Development of a Readiness for Hospital Discharge assessment tool in Thai patients with stroke

Background: The transition from hospital to home among patients with stroke is quite challenging. If the patients are not ready for hospital discharge, their condition may worsen, which also causes a high rate of readmission. Although instruments to measure readiness for hospital discharge exist, none of them fit with the Thailand context. Objective: This study aimed to develop a Readiness for Hospital Discharge assessment tool in Thai patients with stroke. Methods: The study was conducted from February to September 2020, which consisted of several steps: 1) conducting an extensive literature review, 2) content validity with five experts, 3) pilot testing with 30 samples, and 4) field testing with 348 participants. Content validity index (CVI) was used to measure the content validity, Cronbach’s alpha and inter-item correlation to evaluate reliability, and multiple logistic regression analysis to measure the construct validity. Results: The findings showed good validity and reliability, with I-CVI of 0.85, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.94, and corrected item-total correlation ranging from 0.43 to 0.86. The construct validity was demonstrated through the results of regression analysis showing that the nine variables include level of consciousness (OR = 0.544; CI 95% = 0.311 - 0.951), verbal response (OR = 0.445; 95% CI 0.272- 0.729), motor power right leg (OR = 0.165; 95% CI 0.56- 0.485), visual field (OR = 0.188; 95% CI 0.60-0.587), dysphagia (OR = 0.618; 95% CI 0.410-0.932), mobility (OR = 0.376; 95% CI 0.190 - 0.741), self-feeding (OR = 0.098; 95% CI 0.036 -0.265), bathing (OR = 0.099; 95% CI 0.026-0.378), and bladder control (OR = 0.589; 95% CI 0.355-0.977) that significantly influenced the hospital readmission within 30 days in patients with stroke. Conclusion: The Readiness for Hospital Discharge assessment tool is valid and reliable. Healthcare providers, especially nurses, can use this tool to assess discharge conditions for patients with stroke with greater accuracy in predicting hospital readmission.

Evaluation of the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI)-2019 measuring adherence to Canada's Food Guide 2019 recommendations on healthy food choices

The objective of this study was to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the Healthy Eating Food Index-2019 (HEFI-2019), which was developed to measure adherence to Canada’s Food Guide 2019 (CFG) recommendations on healthy food choices. Dietary intake data from 24-hour dietary recalls in the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey - Nutrition were used for that purpose. Multidimensionality was examined using principal component analysis. Mean scores were compared among subgroups of the population. The association between scores and energy intake was assessed using Pearson correlations. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to assess reliability. The estimated mean HEFI-2019 score (/80) was 43.1 (95%CI, 42.7 to 43.6) among Canadians 2 years and older. The first and 99th percentiles were 22.1 and 62.9 points. The mean HEFI-2019 score for smokers was 7.1 points lower than for non-smokers (95%CI, -8.4 to -5.8). The HEFI-2019 was weakly correlated with energy intake (r=-0.13; 95%CI, -0.20 to -0.06). The principal components analysis revealed at least 4 dimensions. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.66 (95%CI, 0.63 to 0.69). Evidence of construct validity and internal consistency support the use of the HEFI-2019 to assess adherence to CFG-2019’s recommendations on healthy food choices. Novelty: • Examination of the Health Eating Food Index (HEFI)-2019’s psychometric properties is needed prior to implementation • Analyses support the construct validity and internal consistency of the HEFI-2019 • Interpretation of the total HEFI-2019 score must be accompanied by its components’ scores, considering it assesses multiple dimensions of food choices

Development of the Japanese Version of the State Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS-J)

Research in the U.S. developed and validated the State Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS), which measures self-compassionate reactions toward a specific negative event. The current study is aimed at developing the Japanese version of the State Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS-J) and extending previous findings in the U.S. by showing measurement invariance across sexes and demonstrating the construct validity of this scale. Across two studies (n = 596 in Study 1, n = 474 in Study 2), the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling representation of the SSCS-J showed excellent fit in which a single global factor (i.e., self-compassion) and most of the specific factors (six subscales) were well defined. Study 1 further provided evidence for the measurement invariance across sexes. The SSCS-J was related with higher trait self-compassion and lower fear of and negative beliefs about self-compassion. In Study 2, participants who were instructed to be self-compassionate reported higher scores in the SSCS-J relative to those in the control condition. These results attest to the replicability of the factor structure of the SSCS in Japan and provide further evidence for the construct validity of this scale.

Testing the Reliability and Construct Validity of Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) in Non-Western Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients

The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) is deemed the most appropriate instrument for assessing violence risks and management because of its balanced approach between dynamic risk and protective factors. Although several facets of reliability and predictive validity of this tool were strong, its inter-rater reliability, construct validity, and implementation in Asian population were under-investigated. The objective of this research was to examine the inter-rater reliability and construct validity of the START: Thai version within forensic psychiatric inpatients. The participants consisted of 118 forensic psychiatric inpatients hospitalized at Galya Rajanagarindra Institute in Thailand. Trained mental health professionals (i.e., psychiatrists, forensic nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists) assessed each participant across twenty domains of the Thai START. The inter-rater reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient and a confirmatory factor analysis for ordinal data was used to test the construct validity of the scale. The main finding showed a good-to-excellent inter-rater reliability and supported two relational constructs (i.e., strength vs vulnerability subscales) of the Thai START. The Thai START is a promising tool for using in Thai forensic psychiatric setting but some items were not significant in contributing to the scale. This study also provides the guideline for implementing the tool in non-Western forensic psychiatric populations.

Development and validation of a multi-lingual online questionnaire for surveying the COVID-19 prevention and control measures used in global workplaces

Background Despite widespread COVID-19 vaccination programs, there is an ongoing need for targeted disease prevention and control efforts in high-risk occupational settings. This study aimed to develop, pilot, and validate an instrument for surveying occupational COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures available to workers in diverse geographic and occupational settings. Methods A 44-item online survey was developed in English and validated for face and content validity according to literature review, expert consultation, and pre-testing. The survey was translated and piloted with 890 workers from diverse industries in Canada, Ireland, Argentina, Poland, Nigeria, China, the US, and the UK. Odds ratios generated from univariable, and multivariable logistic regression assessed differences in ‘feeling protected at work’ according to gender, age, occupation, country of residence, professional role, and vaccination status. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted, and internal consistency reliability verified with Cronbach’s alpha. Hypothesis testing using two-sample t-tests verified construct validity (i.e., discriminant validity, known-groups technique), and criterion validity. Results After adjustment for occupational sector, characteristics associated with feeling protected at work included being male (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.18,2.99), being over 55 (AOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.25,3.77) and working in a managerial position (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.99,4.83). EFA revealed nine key IPC domains relating to: environmental adjustments, testing and surveillance, education, costs incurred, restricted movements, physical distancing, masking, isolation strategies, and areas for improvement. Each domain showed sufficient internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha ≥0.60). Hypothesis testing revealed differences in survey responses by country and occupational sector, confirming construct validity (p < 0.001), criterion validity (p = 0.04), and discriminant validity (p < 0.001). Conclusions The online survey, developed in English to identify the COVID-19 protective measures used in diverse workplace settings, showed strong face validity, content validity, internal consistency, criterion validity, and construct validity. Translations in Chinese, Spanish, French, Polish, and Hindi demonstrated adaptability of the survey for use in international working environments. The multi-lingual tool can be used by decision makers in the distribution of IPC resources, and to guide occupational safety and health (OSH) recommendations for preventing COVID-19 and future infectious disease outbreaks.

The Scale of Quantitative Assessment Adherence to Treatment «QAA-25»: Updating of Formulations, Constructive and Factor Validity and a Measure of Consent

Aim: To update the definitions of selected questions of the "QAA-25" (quantitative adherence assessment) scale and evaluate it according to the criteria of validity and measure of agreement.Materials and Methods. In a descriptive cross-sectional study including 200 patients with coronary heart disease, adherence was determined using traditional and alternative versions of selected questions of the QAA-25 scale, followed by assessment of construct validity, factor validity, and measure of agreement.Results. Alternative question versions did not significantly affect test results, with 81% of respondents in the outpatient sample and 69% in the inpatient sample rating them as "more acceptable." The QAA-25 scale has good construct and internal validity (α – 0.818, αst – 0.832), with moderate agreement (κ – 0.562) and demonstrates high reliability of internal validity – when scale items are consistently excluded, α values remain in the 0.801-0.839 range.Conclusion. The QAA-25 scale with modified question definitions should be used instead of the previous version of the scale. Good construct validity and factor validity, sufficient measure of agreement and specificity, high sensitivity and reliability of the QAA-25 scale allow to recommend it as a tool for assessing adherence to drug therapy, medical support, lifestyle modification and integral adherence to treatment in scientific and clinical practice.

Psychometric validation of diabetes distress scale in Bangladeshi population

Diabetes Distress (DD)—an emotional or affective state arise from challenge of living with diabetes and the burden of self-care—negatively impact diabetes management and quality of life of T2DM patients. Early detection and management of DD is key to efficient T2DM management. The study aimed at developing a valid and reliable instrument for Bangladeshi patients as unavailability such a tool posing challenge in diabetes care. Linguistically adapted, widely used, 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), developed through forward–backward translation from English to Bengali, was administered on 1184 T2DM patients, from four diabetes hospitals in Bangladesh. Psychometric assessment of the instrument included, construct validity using principal component factor analysis, internal consistency using Cronbach’s α and discriminative validity through independent t-test and test–retest reliability using intraclass-correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa statistics. Factor analysis extracted 4 components similar to original DDS domains, confirms the construct validity. The scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.838), stability (test–retest ICC = 0.941) and good agreement across repeated measurements (Kappa = 0.584). Discriminative validity revealed that patients with complication (p < 0.001) and those are on insulin (p < 0.001) had significantly higher distress scores in all domains. Bengali version of DDS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing distress among Bangladeshi T2DM patients.

Examining the Factor Structure of a Risk Assessment Inventory in Young Offenders: FER-R, Risk and Resource Assessment Form

The FER-R, Risk and Resource Assessment Form, is a multidimensional inventory of structured professional judgment that assesses criminogenic risks and resources for the design and management of individualized intervention plans with criminally sanctioned adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the FER-R, reviewing its factorial structure to contribute evidence of convergent and discriminant construct validity in a sample of adolescents sentenced for crimes in Chile. For each domain (risks and resources) with its respective facets, a unidimensional bifactor structure (CFA-BF) was obtained, with adequate indices of fit that confirmed its construct validity, while the convergent validity was demonstrated with the YLS/CMI and the divergent validity with two MACI scales. The FER-R adds factorial validity to the evidence of the previously reported predictive validity, making it a robust inventory for the evaluation of young offenders, and a relevant tool to manage differentiated interventions in Chile, with a high potential for use in Latin America. The importance of finding a suitable balance in assessing risks and protective factors is discussed, in order to manage interventions adjusted to the needs of the adolescents to promote their criminal desistance.

Psychometric Properties of The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC- SF) In Iranian Adolescents

Background: Psychological tests are necessary to assess and assess the mental state of individuals. Mental health is one of the important psychological indicators and is increasingly considered as having various aspects of well-being. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a 14-item instrument that assesses mental health, focusing on emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the MHC-SF among adolescents, focusing on its factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and gender measurement invariance.Methods: The population of this study was Iranian adolescents between 11 and 18 years old who were enrolled in the seventh to twelfth grades. A convenience sample of 822 Adolescents from four large cities in the Iran (Tehran, Zanjan, Hamedan and Ghazvin) participated in the present study. Questionnaires were completed online. Statistical analyses to evaluate the factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, gender and age factorial invariance were performed in SPSS and LISREL.Results: The results of confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3-factor structure of MHC-SF (emotional, psychological, and social well-being). Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha method and composite reliability (>.7). Measurement invariance were confirmed among girls and boys. Convergent and divergent validity were also evaluated and confirmed by correlating the test score with similar and different tests.Conclusion: This study examined and confirmed the psychometric properties of GHQ in the Iranian adolescent community. This instrument can be used in psychological research and diagnostic evaluations.