Content validation of a clinical assessment instrument for stair ascent and descent in individuals with hemiparesis

Parkinson's Disease Medication Adherence Scale: Conceptualization, Scale Development, and Clinimetric Testing Plan

Background

Medication adherence is a crucial component in the management of patients with chronic diseases needing a long-term pharmacotherapy. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative disease with complex drug treatment that poses challenging barriers to patient adherence. The adoption of best practices of scale development can contribute to generate solid concepts and, in the long run, a more stable knowledge base on the underlying constructs of medication adherence in PD measured by the items of the first scale to be created for this purpose.

Purpose

To present the development process and clinimetric testing plan of the Parkinson's Disease Medication Adherence Scale (PD-MAS).

Method

We adopted a hybrid approach plan based on the United States Food and Drug Administration and Benson and Clark Guide that will create a patient-reported outcome instrument. We presented an overview of consecutive and interrelated steps, containing a concise description of each one. International research centers from Brazil and United States were initially involved in the planning and implementation of the methodological steps of this study.

Results

We developed a four-phase multimethod approach for the conceptualization and the clinimetric testing plan of the PD-MAS. First, we describe the development process of the conceptual framework of the PD-MAS underpinning the scale construct; second, we formalized the development process of the first version of the PD-MAS from the generation of item pools to the content validation and pre-testing; third, we established the steps for the first pilot testing and revision; fourth, we describe the steps plan for the first pilot testing and revision, to finally describe its clinimetric testing plan and validation.

Conclusion

The overview presentation of the development phases and the clinimetric testing plan of the PD-MAS demonstrate the feasibility of creating an instrument to measure the multidimensional and multifactorial components of the medication adherence process in people with PD.

Content validation of value-adding indicators for corporate real estate management: insights from a developing country

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the content validity of value-adding indicators derived from a comprehensive review of literature and expert interviews within the context of the nascent corporate real estate management (CREM) practices in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted on a panel of experts to assess the content relevance and clarity of the value-adding indicators. The individual content validity (I-CVI) index as well as the average scale content validity index (S-CVI) were computed. Preliminary interviews were analyzed using summative content analysis.

Findings

The I-CVI for relevance and clarity ranged from 0.33 to 1.00, whereas the average S-CVI was > 0.80. Critical analysis of the results by corrections, eliminations due to lower I-CVI scores and suggestions from the experts resulted in a final list of 50 indicators grouped under 10 domains. The results from the content validity confirm the applicability of the value-adding indicators in literature within the Ghanaian context. The study provides detailed sustainability indicators while introducing a new value-adding parameter that relates to CREM preparedness for pandemics such as the Covid-19.

Research limitations/implications

Further psychometric assessment such as construct validity, inter- and intra-examiner reliability and internal consistency of the indicators is recommended.

Practical implications

The indicators developed through the content validation can assist in the design and review of measures for the assessment of added value by corporate real estate managers and researchers.

Originality/value

The paper presents the first attempt to test and develop added value indicators within the context of a developing country by taking a systematic content validation procedure.

Development and content validation of an instrument to support pharmaceutical counselling for dispensing of prescribed medicines

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES

Counselling is essential in drug dispensing, since it enables patients to receive and understand the information to correctly use their medicines. Although counselling is a quality indicator on drug dispensing, models that guide pharmacists in this practice are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate the content of an instrument to support pharmaceutical counselling for dispensing of prescribed medicines.

METHOD

A two-stage validation study was conducted out from February to October 2017. The first stage involved the development of the instrument, and the second involved content validation. Instrument development included the following three steps: (1) drafting of the prototype; (2) an academic brainstorming meeting, and (3) a pre-Delphi process. Content validation was then conducted using the Delphi technique. At this stage, 40 pharmacists who were experts in drug dispensing, were invited to assess the instrument. Consensus among experts was calculated according to the content validity index (CVI).

RESULTS

The development stage generated three versions of the instrument: the prototype, Version 1 (modified after brainstorming meeting), and Version 2 (modified after the pre-Delphi process). Version 2 underwent the content validation process, in which 29 pharmacists participated during the first round (rate of return: 72.5%) and 23 of these during the second round (rate of return: 79.31%). All items obtained CVI > 0.82 and were thus considered to be validated. The final instrument comprised three components: suggestions for questions, dispensing process reasoning, and suggestions for counselling, and other conduct in 11 stages, each representing a step in the clinical reasoning process.

CONCLUSIONS

An instrument was developed to support pharmaceutical counselling for dispensing of prescribed medicines, suggesting main questions, counselling, and conduct to be taken by pharmacists, and its content validity was verified.

Logical validation and evaluation of practical feasibility for the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery developed for young adolescent rugby players in a resource-constrained environment

There is a growing impetus towards usage of test batteries in talent identification (TID) programmes in rugby. Consequently, there are many test batteries in existence profiling anthropometric, physiological characteristics and rugby-specific skills. There is no consensus in the literature on the constituent variables and corresponding tests required to inform TID programs. Following development of a new test battery called the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure), this study aimed at establishing face, logical validity and practical feasibility of included tests. The test battery, initially comprised of 23 items, had its face and logical validity evaluated by five (5) adolescent rugby coaches and 20 rugby experts, respectively. Logical validation was conducted in two questionnaire-based rounds with Content Validity Index (I-CVI) calculated for each variable. Subsequently, a cross-sectional study targeting 30 local rugby coaches was conducted to determine the perceived practical feasibility of each test item. The results showed excellent I-CVI (>0.78) for 17 variables (speed, weight, height and skin fold measures, repeated high-intensity exercise performance ability, prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability, change of direction speed, anaerobic capacity, lower-and upper body muscular power and strength, muscular flexibility, reactive agility, passing for accuracy, tackling proficiency, and catching). However, three tests, namely, Reactive Agility, One Repetition Maximum Back Squat and One Repetition Maximum Bench Press had low test-feasibility indices (T-FI< 35) suggesting practicality concerns with implementation in the Zimbabwean context. Thus, these findings suggest the need for substitution or development of new practically feasible tests for upper-and lower body muscular strength and reactive agility.

Validation of a care protocol for the septic patient in the Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

to elaborate and validate a protocol for the care of the nurse to the septic patient in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

METHOD

instrument validation study. Two steps were followed: instrument development and content validation according to the Delphi technique.

RESULTS

the validation of contents related to the nurse's assistance to the septic patient in intensive care was initially composed of eighteen items analyzed by the evaluators/judges. From this, through the Content Validity Index (CVI), thirteen items with strong evidence of validation were identified, CVI = 0.79. Then the instrument was refined, being then composed of fifteen items, which in the second phase Delphi had a percentage of agreement above 84% for the variables pertinent to the protocol.

CONCLUSION

the method was effective to validate the contents of a protocol for the nurse's assistance to the septic patient in the ICU.

Nursing care protocol for patients with a ventricular assist device

ABSTRACT Objective: to develop and validate a nursing care protocol for patients with a ventricular assist device (VAD). Method: descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, for an instrument's methodological validation. Three stages were conducted: development of the instrument; protocol content validation according to the Delphi technique, and agreement among experts and the scientific literature. Results: based on the content validation, a care protocol for patients with a VAD was created and assessed by Spanish experts. Of the 15 items evaluated by means of the content validity index (CVI), 10 presented solid evidence of validation, with Kappa ranging between 0.87 and 1. Conclusion: the method enabled the validation of interventions that will contribute to qualified and standardized care for patients with a VAD.