This review provides an overview of the psychometric properties of the short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed up and go test (TUG), 4 m gait speed test (4 m GST) and the 400 m walk test (400 m WT) in community-dwelling older adults.
A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE, resulting in the inclusion of 50 studies with data from in total 19,266 participants (mean age 63.2-84.3). Data were extracted and properties were given a sufficient or insufficient overall rating following the COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures. Quality of evidence (QoE) was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
The SPPB was evaluated in 12 studies, TUG in 30, 4 m GST in 12 and 400 m WT in 2. Reliability of the SPPB, TUG and 4 m GST was rated sufficient (moderate to good QoE). The measurement error of the SPPB was rated insufficient (low QoE). Criterion validity for the SPPB was insufficient in indicating sarcopenia (moderate QoE), while the TUG was sufficient and insufficient for determining mobility limitations (low QoE) and activities of daily living disability (low QoE), respectively. Construct validity of the SPPB, TUG, 4 m GST and 400 m WT was rated insufficient in many constructs (moderate to high QoE). Responsiveness was rated as insufficient for SPPB (high QoE) and TUG (very low QoE), while 4 m GST was rated as sufficient (high QoE).
Overall, the psychometric quality of commonly used physical performance tests in community-dwelling older adults was generally rated insufficient, except for reliability. These tests are widely used in daily practice and recommended in guidelines; however, users should be cautious when drawing conclusions such as sarcopenia severity and change in physical performance due to limited psychometric quality of the recommended measurement instruments. There is a need for a disease-specific physical performance test for people with sarcopenia.This research received no specific grant from any funding agency and was registered a priori using the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42022359725).

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a self- and parent-report scale specifically developed to assess symptoms of major anxiety disorders (part 1 or YAM-5-I) and specific phobias/agoraphobia (part 2 or YAM-5-II) in children and adolescents in terms of the contemporary psychiatric classification system. Since its introduction, the measure has been increasingly used in research, making it feasible to provide a summary of its psychometric properties. The present article presents a systematic review of 20 studies that employed the YAM-5, involving 5325 young participants. Overall, the results supported the hypothesized factor structure of both parts of the measure, although there were also some studies that could not fully replicate the original five-factor model of YAM-5-I. The internal consistency of the YAM-5 was generally high for the total scores of both parts, while reliability coefficients for the subscales were more variable across studies. Research also obtained evidence for other psychometric properties, such as test-retest reliability, parent-child agreement, convergent/divergent validity, and discriminant validity. Results further revealed that girls tend to show significantly higher anxiety levels on the YAM-5 than boys. Overall, these findings indicate that the YAM-5 is a promising tool for assessing symptoms of anxiety disorders including specific phobias in young people. Some directions for future research with the YAM-5 and recommendations regarding the use of the measure are given.

Food allergies severely impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients and their caregivers (family or informal caregivers). Currently there is no comprehensive review to provide an overview and critical assessment of the instruments in the field. Six databases were searched from inception until 10 August 2023, and a combination of subject terms and free words was used to search the literature. We used the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments methodology (COSMIN) to evaluate the measurement properties of the instruments. Forty-one studies reported on ten eligible instruments. Based on COSMIN guidelines, one instrument was recommended for Grade A, and the remaining nine instruments were recommended for Grade B. The Grade A instrument identified, the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF), can help researchers assess the effectiveness of treatment for patients with food allergy and to understand the psychosocial impact of the disease on patients.

Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent global disease, particularly impacting developed countries. With the world\'s aging population, HF\'s impact on the quantity and quality of life is expected to grow. This review aims to ascertain the frequency, characteristics, and properties of all patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) studied in HF patients. We searched Ovid/Medline and Web of Science for original articles about PROMs performed in adults with HF. Using pre-established quality criteria for measurement properties, an overall rating was assigned to evaluate and compare different instruments. The quality of evidence was assessed with the COSMIN risk of bias checklist. Of 4283 records identified, we reviewed 296 full-text documents and included 64 papers, involving 30,185 participants. Thirty different PROMs were identified, with 14 specifically designed for HF being the most commonly used. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLHF) and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) were evaluated 16 and 13 times, respectively, demonstrating good psychometric properties. The MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, a common heart disease-specific instrument, exhibited negative performances across various psychometric measures. Evidence for generic instruments was scant and unremarkable and they proved to be less responsive in HF populations. MLHF and KCCQ emerged as the most commonly used and well-supported PROMs, with robust overall evidence. They are comprehensive and accurate instruments, particularly suitable for application in clinical practice and research. Future research should explore how computer-adapted instruments can enhance precision, reduce respondent burden, and improve communication between clinicians and patients, thereby promoting more efficient and patient-centered services.

A substantial portion of patients presenting to healthcare settings exhibit physical symptoms lacking clear, demonstrable organic causes. Accurate assessment of symptom severity is crucial for documenting outcomes and establishing treatment efficacy. This systematic review and narrative synthesis aims to provide researchers with insights into available and validated tools for assessing medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). It involved comprehensive searches across electronic databases, including PubMed, Wiley, and Cochrane, adhering to PRISMA and COSMIN guidelines. The study comprised two phases: Phase 1 systematically reviewed tools for assessing MUPS symptoms and severity, while Phase 2 conducted a narrative synthesis of their measurement properties, focusing on validity and reliability. Out of 14,459 records, 191 articles were identified, leading to the recognition of 16 validated tools for assessing MUPS symptoms and severity. Most tools demonstrated excellent internal consistency and structural validity. However, the majority lacked cross-cultural validity. The choice of tools for the assessment of MUPS will assist clinicians and researchers in determining the severity of MUPS and developing a tailored treatment plan to improve the physical and psychological functioning of these patients.

Parkinson\'s disease (PD) affects Quality of Life (QoL), since it is responsible for cognitive impairment, non-motor, and motor symptoms. Outcome measures are fundamental for evaluating treatment\'s effect on QoL over time. This systematic review aimed to identify the psychometric properties of PDQ-39 and PDQ-8 in the different populations in which they were validated. The electronic databases systematically searched are MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science; the research was conducted in July 2023. The psychometric properties considered were those of the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Risk of bias was assessed using the COSMIN checklist. The search identified 1306 articles. 398 duplicates were eliminated; 908 articles were analyzed reading title and abstract; 799 were finally excluded because used PDQ-39 and PDQ-8 as outcome measures or were not dealing with psychometric properties; 66 articles were excluded after reading the full text. 43 articles were included in the review; meta-analysis showed all the Cronbach\'s alpha values were statistically significant for all the subscales of PDQ-39 and PDQ-8. PDQ-39 demonstrated to be a specific HRQoL questionnaire that is correlated with generic HRQoL questionnaires, in fact in many studies included in the review, correlations with SF-36 were found. In the last studies about psychometric properties of PDQ-8 emerged that it is a practical and informative instrument that can be easily used in clinical settings, especially in busy ones, but also in large-scale studies in which a brief instrument would be preferred.

Stigma against sexual and gender minorities (SGM) populations has serious negative health effects for SGM populations. Despite the growing need for accurate stigma measurement in SGM, there are insufficient valid measurement instruments. Moreover, the lack of consistency in construct usage makes comparisons across studies particularly challenging. A critical review and comparative evaluation of the psychometric properties of the various stigma measures for SGM is necessary to advance our understanding regarding stigma measurement against/among SGMs. Based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in 4 bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science) for empirical articles published from 2010 to 2022 that evaluated the psychometrics properties of measurement instruments assessing stigma against SGMs. The screening, extraction, and scoring of the psychometric properties and methodological quality of selected instruments were performed by following the established standards and COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) checklist, respectively. Of the 2031 studies identified, 19 studies were included that reported psychometric properties of 17 measurement instruments. All instruments, except two, were developed for SGMs (n = 15/17). Most instruments included men who have sex with men (MSM) or gay men (n = 11/15), whereas less than half of the instruments assessed stigma among SGM women (n = 6/15). Internal consistency (Cronbach\'s alpha) and content validity was reported for all instruments (n = 17); construct and structural validity was also reported for majority of the instruments (n = 15 and 10, respectively). However, test-retest reliability and criterion validity was reported for very few instruments (n = 5 each). Based on the COSMIN checklist, we identified the most psychometrically and methodologically robust instruments for each of the five stigma types: combined stigma, enacted stigma, internalized stigma, intersectional stigma, and perceived stigma. For each stigma type, except anticipated stigma, at least one instrument demonstrated strong promise for use in empirical research; however, the selection of instrument depends on the target population and context of the study. Findings indicated a growing use of instruments assessing multiple stigma types. Future studies need to develop intersectional stigma instruments that account for the multiple and intersecting social identities of SGMs. Additionally, most existing instruments would benefit from further psychometric testing, especially on test-retest reliability, criterion validity, adaptability to different LGBTQIA + populations and cultures.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to identify clinical measures that have been used to evaluate function, health related quality of life (HRQoL), and/or satisfaction in children who use lower limb prostheses (LLP). The data reported on psychometric properties for children who use LLP were collected for each measure.
UNASSIGNED: First, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched using broad search terms to identify standardized outcome measures of function, HRQoL, and/or satisfaction with treatment used in pediatric LLP research published in 2001 or after. For each of the eligible measures found, a second search was performed to identify psychometric properties (e.g., validity, reliability) assessed with children who use LLP.
UNASSIGNED: Forty-four standardized outcome measures were identified from 41 pediatric LLP research articles. Five measures (i.e., Gait Outcomes Assessment for Lower Limb Differences, Functional Mobility Assessment, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Prosthesis Satisfaction Inventory, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Functional Scale Index, and Lower Limb Function Questionnaire) had data on psychometric properties for children who use LLP.
UNASSIGNED: Few studies report psychometric data for assessing the overall HRQoL, function, and/or satisfaction for children who use LLP. Further research is needed to validate or create new outcome measures that assess the HRQoL, satisfaction, and/or function of children who use LLP.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate and reliable balance measures are important for prescribing fall prevention treatments and monitoring their effectiveness. Thus, we aimed to systematically review the psychometric properties of the Six-Spot Step Test, an increasingly used measure of dynamic balance.
METHODS: A literature search using the free-text term \"Six-Spot Step Test\" was performed on 12 February 2024, in Medline, Embase, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine and SPORTDiscus. Eligibility criteria were adults aged 18 or more, trials evaluating the psychometric properties of the Six-Spot Step Test, and English-language articles. Conference abstracts were excluded.
METHODS: Two investigators screened and selected data independently and assessed the methodological quality and evidence using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist and modified GRADE approach. One investigator extracted study characteristics such as design, population and psychometric properties.
RESULTS: Of the 159 articles identified, 16, evaluating multiple measurement properties, were included in the final analysis. A total of 1319 people participated, including people affected by Stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkison\'s disease, chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy and older adults with balance problems. Eight articles assessing reliability (n = 618, intraclass correlations coefficient ≥0.7, minimal detectable change = 22%) and 12 construct validity (n = 1082, 83% true hypothesis, area under the curve >0.7) exhibited sufficient methodological quality with high-level evidence, while two studies (n = 167) examining responsiveness showed very low evidence.
CONCLUSIONS: Apart from responsiveness, robust evidence supports the reliability and validity of the Six-Spot Step Test for assessing dynamic balance in a specific group of individuals with neurological diseases and older adults. Further, it is considered feasible for clinical use.

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychological assessments traditionally include tests of executive functioning (EF) because of its critical role in daily activities and link to mental disorders. Established traditional EF assessments, although robust, lack ecological validity and are limited to single cognitive processes. These methods, which are suitable for clinical populations, are less informative regarding EF in healthy individuals. With these limitations in mind, immersive virtual reality (VR)-based assessments of EF have garnered interest because of their potential to increase test sensitivity, ecological validity, and neuropsychological assessment accessibility.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to explore the literature on immersive VR assessments of EF focusing on (1) EF components being assessed, (2) how these assessments are validated, and (3) strategies for monitoring potential adverse (cybersickness) and beneficial (immersion) effects.
METHODS: EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched in July 2022 using keywords that reflected the main themes of VR, neuropsychological tests, and EF. Articles had to be peer-reviewed manuscripts written in English and published after 2013 that detailed empirical, clinical, or proof-of-concept studies in which a virtual environment using a head-mounted display was used to assess EF in an adult population. A tabular synthesis method was used in which validation details from each study, including comparative assessments and scores, were systematically organized in a table. The results were summed and qualitatively analyzed to provide a comprehensive overview of the findings.
RESULTS: The search retrieved 555 unique articles, of which 19 (3.4%) met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies encompassed EF and associated higher-order cognitive functions such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, planning, and attention. VR assessments commonly underwent validation against gold-standard traditional tasks. However, discrepancies were observed, with some studies lacking reported a priori planned correlations, omitting detailed descriptions of the EF constructs evaluated using the VR paradigms, and frequently reporting incomplete results. Notably, only 4 of the 19 (21%) studies evaluated cybersickness, and 5 of the 19 (26%) studies included user experience assessments.
CONCLUSIONS: Although it acknowledges the potential of VR paradigms for assessing EF, the evidence has limitations. The methodological and psychometric properties of the included studies were inconsistently addressed, raising concerns about their validity and reliability. Infrequent monitoring of adverse effects such as cybersickness and considerable variability in sample sizes may limit interpretation and hinder psychometric evaluation. Several recommendations are proposed to improve the theory and practice of immersive VR assessments of EF. Future studies should explore the integration of biosensors with VR systems and the capabilities of VR in the context of spatial navigation assessments. Despite considerable promise, the systematic and validated implementation of VR assessments is essential for ensuring their practical utility in real-world applications.