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Valid Assessment (valid + assessment)
Selected AbstractsCigarette dependence questionnaire: development and psychometric testing with male smokersJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 10 2010Chih-Ling Huang huang c.-l., lin h.-h. & wang h.-h. (2010) Cigarette dependence questionnaire: development and psychometric testing with male smokers. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(10), 2341,2349. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to develop and test a theoretically derived Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire for adult male smokers. Background., Fagerstrom questionnaires have been used worldwide to assess cigarette dependence. However, these assessments lack any theoretical perspective. A theory-based approach is needed to ensure valid assessment. Methods., In 2007, an initial pool of 103 Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire items was distributed to 109 adult smokers in Taiwan. Item analysis was conducted to select items for inclusion in the refined scale. The psychometric properties of the Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire were further evaluated 2007,08, when it was administered to 256 respondents and their saliva was collected and analysed for cotinine levels. Criterion validity was established through the Pearson correlation between the scale and saliva cotinine levels. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test construct validity. Reliability was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient and a 2-week test,retest coefficient. Results., The selection of 30 items for seven perspectives was based on item analysis. One factor accounting for 44·9% of the variance emerged from the factor analysis. The factor was named as cigarette dependence. Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire scores were statistically significantly correlated with saliva cotinine levels (r = 0·21, P = 0·01). Cronbach's alpha was 0·95 and test,retest reliability using an intra-class correlation was 0·92. Conclusion., The Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire showed sound reliability and validity and could be used by nurses to set up smoking cessation interventions based on assessment of cigarette dependence. [source] Hardness of Three Resin-Modified Glass-Ionomer Restorative Materials as a Function of Depth and TimeJOURNAL OF ESTHETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, Issue 4 2009HOWARD W. ROBERTS DMD ABSTRACT Statement of the Problem:, The polymerization of bulk-placed resin-modified glass-ionomer (RMGI) restoratives is compromised when penetration of the curing light is limited because of the materials' thickness. It is unknown if additional post light-curing resin polymerization and/or glass-ionomer setting occurs over time to ensure adequate polymerization. Purpose:, The primary objective was to evaluate the depth of cure of various thicknesses of RMGI restorative products over 1 year using Knoop hardness (KH) testing. Materials and Methods:, The materials were placed in Delrin molds having an internal diameter of 5.0 mm and heights of 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm and were photopolymerized with a halogen light-curing unit. Five specimens of each depth were prepared for each time period evaluated. Specimens were stored in darkness at 37 ± 2°C and 98 ± 2% humidity until being tested at 24 hours, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after fabrication. Mean KH values were calculated for the bottom and top surfaces of each thickness group and used to determine bottom/top hardness ratios. Data were compared using two-way analysis of variance (factors of time, thickness) at a 0.05 significance level with Scheffé's post hoc analysis, where required. Results:, The materials had relatively stable top surface KH, which permitted valid assessment of changes in bottom surface KH over time. The bottom surface KH of some RMGIs changed significantly over time (p < 0.001), but degrees of change were material dependent. Certain RMGIs demonstrated a potential for statistically significant post light-activation hardening; however, that too was material dependent. As compared with top surface KH, deeper layers of the thicker RMGI specimens consistently failed to achieve an adequate degree of polymerization. Conclusion:, Although certain RMGI materials demonstrate a potential for post light-activation chemically initiated resin polymerization and/or polyalkenoate acid/base reaction, these reactions may not be sufficient to ensure that the material is adequately polymerized for long-term success. This is particularly true when RMGI materials are placed in thicker layers where curing light penetration may be compromised. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE RMGI materials should not be placed in bulk but photopolymerized in layers to ensure adequate light activation. The results of this study suggest that Photac-Fil Quick be placed in layers no thicker than 2 mm while Fuji II LC and Vitremer may be placed in layers up to 3 mm in thickness. [source] Phenomenology and psychological assessment of complex posttraumatic statesJOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 5 2005John Briere The authors offer a framework for the assessment of psychological responses associated with exposure to early onset, multiple, or extended traumatic stressors. Six prominent and overlapping symptoms clusters are described: altered self-capacities, cognitive symptoms, mood disturbance, overdeveloped avoidance responses, somatoform distress, and posttraumatic stress. A strategy for the structured, psychometrically valid assessment of these outcomes is introduced, and specific recommendations for use of various generic and trauma-specific child and adult measures are provided. Implications of trauma assessment for treatment planning are discussed. [source] Measuring performance status in pediatric patients with brain tumors,experience of the HIT-GBM-C protocol,,PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 3 2010Johannes E. A. Wolff MD Abstract Background Measuring the quality of life or performance status in pediatric neurooncology has proven a challenge. Here, we report in a treatment protocol for pediatric patients with high-grade glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Procedure The Fertigkeitenskala Münster,Heidelberg (FMH) is a 56-item quantitative measure of health status. The number of yes answers is transformed to age-dependent percentiles. Physicians were also asked the patients' health status by their own judgment on a 1,5 scale: normal, mild handicap, age-normal activity severely reduced but patient not in bed, in bed, and in ICU. Results Assessments were available from 50 of 97 eligible patients. For 22 patients both questionnaire and the physicians score obtained. At the beginning of the treatment, only 5 patients scored over 40 FMH%, and 4 of these survived. Of 16 patients who initially scored less than 40 FMH%, 15 died. During later assessments, most FMH measures became gradually worse. FMH scores improved in three patients. The physician's judgment was documented at diagnosis and during treatment (n,=,50). Per physician, 22% of the patients were normal before chemotherapy, decreasing to 16% in the middle of the protocol. At diagnosis only 16% of patients had severely reduced activity, which increased to 30.6% in the middle of the protocol. The FMH% correlated well with the physicians' judgments (P,<,0.005). Conclusion The FMH scale is easily obtained and provides a valid assessment of health status. Patients with poor performance at diagnosis had a poorer prognosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:520,524. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Reliability and validity of the sexual pressure scale,RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 4 2006Rachel Jones Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop the Sexual Pressure Scale (SPS) as a valid and reliable measure of gender stereotypical expectations to engage in sexual behavior. Data were collected using audio computer-assisted self-interview in 306 urban women, aged 18 to 29. Exploratory principal components analysis with varimax rotation yielded 19 items consisting of five factors: Condom Fear, Sexual Coercion, Women's Sex Role, Men Expect Sex, and Show Trust, accounting for 62% of the variance. Divergent and convergent validity were supported, respectively, by negative relationships of SPS factors with dyadic trust and positive relationships with sexual victimization and sexual risk behavior. Alpha reliability was .81; factor reliabilities ranged from .63 to .82. A valid assessment of sexual pressure can suggest the extent to which stereotypical gender expectations structure women's freedom to explore partner and condom use choices. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29: 281,293, 2006. [source] Formative Automated Computer Testing (FACT)BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Nicoll Hunt This study describes the context for the development of a tool to formatively assess information technology skills of students. The tool provides a reliable and valid assessment of word processing competency, utilizing automation to apply the test instrument via the Microsoft Office package. Tests can be designed directly by tutors, and delivered via a network. Evaluation of the tests suggests that immediate automated testing is preferred by students compared to a traditional written test. There is evidence that the tool improves the IT skills of its users, whereas a traditional written test has no such beneficial effect. [source] Public thinking about poverty: why it matters and how to measure itINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 1 2007Floyd H. Bolitho Meeting the Millennium Development Goals partly depends on not-profit organizations raising more funds, which in turn depends on having reliable and valid assessments of where donor and recipient perceptions are out-of-line. Across samples from a developed economy Australia (n,=,754), and a developing economy Mala,i (n,=,387), we explored the factor structure of the ,Causes of Third-World Poverty Questionnaire' (CTWPQ, D. Harper and colleagues, 1990). In addition to four core factors suggested through an original (N,=,89) sample from the UK (Blame [1] the Poor, [2] Nature, [3] Third World governments, and [4] International Exploitation), combined Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) differentiate a possible fifth factor germane to the social marketing of aid, blame [5] Conflict. Australians and Mala,ians differed significantly on all five factors, with Mala,ians blaming poverty more on situations and less on the poor themselves, compared to Australian counterparts. Our findings are tentative because the CTWPQ item pool requires expanding to represent underlying constructs more fully. Nonetheless, instruments like the CTWPQ can in future be used to identify and monitor in-context psychosocial barriers to donation, enabling not-profit marketing organizations to raise funds more efficiently and effectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of ChildrenOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2008Wanda I. Colón Abstract Culturally sensitive and valid assessments of participation in occupations are needed for Spanish-speaking children to enhance services offered to this population. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the newly developed Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children, the Evaluación de Participacion y Disfrute de los Niños y Preferencias de las Actividades de los Niños (EPDN/PAN). The sample included 249 children with and without disabilities, aged 6 to 15 years. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the participation of children with disabilities and children without disabilities, and between younger and older children were found. No statistical significant differences were found between males and females in the dimensions of participation assessed. Adequate internal consistency (0.70,0.92) was found for the PAN scale and the Overall and Informal domain scores of the EPDN-Intensity scale. Further study is needed to evaluate the formal domain scale and gender differences by activity types. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reliability reconsidered: Cronbach's alpha and paediatric assessment in occupational therapyAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Georgia Spiliotopoulou Background/aim:,Using reliable outcome measures is a necessity for the occupational therapy profession in enabling valid assessments of clients. Although Cronbach's alpha is the most widely applied index of internal consistency reliability, there are misconceptions about its use and interpretation. This paper aims to guide assessment developers in paediatric occupational therapy, as well as practitioners who are evaluating outcome measures in using and interpreting the Cronbach's alpha estimates appropriately. This will enable them to decide on the tools' clinical value and incorporate them into their practice with children. Method:,Previously published papers reporting on internal consistency issues of outcome measures in paediatric occupational therapy were searched through the Allied and Complementary Medicine database. These papers were used as a basis to discuss possible reasons for reporting of low internal consistency. Results:,The analysis demonstrates that Cronbach's alpha reports are not always interpreted in a sound way. The paper emphasises that one should be cautious about judging estimates of internal consistency. Low size of the coefficient alpha might not always indicate problems with the construction of the tool; whereas large sizes do not always suggest adequate reliability. Instead, these reports might be related to the data characteristics of the construct. Conclusion:,In judging an outcome measure's internal consistency, researchers and practitioners in occupational therapy should report and consider the nature of data, the scale's length and width, the linearity and the normality of response distribution, the central response tendency, the sample response variability and the sample size. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||