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Results for “construct validity”

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PubMed2002

Relationships between cognitive and behavioral measures of executive function in children with brain disease.

This study addressed the clinical and construct validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. (BRIEF: Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000), a questionnaire designed to tap behavioral aspects of executive functions in children. BRIEF profiles in early treated phenylketonuria (PKU; n=44), early treated hydrocephalus (n=45), frontal focal lesions (n=20) and controls (n=80) were examined. Clinical validity was supported through significant between-group comparisons, especially between the frontal focal lesion group and other groups. To examine construct validity, raw scores on cognitive executive function measures including the Contingency Naming Test (CNT), Rey Complex Figure (RCF), Tower of London (TOL), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), were correlated with BRIEF scale scores. Few significant correlations were found, indicating cognitive and behavioral measures appear to tap different constructs within the executive function domain. A dissociation was found between behavioral and cognitive impairments in the frontal as opposed to PKU and hydrocephalus groups. This is discussed in relation to underlying pathology, the cognitive measures used, and possible limitations in the BRIEF's usefulness for measuring behavioral executive dysfunction in groups only mildly affected by neurological compromise.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Validity of self-report screening scale for elder abuse: Women's Health Australia Study.

PURPOSE: Early identification of elder abuse requires a valid, easily administered screening instrument. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS), a 12-item self-report measure with four factors (Vulnerability, Dependence, Dejection, and Coercion). DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 10,421 nationally representative Women's Health Australia study participants, aged 73-78, who completed the Time 2 postal survey in 1999. We tested validity of the VASS factor structure and whether baseline risk status independently predicted Time 2 attrition. RESULTS: Findings confirmed the VASS factor structure and construct validity. Four factors explained 51% of variance, and these factors were internally consistent. The Vulnerability and Coercion factors held the strongest face and construct validity for physical and psychological abuse. The Dependence and Dejection factors were valid and reliable and significantly predicted 3-year attrition after controlling for confounders. IMPLICATIONS: Further work is needed to determine sensitivity and specificity of VASS as a screening instrument for elder abuse. Qualitative research could examine specific experiences and contexts of vulnerable women.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Heat stress and mortality in Lisbon part I. model construction and validation.

Global climate change will have direct impacts on human health, including increased mortality due to heat stress and heat waves. An empirical-statistical model for heat stress is constructed for the city of Lisbon using the June-August months of the observational period 1980-1998. The model uses the regression of an aggregate dose-response relationship between maximum temperature and excess heat-related deaths, based on the difference between observed and expected deaths. The model is validated by correlation and residual analysis. The mean annual heat-related mortality for the period 1980-1998 was between 5.4 and 6 deaths per 100,000 depending on the method used to calculate expected deaths. Both validation methods show that the model has a moderate to high accuracy in modelling heat-related deaths compared to the observed record.

Heat Stress Disorders↗

PubMed1990

An analysis of the validity of the three-mile run as a field test of aerobic capacity in college males.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the concurrent and construct validity of the three-mile (4.83 km) run as a field test of aerobic capacity. Subjects included 109 college-aged males whose three-mile run time (M = 1310.31 +/- 184.48 s) was measured. Fifty of the subjects were given a maximal treadmill stress test, and their peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (M = 54.23 +/- 7.08 ml.kg-1.min-1) was measured. The three-mile run was conducted on an outdoor 0.25 mile (0.425 km) track, and split times were recorded each 110 yds (100.32 m) for the first and last laps and total time was recorded for laps 2 through 11. The correlation coefficient between the run time and VO2peak was -.58, indicating only moderate concurrent validity for the run as a field test for aerobic capacity. A factor analysis conducted on the split time data revealed a three-factor structure of a stable pace phase, an initial sprint, and a final sprint with the stable pace factor accounting for most of the common factor variance (69%). The three-mile run time was used to discriminate successfully between two known groups of subjects in aerobic capacity. These data provide a degree of support for the construct validity of the three-mile run as a field test of aerobic capacity.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Development of a disease specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy: the GO-QOL.

AIM: To develop a reliable and valid disease specific quality of life questionnaire (the GO-QOL) for patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), that can be used to describe the health related quality of life and changes in health related quality of life over time as a consequence of disease and treatment. METHODS: 70 consecutive GO patients (age > 18 years) who were referred for the first time to the combined outpatient clinic of the orbital centre and the department of endocrinology completed the 16 questions of the GO-QOL. Additional information on general quality of life and disease characteristics was obtained. Construct validity and internal consistency of the disease specific questionnaire was determined, based on principal component analysis, Cronbach alphas and correlations with MOS-24, three subscales of the SIP, demographic, and clinical measures. RESULTS: The a priori expected subdivision of the questionnaire in two subscales, one measuring the consequences of double vision and decreased visual acuity on visual functioning, and one measuring the psychosocial consequences of a changed appearance, was confirmed in the principal component analysis. Both scales had a good reliability and high face validity. Correlations with other measures supported construct validity. Mean scores (range 0-100) were 54.7 (SD 22.8) for visual functioning and 60.1 (24.8) for appearance (higher score = better health). CONCLUSION: The GO-QOL is a promising tool to measure disease specific aspects of quality of life in patients with GO and provides additional information to traditional physiological or biological measures of health status.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

The Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents (MARCA): development and evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Self-report recall questionnaires are commonly used to measure physical activity, energy expenditure and time use in children and adolescents. However, self-report questionnaires show low to moderate validity, mainly due to inaccuracies in recalling activity in terms of duration and intensity. Aside from recall errors, inaccuracies in estimating energy expenditure from self-report questionnaires are compounded by a lack of data on the energy cost of everyday activities in children and adolescents. This article describes the development of the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents (MARCA), a computer-delivered use-of-time instrument designed to address both the limitations of self-report recall questionnaires in children, and the lack of energy cost data in children. METHODS: The test-retest reliability of the MARCA was assessed using a sample of 32 children (aged 11.8 +/- 0.7 y) who undertook the MARCA twice within 24-h. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing self-reports with accelerometer counts collected on a sample of 66 children (aged 11.6 +/- 0.8 y). Content and construct validity were assessed by establishing whether data collected using the MARCA on 1429 children (aged 11.9 +/- 0.8 y) exhibited relationships and trends in children's physical activity consistent with established findings from a number of previous research studies. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was high with intra-class coefficients ranging from 0.88 to 0.94. The MARCA demonstrated criterion validity comparable to other self-report instruments with Spearman coefficients ranging from rho = 0.36 to 0.45, and provided evidence of good content and construct validity. CONCLUSION: The MARCA is a valid and reliable self-report questionnaire, capable of a wide variety of flexible use-of-time analyses related to both physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and offers advantages over existing pen-and-paper questionnaires.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) in a Norwegian material of patients with functional dyspepsia, duodenal ulcer, and urinary bladder dysfunction. Clinical validation of the instrument.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in the psychosocial impact of a disease, but few instruments available to measure it. METHODS: The internal consistency and construct validity of the Norwegian translation of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) was examined in a total of 557 patients. RESULTS: The seven dimensions of the psychosocial adjustment to medical illness from the original test were represented in the Norwegian translation. Psychologic distress, social environment, and vocational environment explained most of the variance. The instrument had high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of > 0.75 on six of seven subscales. The PAIS-SR differentiated between groups of patients with urologic and upper gastrointestinal disease and seemed to give meaningful and useful clinical data. Patients with functional dyspepsia (n = 97) had higher score on psychologic distress than the other groups, whereas patients with duodenal ulcer (n = 97) were significantly less affected in their social life than the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Norwegian translation of the PAIS-SR had high internal consistency, acceptable construct validity, and good discriminating validity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Validity of simple field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players.

The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of selected field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance. During the competitive season, eighteen professional soccer players (age 26.2 +/- 4.5 yrs, mass 80.8 +/- 7.8 kg, and height 181.9 +/- 3.7 cm) completed an incremental running field test to exhaustion, a vertical-jump and a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Match physical performance was quantified during official matches using a video-computerized, semi-automatic, match analysis image recognition system, (ProZone, Leeds, UK). The selected measures of match physical performance were: total distance covered (TD), high intensity running (HIR: > 14.4 km . h (-1)), very high intensity running (VHIR:> 19.8 km . h (-1)), sprinting (> 25.2 km . h (-1)) and top running speed. Significant correlations were found between peak speed reached during the incremental field test and TD (r = 0.58, R (2) = 0.34; p < 0.05), HIR (r = 0.65, R (2) = 0.42; p < 0.01) and VHIR (r = 0.64, R (2) = 0.41; p < 0.01). Significant correlations were also found between RSA mean time and VHIR (r = - 0.60, R (2) = 0.36; p < 0.01) and sprinting distance (r = - 0.65, R (2) = 0.42; p < 0.01). Significant differences were found between the best and worst group as defined by the median split technique for peak speed (TD = 12 011 +/- 747 m vs. 10 712 +/- 669, HIR = 3192 +/- 482 m vs. 2314 +/- 347 m, and VHIR = 1014 +/- 120 vs. 779 +/- 122 m, respectively; p < 0.05) and RSA mean time (VHIR = 974 +/- 162 m vs. 819 +/- 144 m, and sprinting = 235 +/- 56 vs. 164 +/- 58 m, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study gives empirical support to the construct validity of RSA and incremental running tests as measures of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Validity and reliability of the Turkish form of symptom interpretation questionnaire].

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ) that was developed by Robbins and Kirmayer (1991). METHOD: Subjects of the study were: 53 patients with medically unexplained somatic complaints (MUS) that were referred to I. Psychiatry Clinic of Ankara Numune Teaching and Research Hospital, 26 patients who were diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) based on their mental complaints, and 71 healthy individuals (Control). RESULTS: Construct validity of SIQ was studied with factor analysis and the scale is statistically shown to consist of three theoretical styles of symptom attribution; normalizing, psychologizing and somatizing. Criterion related validity of normalizing subscale was shown with the absence of significant correlations between SIQ-normalizing scale and either Toronto Alexythimia Scale-20 or SIQ-number of symptoms. Validity of psychologizing subscale was demonstrated by obtaining higher significant mean psychologizing subscale scores in MDD group when compared with mean scores in MUS and Control groups. Criterion related validity of somatizing subscale was shown with significant correlations between SIQ-somatizing scale and SIQ- number of symptoms, and by demonstrating that mean somatizing subscale scores in patients with history of physical disease was significantly higher from mean scores in patients without such history. Internal reliability of SIQ subscales were, alpha=0.86 for normalizing subscale, alpha=0.87 for psychologizing subscale and alpha=0.87 for somatizing subscale. CONCLUSION: Internal reliability, criterion related validity, discriminating power for specific groups and construct validity of the SIQ Turkish version were demonstrated to be satisfactorily valid and reliable.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Spanish version of the Nottingham Health Profile: translation and preliminary validity.

We report the transfer into Spanish of a multi-dimensional measure of perceived health originally developed in Great Britain, the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and an assessment of the preliminary validity of the version is presented. Translation of the questionnaire was obtained from experts and from a Spanish monolingual lay group. Construct validity of the version was assessed in two studies: testing relationship of NHP scores to other self-reported measures of health in a general population survey; and comparing NHP scores for a group of frequent users and for a group of non-users of primary health services. Mean scores of NHP dimensions were higher for people with poorer self-reported health and higher for the frequent health services users than for the non-users. Findings suggest that the Spanish version of the NHP is culturally equivalent to the original questionnaire, and has a similar level of construct validity. Nevertheless, further research on reliability and on the weighting system is required to establish the equivalence of the Spanish version definitively.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Validation of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory for Axis II disorders: does it meet the Daubert standard?

Relevant to forensic practice, the Supreme Court in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (1993) established the boundaries for the admissibility of scientific evidence that take into account its trustworthiness as assessed via evidentiary reliability. In conducting forensic evaluations, psychologists and other mental health professionals must be able to offer valid diagnoses, including Axis II disorders. The most widely available measure of personality disorders is the Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and its subsequent revisions (MCMI-II and MCMI-III). We address the critical question, "Do the MCMI-II and MCMI-III meet the requirements of Daubert?" Fundamental problems in the scientific validity and error rates for MCMI-III appear to preclude its admissibility under Daubert for the assessment of Axis II disorders. We address the construct validity for the MCMI and MCMI-II via a meta-analysis of 33 studies. The resulting multitrait-multimethod approach allowed us to address their convergent and discriminant validity through method effects (Marsh, 1990). With reference to Daubert, the results suggest a circumscribed use for the MCMI-II with good evidence of construct validity for Avoidant, Schizotypal, and Borderline personality disorders.

Expert Testimony↗

PubMed2004

The Depressive Personality Disorder Inventory and its relationship to quality of life, hopefulness, and optimism.

The construct validity of the Depressive Personality Disorder Inventory (DPDI; Huprich, Margrett, Barthelemy, & Fine, 1996) was examined through its relationship to the constructs of hope, optimism, and quality of life (QOL). Three hundred thirty-two undergraduate students were administered the DPDI and measures of the aforementioned constructs. As predicted, the DPDI negatively correlated with all measures. Individuals classified with a depressive personality disorder had significantly higher scores on measures of hope, optimism, and QOL compared to a control group. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that optimism, QOL, and one component of hope significantly predicted DPDI scores, although more variance was accounted for in women than men. These findings are explained in light of Carver and Scheier's (2000) explanation of optimism and its relationship to hope. In sum, it appears that the construct validity of the DPDI is supported within an undergraduate sample.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Validity of Euroqol--a generic health status instrument--in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Economic and Health Outcomes Research Group.

The main aim of this pilot study was to test the 'construct' validity of Euroqol, a new generic health status instrument which consists of a questionnaire and visual analogue scale. Its ability to measure both current health status and change in health status was assessed in 55 patients with RA. The Euroqol questionnaire and visual analogue scales showed significant and clinically relevant correlations with other condition-specific instruments measuring loss of function, joint pain, joint tenderness and mood; change in these symptoms as measured by the condition-specific instruments was also predictive of change in Euroqol scores. Either component of the Euroqol instrument provide an index of current clinical status and these data provide preliminary evidence for the 'construct' validity of Euroqol in RA. Further work is needed to evaluate more fully the sensitivity of Euroqol to change over time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Turkish version of the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration is an established instrument to measure the perceived work relationship between physicians and nurses. The survey addresses areas of autonomy and decision making, interprofessional education and relations, psychosocial care, teamwork, and shared responsibility. The aim of this prelimiary study was to adapt the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration for use in Turkey and test its psychometric properties and utility in clinical and research practice. METHODS: The process of cross-cultural adaptation and validation followed the guidelines provided in the existing literature. First, three bilingual health professionals independently translated the original questionnaire into Turkish and a consensus version was generated. Then, three other translators, blind to the original questionnaire, performed a back translation into English to confirm the accuracy of the translation. This version was then compared with the original English questionnaire. Discrepancies were discussed and solved by a panel of two nurses and two physicians. The field-testing for face validity was done in a group of ten monolingual physicians and nurses. Reliability was assessed with test-retest reliability and construct validity was confirmed with factor analysis. RESULTS: The mean time of questionnaire administration was 3 minutes and 45 seconds. The test-retest reliability was 0.75, and Cronbach's coefficient alpha was 0.71 for the entire sample. The findings of the factor analysis indicated that the Turkish version of Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration was comprised of the following four factors: 'physician-nurse relationships', 'shared education', 'nursing role in patient care', and 'accountability and responsibility of nurses.' CONCLUSION: The overall findings of this study indicate that the Turkish version of the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration is a psychometrically sound tool with satisfactory measurement characteristics including construct validity and internal consistency reliability. This instrument may be useful in assessing the effectiveness of educational programs designed to enhance collaboration between physicians and nurses, whether these programs are aimed at residents and graduate nursing students or practicing physicians and nurses.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of validity, and responsiveness between general and disease-specific quality of life instruments (Thai version) in knee osteoarthritis.

Short-form 36 (SF-36) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) are common instruments for measuring quality of life (QoL) in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The goal of the present study was to compare the performance of both instruments in evaluating QoL in patients with knee osteoarthritis as diagnosed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Treatment included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and patient education for 6 weeks. Face-to-face interview by an orthopaedist was done at baseline and after treatment, including collection of demographic data and use of both SF-36 and WOMAC questionnaires. Evaluation of instrument performance included reliability, validity, and responsiveness measures. Reliability was tested by analysis of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha at baseline and after treatment. Construct validity was computed by determining the correlation between each domain of SF-36 and WOMAC (Pearson's test). Responsiveness was compared between baseline and after treatment of both SF-36 and WOMAC in each domain using the paired t test. Fifty-two patients (8 men, 48 women) with a mean age of 58.4 years were included in the present study. About 75% of subjects had less than secondary education levels and most were from agricultural communities. Sixty-four percent had mild grade knee osteoarthritis. The internal consistency of WOMAC revealed good levels of reliability, both at baseline and after treatment, in all dimensions. The reliability of SF-36 was relatively low, especially in the role physical and bodily pain dimensions (Cronbach's alpha < 0.700). Construct validity between each dimension in SF-36 and WOMAC demonstrated coefficients ranging from -0.05 to -0.409. Both WOMAC and SF-36 showed good responsiveness when comparing scores before and after treatment in all domains. In conclusion, both the Thai version WOMAC and SF-36 were valid, reliable, and sensitive to change in evaluating QoL in Thai patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Female↗

PubMed2004

Construction and validation of an automated spray-and-trap gas chromatograph for the determination of volatile organic compounds in aqueous samples.

An automated spray-and-trap (ST) chromatographic system was constructed for fast and efficient extraction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in aqueous samples with the capability to be deployed in the field for unattended continuous monitoring of surface or ground water. This system was built upon a commercial gas chromatograph with full automation capability using self-developed hardware and software. For sample analysis, fine droplets of the aqueous solution were generated in the extraction chamber by pressure expansion of a clean air stream through a spray nozzle. A portion of the VOCs distributed into the gas phase was retained by a multi-sorbent micro-trap kept at ambient temperature. Flash heating of the sorbent trap desorbed the enriched VOCs onto the gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID) for hydrocarbons or electron-capture detection (ECD) for halocarbons. In order to validate the performance of the ST method. it was compared with a more conventional method, i.e., a purge-and-trap (PT), by analyzing a serious of standard solutions containing benzene, toluene, ethylene. and o-, m-xylenes. Using a purge-and-trap method as a reference for complete extraction, the ST method showed less sensitivity. Extraction recoveries are in consistent with Henry's law constants. To test response time the ST-GC-ECD was periodically switched between tap and underground waters. Negligible carry-over of halogenated species and reproducibility better than 2% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) can be achieved regardless of large concentration difference between the two sources, thus demonstrating applicability of the ST system for on-site monitoring.

Automation↗

PubMed2000

Performance of the EuroQol in children with imperforate anus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and validity of a proxy version of the EuroQol in children treated for imperforate anus. METHODS: Patients included were between 1 and 51 years of age. Instruments included were the EuroQol, the TACQOL and a disease specific questionnaire, the Langemeijer Stool Questionnaire. Patients older than 15 years filled in all questionnaires themselves, in the age groups 5-10 and 11-15 a parent administered the questionnaires. Feasibility was judged on the number of missing values. In search of validity, EuroQol scores were compared with the prevalence of disease symptoms (convergent validity) and with the TACQOL (construct validity). RESULTS: The number of missings was not related to age. The disease specific questionnaire correlated significantly with the EQvas from 11 years on and with the EQ-5Dindex from 5 years on. The mean correlation between contextual similar domains of the EuroQol and the TACQOL was -0.55. The correlation between different domains was -0.32. CONCLUSION: The results support the idea that the use of a proxy version of the EuroQol is feasible and valid. The convergent validity of the EQvas was supported from 11 years on. The EQ-5D showed good construct and convergent validity from 5 years on.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Measuring community mental health in developing societies: evaluation of a checklist format in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: There is growing recognition of the importance of mental health problems in developing countries. In large part, however, we have very limited epidemiological data at national and/or community levels about the prevalence of mental illnesses. AIMS: The purpose of this paper is to describe the reliability and validity characteristics of an assessment tool that may be useful for conducting community-level surveys (particularly in rural communities of developing countries) to obtain prevalence rates of mental illnesses. METHODS: We used a sample of adults residing in a rural village in Nepal to assess disorders with a modified version of the DSM-III-R Checklist. We evaluated construct validity, scale reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. RESULTS: There is strong evidence for the construct validity of generalized anxiety and depression in our sample. By contrast, the symptoms associated with mania and schizophrenia were not empirically distinct. Convergent validity is acceptable. As a test of validity characteristics, the pattern of sociodemographic correlations suggests that the specific social origins of disorder in Nepal will require further investigation. CONCLUSION: The first step in obtaining high quality information on the distribution of mental illness in developing countries is to establish some reliable and valid indicators of disorder. The checklist format for assessing disorder appears to meet this objective and offers the possibility that community-level prevalence studies can be reasonably conducted.

Adolescent↗