Validation of a Scale to Assess Patients' Comprehension of Frequently Used Cardiology Terminology: The Cardiac TERM Scale in Brazilian Portuguese

• Published in: Rehabilitation nursing Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 87 - 95
• Main Authors: Ghisi, Gabriela Lima de Melo, Dos Santos, Rafaella Zulianello, Britto, Raquel R, Bonin, Christiani Decker Batista, Servio, Thaianne Cavalcante, Schmidt, Luiz Fernando, Benetti, Magnus, Grace, Sherry L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Aged; Brazil; Cardiology; Cardiology - education; Cardiovascular disease; Comprehension; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Literacy - classification; Health Literacy - standards; Humans; Jargon; Knowledge; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Patients; Pilot Projects; Psychometrics - instrumentation; Psychometrics - methods; Psychometrics - standards; Quantitative analysis; Rehabilitation; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translating; Validation studies; Brazil
• ISSN: 0278-4807; 2048-7940
• DOI: 10.1097/rnj.0000000000000099

The aim of this study was to psychometrically validate the translation of a questionnaire on patient understanding of cardiology terminology (TERM) to Brazilian Portuguese.
After piloting the translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the 16-item TERM questionnaire was psychometrically tested.
Internal and test-retest reliability, as well as validity, were assessed in 322 cardiac patients.
Internal (α = .88) and test-retest reliability (all weighted Kappa > 0.63) exceeded the minimum recommended standards. Criterion validity was supported by significant differences in mean scores by socioeconomic indicators (p < .01). Discriminant validity was supported in that cardiac rehabilitation participants had significantly higher TERM scores (p < .001). Participants did not correctly define any of the terms, and a floor effect was identified in all terms.
The Cardiac TERM Scale was demonstrated to have good reliability and validity.
The scale can be used by healthcare professionals, such as nurses. Results can be used to inform patient education, which could in turn impact patient adherence to medical advice and hence outcomes.