Development and application of the State–Trait Serenity Scale

BackgroundFear of childbirth is common both before and after childbirth, often leading to complications in mother and new-born. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaires (W-DEQ) are commonly used to measure fear of childbirth among women before (version A) and after childbirth (version B). The tools are not yet validated in the Tanzanian context. This study aimed to validate the reliability, validity, and factorial structure of their Kiswahili translations.MethodsA longitudinal study was conducted in six public health facilities in the Pwani region, Tanzania. In all, 694 pregnant and 625 postnatal women were concurrently selected and responded to W-DEQ-A and W-DEQ-B. Validation involved: translating the English questionnaires into Kiswahili; expert rating of the relevancy of the Kiswahili versions’ items; computing content validity ratio; piloting the tools; data collection; statistical analysis with reliability evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Tool validity was assessed using factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted on data collected using W-DEQ-A and W-DEQ-B, respectively.ResultsExploratory factor analysis revealed seven factors contributing to 50% of the total variation. Four items did not load to any factor and were deleted. The factors identified were: fear; lack of self-efficacy; lack of positive anticipation; isolation; concerns for the baby; negative emotions; lack of positive behaviour. The factors correlated differently with each other and with the total scores. Both Kiswahili versions with 33 items had good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alphas of .83 and .85, respectively. The concerns for the baby factor showed both convergent and discriminant validity. The other six factors showed some problems with convergent validity. The final model from the confirmatory factor analysis yielded 29 items with good psychometric properties (χ2/df = 2.26, p = < .001, RMSEA = .045, CFI = .90 and TLI = .81).ConclusionsThe Kiswahili W-DEQ-A-Revised and W-DEQ-B-Revised are reliable tools and measure fear of childbirth with a multifactorial structure, encompassing seven factors with 29 items. They are recommended for measuring fear of childbirth among pregnant and postnatal Tanzanian women. Further studies are needed to address the inconsistent convergent validity in the revised versions and assess the psychometric properties of W-DEQ-A among pregnant women across gestational ages.

Introduction: Chinese hospitals still face various barriers to implementing pharmaceutical care. The quantitative instrument for measuring these barriers in China is scarce. This study aims to develop and validate a scale for measuring barriers to providing pharmaceutical care in Chinese hospitals from the perspective of clinical pharmacists. Methods: The scale was developed based on existing literature and qualitative interviews with 20 experts. The scale was included in a small-range pilot survey and then administered to a validation survey in 31 provinces in China. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the structure of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to verify the structure of the scale and to validate the scale's convergent and discriminative validity. Known-group validity was also examined. Cronbach's alpha examined the internal consistency reliability of the scale. Results: 292 scales were completed and returned for a response rate of 85.6% in the pilot study. Exploratory factor analysis of the scale suggested a five-factor solution (Cognition and attitude, Knowledge and skills, Objective conditions, External cooperation, and Support from managers) accounting for 66.03% of the total variance. 443 scales were sent out in the validation study, with a response rate of 81.0%. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good fit of the structural model for pharmaceutical care barriers. It showed the scale's good convergent and discriminative validity (The average variance extracted >0.5 and composite reliability >0.7). The scale could also identify the differences in total score among the clinical pharmacists from different hospital grades (p < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha is between 0.658 and 0.896, indicating good internal consistency. Conclusion: From the perspective of clinical pharmacists, this study has developed a scale to assess obstacles to pharmaceutical care. The scale comprehensively encompasses barriers to clinical pharmacists' cognitive and ability-related aspects, hindrances encountered in collaborating with other health professionals and patients, and barriers to the working environment. The reliability and validity have been established through verification.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the short-version for clinical nurses on a communication competence scale developed to measure the communication competence of clinical nurses.Methods: Data were collected from 396 clinical nurses who work at general hospitals in Korea. The original version of the Communication Ability Scale was shorted and content, construct, item-convergent/discriminant, convergent validity and also internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Pearsons's correlation coefficient and Cronbach’s ⍺.Results: As a result of item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, 5 subscales and a total of 20 items were derived. The confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate model fit indices (Normed &lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=1.88, RMR=.04, RMSEA=.07, GFI=.87, CFI=.90, TLI=.87, IFI=.89). The items convergence and discrimination validity were verified using the Average Variance Extracted (.50~.56), composite reliability (.76~.86) and &lt;i&gt;Φ&lt;/i&gt;±2SE (.42~.99). Convergent validity was demonstrated using Korean Version of Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (r=.59, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were found to be acceptable, as indicated by a Cronbach’s ⍺ of .65~.79 and an intra-class correlation coefficient of .82~.90. The validity and reliability of the scale were verified.Conclusion: The NACCS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring communication competence for clinical nurses in Korea.

Hope plays an extremely important role in protecting childhood cancer patients from psychological distress caused by cancer. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that can accurately assess hope is crucial for the development of interventions to enhance hope among childhood cancer patients. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI). Chinese childhood cancer patients aged 8–17 years (n = 412) were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Chinese translated version of the HHI, the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale for Children and the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Cancer Module. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to assess the structural validity of the HHI. Content validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability at 2 weeks were also examined. The content validity index for items ranged from 0.8 to 1.0, and that for the scale was 0.9, demonstrating appropriate content validity. There was a positive correlation between HHI and Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale for Children scores and a negative correlation between HHI and Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Cancer Module scores. The results indicated that the Chinese version of the HHI showed reasonable convergent validity and discriminant validity. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor model, which could explain 82.74% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis results showed that χ2/df was 2.20, comparative fit index was 0.98, goodness of fit index was 0.94, and root-mean-square error of approximation was 0.07. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.78, indicating good internal consistency. The findings of the study showed that the Chinese version of the HHI (11-item) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing hope among Chinese childhood cancer patients. Evidence-based interventions can be provided to enhance hope in this population.

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences has been widely translated and commonly used as a measure for psychotic experiences and psychosis proneness in clinical and research environments worldwide. This study aimed to establish the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) and factor structure of a Korean version of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (K-CAPE) in the general population. A total of 1,467 healthy participants completed K-CAPE and other psychiatric symptom-related scales (Paranoia scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Dissociative Experiences Scale-II, and Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences) via online survey. K-CAPE's internal reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to investigate whether the original three-factor model (positive, negative, and depressive) and other hypothesized multidimensional models (including positive and negative subfactors) were suitable for our data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to explore better alternative factor solutions with a follow-up CFA. To assess convergent and discriminant validity, we examined correlations between K-CAPE subscales with other established measures of psychiatric symptoms. K-CAPE showed good internal consistency in all original three subscales (all greater than α=0.827). The CFA demonstrated that the multidimensional models exhibited relatively better quality than the original three-dimensional model. Although the model fit indices did not reach their respective optimal thresholds, they were within an acceptable range. Results from the EFA indicated 3-5 factor solutions. In 3-factor solution, "negative-avolition" items were founded to be loaded more consistently with depressive items than with the negative dimension. In 4-factor solution, positive items were divided into two subfactors: "positive-bizarre experiences" and "positive-delusional thoughts," while negative symptoms were separated into two distinct subfactors in 5-factor solution: "negative-avolition (expressive)," and "negative-social (experiential)." The correlation coefficients between K-CAPE subscales and corresponding measurements were significant (p<0.001), confirming the convergent and discriminant validity. Our study provides evidence to support the reliability and validity of the K-CAPE and its use as a measure of psychotic symptoms in the Korean population. Although alternative factor structures did not improve the model fit, our EFA findings implicate the use of subfactors to investigate more specific domains of positive and negative symptoms. Given the heterogeneous nature of psychotic symptoms, this may be useful in capturing their different underlying mechanisms.

BackgroundEven though the innovation of COVID-19 vaccination effectively protects against the virus, practicing preventative behaviors is still essential. However, public adherence to preventive behaviors relies mainly on the individuals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 preventative behaviors. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate these aspects. Nevertheless, there is no validated scale that assesses KAP toward COVID-19 preventative behaviors. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventative behaviors.MethodsA quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was used to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of KAP through specific stages: item development, face, content, convergent and construct validity evaluation, and internal consistency. Data were collected online through “google forms” from June 2020 to July 2020. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the construct validity.ResultsA total of 1,363 participants completed the scale. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.83, indicating good internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis supported structural validity for all the scale items with KMO 0.78, 0.60, and 0.81, respectively, and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity = (p < 0.05). Convergent validity was confirmed by a moderate correlation between the KAP scale items, knowledge ranging from r = 0.11 (p < 0.01) to r = 0.62 (p < 0.01), attitude ranging from r = 0.158 (p < 0.01) to r = 0.584 (p < 0.01), and practice ranging from r = 0.383 (p < 0.01) to r = 0.774 (p < 0.01).ConclusionThe psychometric properties of the scale indicate that the KAP is a valid and reliable scale that can be utilized to evaluate the level of KAP toward COVID-19 preventative behaviors among the population in Saudi Arabia.

BackgroundThis study aimed to validate a comprehensive and psychometrically soundinstrument—the Propensity to Cheat Scale (PCS)—designed tomeasure undergraduate students’ propensity toward academic dishonestyin Ethiopian universities. Based on Ajzen’s Theory of PlannedBehavior, the PCS was validated to assess students’ attitudes,subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control related to various formsof cheating, including cheating on tests and examinations, cheating onassignments, cheating on research work (plagiarism), and theft andmutilation of library materials.MethodsThe present study employed an explanatory research design using aquestionnaire based on the Propensity to Cheat Scale (PCS). Thequestionnaire was administered to 500 university students (male = 367[73.4%]; female = 133 [26.6%]) selected from three Ethiopian publicuniversities between November and January 2022. In order to measure theunderlying variables of propensity towards cheating, a factor model isdeveloped using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factoranalysis was employed to validate the students’ perceived PTC. Theinternal consistency of the PTC scale was assessed using reliabilityanalysis, and validity evaluations were conducted to confirm thescale’s discriminant and convergent validity.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results revealed a good fit to the data,and the internal consistency of the PCS was found to be strong, providing areliable measure of students’ propensity for cheating. Validityevaluations, including discriminant validity and convergent validity,confirmed the validity of the scale. The average variance extracted (AVE)and composite reliability values also supported the scale’sconvergent validity. The multidimensional concept of the PTC was supportedby a four-factor solution consisting of 26 reliable and valid items.ConclusionThe findings of the study demonstrate that the scale has also providedsufficient evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. By establishingdiscriminant and convergent validity, as well as reliability, throughdifferent validation procedures, the study has provided strong evidence forthe effectiveness of the PCS as an instrument for determining whetheruniversity students are likely to engage in cheating behavior.

Frontal Assessment Battery in Early Cognitive Impairment: Psychometric Property and Factor Structure.

Testing the structure of the BERRI using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis

Purpose: Gender affirmation (GA) has been associated with improved health care engagement and health outcomes. Given the lack of a valid tool to measure GA in health care settings (GAHS) among transgender women living with HIV (TWLH) in India, we tested the validity and reliability of a 4-item GAHS scale. Methods: We used baseline, 3-, and 6-month data from a longitudinal observational cohort study among 140 TWLH. We conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using baseline data to determine the underlying factor structure measuring GA and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using 3-month data. We assessed group (“transgender woman” vs. indigenous transfeminine identities) and longitudinal measurement invariance across three time points. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating GA scores with medical GA and social factors, discriminant validity by their correlation with baseline HIV-related stigma, and predictive validity by their correlation with mental health and antiretroviral treatment (ART) outcomes. Results: EFA indicated a single-factor structure. CFA confirmed a 4-item single-factor model with good fit [χ 2 = 7.66 (2), p = 0.02], high reliability (α = 0.83), and measurement invariance. Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between GA and social support, resilience resources, and physician trust. Discriminant validity was supported as GA scores were not correlated with internalized HIV stigma. Higher baseline GA scores significantly predicted better 3-month ART adherence and lower anxiety, demonstrating predictive validity. Conclusion: The GAHS scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties, exhibiting good validity and reliability, making it suitable for screening or monitoring GAHS and for research purposes. Future studies should evaluate this scale among diverse populations of transgender people.

As the global population ages and life expectancy increases, older adults encounter challenges like chronic illnesses and losing loved ones; resilience is crucial for adapting to these difficulties. This study aims to culturally and linguistically adapt the psychological resilience scale designed for older adults to the Turkish context. This methodological study included 566 individuals aged 65 and older. All participants completed the Resilience Scale for Older Adults, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Quality of Life in Older Adults Scale-Short Form. Construct validity was assessed through confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, while convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated through the correlation of the scales. Reliability was determined using internal consistency and the split-half method. The scale retains its original structure with 33 items and four sub-dimensions (Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Spiritual, and Experiential). The content validity index of the scale is 0.98, with item loadings ranging from 0.406 to 0.947, according to exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates good fit indices. Convergent validity is supported by a strong positive correlation (r = 0.657, p < 0.001) between the Resilience Scale for Older Adults and the Quality of Life in Older Adults Scale-Short Form. Reliability measures include a Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient of 0.93 and a Guttman split-half reliability coefficient of 0.723. The results show that the Turkish version of the Resilience Scale for Older Adults is a valid and reliable measurement tool.

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a stressors scale with reflective and formative indicators for teaching staff in Ningxia, China. The scale was analyzed through a questionnaire survey of 237 staff members using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and validation factor analysis (CFA). The results showed that the scale had good structural validity and internal consistency, and the exploratory factor analysis extracted six dimensions explaining 66.908% of the variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the combined credibility were within the acceptable range. Further validation factor analysis showed that validity assessments (including convergent and discriminant validity) confirmed the robustness of the scale. For formative indicators metrics such as Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) were used to check for covariance between indicators to avoid redundancy. In addition, the importance and weights of the indicators were analyzed to confirm their relative importance in defining the structure. In summary, the Staff Stressors Scale can be used to measure faculty stress in private institutions in the Ningxia region of China, and it can also provide a basis for further research in the future.

BackgroundStudies on the effects of tuberculosis on a patient’s quality of life (QOL) are scant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Taiwan short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire using patients with tuberculosis in Taiwan and healthy referents.MethodsThe Taiwanese short version of the WHOQOL-BREF was administered to patients with tuberculosis undergoing treatment and healthy referents from March 2007 to July 2007. Patients with tuberculosis (n = 140) and healthy referents (n = 130), matched by age, sex, and ethnicity, agreed to an interview. All participants lived in eastern Taiwan. Reliability assessments included internal consistency, whereas validity assessments included construct validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.ResultsMore than half of these patients and referents were men (70.7% and 66.2%, respectively), and their average ages were 50.1 and 47.9 years, respectively. Approximately 60% of patients and referents were aboriginal Taiwanese (60.7% and 61.1%, respectively). The proportion with low socioeconomic status was greater for these patients. The internal consistency reliability coefficients were .92 and .93 for the patients and healthy referents, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis on the healthy referents displayed a 4-domain model, which was compatible with the original WHOQOL-BREF 4-domain model. However, for the TB patient group, after deleting 3 items, both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 6-domain model.ConclusionPsychometric evaluation of the Taiwan short version of the WHOQOL-BREF indicates that it has adequate reliability for use in research with TB patients in Taiwan. However, the factor structure generated from this TB patient sample differed from the WHO’s original 4-factor model, which raised a validity concern to apply the Taiwan short version of the WHOQOL-BREF to Taiwanese TB patients. Future research recruiting another sample to revisit this validity issue must be conducted to determine the validity of the WHOQOL-BREF TW in patients with TB.

This study aims to validate Korean versions of the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, testing for its factor pattern validity through Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. The 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was translated according to the guidelines of the International Test Commission and tested with two Korean samples. First, the Exploratory Factor Analysis found that both two-factor and three-factor solutions were viable options with the first sample. Second, comparison validations of these two solutions were tested by confirming the dimensionality of their structures through the Confirmatory Factor Analyses with the second sample, with the conclusion that the three-factor model solution was the most parsimonious model. Finally, the three-factor model of the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was demonstrated to have good discriminant validity and convergent validity, as well as internal consistency of its subscales.

BackgroundPsychotic-like experiences are common in the general population and an important indicator of psychological vulnerability. One of the used instruments for their assessment is the Adolescent Psychotic-Like Symptom Screener (APSS). However, there are few studies on the APSS psychometric characteristics in different cultural contexts. The aim of this study is to adapt the instrument in the Spanish context and analyze its psychometric properties in an adult population.MethodsUpon the translation and adaptation of the APSS to Spanish, a sample of 287 participants (19–60 years) completed the questionnaire online together with the Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45) and an ad-hoc survey on clinical and sociodemographic variables. The sample was then randomly split into two halves, the first being the calibration (n = 144) and the second the validation sample (n = 143). An exploratory factor analysis was performed with the former, and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the latter, together with internal consistency and convergent validity analyses.ResultsThe APSS Spanish version presents a unifactorial structure comprising 6 out of the 7 original items with adequate fit and good internal consistency. This single factor structure is invariant across age, sex and history of self-reported psychopathology. The instrument also shows significant positive correlations with the SA-45 psychoticism and paranoid ideation subscales.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has conducted a psychometric analysis of the APSS in adult population. The Spanish version of the APSS shows adequate reliability, construct and convergent validity in adults, therefore provides a handy tool to be used for the screening of psychotic-like experiences in the Spanish general population.