of a Turkish version of the Extended Professional Identity Scale (EPIS). We aimed to develop and validate a Turkish EPIS, the EPIS-TR, and explore interprofessional identities across eight different professions. A cross-cultural adaptation of EPIS was made by linguistic validation, followed by analysis of psychometric properties using a sample of students from four Turkish universities and eight professions/programs (n = 405). Confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analyses were performed. Differences between professions were explored with ANOVA and a post hoc test. Three out of seven goodness-of-fit indices showed acceptable fit (x2/df =.004; RMSEA =.07; GFI =.94), and others showed excellent fit (SRMR =.04; AGFI =.91; CFI =.97; NNFI =.96). The internal consistency of the EPIS-TR is.93. The EPIS-TR scale has strong psychometric properties. The construct validity of the EPIS-TR was similar to that of the original version. The interprofessional identity scores of the different professions were mostly similar. Based on these findings, the EPIS-TR is well suited for measuring interprofessional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are disproportionately burdened by pregnancy-related deaths in the United States and have the lowest engagement in prenatal care compared to all other US racial groups. Aside from access barriers, studies suggest that NHPI face challenges with patient-clinician communication, perceived discrimination, and cultural conflicts within healthcare settings. This paper describes the cultural adaptation of the 14-item Mothers On Respect index for NHPI, originally developed by Vedam et al. (2017) for diverse communities in British Columbia, Canada, and reports the findings of the preliminary psychometric assessment of the adapted measure. Methods: Data from 26 interviews with NHPI women, expert, and cognitive interviews were conducted to inform the adaptation. An online survey was administered to a sample of 90 NHPI women to assess construct validity, convergent validity, and internal reliability of the adapted measure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: The adaptation resulted in substantial changes to the original measure, mainly by the addition of items related to 'feeling cared for by and connected to the provider' and 'perceived threats hindering communication.' The psychometric analyses identified a three-factor structure for the culturally adapted index and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to refine the measure. The result was a 25-item index with acceptable goodness of fit indices, high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.96, 95% CI =.94-.97) and convergent validity with a related scale. Overall, participants in this sample indicated high levels of respectful care; however, people who received < 8 prenatal care visits had significantly lower ratings on average. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the elements valued by NHPI are not fully captured in existing measures of respectful maternity care. Efforts to assess more discrete aspects of the patient-provider relationship for culturally distinct and racialized groups could help improve the quality of care and advance equity in maternal and perinatal health marginalized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Resources to cope with maternity and women's participation are essential modulators of maternal well-being. Therefore, it is relevant that the psychosocial factors of woman be monitored during maternity to promote adequate healthcare. This study involved the design and the validation of two new tools that identify women's knowledge of healthcare rights (MatCODE) and perception of resource scarcity (MatER) during pregnancy, labor and early postpartum; Methods: The content validity was carried out using the Aiken's V coefficient and the content validity index (CVI-i) based on five experts. In addition, for the face validity, the pilot cohort was considered the INFLESZ scale. Finally, the questionnaires were applied to 185 women, which allowed to assess the construct validation by factorial and Rasch analysis. The divergent validity was also studied with validated psychological questionnaires; Results: MatCODE and MatER questionnaires received CVI-i and Aiken's V > 0.80 values, and the INFLESZ demonstrated acceptable semantic understanding. The analysis confirms the unidimensionality of the questionnaires, with fit values for MatCODE of RMSEA = 0.113 [0.105; 0.122] and for MatER of RMSEA = 0.067 [0.063; 0.072]. The divergent validity showed significant and consistent correlations with the constructs assessed. For MatCODE, ω = 0.95 and α = 0.94, and for MatER, ω = 0.79 and α = 0.78; Conclusions: MatCODE and MatER are useful new tools for monitoring maternal healthcare, with adequate psychometric characteristics in the Spanish context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patient-reported minimal clinically important differences (MCID) provide a standard to compare clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to calculate the MCID of PROMIS Physical Function (PF), Pain Interference (PI), Anxiety (AX), and Depression (DEP) scores in patients with pelvis and/or acetabular fractures. Methods: All patients with operatively treated pelvic and/or acetabular fractures were identified. Patients were categorized as either only pelvis and/or acetabular fractures (PA) or polytrauma (PT). PROMIS PF, PI, AX, and DEP scores were evaluated at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month intervals. Distribution-based MCID and anchor-based MCID were calculated for the overall cohort, PA, and PT groups. Results: The overall distribution-based MCIDs were PF (5.19), PI (3.97), AX (4.33), and DEP (4.41). The overall anchor-based MCIDs were PF (7.18), PI (8.03), AX (5.85), DEP (5.00). The percentage of patients achieving MCID for AX was 39.8–54% at 3 months and 32.7–56% at 12 months. The percentage of patients achieving MCID for DEP was 35.7–39.3% at 3 months and 32.1–35.7% at 12 months. The PT group had worse PROMIS PF scores than the PA group at all time points [post-operative, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month scores, (28.3 (6.3) vs. 26.8 (6.8) P = 0.016), (38.1 (9.2) vs. 35.0 (8.7) P = 0.037), (42.8 (8.2) vs. 39 (9.6) P = 0.015), (46.2 (9.7) vs. 41.2 (9.7) P = 0.011)]. Conclusion: An overall MCID for PROMIS PF was 5.19–7.18, PROMIS PI 3.97–8.03, PROMIS AX of 4.33–5.85, and PROMIS DEP of 4.41–5.00. The PT group had worse PROMIS PF at all time points. The percentage of patients achieving MCID for AX and DEP plateaued at 3 months post-operatively. Level of evidence: Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undergraduate engineering students experiencing distress are less likely than peers to ask for professional help. A population‐specific instrument to facilitate the identification of factors that influence mental healthcare utilization could guide development and testing of interventions to increase help seeking. Purpose: We used mixed methods guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to develop and evaluate the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help‐Seeking Instrument (UE‐MH‐HSI). Method: First, we adapted existing measures of mental health help‐seeking intention and mechanisms (i.e., attitudes, perceived norm: injunctive, perceived norm: descriptive, personal agency: autonomy, personal agency: capacity). Second, we coded qualitative interviews (N = 33) to create population‐specific mental health help‐seeking belief measures (i.e., outcome beliefs, experiential beliefs, beliefs about others' expectations, beliefs about others' behavior, beliefs about barriers and facilitators). Third, we tested the psychometric properties using data from 596 undergraduate engineering students at a historically White, research‐focused institution in southern United States. Results: Psychometric analyses indicated that (1) help‐seeking mechanism and intention measures demonstrated unidimensionality, internal consistency, construct replicability, and sufficient variability; (2) mechanism measures demonstrated criterion evidence of validity; and (3) most items within the belief measures demonstrated sufficient variability and convergent evidence of validity. Conclusions: The UE‐MH‐HSI is an evidence‐based tool for investigating mental health help‐seeking factors and their relationship to help‐seeking behavior, well‐being, academic success, and engineering identity formation. Guidelines for use are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The shift towards person-centred care has become integral in achieving high-quality healthcare, focusing on individual patient needs, preferences, and values. However, existing instruments for measuring person-centred practice often lack theoretical underpinnings and comprehensive assessment. The Person-centred Practice Inventory – Staff (PCPI-S) and the Person-centred Practice Inventory – Care (PCPI-C) were developed in English to measure clinicians' and patients' experience of person-centred practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the French version of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. Methods: A multi-centred cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland. Construct validity of the PCPI-S and the PCPI-C was evaluated by using confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald's Omega coefficient was used to determine the internal consistency. Results: A sample of 558 healthcare professionals and 510 patients participated in the surveys. Psychometric analyses revealed positive item scores and acceptable factor loadings, demonstrating the meaningful contribution of each item to the measurement model. The Omega coefficient indicated acceptable to excellent internal consistency for the constructs. Model fit statistics demonstrated good model fit for the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. Conclusions: The findings support the construct validity and internal consistency of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C in assessing person-centred practice among healthcare professionals and patients in French-speaking Switzerland. This validation offers valuable tools for evaluating person-centred care in hospital settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the validity of a new measure of positive mental health literacy (MHL) is explored in a sample of adolescents: the Positive Mental Health Literacy questionnaire (PosMHLit). The instrument development combined three stages: literature review; conceptual validation by a panel of experts (focusgroup and single analysis); a psychometric study. A sample of 539 adolescents was collected and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with parallel analysis (PA) were conducted. A unidimensional solution with 23 items emerged from EFA. A confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the 1-factor solution, with 19 items. PosMHLit has good internal consistency and construct validity, because it was correlated in the expected directions with MHL, mental well-being, and psychopathology. Girls reported higher PosMHLit than boys. Flourishers and nonflourishers did not differ in terms of PosMHLit. The PosMHLit appears valid and reliable and can be used with adolescents to measure positive MHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Face à l'utilisation omniprésence et souvent incontournable de sites web, il est nécessaire que ceux-ci présentent la meilleure utilisabilité possible pour satisfaire au mieux les utilisateurs. Le questionnaire Design-Oriented Evaluation of Perceived Usability (DEEP), comprenant 19 items, permet d'évaluer la facilité d'utilisation perçue sur la base de six critères génotypiques : contenu, structure et architecture de l'information, navigation, effort cognitif, cohérence de la mise en page, et guidage visuel. À l'issue de la passation du DEEP, les concepteurs sont alors en mesure d'identifier les principaux facteurs du site web qui posent problème. Le but de cette étude est de proposer une adaptation transculturelle en langue française du DEEP, et d'en évaluer les qualités psychométriques. Quatre cent soixante-dix utilisateurs ont complété une enquête en ligne afin de donner leur avis sur le site web Onisep.fr. Cette enquête comprenait notamment les items traduits en français du DEEP (F-DEEP), ainsi que le questionnaire Net Promoter Score. Une analyse factorielle en composantes principales (ACP) avec rotation oblimin, une analyse de la cohérence interne, plusieurs analyses factorielles confirmatoires (AFC) ainsi qu'une étude de la validité convergente entre le F-DEEP et le NPS ont été menées. L'ACP suggère une structure à 6 facteurs, qui correspond en partie aux 6 facteurs du questionnaire originale. La cohérence interne est très satisfaisante, avec un coefficient alpha de Cronbach de 0,944 et un oméga de McDonalds de 0,945. L'AFC qui obtient les indices d'ajustement les plus satisfaisants correspond au modèle de premier-ordre comprenant les 6 facteurs du F-DEEP. Toutes les corrélations calculées entre les facteurs du F-DEEP et le NPS sont positives et hautement significatives. Le F-DEEP présente de très bonnes qualités psychométriques, ce qui lui permet de pouvoir être utilisé par les chercheurs et les professionnels en psychologie ergonomique des interactions humain-machine, pour l'évaluation des sites web auprès des publics francophones. Ce questionnaire peut également être appliqué à l'évaluation de l'utilisabilité des applications mobiles. With the ubiquitous and often unavoidable use of websites, it is necessary that they present the best possible usability to satisfy users. The Design-Oriented Evaluation of Perceived Usability (DEEP) questionnaire, comprising 19 items, assesses perceived usability on the basis of six genotypic criteria: content, structure and information architecture, navigation, cognitive effort, layout consistency, and visual guidance. After completing the DEEP, designers are then able to identify the main factors of the website that cause problems. The aim of this study was to propose a cross-cultural adaptation of the DEEP in French and to evaluate its psychometric qualities. Four hundred and seventy users completed an online survey to give their opinion on the Onisep.fr website. The survey included the French translation of the DEEP (F-DEEP) and the Net Promoter Score questionnaire. A principal component analysis (PCA) with oblimin rotation, an internal consistency analysis, several confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and a convergent validity study between the F-DEEP and the NPS were conducted. The PCA suggests a 6-factor structure, which partly corresponds to the 6 factors of the original questionnaire. The internal consistency is very satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.944 and a McDonalds omega of 0.945. The CFA with the most satisfactory fit indices corresponds to the first-order model including the 6 factors of the F-DEEP. All the correlations calculated between the F-DEEP factors and the NPS are positive and highly significant. The F-DEEP has very good psychometric qualities, which means that it can be used by researchers and professionals in the field of ergonomic psychology of human-computer interaction to evaluate websites for French-speaking audiences. This questionnaire can also be applied to the evaluation of the usability of mobile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical reasoning is a fundamental component of nursing practice, ensuring high-quality and safe patient care. The ability to reliably and validly assess these competencies is crucial for the educational process and professional development of nurses. This study focuses on the adaptation and validation of a clinical reasoning questionnaire in the Bulgarian context, with a specific emphasis on measuring the content and representational validity of the instrument. The research includes students and professionals from various medical universities in Bulgaria to evaluate the suitability of the questionnaire for assessing clinical reasoning competencies among nurses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the representational and content validity of the adapted Bulgarian version of the clinical reasoning questionnaire developed by Liou et al. (2015). Methods and methodology. The study involves 238 participants, including nursing and midwifery students from different universities in Bulgaria. To assess the content and representational validity of the adapted clinical reasoning questionnaire, the following statistical methods were employed: descriptive statistics, content validity index (CVI), and assessment of representational validity. These methods provided a comprehensive approach to validating the questionnaire and confirmed its suitability for evaluating clinical reasoning among Bulgarian nurses. The results indicate a high level of agreement among experts regarding the content validity of the items, with a content validity index of 0.96. The questionnaire demonstrates good psychometric characteristics and is applicable for assessing clinical reasoning among Bulgarian nurses. Conclusion. The results of the study highlight the potential of the adapted instrument for measuring clinical reasoning and its usefulness in medical education and practice in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMyelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, peripheral blood cytopenias, and an increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. One of the main treatment goals is improving quality of life (QoL), particularly for patients with lower-risk MDS (LR-MDS) who may live longer with compromised QoL. The QOL-E© is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure specifically developed to address the lack of a health-related QoL questionnaire for patients with MDS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric performance of the QOL-E in patients with LR-MDS.MethodsData from four clinical trials in MDS (MEDALIST, DARB-MDS, EQoL-MDS, and RevMDS trials) were used to assess construct validity, reliability, and responsiveness. The QOL-E was validated by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire – Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and clinical outcomes. It contains 29 items with the first two items assessing the patient’s general well-being and the 27 remaining items grouped into six domain scores: physical well-being (QOL-FIS), functional well-being (QOL-FUN), social/family well-being (QOL-SOC), sexual well-being (QOL-SEX), fatigue (QOL-FAT), and MDS-specific disturbances (QOL-MDSS). Additionally, meaningful within-patient change (MWPC) thresholds were determined for the domains and summary scores of the QOL-E using anchor-based analyses, supported by distribution-based analyses.ResultsA total of 458 patients were included in the analyses. The QOL-E domain/summary scores demonstrated acceptable convergent/divergent and known-groups validity. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency was confirmed with intraclass correlation coefficients and Cronbach alpha exceeding 0.70 across most QOL-E domains/summary scores. The QOL-E domains/summary scores, except for QOL-SEX, had an adequate ability to detect change from baseline to Week 24. MWPC thresholds were proposed for all other domains and summary scores.ConclusionThe study results demonstrate that the QOL-E is generally fit for purpose to assess treatment effects in populations with LR-MDS and the proposed MWPC thresholds can be used to assess within-patient treatment effect on PROs, as assessed by the QOL-E, in future studies.

Perceived stress is a construct of crucial importance to health and well-being, necessitating the provision of economic, psychometrically sound instruments to assess it in routine clinical practice and large-scale survey studies. Two competing short versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), each consisting of four items, have been proposed. In the present study, we compare the two in a sample representative of the German general population (n = 2,527). Our analyses show that both versions are sufficiently reliable and valid, given the right measurement model. Specifically, the original PSS-4 by Cohen et al. suffers from response style effects, which we remedied using random intercept factor analysis. With the addition of the method factor, it is a highly reliable and valid scale. The PSS-2&2 by Schäfer et al. is more complex in its interpretation since it is split into two facets which cannot be summarized into a single score. Specifically, the Helplessness subscale correlates with related constructs very similar to the original unifactorial model but its reliability is lackluster. In contrast, the Self-Efficacy subscale is reliable but diverges in terms of its correlational pattern. In sum, both versions can be recommended for research designs in need of a brief measure of stress and offer unique contributions.

This brief report examines both within-network and between-network construct validity of the Burnout Assessment Tool for Students (BAT-S) in a sample of 461 Chilean undergraduate university students (70.9% female) ranging between 18 and 58 years old (M = 21.6, SD = 4.34). The reliability analysis results showed adequate internal consistency for the overall burnout score and for each dimension. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a second-order factor (academic burnout) and four first-order factors (exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment) solution. Moreover, the results of multiple-group CFA supported gender invariance. Finally, structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that academic resources and academic demands are associated with academic burnout. Overall, the BAT-S was found to be a reliable and valid tool to assess academic burnout in chilean sample of undergraduate university students.

Abstract Background The topic of adolescent mental health is currently a subject of much debate due to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among this age group. Therefore, it is crucial to have high-quality and validated mental well-being measurement tools. While such tools do exist, they are often not tailored specifically to adolescents and are not available in Czech language. The aim of this study is to validate and test the Czech version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) on a large sample of Czech adolescents aged 15 to 18 years. Methods The analysis is based on data from the first wave of the Czech Education Panel Survey (CZEPS) and was mainly conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT), which is the most appropriate method for this type of analysis. Specifically, the Graded Response Model (GRM) was applied to the data. This comprehensive validation study also included reliability and three types of validity (construct, convergent and criterion) testing. Results The study found that the Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents aged 15 to 18 years (N = 22,498) has good quality and psychometric properties. The data was analysed using the GRM model as it met the assumptions for the use of IRT. The estimated parameter values by GRM demonstrated good discriminant and informative power for all items, except for item 7, which showed poorer results compared to the others. However, excluding it from the scale would not enhance the overall quality of the scale. The five-category response scale functions effectively. Additionally, the results demonstrated high reliability, and all types of validity tested were also confirmed. Conclusions The Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents has been validated as a psychometrically sound, reliable and valid instrument for measuring mental well-being. It can therefore be used with confidence in future studies.

Abstract Background The clinical learning environment (CLE) plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experiences and professional development of medical professionals. Understanding and optimising this environment is essential for improving doctors’ knowledge acquisition, clinical skills, and overall well-being. The development of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) and its translation to numerous languages has been a milestone in clinical education. Even though PHEEM was recently translated into Arabic, its psychometric properties in this form remain unevaluated. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive psychometric analysis of the Arabic version of the PHEEM questionnaire. Methods This is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey validation study. The defined population were medical residents in Damascus, Syria. A paper-based survey as well as an online-based one were conducted using several non-probability sampling methods namely, convenience, river and, snowball sampling between June 15, 2023, and June 21, 2023. Both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted. Several psychometric criteria were applied including scree plot, eigenvalue > 1.5 and the ‘proportion of variance accounted for’ criterion. Results A total of 543 participants completed the questionnaire (56.9% female). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for sample adequacy was high (0.937) and the P-value for Bartlett’s test was 0.7. Discussion The Arabic PHEEM inventory demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. The extracted domains are of theoretical relevance to the psychosocial-material conceptual framework for learning environment. Nonetheless, this validation was performed in the Syrian context; therefore, future studies in other Arabic countries are recommended to support the applicability of Arabic PHEEM in the wide Arab World.

The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) is one of the most well-known and widely used instruments for assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms.Objective. The aim of this study was to adapt the Russian-language version of the PHQ-4 in the general population.Material and Methods. Data collection was carried out with the help of the service «Anketolog». The participants were 2,000 Russians (1,000 men and 1,000 women) aged 18 to 60 years (M = 38.78; SD = 9.25).Results. The psychometric analysis confirmed the internal reliability and discriminative validity of the adapted questionnaire. The proof of the factor validity of the Russian version of the PHQ-4 was the identification of a two-factor structure describing the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and factor invariance by age, level of education, marital status, parental status, financial status and place of residence. Among the Russians, 44.9% had clinically significant anxiety symptoms and 42.9% had clinically significant depressive symptoms. Russians with anxiety and depressive symptoms more often sought counseling from a psychologist, coach, psychiatrist and neurologist, underwent psychopharmacological treatment in connection with psychological requests, contacted support groups and a psychological help hotline, used online products of automated or semi-automated psychological support, read psychological literature and used psychoactive substances.Conclusion. The psychometric properties of the Russian-language version of the PHQ-4 turned out to be similar to the psychometric characteristics of the original version of the questionnaire, and therefore the adapted questionnaire can be recommended for screening anxiety and depression in the general Russianspeaking population.

Background. Intellectual humility (IH) can be defined as an awareness of one's intellectual fallacy that does not threaten the Ego. The Comprehensive Scale of Intellectual Humility (CIHS; Krumrei-Mancuso & Rouse, 2016) measures four aspects of IH: Openness to Revising One’s Viewpoint, Lack of Intellectual Overconfidence, Independence of Intellect and Ego, and Respect for Others’ Viewpoints. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate psychometric properties of a Russian version of CIHS. Study Participants. The participants were 300 respondents, including 186 women and 144 men aged 18 to 70 years. Methods. The items of CIHS were translated from English to Russian using the back-translation method. We next examined the CIHS factor structure, its internal consistency, and a nomological network of CIHS assessing its correlations with the HEXACO-PI-R, which measures six basic personality traits. Results. The Velicer’s minimum average partial index revealed a four-factor solution turned out to be optimal, which corresponded to our theoretical expectations. Principal component analysis supported a four-component structure suited to the original IH model. CIHS (α = 0.72) and its subscales (0.65 < α < 0.82) showed acceptable internal consistency. The subscales were positively correlated with HEXACO’s Conscientiousness, Agreeableness (vs. Anger), Openness to Experience, and Honesty-Humility, evidencing convergent validity of the test. Conclusions. As a preliminary corollary, the Russian adaptation of CIHS has shown satisfactory psychometric properties, which makes the questionnaire acceptable for research purposes and for further testing its practical implications.

Background: The topic of adolescent mental health is currently a subject of much debate due to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among this age group. Therefore, it is crucial to have high-quality and validated mental well-being measurement tools. While such tools do exist, they are often not tailored specifically to adolescents and are not available in Czech language. The aim of this study is to validate and test the Czech version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) on a large sample of Czech adolescents aged 15 to 18 years. Methods: The analysis is based on data from the first wave of the Czech Education Panel Survey (CZEPS) and was mainly conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT), which is the most appropriate method for this type of analysis. Specifically, the Graded Response Model (GRM) was applied to the data. This comprehensive validation study also included reliability and three types of validity (construct, convergent and criterion) testing. Results: The study found that the Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents aged 15 to 18 years (N = 22,498) has good quality and psychometric properties. The data was analysed using the GRM model as it met the assumptions for the use of IRT. The estimated parameter values by GRM demonstrated good discriminant and informative power for all items, except for item 7, which showed poorer results compared to the others. However, excluding it from the scale would not enhance the overall quality of the scale. The five-category response scale functions effectively. Additionally, the results demonstrated high reliability, and all types of validity tested were also confirmed. Conclusions: The Czech version of the SWEMWBS for adolescents has been validated as a psychometrically sound, reliable and valid instrument for measuring mental well-being. It can therefore be used with confidence in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construct: Psychological distress among students is a growing concern in medical education, even more so with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety is among students' mental health issues. High and persistent anxiety has many negative impacts on students' academic and personal life. Early detection is essential for timely intervention. Background: Currently, medical student anxiety is assessed using tools primarily designed for psychiatric purposes. Despite their excellent validity evidence, these tools contain sensitive items and do not explore stressors related to clinical activities. There is a need for contextualized tools to better identify anxiety-provoking factors specific to the medical education environment. Approach: We previously developed the Crisis Experience Rating Scale (CERS-7), a short screening tool to identify early on anxious students participating in clinical activities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study sought to produce further validity evidence for the CERS-7. Medical students in their clinical years at two Swiss and one French medical school, all involved in COVID-19 clinical activity during the second wave of the pandemic, completed the CERS-7 and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-A), the best known and widely used tool to measure for general anxiety. We evaluated internal structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and relation to other variables using linear regression (LR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with thresholds defined using the Youden index. Findings: There were 372 participants. CFA confirmed the two-factor structure of the CERS-7 scale from first-wave dataset. The CERS-7 total scale and subscales demonstrated validity evidence in relationship to the STAI-A scores and categories. A CERS-7 total scale score < 27.5 identified 93% of severely anxious students. Conclusion: The CERS-7 produces reliable scores to use for monitoring anxiety status when assigning students to clinical settings as well as for improving training conditions during clinical crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosocial behaviors are characterized by being driven by the search for the well-being of others. Particularly, adolescence represents a key moment to incorporate actions that favor bonding, which makes the assessment and intervention of helping behaviors pertinent. Given the above, the objective of this work was to confirm the factorial structure of the Prosocial Behavior Scale (Balabanian & Lemos, 2018), propose a brief version, analyze the invariance according to sex, and study external validity indicators. The sample consisted of 612 adolescents (M age=15.47; DE=1.52). The results indicated that the short version of the scale, comprising 13 items, presented satisfactory fit indices (CFI=.97; IFI=.97; GFI=.98; RMSEA=.069 [.060 - .078]). The invariance of the measurement according to sex was confirmed and significant differences were found between men and women in favor of these. Lastly, the results of the concurrent validity analyzes allowed adding evidence of external validity to the Brief Prosocial Behavior scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 70 million individuals have been exposed to environmental arsenic toxicity, worldwide. United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) policy brief -2018 report to mitigate arsenic in drinking water, emphasizes assessing, and changing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) as one of the long-term effective solutions to be implemented as a part of surveillance strategies. This study aims to develop a valid and reliable tool to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices of arsenic and its risk in general health. A cross-sectional survey of N=449 general population was conducted in the outpatient department of Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences-Indian Council for Medical Research for data collection. The construct validation of the questionnaire was done using Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory factor analysis. The Item-Content Validity Index(I-CVI) and Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI) Kappa scores were used to analyze the content validity of the items. The I-CVI ranges from 0.70 to 1, the and the moderate to high cumulative content validity is S-CVI/Universal Agreement=0.84; S-CVI/Average =0.96. Following the principal component analysis, the cumulative Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO) was 0.91 and the three domains in the tool (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy for Knowledge (0.917), Attitude (0.825) & Practices (0.80)) were within the acceptable range. The Barret's test for sphericity was (P <0.001) and was highly acceptable. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis model of Nu-KAP has demonstrated excellent model fit where, majority of fit indices has sown good fit (X2/df=1.88, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.04, Comparative Fit Index=0.98, Goodness of Fit Index = 0.93, and Tucker Lewis Index=0.977). The Cronbach's alpha of 19 item tool was 0.72. The Nu-KAPQ questionnaire demonstrated exceptional validity and reliability while also capturing and integrating all pertinent psychometric analytic domains. Conclusively, this questionnaire can be used to assess psychometric properties associated with arsenic bridging the gap in current research to understand people's perception towards arsenic, since it is a crucial component of arsenic mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical learning environment (CLE) plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experiences and professional development of medical professionals. Understanding and optimising this environment is essential for improving doctors' knowledge acquisition, clinical skills, and overall well-being. The development of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) and its translation to numerous languages has been a milestone in clinical education. Even though PHEEM was recently translated into Arabic, its psychometric properties in this form remain unevaluated. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive psychometric analysis of the Arabic version of the PHEEM questionnaire. Methods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey validation study. The defined population were medical residents in Damascus, Syria. A paper-based survey as well as an online-based one were conducted using several non-probability sampling methods namely, convenience, river and, snowball sampling between June 15, 2023, and June 21, 2023. Both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted. Several psychometric criteria were applied including scree plot, eigenvalue > 1.5 and the 'proportion of variance accounted for' criterion. Results: A total of 543 participants completed the questionnaire (56.9% female). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for sample adequacy was high (0.937) and the P-value for Bartlett's test was < 0.001. EFA revealed five meaningful factors which were labelled: perception of teachers, learner's engagement and social participation, external regulation, work culture, and living conditions. These factors had the following eigenvalues: 12.6, 2.18, 2.03, 1.86, and 1.41 respectively, with a total explained variance of 43.45%. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.938. CFA confirmed the model structure of EFA (SRMR = 0.067 and RMSEA = 0.066). The Average Variance Explained (AVE) value of any given factor was > 0.7. Discussion: The Arabic PHEEM inventory demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. The extracted domains are of theoretical relevance to the psychosocial-material conceptual framework for learning environment. Nonetheless, this validation was performed in the Syrian context; therefore, future studies in other Arabic countries are recommended to support the applicability of Arabic PHEEM in the wide Arab World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer locus of control is a key factor in purchase decisions, where consumers perceive outcomes as either dependent on or external to their own actions. These beliefs vary among individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds, except when it comes to consumption. However, the assumption of measurement invariance across all socioeconomic groups has not been proven. To address this, a study was conducted to develop, validate, and test the invariance of the Consumer Locus of Control Scale. The first study (N = 300) involved exploratory factor analysis and reliability testing. The second study (N = 309) examined confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance. Results showed high explained variance and internal consistency. The five-factor structure demonstrated a good fit, supporting the scale's structural validity. Furthermore, the scale was invariant between high and low socioeconomic groups. This study provides valuable evidence for the reliability and validity of the Consumer Locus of Control Scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Campus Virtuales is the property of Campus Virtuales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: This study explores the stability of scores on psychometrically validated trait questionnaires over time. We illustrate potential pitfalls through a larger study that used the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) to categorize participants prior to study inclusion into two groups based on their habitual tendency to ruminate. Surprisingly, when we re-administered the RRS at the start of an experimental session, significant score changes occurred, resulting in participants shifting between the two groups. Methods: To address this, we modified our recruitment process, aiming to reduce careless responses, including an online RRS assessment a week before the lab appointment. We analyzed the different samples prior to and after changing the recruitment procedure, as well as the total sample regarding the psychometric properties of the RRS. We also explored various indices to identify and predict score changes due to careless responding; however, only a subgroup of participants was successfully identified. Results: Our findings suggest that Mahalanobis distances are effective for identifying substantial score changes, with baseline state rumination emerging as a marginally significant predictor. Discussion: We discuss the importance of conducting manipulation checks and offer practical implications for research involving psychometrically validated trait questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite widespread usage of the SRS-22r questionnaire (Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire-22r), the English version has only sparingly been subjected to analysis using modern psychometric techniques for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The study purpose was to improve interpretation and clinical utility of the SRS-22r for adolescents with AIS by generating additional robust evidence, using modern statistical techniques. Questions about (1) Structure and (2) Item and Scale Functioning are addressed and interpreted for clinicians and researchers. Methods: This retrospective case review analyzed SRS-22r data collected from 1823 patients (mean age 14.9±2.2years) with a primary diagnosis of AIS who clinically completed an SRS-22r questionnaire.Individual SRS-22r questions and domain scores were retrieved through data queries. Patient information collected through chart review included diagnosis, age at assessment, sex, race and radiographic parameters. From 6044 SRS-22r assessments, 1 assessment per patient was randomly selected. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and item response theory (IRT) techniques were used for data modeling, item calibration, and reliability assessment. Results: ESEM demonstrated acceptable fit to the data: χ2 (130)=343.73, p0.80) reliability. Conclusions: Modern psychometric assessment of the SRS-22r, in adolescent patients with AIS, are presented and interpreted to assist clinicians and researchers in understanding its strengths and limitations. Overall, the SRS-22r demonstrated good psychometric properties in all domains except function. Cautious interpretation of the total score is suggested, as it does not reflect a single HRQoL construct.

Abstract A tool to measure perception of aphrodisiac use by undergraduates students of University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria was developed and validated. The study was hinged on several theories that could explain potential to use aphrodisiac among the youths. An exploratory mixed methods design was used to develop a scale to measure perception of aphrodisiac use by undergraduate students of University of Ibadan. Qualitative data collection was performed among thirty equally represented male and female students and five key informant interview participants while 919 participants completed the quantitative phase (surveys). Integration of matched qualitative themes from FGD/KII to survey domains was achieved through the ‘building approach’. Qualitative themes assessing perceptions of aphrodisiac use by university undergraduate students were used to develop original survey items as well as new survey items peculiar to research subjects. Exploratory factor analysis was deployed on polychoric correlation matrix of the items using R-statistical packages. Further model fit analysis was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis on the items suggested by EFA as well as composite reliability and construct validity tests for the constructs. Mean Z-scores of factors were computed against socio-demographics and symptoms of aphrodisiac use among respondents that have ever used it. Most respondents (84.3%) were under 25 years, mostly male (58.4%) and singles (96.3%), with 41.3% earning ≤20,000 naira monthly. The enhanced content validity of the items from mixed method analysis yielded two major domains. Two succession of factor analyses and a structural equation modeling suggested that a first-order model is good fit for experimental data (TLI = 0.931; CFI = 0.948; SRMR = 0.047; RMSEA = 0.083). The four-factor solution to the model included: prolonged sexual performance, use without erectile dysfunction or medical advice, treatment of erectile dysfunction and recreational purposes with an internal and composite reliability that ranged from 0.62–0.92 and 0.63–0.92. The validation with socio-demographics and consequences of aphrodisiac use indicated that: Male respondents, those older than 20years, the married, those from poorly educated parent and sufferers of all related consequences had statistically significant differences with poor perception of aphrodisiac use’ domains. This validated instrument is good for assessment of perception of aphrodisiac use among students in tertiary institution albeit with caution. A version of the scale that is broadened with highly refined items and tested for high internal validity is suggested.

This critique examines the validation of the Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire (GPSQ-2), focusing on methodological limitations and the narrow definition of distress. While the GPSQ-2 expands its scope to include adolescents, it overlooks broader emotional and social dimensions of gender dysphoria, such as shame and societal stigma. The critique also questions the psychometric robustness of the instrument and its reliance on a unidimensional model. Suggestions for further refinement include expanding the sample size and improving the measure’s conceptual depth to better capture diverse experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School leadership practices that promote inclusion for students with special educational needs have received significant attention in the literature. However, few studies have examined the psychometric properties of scales to evaluate principals’ inclusive leadership practices in the Asian, specifically Malaysian, context. This study examined the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of a scale testing inclusive leadership in Malaysian schools. A total of 604 responses were collected from teachers working at 63 public primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study was conducted across two phases. In phase 1, the construct validity of the scale for Malaysian principals’ inclusive leadership practices was established using exploratory factor analysis. In phase 2, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the dimensionality, reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity of the scale. Results supported a two-factor, 29-item scale. The scale may be utilised as a reliable and valid instrument for examining principals’ inclusive school leadership practices in the Malaysian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to adapt and analyze the psychometric properties of the Positive Youth Development Scale - Short Form (PYD-SF) in a sample of adolescents from northern Chile. A total of 369 adolescents (193 males and 176 females) with a mean age of 15 years (SD=1.7) participated in the study. The results show: 1) a fivefactor correlated structure with acceptable fit indices to the data (CFI=.920; TLI=.913; SRMR=.066; RMSEA=.074); 2) adequate internal consistency in all dimensions (α and ω between .77 and .89); 3) and significant correlations with other criterion constructs (self-esteem, anxiety, and depression) in four of the five dimensions of the instrument. Overall, the findings support the use of the 33-item version of the PYD-SF to assess positive development in Chilean adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]