Development and validation of a speech pathology-specific questionnaire for persons with multiple sclerosis (SMS)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Speech pathology-specific questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS). Method: Forty-one items were generated through a literature review. Items were submitted to a preliminary psychometric validation process consisting of principal component analysis, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and floor and ceiling effects using data from 164 participants. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the SMS with the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Participants were recruited internationally through online channels and questionnaires were completed online. Result: The SMS contains 16 items describing three components: speech and voice, language, and swallowing. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the three components was satisfactory (α = 0.89–α = 0.91). Criterion validity was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ). A statistically significant weak to moderate correlation between the SMS and the SF-12 was identified (ρ = –0.004–ρ = –0.359). No floor or ceiling effects were present. The SMS demonstrated strong test-retest reliability. All items had an intra-class correlation coefficient ≥0.70. Conclusion: The SMS is a psychometrically robust patient-reported outcome measure to assess speech-language pathology symptoms in persons with MS.</p

Additional file 1: of Screening value of the Center for epidemiologic studies – depression scale among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a validation study

Vietnamese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression scale. (DOCX 17 kb

Pearson correlations of social network parameters with JAFROC FOM.

<p>Pearson correlations of social network parameters with JAFROC FOM.</p

Schematic flow of three levels of questions in the social network survey.

Schematic flow of three levels of questions in the social network survey.</p

Egocentric professional network of four different radiologists.

<p>Upper Row: radiologists with high degree centrality, relatively high effective size, low constraint, low hierarchy and high performance (JAFROC FOM = .91 (upper left) and .91 (upper right)). Lower Row: radiologists with low degree centrality, low effective size, high constraint, high hierarchy and low performance (JAFROC FOM = .56 (lower left) and .59 (lower right)).</p

Description of standardized scores for neuropsychological tests.

<p>Description of standardized scores for neuropsychological tests.</p

Point-biserial correlations of (dichotomous) personal characteristic parameters with JAFROC FOM.

<p>Point-biserial correlations of (dichotomous) personal characteristic parameters with JAFROC FOM.</p

Participant Characteristics.

<p>Participant Characteristics.</p

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and reliability testing of the barriers to physical activity and Disability survey (B-PADS) for Thai people with Spinal Cord injury

The objectives of this study were to translate and culturally adapt the Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey (B-PADS) into the Thai context and to assess its inter- and intra-rater reliability. Participants were experts in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI, n = 3), linguistic experts (n = 7), Thai-English bilingual speakers (n = 40), Thai physiotherapists (n = 8), and people with SCI living in Thailand (n = 43). The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the B-PADS into the Thai context was conducted using a 6-step process; forward translation, reconciliation of the two translated versions, backward-translation, harmonisation, backward-translation of the revised version, and cognitive debriefing with potential users and target population. The reliability of the translated tool was assessed using Cohen’s kappa (K) and McNemar’s test. The inter-rater reliability test demonstrated high-range agreement for the majority of statements (27 out of 38; Cohen’s K > 0.60) in the Thai-B-PADS final version. The intra-rater reliability test revealed that the majority of the statements (29 out of 38) in the Thai-B-PADS final version obtained substantial (Cohen’s K = 0.61–0.80, p K = 1.0, p p > 0.05) for nearly all statements. The Thai-B-PADS final version was successfully translated and culturally adapted for people with SCI.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMulti-stakeholders, including academic experts, researchers, translators, clinicians, target users and clients, should be involved in developing health-related questionnaires’ translation and cultural adaptation processes.The Thai version of Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey (B-PADS) possessed high levels of inter- and intra-rater reliability to assess barriers related to undertaking physical activities or exercise in people with spinal cord injury.Interactional biases and perceived social status effects may not be avoided when deploying a face-to-face interview of health-related questionnaires in a culture where social hierarchy is present within the language.The translation and adaptation processes used in this study were thorough, systematic and comprehensive, providing a culturally competent exemplar for translating health-related questionnaires between languages of different root origins. Multi-stakeholders, including academic experts, researchers, translators, clinicians, target users and clients, should be involved in developing health-related questionnaires’ translation and cultural adaptation processes. The Thai version of Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey (B-PADS) possessed high levels of inter- and intra-rater reliability to assess barriers related to undertaking physical activities or exercise in people with spinal cord injury. Interactional biases and perceived social status effects may not be avoided when deploying a face-to-face interview of health-related questionnaires in a culture where social hierarchy is present within the language. The translation and adaptation processes used in this study were thorough, systematic and comprehensive, providing a culturally competent exemplar for translating health-related questionnaires between languages of different root origins.</p

Hierarchical multiple regression analysis with JAFROC FOM as the dependant variable.

<p>Hierarchical multiple regression analysis with JAFROC FOM as the dependant variable.</p