Assessing Patient Preferences: Examination of the German Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences

Despite the positive effects of including patients’ preferences into therapy on psychotherapy outcomes, there are still few thoroughly validated assessment tools at hand. We translated the 18-item Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) into German and aimed at replicating its factor structure. Further, we investigated the reliability of the questionnaire and its convergence with trait measures. A heterogeneous sample of N = 969 participants took part in our online survey. Performing ESEM models, we found acceptable model fit for a four-factor structure similar to the original factor structure. Furthermore, we propose an alternative model following the adjustment of single items. The German C-NIP showed acceptable to good reliability, as well as small correlations with Big-Five personality traits, trait and attachment anxiety, locus of control, and temporal focus. However, we recommend further replication of the factor structure and further validation of the C-NIP.

Factor Structure and Internal Consistency on a Reduced Version of the Revised Test of Need for Cognitive Closure

The need for cognitive closure is a construct postulated by Kruglanski that explains the motivational aspects which influence decision-making and its impact on the social environment. Initially, it was assessed through a unidimensional scale, later criticized for its poor satisfactory reliability and validity. Regarding these criticisms, Pierro and Kruglanski developed a new 14-item scale to measure two dimensions, which were not previously evaluated: urgency tendency and permanence tendency. Although the Revised Test of Need for Cognitive Closure is more economical in terms of assessment time, it would be optimal to develop a reduced test that can assess faster while maintaining validity and reliability. The present research aims to reduce the Revised Test of Need for Cognitive Closure scale to the Argentinian context. To this end, we worked on a non-experimental design, assessing this scale within a sample of 690 Argentinian university students (Women = 81.16%, Men = 18.84%), and proceeded to perform reliability, as well as confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and factorial invariance analysis. The results indicate a bi-factorial structure of a Need for Cognitive Closure instrument with eight items and two dimensions: urgency tendency (α = 0.76) and permanence tendency (α = 0.64), suggesting good reliability in both of them. In addition, well convergent validity was checked with other validated instruments, and finally, the factor loadings were shown to be invariant. In conclusion, it was demonstrated the reliability and validity of reducing the Revised Test of Need for Cognitive Closure in our social environment.

Reliability of televisits for patients with mild relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis in the COVID-19 era

Background Evidence of the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine (TM) for the management of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been provided recently. However, some doubts persist about the accuracy of neurological examinations performed remotely. Objectives This study investigated the reliability of neurological evaluations performed through TM in mild MS patients as compared with standard in-person visits. Methods In total, 76 patients with relapsing–remitting MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 3.5 were consecutively recruited. Of them, 40 patients (52.6%) accepted to undergo both in-person and TM evaluations with independent examiners within 48 h. We alternatively asked patients to assure or not the presence of a caregiver during TM visits. A satisfaction questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results The inter-rater agreement attributed by two independent neurologists during TM visit was high (κ > 0.80) for EDSS and Functional Systems (FS) scores. Moderate agreement between TM and in-person evaluations emerged for pyramidal (κ = 0.57; p < 0.001), brainstem (κ = 0.57; p < 0.001), bowel and bladder (κ = 0.54; p < 0.001) and sensory (κ = 0.51; p < 0.001) FS scores, higher in patients providing the support of a caregiver. A good reliability was reported for EDSS scores computed during remote and in-person visits (ICC = 0.83; 95% CI 0.70–0.91; p < 0.001). Conclusions Despite the complexity of neurological examination, TM could be useful in monitoring MS patients with low disability.

Validation of the revised Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ-R) in the primary care setting

Background Available tools measuring self-management in diabetes are often improperly validated or do not correlate with glucose metabolism. The Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ-R) is a valid tool, that showed strong relationship with glucose metabolism in tertiary care among people with mostly type 1 diabetes. Aim of the study To validate the translated DSMQ-R questionnaire in a Hungarian sample of people with predominantly type 2 diabetes in primary care. Methods We enrolled 492 adults from 38 practices in this cross-sectional cohort study, who filled out the self-administered questionnaire, consisting of DSMQ-R and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaires. Family doctors provided clinical data. The translation process was performed in six steps, reaching the expert committee appraisal. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by assessing reliability and construct validity. Results Cronbach’s alpha showed the questionnaire to reach good reliability (α = 0.845), although subscales had lower alphas. Contrary to the SDSCA questionnaire, the DSMQ-R sum scale differed significantly between persons on target vs not on target (median (interquartile range): 7.23 (6.17–8.44) vs 6.91 (5.91–8.02), and the DSMQ-R sum scale correlated significantly with BMI, HbA1c and SDSCA sum scale. In multivariate analysis higher DSMQ-R scores were significant predictor of achieving glycemic target goal. Conclusion The Hungarian translation of the DSMQ-R is a comprehensible tool to assess self-management of persons with diabetes. The questionnaire is valid and reliable in family practice, although its association with achievement of diabetes HbA1c target is weaker in primary than in tertiary care.

The reliability and validity of a screening scale for online gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents and young adults

Background In recent years, there have been frequent reports of gaming disorder in China, with more focus on young people. We developed and psychometrically tested a Gaming Disorder screening scale (i.e., Gaming Disorder Screening Scale - GDSS) for Chinese adolescents and young adults, based on the existing scales and diagnostic criteria, but also considering the development status of China. Methods For testing content and criterion validity, 1747 participants competed the GDSS and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). After 15 days, 400 participants were retested with the scales for to assess test-retest reliability. Besides, 200 game players were interviewed for a diagnosis of gaming disorder. Results The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient on the GDSS was 0.93. The test-retest coefficient of 0.79. Principal components analysis identified three factors accounting for 62.4% of the variance; behavior, functioning, cognition and emotion. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit to the data (χ2 /df = 5.581; RMSEA =0.074; TLI = 0.916, CFI = 0.928). The overall model fit was significantly good in the measurement invariance tested across genders and different age groups. Based on the clinical interview, the screening cut-off point was determined to be ≥47 (sensitivity 41.4%, specificity 82.3%). Conclusions The GDSS demonstrated good reliability and validity aspects for screening online gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents and young adults.

Reliability, Validity, and Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Tayside Children's Sleep Questionnaire

Background: Tayside children's sleep questionnaire (TCSQ) is a simple tool for screening the Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep among children aged between one and five years. In this study, we aimed to translate TCSQ into Persian and evaluate the validity and reliability of TCSQ among Persian speakers.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 311 children aged 1-5 years in Isfahan. After permission, the forward-backward translation method is used to develop the Persian version. Finally, 311 children participated in this survey, and 30 were repeated for a second time. Google Form, SPSS16, and STATA14 were used for data collection, descriptive statics, and factor analysis. BEARS questionnaire is used for convergent validity. Three expert opinions were used for content validity.Results: In this study, 404 mothers of children in Isfahan volunteered to participate in the survey, of which 311 remained. The mean and standard deviation age of their children was 3.47±1.91 years. Cronbach Alpha of the Persian version of TCSQ was 0.76 CI (0.78-0.66). The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.67 CI (0.60-0.74). The content validity index was 0.88, and three factors (Disturbance, nighttime, parents) with a specific value greater than 0.4 is determined by factor analysis.Conclusions: The current study results indicate that TCSQ has good reliability and validity among Persian speakers.

Examination of the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory—Short Form Among Portuguese Young Adults: Psychometrics and Measurement Invariance

The Weinberger Adjustment Inventory—Short Form (WAI-SF) is a multidimensional measure of behavioral adjustment frequently used with forensic, clinical, and community populations. However, no previous studies have examined the WAI-SF from a more modern psychometric perspective including second-order models, measurement invariance and a better estimation of reliability. The current sample is composed of female and male young adults ( N = 610, M = 21.33 years, SD = 3.09, range = 18–37) from a university context in Portugal. Results indicated that both the four-factor intercorrelated and the four-factor second order models of the WAI-SF Distress and Restraint scales showed good fits. The WAI-SF Distress and Restraint scales were negatively and significantly correlated, and the intercorrelations between the subscales of each scale ranged from moderate to high. The WAI-SF scales and subscales mostly showed adequate to good reliability in terms of McDonald’s Omega and the more traditional Cronbach’s Alpha. Strong cross-gender measurement invariance was demonstrated, with females scoring significantly higher than males on the Anxiety subscale of the Distress scale, and on the Suppression of Aggression, Impulse Control, Consideration of Others, Responsibility subscales, and Restraint scale. The WAI-SF scales and subscales showed distinctive correlates with other measures (e.g., low self-control, psychopathy) and variables (e.g., delinquency seriousness, substance use). Considering our findings, the use of the WAI-SF is recommended among the Portuguese young adult population and its use in criminological research is encouraged.

The Value of Lung Ultrasound Score Predicts the Ventilator use in Preterm with Dyspnea within 24h after Hospitalization

This study aims to explore the predictive value of LUSsc(Lung Ultrasound Score) in the selection of respiratory support mode for premature infants with dyspnea.We prospectively included 857 preterm infants and performed LU in the first 2 hours of admission and scored LUSsc by two specialist sonographers. They were divided into two stratification according to gestational age (<32 +0 weeks and 32 +0 -36+6 weeks), and had two main outcomes: invasive and non-invasive respiratory support. In the training set, analysis the clinical factors finding the best cut-off value of lung ultrasound score then verified the consistency in the verification set. The choice of invasive respiratory support is based on neonatal mechanical ventilation rules. Preterm infants with invasive respiratory support had higher LUS scores and lower OI 、birth weight、than those with non-invasive support. For preterm <32 +0 weeks the cut-off point of LUSsc was 6.5 that the area under curve was 0.749 (95% CI: 0.689-0.809), which was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.0% and 68.3%, for preterm 32 +0 -36 +6 weeks, cut-off point was 6.5 and the area under curve was 0.863 (95% CI: 0.811-0.911), sensitivity and specificity were 75.3% and 0.836%.In the validation set, use actual clinical respiratory support selection results to verify, for preterm <32 +0 weeks (Kappa value 0.660, P<0.05, McNemar test P ＞0.05),for preterm 32 +0 -36 +6 weeks (Kappa value 0.779, P<0.05, McNemar test P ＞0.05). Conclusion: The LUS score shows good reliability to predict respiratory support mode for preterm infants with dyspnea

Sexual dysfunction associated with prostate cancer treatment in Japanese men: a qualitative research

Purpose We investigated the experiences of Japanese men with sexual dysfunction associated with various prostate cancer treatments. Methods We included 38 Japanese men who underwent the following initial treatments for prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy (n = 10), external beam radiotherapy (n = 12), brachytherapy (n = 5), and androgen deprivation therapy (n = 11). Semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding sexual dysfunction associated with prostate cancer treatment. Data were analyzed using a content analysis method. To obtain a unique experience for each treatment, we confirmed and organized the treatment method from which the code that constituted each category was derived. The category reliability was calculated based on Scott’s formula for the matching rate of the classification by three qualitative researchers. The criterion for good reliability was set at 70%. Results Japanese men with sexual dysfunction associated with prostate cancer treatments experienced the following: a desire to maintain sexual function and conflict in decision-making concerning the initial treatment for prostate cancer; a loss of values related to sexual dysfunction; an uncertainty regarding the consequences of sexual dysfunction; a sense of calm with fewer adverse effects of sexual dysfunction at the early treatment stage; an effort to accept sexual dysfunction; and management of their changed body at the later treatment stages. The concordance rates for the categories were 70% and 78%. Additionally, there were glimpses of experiences common to all treatments and trends in treatment-specific experiences. Conclusion It is necessary to provide care based on the experience of Japanese men with sexual dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment.

The Reliability and Test-Retest Stability of the Treatment Perception Questionnaire (TPQ) in the Oncology Field: A Pilot Study

Background: Patients' satisfaction is an indicator of technical, instrumental, environmental, and interpersonal aspects of care. It shows how much the health service “as a whole organization” meets the patients’ psychosocial expectations and if the health professionals combine their technical competence with relational skills. The Treatment Perception Questionnaire (TPQ) is a brief instrument developed in the United Kingdom for research with substance abuse disorder populations. The present study aimed at evaluating the reliability and test-retest stability of the TPQ Italian translation in a sample of patients with solid and blood cancers. Methods: The TPQ was administered to 263 people with solid and blood cancers. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a subgroup of 116 participants who completed the TPQ again after 3 months. Results: The reliability of TPQ was good. Cronbach’s alpha: 0.83 (95%CI: 0.79-0.86), 0.66 (0.59-0.72), 0.71 (0.65-0.769), respectively, in the total test, and in subscales on “staff perception”, and “program perception”. Test-retest reliability was 0.82 (0.77-0.87). The mean difference between the first and the second assessment was 1.0 (SD = 7.1; 95% CI -0.35 to 2.33). By plotting the differences and the means of the two assessments, 5/116 cases (4.3%) were outside the upper and lower limits of agreement. Conclusions: This study points out good reliability and test-retest stability of the TPQ in the oncology field. The TPQ can be used to assess variation over time about satisfaction with care in patients with oncological diseases, favoring the identification of unmet patients’ needs about the quality of the service.