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Results for “scale development”

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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Reliability of Chalmers' scale to assess quality in meta-analyses on pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: This study estimates the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of Chalmers' quality score scale in the context of bone mass loss and fracture rate in postmenopausal women. METHODS: An exhaustive literature search was performed on Medline to locate clinical trials studying the effect of medication use on bone mass loss and fracture rate in postmenopausal women. Twenty articles were randomly selected and four raters independently assessed the quality of each article with Chalmers' scale. Among the 20 articles, 10 were blinded on authors' names, journal, year of publication and source of funding. Raters were also asked to assess all 20 articles one more time, two months after the first evaluation. Intraclass (ICC) and test-retest correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: The overall inter-rater ICC was 0.66 [0.55, 0.79](95%). The overall test-retest reliability of Chalmers' scale was 0.81 [0.67, 0. 98](95%). When ratings were stratified according to articles' blinding status, blinded assessments generated a smaller inter-rater ICC than non-blinded assessments: 0.30 [0.17, 0.53](95%) vs. 0.80 [0. 71, 0.90](95%). In addition, analyzing sub-scales separately generated different estimates of reliability. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the reliability of the quality scale developed by Chalmers substantially varies between sub-scales, and is highly dependent on articles' blinding status. The possibility of bias in rating non-blinded articles can not be ruled out. The reliability of the scale can also be dependent on the outcome studied.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

A sensitive and reliable locomotor rating scale for open field testing in rats.

Behavioral assessment after spinal cord contusion has long focused on open field locomotion using modifications of a rating scale developed by Tarlov and Klinger (1954). However, on-going modifications by several groups have made interlaboratory comparison of locomotor outcome measures difficult. The purpose of the present study was to develop an efficient, expanded, and unambiguous locomotor rating scale to standardize locomotor outcome measures across laboratories. Adult rats (n = 85) were contused at T7-9 cord level with an electromagnetic or weight drop device. Locomotor behavior was evaluated before injury, on the first or second postoperative day, and then for up to 10 weeks. Scoring categories and attributes were identified, operationally defined, and ranked based on the observed sequence of locomotor recovery patterns. These categories formed the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale. The data indicate that the BBB scale is a valid and predictive measure of locomotor recovery able to distinguish behavioral outcomes due to different injuries and to predict anatomical alterations at the lesion center. Interrater reliability tests indicate that examiners with widely varying behavioral testing experience can apply the scale consistently and obtain similar scores. The BBB Locomotor Rating Scale offers investigators a more discriminating measure of behavioral outcome to evaluate treatments after spinal cord injury.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The Cornell-Brown Scale for Quality of Life in dementia.

Quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with dementia is of critical importance. Reliable and valid measurement of patient QOL is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions and to gain a better understanding of the detrimental impact of dementia on patients' lives. In this study, the psychometric properties of a new scale developed to measure QOL, the Cornell-Brown Scale for Quality of Life, were examined. Data were collected from 50 dementia clinic outpatients with a range of cognitive impairment. Scale ratings were based on a brief, joint interview with caregivers and patients. Findings indicated that the scale demonstrated adequate interrater reliability (intraclass r = 0.90) and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.81). Criterion validity was indicated by a positive correlation between QOL scores and visual analogue positive mood ratings (Spearman rho = 0.63) and a negative correlation between QOL and dementia severity as measured by Clinical Dementia Ratings (Spearman rho = -0.35). Reliability and validity were not adversely affected by patient cognitive impairment. Thus, preliminary data indicate that the Cornell-Brown Scale for Quality of Life is a brief, easily administered, reliable, and valid measure of QOL.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

A comparison of the quality of Cochrane reviews and systematic reviews published in paper-based journals.

This study set out to compare Cochrane reviews and reviews published in paper-based journals. Two assessment tools were used to collect the data, a 23-item checklist developed by Sacks and a nine-item scale developed by Oxman. Cochrane reviews were found to be better at reporting some items and paper-based review at reporting others. The overall quality was found to be low. This represents a serious situation because clinicians, health policy makers, and consumers are often told that systematic reviews represent "the best available evidence." In the period since this study, the Cochrane Collaboration has taken steps to improve the quality of its reviews through, for example, more thorough prepublication refereeing, developments in the training and support offered to reviewers, and improvements in the system for postpublication peer review. In addition, the use of evidence-based criteria (i.e., the QUOROM statement) for reporting systematic reviews may help further to improve their quality.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

PubMed1997

On the current status of rated perceived exertion.

This paper chronicles the psychophysical principles which led to the development of the Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale by Borg in 1970 and a concise, comprehensive summary of research on the scale. The current status of research is examined by discussion of several important areas within the field including psychophysical scaling, scale development, psychometrics, and applications. Physiological and psychological approaches are examined and the need for an interdisciplinary approach is addressed.

Anxiety↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome measures for the study of activities of daily living in vascular dementia.

Decline in functional abilities is a major component of the dementia syndrome. The definition of dementia in the International Classification of Diseases (10th rev.) requires a cognitive impairment sufficient to impair personal activities of daily living (ADL). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) also requires cognitive deficits sufficiently severe to cause impairment in occupational or social functioning and must represent a decline from a higher level of functioning. However, the term disability is more appropriate than impairment to describe a loss in activities, as opposed to a loss of elementary functions, and is consistent with World Health Organization definitions of impairment, disability, and handicap. There is no doubt that ADL outcomes are required in therapeutic drug studies on vascular dementia, and there is a good rationale and some evidence for the use of ADL scales developed for therapeutic research in Alzheimer disease, favoring scales devoid of items sensitive to physical disabilities. Similarly, ADL-related clinical milestones could be used for longer-term studies aiming predominantly at slowing progression of disease in both early and later stages of dementia. Slower decline in ADL and delay in reaching ADL-related clinical milestones should be considered as valid outcomes by regulatory bodies in the process of dementia drug approval.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

Adoption of electronic medical records as a technology innovation for ambulatory care at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The study described in this article measured and compared the attitudes of groups of Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) ambulatory care staff and physicians toward adopting an electronic medical record (EMR) system, using the Perceived Characteristics of Innovating (PCI) scales developed by Moore and Benbasat (1991). The PCI scale scores were compared by professional group and by clinic location. The overall findings of this study were that potential users of the ambulatory care EMR at MUSC had generally positive or neutral attitudes toward the system. There were a number of significant differences noted among the professional groups, particularly between the physician groups and other groups. The physician groups had less positive feelings than the other groups did. There were few significant differences noted for comparisons by clinic location.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗

PubMed1987

Validity of self-report measures of girls' pubertal status.

To understand the meaning of somatic changes to the adolescent and their possible effects on behavior, developmentalists have begun to examine maturational timing and status in detail. Efforts have been hampered by the necessity of obtaining somatic growth data by physician examination. In the present study, 3 self-report methods for rating secondary sexual characteristic growth were compared to physician ratings; the accuracy of self-reported height and weight also was assessed. Specifically, 151 11-, 12-, and 13-year-old girls rated their breast and pubic hair development using schematics of the 5 Tanner stages and filled out the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS); their mothers also rated their daughters' development using the Tanner stage schematics. The correlation with physician Tanner ratings was .82 for self-ratings, .85 for ratings by the mother, and between .61 and .67 for self-reports on the PDS. The correlations for self- and actual reports of weight and height were .98 and .75, respectively. The usefulness of the PDS, Tanner ratings, and self-reported height and weight as adequate estimates of pubertal development is discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Lofexidine in alcohol withdrawal states.

Twenty-eight patients admitted to hospital for alcohol withdrawal were treated with lofexidine, an alpha adrenergic agonist of the imidazole type, in an open trial. Twenty-three patients completed the regime. Symptoms were measured on a scale developed for the study: the Alcohol Withdrawal Rating Scale (AWRS). Scores on this scale fell steeply over three days, more slowly over the subsequent four--the period of the trial. Results are compatible with the hypothesis that alcohol withdrawal states are characterised by increased adrenergic activity.

Attention↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship of weight loss, locus of control, and social support.

This study investigated the relationship between weight loss, locus of control, and social support. It was hypothesized that internals would be more successful in weight reduction than externals/powerful others or externals/chance; that participants with higher social-support scores would be more successful in weight reduction than participants with lower social support scores; and that social support would contribute more to success in weight reduction in externals/powerful others than in internals or externals/chance. Subjects were 46 female employees of a large life insurance company who had participated in a nutrition and weight control program. They were studied six months later to assess weight change, locus of control (specifically, using a multidimensional health locus of control scale and a modified weight locus of control scale) and social support (using an investigator-developed scale). Study findings did not support the hypotheses. Rather, a significant negative relationship was found between social support and weight reduction in the case of internals. Possible explanations for the findings were discussed, along with recommendations for practice and further research. For example, it was suggested that it may be most desirable for those attempting weight loss to be sufficiently internal that they believe they are capable of bringing their weight under control, yet sufficiently external that they are amenable to the advice of health professionals.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1997

The definition and assessment of analytic process: can analysts agree?

Although analytic process (AP) is a core concept in psychoanalytic theory and practice and has emerged as an important variable in outcome studies, there is no consensus regarding its definition and operationalisation. This paper describes the development and validation of the Columbia Analytic Process Scale (CAPS), a rating scale developed to evaluate the presence or absence of AP in a single psychoanalytic session transcript for purposes of an outcome study. Definitions of interrater reliability and construct validity are reviewed and two studies designed to evaluate these important aspects of the CAPS are presented. The results demonstrate that the CAPS has adequate interrater reliability (kappa = .5). To establish construct validity the plan was to compare the CAPS rating of AP to clinical consensus. However, when a group of ten senior training and supervising analysts at Columbia were asked to rate five psychoanalytic session transcripts, no clinical consensus could be established. Statistical analysis of the pattern of the analysts' clinical ratings showed that the largest portion of the variance was accounted for by the error term of a two-way ANOVA. The implication of this finding is that the construct of AP itself is ill-defined. The results of this study suggest that the commonly used term AP has less consensually held meanings than analysts tend to believe; the impact of lack of definition of key terms on clinical and research pursuits within psychoanalysis is discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

A reliability study of clinical tooth wear measurements.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Most studies examining tooth wear severity have been performed on dental casts. This indirect approach has limited applicability to dental practice because during the assessment of the casts, the identification of dentin exposure is difficult or even impossible. PURPOSE OF STUDY: The purpose of this study was to assess occlusal and incisal tooth wear clinically to determine the reliability of the assessment procedure and to establish the influence of selected relevant clinical variables (dental quadrant, tooth type, and severity of wear) on the reliability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five volunteers (17 men, 28 women; mean age 33.7 +/- 10.7 years), 32 with temporomandibular disorders and 13 free from signs and symptoms of such disorders, were evaluated on 4 occasions. Two trained observers graded tooth wear at 2 different points in time with a 5-point ordinal scale developed for use in this study. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the scale was expressed as Cohen's kappa. The influence of 2 clinical variables, dental quadrant and tooth type, on the values of kappa was tested with 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni tests. Probability levels of P< .05 were considered statistically significant. The influence of the final clinical variable, severity of wear, was assessed qualitatively. RESULTS: The overall values of the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were substantial (kappa = 0.632 to 0.678). The clinical variable dental quadrant did not influence the kappa values, whereas the inter-rater reliability during the first session was better for incisors and canines than for premolars (1-way analysis of variance: F(3,23)=4.577, P=.012; post hoc Bonferroni tests: P=.030 and.036). Qualitative assessment of severity of wear indicated that the more advanced the tooth wear, the more reliably it could be graded. CONCLUSION: By means of the developed 5-point ordinal scale and within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that tooth wear can be assessed reliably in the clinical dental setting.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a reliable and valid bedside test for bilirubin and its utility for improving prediction of feeding tube location.

BACKGROUND: The addition of laboratory bilirubin readings to an algorithm based on pH alone improves prediction of feeding tube location; although reliable pH-teststrips are available, there is no bedside test to measure bilirubin in feeding tube aspirates. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to test the efficacy of a bilirubin teststrip with a newly developed scale in measuring the bilirubin content in feeding tube aspirates, and to determine the effectiveness of a combination of readings from pH and bilirubin teststrips in predicting feeding tube location. METHODS: A total of 631 gastrointestinal specimens for concurrent pH and bilirubin testing were obtained from adult, acutely ill patients with newly inserted feeding tubes (nasogastric, n = 328; nasointestinal, n = 303) within 5 minutes of radiographs taken to determine tube location. In addition, 225 respiratory specimens were tested. Bilirubin was measured with a teststrip incorporating a newly developed colorimetric visual bilirubin (VBIL) scale, and by a laboratory assay. pH was measured with a teststrip and a pH-meter. Results from the bilirubin and pH tests were read by research assistants and staff nurses and compared with tube location as determined by radiography. RESULTS: The correlation between readings made from the 5-point VBIL scale and the trimmed laboratory bilirubin was 0.93, with dichotomized readings correlating 0.87 and kappa equal to 0.86. A pH greater than 5 and a bilirubin less than 5 mg/dL successfully identified 100% of the 225 respiratory cases. In the category of pH 5 or less and bilirubin less than 5 mg/dL, 98% of the cases were gastric cases. In the category of pH greater than 5 and bilirubin 5 or higher mg/dL, nearly 88% of the cases were intestinal cases. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed VBIL scale is effective in determining the bilirubin content in feeding tube aspirates. Furthermore, compared with predicting tube location from pH-paper alone, dichotomized readings from the VBIL scale/bilirubin teststrip used in combination with a pH-teststrip improved the ability to differentiate between respiratory and gastrointestinal tube placement, as well as between gastric and intestinal tube placement. Refinement of the VBIL scale is indicated to increase its accuracy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Psychosocial and physiological correlates of male gender role stress among employed adults.

Previous research has identified male gender role stress (MGRS) as a construct that leads men, as a function of traditional socialization processes, to appraise certain situations in ways that produce psychosocial and physiological distress. Because the initial research was based on college undergraduates, the current study explored the relationship of MGRS to psychosocial and physiological risk factors for cardiovascular disease among employed adults. As predicted, men obtained significantly higher scores than women on a measure, the MGRS Scale, developed to assess this construct. Women with elevated MGRS Scale scores, however, experienced undesirable outcomes much the same as their male counterparts. Specifically, MGRS Scale scores were significantly associated with Type A behavior, hostility, personal loss, life dissatisfaction, and elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The authors discuss possible environmental contributors to the development and maintenance of MGRS, including organizational factors associated with male-dominated work environments.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Butorphanol tartrate (Stadol) relieves postanesthesia shaking more effectively than meperidine (Demerol) or morphine.

The cause of postanesthesia shaking (PS) is unknown. PS develops spontaneously and unpredictably in up to 67% of patients emerging from general anesthesia, and it continues for minutes to hours when not treated with medications or radiant heat lamps. The purposes of this study were to (1) examine whether butorphanol tartrate (Stadol; Anaquest, Madison, WI/Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Evansville, IN), meperidine (Demerol; Winthrop, NY, NY), and morphine are differentially effective in suppressing PS, (2) compare PS suppression by sex, and (3) determine time to PS development. PS, measured on a 0 to 3 visual scale, developed in 120 of 533 patients (23%). Medication treatment was initiated for 66 of 120 patients by PACU nurses following standard policies and procedures for intravenous doses of 1 mg butorphanol (n = 12), 15 to 30 mg meperidine (n = 18; n = 23), or 2 to 4 mg morphine (n = 13). Treatment effect was measured in units on a 0 to 2 visual scale. By t test, butorphanol is more effective within 2 minutes than meperidine for suppressing shaking alone (P less than .02) or shaking among patients also complaining of pain (P less than .02). Morphine does not relieve shaking. The chi 2 test indicates women suppress PS more rapidly than men (P less than .01), and PS develops within 5 minutes of PACU arrival (P less than .001). Findings suggest that butorphanol is an alternative PS treatment to meperidine, since it relieves shaking within 2 to 5 minutes without producing nausea, vomiting, or recurrence of shaking.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The construct validity of the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development.

The aim of this study was to contribute to our knowledge of the construct validity of the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development (Griffiths Scales) through an examination of the underlying dimensions tapped by the six subscales, using Common Factor Analysis. A sample of 430 South African children, from four ethnic groups (i. e. White, Mixed Race, Asian and Black) participated. The correlation coefficients obtained for the South African groups were compared to those Griffiths obtained in her work with the British standardization sample of the Griffiths Scales. The pattern of correlation for South African and British subjects was found to be similar. This suggests that the Scales are measuring a construct which is consistent across cultures and through time. A factor analysis was performed with the data for each South African ethnic group separately and the factor solutions were compared to determine whether the Griffiths Scales measure similar or different constructs for the groups. The results indicate that the Griffiths Scales tend to measure one factor, and including only common variables, the factor appears to be similar cross-culturally.

Child↗

PubMed2004

Development of the Brunel Balance Assessment: a new measure of balance disability post stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To report the psychometric properties of the Brunel Balance Assessment (BBA), a new test of balance disability post stroke. DESIGN: Data from 92 subjects were collected and cohorts used to test hierarchical scaling, reliability and validity. Data from 80 people were used to test the hierarchical scaling using an inter-item correlation for redundancy, coefficient of reproducibility (CR) and scalability (CS) for the hierarchy and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the internal consistency. Thirty-seven people participated in the reliability testing. Test-retest and inter-tester reliability were tested using the kappa coefficient. The testing was repeated on consecutive days to assess test-retest reliability and was scored simultaneously by two physiotherapists for inter-tester reliability. Fifty-five people participated in validity testing. The BBA was compared with the sitting Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Test (Berg), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) using Spearman's rho. SETTING: Physiotherapy stroke services of six UK NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS: Hemiplegic stroke patients were recruited from physiotherapy services and the BBA used to assess their balance. RESULTS: The order of the items was revised and the original 14-point scale reduced to 12 points in the scale development. The revised scale formed a hierarchical scale. Inter-item correlations were < 0.9, coefficients of reproducibility and scalability were 0.99 and 0.69 respectively and Cronbach's alpha was 0.92. Reliability was high (100% agreement) for both aspects of reliability. Correlations with other balance measures were significant (0.83-0.97, p < 0.01) indicating validity as measure of balance disability. CONCLUSION: The BBA is a reliable, valid, hierarchical measure of balance disability post stroke that is suitable for use in the clinical setting.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of cultural belief scales for mammography screening.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To develop instruments to measure culturally related variables that may influence mammography screening behaviors in African American women. DESIGN: Instrumentation methodology. SETTING: Community organizations and public housing in the Indianapolis, IN, area. SAMPLE: 111 African American women with a mean age of 60.2 years and 64 Caucasian women with a mean age of 60 years. METHODS: After item development, scales were administered. Data were analyzed by factor analysis, item analysis via internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha, and independent t tests and logistic regression analysis to test theoretical relationships. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Personal space preferences, health temporal orientation, and perceived personal control. FINDINGS: Space items were factored into interpersonal and physical scales. Temporal orientation items were loaded on one factor, creating a one-dimensional scale. Control items were factored into internal and external control scales. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the scales ranged from 0.76-0.88. Interpersonal space preference, health temporal orientation, and perceived internal control scales each were predictive of mammography screening adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The three tested scales were reliable and valid. Scales, on average, did not differ between African American and Caucasian populations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: These scales may be useful in future investigations aimed at increasing mammography screening in African American and Caucasian women.

Adult↗