Tracking online poker problem gamblers with player account‐based gambling data only

The aim was to develop and validate an instrument to track online problem poker gamblers with player account‐based gambling data (PABGD). We emailed an invitation to all active poker gamblers on the online gambling service provider Winamax. The 14,261 participants completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). PGSI served as a gold standard to track problem gamblers (i.e., PGSI ≥ 5). We used a stepwise logistic regression to build a predictive model of problem gambling with PABGD, and validated it. Of the sample 18% was composed of online poker problem gamblers. The risk factors of problem gambling included in the predictive model were being male, compulsive, younger than 28 years, making a total deposit > 0 euros, having a mean loss per gambling session > 1.7 euros, losing a total of > 45 euros in the last 30 days, having a total stake > 298 euros, having > 60 gambling sessions in the last 30 days, and multi‐tabling. The tracking instrument had a sensitivity of 80%, and a specificity of 50%. The quality of the instrument was good. This study illustrates the feasibility of a method to develop and validate instruments to track online problem gamblers with PABGD only. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychometric characteristics of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale: data from an Australian sample

Many new mothers discontinue breastfeeding prematurely because of difficulties encountered rather than maternal choice. Research has shown that a significant predictor of breastfeeding duration is a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed. To measure breastfeeding confidence, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) was developed and psychometrically tested at 1 week postpartum. The purpose of this methodological study was to psychometrically test the BSES antenatally and at 1 week and 4 months postpartum in a sample of Australian women and to determine predictive validity. The psychometric assessment of the original BSES study was replicated, including internal consistency, principal components factor analysis, comparison of contrasted groups, and correlations with a similar construct. Support for predictive validity was demonstrated through positive correlations and significant mean differences between antenatal BSES scores and infant-feeding method at 1 week and 4 months postpartum. The BSES is now considered ready for both research and clinical use (a) to identify new mothers with low breastfeeding confidence who require additional assistance, (b) to assess breastfeeding behaviors and cognitions in order to have individualized confidence-building strategies, and (c) to assist in the evaluation of various nursing interventions.     

Psychometric validation of the Stoma-QOL questionnaire in a Canadian cross-sectional sample of colostomy and ileostomy patients

Objectives: The Stoma-QOL questionnaire is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) used to measure quality of life in patients with ileostomy or colostomy. This study assesses the Stoma-QOL’s overall and item-level psychometric characteristics in patients with temporary stomas, and whether stoma-related quality of life differs by demographic characteristics.

Materials and methods: Analysis of cross-sectional observational PRO data from hospitals in Vancouver, Canada. Patients registered for elective ileostomy or colostomy closure, over the age of 18, and able to read English were eligible for participation. Emergent and cancer-related cases were excluded. One-way analysis of variance was used to test for demographic differences in Stoma-QOL scores. Cronbach’s alpha was used for reliability, and Rasch item-response theory was used to assess overall and item characteristics.

Results: 120 patients were included. No statistically significant difference in Stoma-QOL scores was found by age, sex, or socioeconomic status. Reliability was 0.93. Mean item responses ranged from 1.77 to 3.55 and item-total correlation ranged from 0.51 to 0.77. The Rasch item-response theory model demonstrated significant misfit, likely due to the misfit of item 9, which asks about sexuality, and high residual correlations between item pairs 6 and 8 about fatigue, and items 16 and 17 about social relationships.

Conclusions: The Stoma-QOL questionnaire is a well-designed PRO for measuring stoma-related quality of life. Demographic variables do not appear to have a strong influence on Stoma-QOL scores. Item 9 demonstrated misfit but removal likely does not improve the instrument. Future research should focus on revising items 6, 8, 16, and 17.     

SF-36量表在MDR-TB患者生命质量评估中的应用

目的 评价SF-36量表在耐多药肺结核（MDR-TB,同时耐利福平和异烟肼）患者中的适用性,并分析相关因素对生存质量的影响。 方法 用SF-36量表对100例MDR-TB患者和200名健康志愿者进行生命质量测评,评价量表的信度和效度。对完成疗程100例患者治疗前、治疗3个月及治疗1年的生命质量总评分及各维度得分进行配对t检验、多元方差分析评价疗效。对生命质量的影响因素进行单因素分析和多因素逐步回归分析。 结果SF-36量表分半信度0.96,各维度及总表的Cronbach’s а系数均大于0.7。 MDR-TB患者的生命质量总分及8个维度得分与正常对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;治疗3个月或治疗1年的生命质量总分及8个维度的得分明显高于治疗前且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;治疗1年后的总分及PF、PR、GH、VT、SF、ER、MH7个维度较对照组低并差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。影响MDR-TB患者生命质量的主要因素是：文化程度、耐药数目、不规则治疗、Hb降低。 结论 SF-36量表适于在MDR-TB患者中运用.MDR-TB患者的生命质量均显著降低,治疗后生命质量明显提高,但治疗1年后仍不能恢复正常。影响 MDR-TB患者生命质量的主要因素是：文化程度、耐药数目、不规则治疗、Hb降低。     

中国军人心理素质量表常模建立与应用

目的 建立军人心理素质量表的常模.方法 在全国四地市陆海空三军官兵中分层随机抽取7 124名军人,利用课题组前期研制的<军人心理素质量表>进行测评,所有数据采用相关分析、回归分析、方差分析和t检验等统计方法进行分析.结果 ①军人心理素质存在显著的军种、职别、军龄主效应,且无明显交互效应.据此建立了总体常模、军种常模、职别常模和军龄常模4个常模,可以作为不同军人群体心理素质测评和研究的客观依据.②军人心理素质在军种、职别、军龄上有显著差异(P<0.01).在军种上,心理素质整体表现为空军＞海军＞陆军,空军心理素质最优,显著高于海军和陆军(P<0.01),陆军与海军无显著差异(P>0.05);在职别上,心理素质整体表现为军官＞士官＞士兵,士兵心理素质最差,显著低于士官和军官(P<0.01),士官和军官无显著差异.在军龄上,随着军龄增加,心理素质整体出现了"升高-下降-升高"的波动变化趋势.结论 成功建立了军人心理素质的常模,可用于军人心理测评和心理选拔.     

基于高血压患者报告的临床结局评价量表的计量心理学特征测评

目的为考察用于新药临床试验或临床疗效评价的基于高血压患者报告的临床结局评价量表(Hyper-PRO)的科学性,对其计量心理学特征进行评价。方法用Hyper-PRO量表对620例样本(536例高血压患者和84名健康人)进行自评量表式调查,对其信度、效度、反应度和临床可行性等计量心理学特征进行考评。结果分半信度系数:生理领域0.882,心理领域0.924,社会领域0.834,治疗领域0.950,整个量表0.950。克朗巴赫系数:生理领域0.839,心理领域0.905,社会领域0.770,治疗领域0.859,整个量表0.948。内容效度满意。因子分析显示量表的结构效度良好。高血压患者与健康人在每个方面的测评结果比较,除外焦虑和抑郁,其余各方面分量表及总量表得分差异均有统计学意义。结论 Hyper-PRO量表具有较好的信度(分半信度、克朗巴赫系数)、效度(内容效度、结构效度)、反应度和临床可行性,可以作为高血压临床疗效评价研究的工具。     

Validation of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale by comparison with the Short Form 36 scale among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder

Background: The Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) is a self‐administered scale developed for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms. The aims of this study were to establish the criterion‐related validity of the DSSS by testing the correlation between the DSSS and the Short Form 36 (SF‐36) scale and to compare the ability of the DSSS and two other scales in predicting the outcome of the SF‐36. Methods: The study enrolled 135 outpatients with a major depressive episode, 95 of whom received treatment for 1 month. Four scales were administered and evaluated: the DSSS, the SF‐36, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Pearson correlation was used to test correlations among scales. Multiple linear regressions were used to find the scales most effective in predicting the SF‐36. Results: The three scales were significantly correlated with most of the SF‐36 subscales. The depression and somatic subscales of the DSSS significantly correlated with the mental and physical subscales of the SF‐36, respectively. The DSSS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were better able to predict physical and mental subscales of the SF‐36, respectively. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale had a good ability to predict functional impairment. Conclusions: Psychometric scales with appropriate somatic symptoms might be more compatible with both physical and mental dimensions of the SF‐36. DSSS proved to be a valid scale for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms in patients with depression. Future studies should test whether the DSSS is better at predicting the treatment and prognosis of depression than conventional scales for depression. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The performance of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in English speaking and non-English speaking populations in Australia

Background The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been widely used to assess maternal depression following childbirth in a range of English speaking countries, and increasingly also in translation in non-English speaking ones. It has performed satisfactorily in most validation studies, has proved easy to administer, is acceptable to women, and rates of depression in the range of 10–20% have been consistently found. Methods The performance of the EPDS was compared across different population samples in Australia: (i) Women born in Australia or in another English speaking country who completed the EPDS in English as part of the 1994 postal Survey of Recent Mothers (SRM) 6–7 months after birth (n = 1166); (ii) Women born in non-English speaking countries who also completed the EPDS in English in the same survey (n = 142); and (iii) Women born in Vietnam (n = 103), Turkey (n = 104) and the Philippines (n = 106) who completed the EPDS 6–9 months after birth in translation in the Mothers in a New Country Study (MINC) study (total n = 313). The pattern of item responses on the EPDS was assessed in various ways across the samples and internal reliability co-efficients were calculated. Exploratory factor analyses were also conducted to assess the similarity in the factor solutions across the samples. Results The EPDS had good construct validity and item endorsement by women was similar across the samples. Internal reliability of the scale was also very satisfactory with Cronbach’s alpha for each sample being ≥8. Between 39 and 46% of the variance in each of the three main samples was accounted for by one principal factor ‘depression’ (6–7 items loading), with two supplementary factors ‘loss of enjoyment’ (2 items loading) and ‘despair/self-harm’ (2–3 items loading) accounting for a further 20–25% of the variance. Alternative one and two factor solutions also showed a great deal of consistency between the samples. Conclusions The good item consistency of the EPDS and the relative stability of the factor patterns across the samples are indicative that the scale is understood and completed in similar ways by women in these different English speaking and non-English speaking population groups. With the proviso that careful translation processes and extensive piloting of translations are always needed, these findings lend further support to the use of the EPDS in cross-cultural research on depression following childbirth.