scholarly journals Neighborhood Quality and Attachment

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter Poortinga ◽  
Tatiana Calve ◽  
Nikki Jones ◽  
Simon Lannon ◽  
Tabitha Rees ◽  
...  

Various studies have shown that neighborhood quality is linked to neighborhood attachment and satisfaction. However, most have relied upon residents’ own perceptions rather than independent observations of the neighborhood environment. This study examines the reliability and validity of the revised Residential Environment Assessment Tool (REAT 2.0), an audit instrument covering both public and private spaces of the neighborhood environment. The research shows that REAT 2.0 is a reliable, easy-to-use instrument and that most underlying constructs can be validated against residents’ own neighborhood perceptions. The convergent validity of the instrument, which was tested against digital map data, can be improved for a number of miscellaneous urban form items. The research further found that neighborhood attachment was significantly associated with the overall REAT 2.0 score. This association can mainly be attributed to the property-level neighborhood quality and natural elements components. The research demonstrates the importance of private spaces in the outlook of the neighborhood environment.

Author(s):  
Nadja Schott ◽  
Bettina Johnen ◽  
Thomas Jürgen Klotzbier

Abstract Purpose Well-adapted and validated well-being (WB) instruments for the nursing home population are scarce. To our knowledge, the Laurens Well-Being Inventory for Gerontopsychiatry (LWIG) is a practical and reliable well-being assessment tool that has never been validated for German nursing home populations. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to (1) translate and cross-culturally adapt the LWIG to a German context and (2) test the reliability and validity of the German LWIG in a group of older nursing home residents using the Rasch model. Methods This study has a cross-sectional, descriptive study design. Cross-cultural adaption of the LWIG-GER from English to German was performed according to a standardized method. The data obtained from 104 long-term nursing home residents (57 women, 47 men) aged 60–99 years (mean 79.5, standard deviation ±9.11) were analyzed for psychometric testing (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item fit, McDonald’s ω, convergent validity, and known-group validity, Rasch). Results The final LWIG-GER consists of 19 items with three subscales, including “psychological WB”, “social WB”, and “physical WB”. The LWIG-GER showed good overall reliability with McDonald’s ω of 0.83; the LWIG-GER dimensions’ scores were significantly correlated with depression, functional performance, activities, fear of falling, and education. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the German language version of the LWIG is a reliable and valid tool for measuring WB in nursing home residents. Furthermore, we propose that the LWIG-GER questionnaire can broaden and deepen our understanding of residents’ perception of quality of care and their environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (02) ◽  
pp. 216-221
Author(s):  
Sheeja Rajan ◽  
Ranjith Sathyan ◽  
L. S. Sreelesh ◽  
Anu Anto Kallerey ◽  
Aarathy Antharjanam ◽  
...  

AbstractMicrosurgical skill acquisition is an integral component of training in plastic surgery. Current microsurgical training is based on the subjective Halstedian model. An ideal microsurgery assessment tool should be able to deconstruct all the subskills of microsurgery and assess them objectively and reliably. For our study, to analyze the feasibility, reliability, and validity of microsurgery skill assessment, a video-based objective structured assessment of technical skill tool was chosen. Two blinded experts evaluated 40 videos of six residents performing microsurgical anastomosis for arteriovenous fistula surgery. The generic Reznick's global rating score (GRS) and University of Western Ontario microsurgical skills acquisition/assessment (UWOMSA) instrument were used as checklists. Correlation coefficients of 0.75 to 0.80 (UWOMSA) and 0.71 to 0.77 (GRS) for interrater and intrarater reliability showed that the assessment tools were reliable. Convergent validity of the UWOMSA tool with the prevalidated GRS tool showed good agreement. The mean improvement of scores with years of residency was measured with analysis of variance. Both UWOMSA (p-value: 0.034) and GRS (p-value: 0.037) demonstrated significant improvement in scores from postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) to PGY2 and a less marked improvement from PGY2 to PGY3. We conclude that objective assessment of microsurgical skills in an actual clinical setting is feasible. Tools like UWOMSA are valid and reliable for microsurgery assessment and provide feedback to chart progression of learning. Acceptance and validation of such objective assessments will help to improve training and bring uniformity to microsurgery education.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang YongKang ◽  
Fu QianQian

The aim of this study is to construct and validate “physical literacy self-assessment questionnaire” (PLAQ) for Chinese students in grades 3-6. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to construct evaluation indicators of PL and determine the weights of each indicator. The 60 items of original PLAQ was based on literature review and interviews, and administered to 1179 primary students graded 3-6 in China. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are used to optimize the structure and verify the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. The model of PLAQ is composed of 4 first-level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 35 third-level indicators. The results of EFA and CFA resulted in a 44-items, 4-factor questionnaire. EFA item loadings ranged from 0.558 to 0.896, and Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.818 to 0.892. The results of CFA show that the constructed model fits well, and PLAQ has good convergent validity and discriminative validity. The PLAQ appeared to be reliable and valid that can be used as an assessment tool for students in grades 3-6. PLAQ can be used as a guide for the development of PL. Additionally, PLAQ gives us a shared understanding about what PL is and how it can be developed by Chinese children. However, studies on the accuracy and generalizability of the PLAQ should be conducted to improve it in the future.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (11) ◽  
pp. 1632-1643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Butsara Chinsongkram ◽  
Nithinun Chaikeeree ◽  
Vitoon Saengsirisuwan ◽  
Nitaya Viriyatharakij ◽  
Fay B. Horak ◽  
...  

Background The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is a new clinical balance assessment tool, but it has never been validated in patients with subacute stroke. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the BESTest in patients with subacute stroke. Design This was an observational reliability and validity study. Methods Twelve patients participated in the interrater and intrarater reliability study. Convergent validity was investigated in 70 patients using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M), and Mini-BESTest. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and BBS in classifying participants into low functional ability (LFA) and high functional ability (HFA) groups based on Fugl-Meyer Assessment motor subscale scores. Results The BESTest showed excellent intrarater reliability and interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=.99) and was highly correlated with the BBS (Spearman r=.96), PASS (r=.96), CB&M (r=.91), and Mini-BESTest (r=.96), indicating excellent convergent validity. No floor or ceiling effects were observed with the BESTest. In contrast, the Mini-BESTest and CB&M had a floor effect in the LFA group, and the BBS and PASS demonstrated responsive ceiling effects in the HFA group. In addition, the BESTest showed high accuracy as the BBS and Mini-BESTest in separating participants into HFA and LFA groups. Limitation Whether the results are generalizable to patients with chronic stroke is unknown. Conclusion The BESTest is reliable, valid, sensitive, and specific in assessing balance in people with subacute stroke across all levels of functional disability.


GeroPsych ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kuemmel (This author contributed eq ◽  
Julia Haberstroh (This author contributed ◽  
Johannes Pantel

Communication and communication behaviors in situational contexts are essential conditions for well-being and quality of life in people with dementia. Measuring methods, however, are limited. The CODEM instrument, a standardized observational communication behavior assessment tool, was developed and evaluated on the basis of the current state of research in dementia care and social-communicative behavior. Initially, interrater reliability was examined by means of videoratings (N = 10 people with dementia). Thereupon, six caregivers in six German nursing homes observed 69 residents suffering from dementia and used CODEM to rate their communication behavior. The interrater reliability of CODEM was excellent (mean κ = .79; intraclass correlation = .91). Statistical analysis indicated that CODEM had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .95). CODEM also showed excellent convergent validity (Pearson’s R = .88) as well as discriminant validity (Pearson’s R = .63). Confirmatory factor analysis verified the two-factor solution of verbal/content aspects and nonverbal/relationship aspects. With regard to the severity of the disease, the content and relational aspects of communication exhibited different trends. CODEM proved to be a reliable, valid, and sensitive assessment tool for examining communication behavior in the field of dementia. CODEM also provides researchers a feasible examination tool for measuring effects of psychosocial intervention studies that strive to improve communication behavior and well-being in dementia.


Author(s):  
Andy Bell ◽  
Jennifer Kelly ◽  
Peter Lewis

Abstract:Purpose:Over the past two decades, the discipline of Paramedicine has seen expediential growth as it moved from a work-based training model to that of an autonomous profession grounded in academia.  With limited evidence-based literature examining assessment in paramedicine, this paper aims to describe student and academic views on the preference for OSCE as an assessment modality, the sufficiency of pre-OSCE instruction, and whether or not OSCE performance is a perceived indicator of clinical performance.Design/Methods:A voluntary, anonymous survey was conducted to examine the perception of the reliability and validity of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as an assessment tool by students sitting the examination and the academics that facilitate the assessment. Findings:The results of this study revealed that the more confident the students are in the reliability and validity of the assessment, the more likely they are to perceive the assessment as an effective measure of their clinical performance.  The perception of reliability and validity differs when acted upon by additional variables, with the level of anxiety associated with the assessment and the adequacy of feedback of performance cited as major influencers. Research Implications:The findings from this study indicate the need for further paramedicine discipline specific research into assessment methodologies to determine best practice models for high quality assessment.Practical Implications:The development of evidence based best practice guidelines for the assessment of student paramedics should be of the upmost importance to a young, developing profession such as paramedicine.Originality/Value: There is very little research in the discipline specific area of assessment for paramedicine and discipline specific education research is essential for professional growth.Limitations:The principal researcher was a faculty member of one of the institutions surveyed.  However, all data was non identifiable at time of data collection.  Key WordsParamedic; paramedicine; objective structured clinical examinations; OSCE; education; assessment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110296
Author(s):  
Jana Furstova ◽  
Natalia Kascakova ◽  
Iva Polackova Solcova ◽  
Jozef Hasto ◽  
Peter Tavel

Objective In recent years, resilience has become a focus of research in the medical and behavioral sciences. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess the individual ability to recover from stress (“to bounce back”) after experiencing adversities. The aim of the study was to validate the Czech and Slovak versions of the BRS. Methods A representative sample of the Czech and Slovak populations (NCZ = 1800, mean age MCZ = 46.6, SDCZ = 17.4, 48.7% of men; NSK = 1018, mean age MSK = 46.2, SDSK = 16.6, 48.7% men) completed a survey assessing their health and well-being. Several confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models of the BRS were compared to find the best fit. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients of reliability were evaluated. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating resilience (BRS), physical and mental well-being (SF-8) and psychopathology symptoms (BSI-53). Differences in gender and age groups were appraised. Results A single-factor model with method effects on the reverse items was evaluated to best fit the data in both the Czech and Slovak samples (χ2CZ(6) = 39.0, p < 0.001, CFICZ = 0.998, TLICZ = 0.995, RMSEACZ = 0.055, SRMRCZ = 0.024; χ2SK(6) = 23.9, p < 0.001, CFISK = 0.998, TLISK = 0.995, RMSEASK = 0.054, SRMRSK = 0.009). The reliability was high in both samples (αCZ = 0.80, ωCZ = 0.85; αSK = 0.86, ωSK = 0.91). The BRS was positively associated with physical and mental well-being and negatively associated with somatization, depression and anxiety. In both countries, a lower BRS score was associated with higher age. Czech men reported significantly higher BRS scores than women. No significant difference was found in the mean BRS scores between the two countries. Conclusion This study provides evidence of good psychometric properties, reliability and validity of the Czech and Slovak adaptations of the BRS.


2021 ◽  
pp. 073428292110053
Author(s):  
Mahsa Jabbari ◽  
Shahriar Shahidi ◽  
Leili Panaghi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mazaheri ◽  
Eva Oberle

Character strengths are an important foundation for positive development and thriving in adolescence. Most research on character strengths has been conducted with youths in Western cultures. We examined character strengths in relation to positive and negative well-being indicators in a sample of Iranian youths. We investigated the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA Y-96)—a self-report survey commonly used in Western contexts. Participants were adolescents in Iran ( N = 1,359; 48.5% female; M age = 13.54, SD = 1.00) who completed the VIA Y-96 and questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, positive/negative experiences, depression, anxiety, and stress. We found that reliability coefficients were acceptable for most of the VIA subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as a second-order CFA, supported the construct validity of the Farsi VIA Y-96. Correlations between the character strengths and positive and negative well-being indicators supported convergent validity. Measurement invariance for the VIA Y-96 was established in this study comparing boys’ and girls’ response patterns. Sex and grade level differences were found for some of the subscales. Overall, the Farsi VIA Y-96 had acceptable psychometric properties, suggesting that it can be used in research on character strengths with Iranian youths.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Ke Zhang ◽  
Miao Li ◽  
Jiaxin Gu ◽  
Xintong Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To examine the validity and reliability of the Mandarin version of the Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ) among stroke patients. Background Stroke patients need long-term management of symptoms and life situation, and treatment burden has recently emerged as a new concept that can influence the health outcomes during the rehabilitation process. Methods The convenience sampling method was used to recruit 187 cases of stroke patients in a tertiary grade hospital in Tianjin for a formal investigation. Item analysis, reliability and validity tests were carried out. The reliability test included internal consistency and test–retest reliability. And as well as content, structure and convergent validity were performed for the validity test. Results Of the 187 completed questionnaires, only 180 (96.3%) were suitable for analysis. According to the experts’ evaluation, the I-CVI of each item was from 0.833 to 1.000, and the S-CVI was 0.967. The exploratory factor analysis yielded three-factor components with a cumulative variation of 53.054%. Convergent validity was demonstrated using measures of Morisky’s Medication Adherence Scale 8 (r = –0.450, P &lt; 0.01). All correlations between items and global scores ranged from 0.403 to 0.638. Internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability were found to be acceptable, as indicated by a Cronbach’s α of 0.824 and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.846, respectively. Conclusions The Mandarin TBQ had acceptable validity and reliability. The use of TBQ in the assessment of treatment burden of stroke survivor may benefit health resources allocation and provide tailor therapeutic interventions to construct minimally disruptive care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Lang

Abstract Background High quality health promotion (HP) depends on a competent workforce for which professional development programmes for practitioners are essential. The “CompHP Core Competencies Framework in HP” defines crucial competency domains but a recent review concluded that the implementation and use of the framework is lacking. The aim was to develop and validate a self-assessment tool for HP competencies, which should help evaluate training courses. Methods A brief self-assessment tool was employed in 2018 in Austria. 584 participants of 77 training courses submitted their post-course assessment (paper-pencil, RR = 78.1%). In addition, longitudinal data are available for 148 participants who filled in a pre-course online questionnaire. Measurement reliability and validity was tested by single factor, bifactor, multigroup, and multilevel CFA. A SEM proved for predictive and concurrent validity, controlling gender and age. Results A bifactor model (X2/df=3.69, RMSEA=.07, CFI=.95, sRMR=.07) showed superior results with a strong general CompHP factor (FL&gt;.65, wH=.90, ECV=.85), configurally invariant for two training programmes. On course level, there was only minimal variance between trainings (ICC&lt;.08). Structurally, there was a significant increase in HP competencies when comparing pre- and post-course measurements (b=.33, p&lt;.01). Participants showed different levels of competencies due to prior knowledge (b=.38, p&lt;.001) and course format (b=.16, p&lt;.06). The total scale had good properties (m = 49.8, sd = 10.3, 95%-CI: 49.0-50.7) and discriminated between groups (eg by training length). Conclusions The results justify the creation of an overall scale to assess core HP competencies. It is recommended to use the scale for evaluating training courses. The work compensates for the lack of empirical studies on the CompHP concept and facilitates a broader empirical application of a uniform competency framework for HP in accordance with international standards in HP and public health. Key messages The self-assessment tool provides a good and compact foundation for assessing HP competencies. It provides a basis for holistic, high quality and sustainable capacity building or development in HP.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document