Initial validation of the Yin-Yang Assessment Questionnaire for persons with diabetes mellitus

摘要

AIM:To initially test for the content validity,comprehensibility,test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability of the Yin-Yang Assessment Questionnaire(YYAQ).METHODS:The process of initial validity and reliability test covered:(1)content validation from the findings of 18 multiple-case studies,validated Yin-and Yangdeficiency assessment questionnaires,relevant literatures and registered Chinese medicine practitioners;(2)comprehension with the levels of comprehensibility for each item categorized on a 3-point scale(not comprehensible;moderately comprehensible;highly comprehensible).A minimum of three respondents selecting for each item of moderately or highly comprehensible were regarded as comprehensive;(3)test-retest reliability conducted with a 2-wk interval.The intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs)and their 95%CIs were calculated using a two-way random effects model.Wilcoxon Signed Rank test for related samples was adopted to compare the medians of test-retest scores.An ICC value of 0.85 or higher together with P>0.05,was considered acceptable;and(4)internal consistency of the total items was measured and evaluated by Cronbach’s coefficient alpha(α).A Cronbach’sαof 0.7or higher was considered to represent good internal consistency.RESULTS:Eighteen Yin-deficiency and 14 Yang-deficiency presentation items were finalized from content validation.Five participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)performed the comprehensibility and testretest reliability tests.Comprehensibility score level of each presentation item was found to be moderate or high in three out of the five participants.Test-retest reliability showed that the single measure ICC of the total Yin-deficiency presentation items was 0.99(95%CI:0.89-0.99)and the median scores on the first and 14thdays were 17(IQR 6.5-27)and 21(IQR 6-29)(P=0.144)respectively.The single measure ICC of the total Yang-deficiency presentation items was 0.88(95%CI:0.79-0.99)and the median scores on the first and 14th days were 10(IQR 6-18)and 14(IQR 7-23)(P=0.144)respectively.The results of a descriptive correlation study on 140 survey participants with T2DM using the YY-AQ showed that internal consistency of the total Yin-deficiency and Yang-deficiency presentation items was satisfactory,with Cronbach’sαof 0.79 and 0.78respectively.CONCLUSION:The YY-AQ will be tested further for comprehensibility,test-retest and internal consistency reliabilities,scoring system validity,construct validity,convergent and discriminant validities,responsiveness and predictive validity.