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Validation of the Internal Coherence Scale (ICS) in Healthy Geriatric Individuals and Patients Suffering from Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Cancer.

Authors :
Mehl A
Klaus AK
Reif M
Rodrigues Recchia D
Zerm R
Ostermann T
Brinkhaus B
Kröz M
Source :
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) [Geriatrics (Basel)] 2024 May 14; Vol. 9 (3). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 14.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Background: With increased life expectancy, the coexistence of functional impairment and multimorbidity can negatively impact life quality and coherence in geriatric individuals. The self-report 10-item Internal Coherence (ICS) measures how individuals cope with and make sense of disease-specific life challenges. The aim of this study was to validate the ICS in a sample of geriatric individuals.<br />Methods and Procedure: In a cross-sectional study, geriatric individuals with and without chronic diseases were recruited. A factor analysis with principal component extraction (PCA) and a structural equation model (SEM) was conducted to assess the ICS factor structure in a geriatric sample. To measure convergent validity, the following scales were used: Short Health Survey (SF-12), Karnofsky Performance Index (KPI), Trait autonomic regulation (Trait aR), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).<br />Results: A sample of n = 104 (70-96 years of age) patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 ( n = 22), cancer diseases ( n = 31) and healthy controls ( n = 51) completed the ICS. PCA and SEM yielded the original two-factor solution: 1. Inner resilience and coherence and 2. Thermo coherence. Overall internal consistency for this cohort was satisfying (Cronbach's α with r <subscript>α</subscript> = 0.72), and test-retest reliability was moderate ( r <subscript>rt</subscript> = 0.53). ICS scores were significantly correlated to all convergent criteria ranging between r = 0.22 * and 0.49 ** ( p < 0.05 *; p < 0.01 **).<br />Conclusion: Study results suggest that the ICS appears to be a reliable and valid tool to measure internal coherence in a geriatric cohort (70-96 years). However, moderate test-retest reliability prompts the consideration of potential age-effects that may bias the reliability for this specific cohort.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2308-3417
Volume :
9
Issue :
3
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38804320
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9030063