Psychometric Validation of the German Translation of the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B)—Data from the German Bronchiectasis Registry PROGNOSIS

Patients with bronchiectasis feature considerable symptom burden and reduced health-related quality of life (QOL). We provide the psychometric validation of the German translation of the disease-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B), version 3.1, using baseline data of adults consecutively enrolled into the prospective German bronchiectasis registry PROGNOSIS. Overall, 904 patients with evaluable QOL-B scores were included. We observed no relevant floor or ceiling effects. Internal consistency was good to excellent (Cronbach’s α ≥0.73 for each scale). QOL-B scales discriminated between patients based on prior pulmonary exacerbations and hospitalizations, breathlessness, bronchiectasis severity index, lung function, sputum volume, Pseudomonas aeruginosa status and the need for regular pharmacotherapy, except for Social Functioning, Vitality and Emotional Functioning scales. We observed moderate to strong convergence between several measures of disease severity and QOL-B scales, except for Social and Emotional Functioning. Two-week test-retest reliability was good, with intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.84 for each scale. Minimal clinical important difference ranged between 8.5 for the Respiratory Symptoms and 14.1 points for the Social Functioning scale. Overall, the German translation of the QOL-B, version 3.1, has good validity and test-retest reliability among a nationally representative adult bronchiectasis cohort. However, responsiveness of QOL-B scales require further investigation during registry follow-up.

Characterizing Individual Differences in Sweet Taste Hedonics: Test Methods, Locations, and Stimuli

Sweetness drives the consumption of added sugars, so understanding how to best measure sweet hedonics is important for developing strategies to lower sugar intake. However, methods to assess hedonic response to sweetness vary, making results across studies difficult to integrate. We compared methods to measure optimal sucrose concentration in 21 healthy adults (1) using paired-comparison preference tracking vs. ratings of liking, (2) with participants in the laboratory vs. at home, and (3) using aqueous solutions vs. vanilla milk. Tests were replicated on separate days to assess test-retest reliability. Test-retest reliability was similar between laboratory and home testing, but tended to be better for vanilla milk and preference tracking. Optimal sucrose concentration was virtually identical between laboratory and home, slightly lower when estimated via preference tracking, and about 50% lower in vanilla milk. However, optimal sucrose concentration correlated strongly between methods, locations, and stimuli. More than 50% of the variability in optimal sucrose concentration could be attributed to consistent differences among individuals, while much less variability was attributable to differences between methods. These results demonstrate convergent validity between methods, support testing at home, and suggest that aqueous solutions can be useful proxies for some commonly consumed beverages for measuring individual differences.

DunedinPACE, a DNA methylation biomarker of the pace of aging

Background: Measures to quantify changes in the pace of biological aging in response to intervention are needed to evaluate geroprotective interventions for humans. Previously we showed that quantification of the pace of biological aging from a DNA-methylation blood test was possible (Belsky et al. 2020). Here we report a next-generation DNA-methylation biomarker of Pace of Aging, DunedinPACE (for Pace of Aging Calculated from the Epigenome).Methods: We used data from the Dunedin Study 1972-3 birth cohort tracking within-individual decline in 19 indicators of organ-system integrity across four time points spanning two decades to model Pace of Aging. We distilled this two-decade Pace of Aging into a single-time-point DNA-methylation blood-test using elastic-net regression and a DNA-methylation dataset restricted to exclude probes with low test-retest reliability. We evaluated the resulting measure, named DunedinPACE, in five additional datasets.Results: DunedinPACE showed high test-retest reliability, was associated with morbidity, disability, and mortality, and indicated faster aging in young adults with childhood adversity. DunedinPACE effect-sizes were similar to GrimAge Clock effect-sizes. In analysis of incident morbidity, disability, and mortality, DunedinPACE and added incremental prediction beyond GrimAge.Conclusions: DunedinPACE is a novel blood biomarker of the pace of aging for gerontology and geroscience.Funding: This research was supported by US-National Institute on Aging grants AG032282, AG061378, AG066887, and UK Medical Research Council grant MR/P005918/1.

Test-retest reliability of the HEXACO-100—And the value of multiple measurements for assessing reliability

Despite the widespread use of the HEXACO model as a descriptive taxonomy of personality traits, there remains limited information on the test-retest reliability of its commonly-used inventories. Studies typically report internal consistency estimates, such as alpha or omega, but there are good reasons to believe that these do not accurately assess reliability. We report 13-day test-retest correlations of the 100- and 60-item English HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-100 and HEXACO-60) domains, facets, and items. In order to test the validity of test-retest reliability, we then compare these estimates to correlations between self- and informant-reports (i.e., cross-rater agreement), a widely-used validity criterion. Median estimates of test-retest reliability were .88, .81, and .65 (N = 416) for domains, facets, and items, respectively. Facets’ and items’ test-retest reliabilities were highly correlated with their cross-rater agreement estimates, whereas internal consistencies were not. Overall, the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised demonstrates test-retest reliability similar to other contemporary measures. We recommend that short-term retest reliability should be routinely calculated to assess reliability.

Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of a Novel Push Low-Cost Hand-Held Dynamometer for Knee Strength Assessment during Different Force Ranges

The objective was to assess the instrumental validity and the test–retest reliability of a low-cost hand-held push dynamometer adapted from a load-cell based hanging scale (tHHD) to collect compressive forces in different ranges of compressive forces. Three independent raters applied 50 pre-established compressions each on the tHHD centered on a force platform in three distinct ranges: ~70 N, ~160 N, ~250 N. Knee isometric strength was also assessed on 19 subjects in two sessions (48 h apart) using the tHHD anchored by an inelastic adjustable strap. Knee extension and flexion were assessed with the participant seated on a chair with the feet resting on the floor, knees, and hips flexed at 90°. The isometric force peaks were recorded and compared. The ICC and the Cronbach’s α showed excellent consistency and agreement for both instrumental validity and test–retest reliability (range: 0.89–0.99), as the correlation and determination coefficients (range: 0.80–0.99). The SEM and the MDC analysis returned adequate low values with a coefficient of variation less than 5%. The Bland–Altman results showed consistency and high levels of agreement. The tHHD is a valid method to assess the knee isometric strength, showing portability, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly interface to provide an effective form to assess the knee isometric strength.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Chinese Version of the Brace Questionnaire

Objective: To adapt the questionnaire cross-culturally and to analyze the adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Brace Questionnaire (C-BrQ).Methods: The adaptation was based on the International Quality of Life Assessment Project guidelines. A total of 79 patients with AIS were included to examine the psychometric properties of the C-BrQ. The reliability was assessed using internal consistency (the Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ICC2.1, 95% CI). Floor and ceiling effects were calculated. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC, 95% CI) was used to compare the agreement between the Scoliosis Research Society-22 patient questionnaire (SRS-22) and C-BrQ.Results: There were strong correlations between each item and its corresponding domain significantly. The correlations between the C-BrQ domains and their related questions vary from moderate to strong (r = 0.311–0.933, P < 0.05). The Cronbach's was 0.891, showing good internal consistency of each domain of the BrQ, and the ICC in test–retest was 0.860 (0.8776, 0.912), which means an excellent test–retest reliability. The Lin's CCC between SRS-22 and C-BrQ was 0.773 (0.669, 0.848), showing great agreement. However, no significant floor and ceiling effects in C-BrQ was observed except the ceiling effect in school activity and bodily pain.Conclusion: BrQ was translated and cross-culturally adapted for use in China with good internal consistency and excellent test–retest reliability.

Validity and Reliability of Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaires for Assessing Nutrient Intake among Preschool Children in Northwest China

Background. Considering the lack of valid and reliable food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) for nutritional epidemiological studies in China, it is necessary to develop an effective one for assessing nutrient intake among preschool children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of newly developed FFQs for assessing food and nutrient intakes among preschool children in Northwest China. Methods. Semiquantitative 67-item FFQs were developed and validated. In total, 326 children (aged 2–6 years) were recruited from three different cities in Northwest China. All subjects were asked to complete the FFQs twice with a six-month interval period for test-retest reliability. Apart from the FFQs, a 3-day food record (3-DFR) was also carried out to evaluate the validity of the FFQs. Results. There was no significant difference in the nutrient intakes of preschool children between the two FFQs ( P > 0.05 ), and these two FFQs demonstrated a positive correlation ( P < 0.05 ). Spearman’s coefficient correlation values ranged from 0.222 (“Selenium”) to 0.832 (“Energy”). The intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged from 0.282 (“Selenium”) to 0.882 (“Energy”). With regards to the validity of FFQs, nutrient intakes from FFQs were greater than 3DR dietary recalls ( P < 0.05 ). After adjusting for total energy and intraindividual variation, all nutrient intakes showed a positive correlation ( P < 0.05 ), and these correlations became stronger. According to the quartiles of nutrient intakes, the exact agreement between the FFQs and 3DR dietary recalls ranged between 40% (“Selenium”) and 70% (“Energy”), and grossly misclassified was low (12.5%). Conclusions. The findings of this study indicate that the designed FFQs exhibit good test-retest reliability and moderate relative validity. Hence, the FFQs can serve as an important tool for the large-scale assessment of food and nutrient intakes among preschool children (in the mentioned areas of China).

Total Hip Arthroplasty: Psychometric Validation of the Italian Version of Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12)

Background: Patient’s satisfaction after surgery was traditionally assessed by pre, and post-surgical scores and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) scales. Patients treated by Total hip arthroplasty (THA) usually perform well; therefore, it is useful to have a PROMs’ scale with a low ceiling effect as the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12). PROMs have to be validated in the local language to be used. This study aims to perform a psychometric validation of the Italian version of FJS-12 in a group of consecutive patients treated by THA.Methods: Each patient completed both the Italian version of FJS-12 and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) in preoperative evaluation, after two weeks and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperative follow-up. The reliability, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and measurement error were evaluated.Results: 53 patients were included. Cronbach’s α between 0.6 and 0.9 indicated good internal consistency for the FJS-12. The test-retest reliability was acceptable. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the FJS-12 and WOMAC was 0.238 (P=0.087) at baseline, r = 0.637 (P < 0.001) at 1 month, r = 0.490 (P < 0.001) at 3 months and r = 0.572 (P < 0.001) at 6 months. The ceiling effect was above the acceptable range (15%) for FJS-12 in 1 month (26.4%) and WOMAC in 6 months follow-up (24.5%).Conclusions: An excellent test-retest reliability, a good internal consistency, and a good validity by medium-high correlation with the WOMAC were assessed for FJS-12. However, the responsiveness for the FJS-12 score was not assessed.