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Construct validity of the holistic complementary and alternative medicines questionnaire (HCAMQ)—an investigation using modern psychometric approaches

Construct validity of the holistic complementary and alternative medicines questionnaire (HCAMQ)—an investigation using modern psychometric approaches
Construct validity of the holistic complementary and alternative medicines questionnaire (HCAMQ)—an investigation using modern psychometric approaches
The scientific basis of efficacy studies of complementary medicine requires the availability of validated measures. The Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) is one such measure. This article aimed to examine its construct validity, using a modern psychometric approach. The HCAMQ was completed by 221 patients (mean age 66.8, SD 8.29, 58% females) with chronic stable pain predominantly from a single joint (hip or knee) of mechanical origin, waiting for a hip (40%) or knee (60%) joint replacement, on enrolment in a study investigating the effects of acupuncture and placebo controls. The HCAMQ contains a Holistic Health (HH) Subscale (five items) and a CAM subscale (six items). Validity of the subscales was tested using Cronbach alpha’s, factor analysis, Mokken scaling and Rasch analysis, which did not support the original two-factor structure of the scale. A five-item HH subscale and a four-item CAM subscale (worded in a negative direction) fitted the Rasch model and were unidimensional (chi-square 8.44, P=0.39, PSI=0.69 versus chi-square 17.33, P=0.03, PSI=0.77). Two CAM items (worded in the positive direction) had significant misfit. In conclusion, we have shown that the original two-factor structure of the HCAMQ could not be supported but that two valid shortened subscales can be used, one for HH Beliefs (four-item HH), and the other for CAM Beliefs (four-item CAM). It is recommended that consideration is given to rewording the two discarded positively worded CAM questions to enhance construct validity
acupuncture, health beliefs, outcomes research, rasch analysis
1741-427X
1-8
Kersten, Paula
039a54d8-5629-47fd-ba55-5b60e7d3e7dc
White, Peter J.
24f5a5d7-00ec-4450-83b8-05d8755e413a
Tennant, A.
fedaadeb-161a-4d26-b2b8-061a42079d7d
Kersten, Paula
039a54d8-5629-47fd-ba55-5b60e7d3e7dc
White, Peter J.
24f5a5d7-00ec-4450-83b8-05d8755e413a
Tennant, A.
fedaadeb-161a-4d26-b2b8-061a42079d7d

Kersten, Paula, White, Peter J. and Tennant, A. (2009) Construct validity of the holistic complementary and alternative medicines questionnaire (HCAMQ)—an investigation using modern psychometric approaches. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1-8. (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep141).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The scientific basis of efficacy studies of complementary medicine requires the availability of validated measures. The Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) is one such measure. This article aimed to examine its construct validity, using a modern psychometric approach. The HCAMQ was completed by 221 patients (mean age 66.8, SD 8.29, 58% females) with chronic stable pain predominantly from a single joint (hip or knee) of mechanical origin, waiting for a hip (40%) or knee (60%) joint replacement, on enrolment in a study investigating the effects of acupuncture and placebo controls. The HCAMQ contains a Holistic Health (HH) Subscale (five items) and a CAM subscale (six items). Validity of the subscales was tested using Cronbach alpha’s, factor analysis, Mokken scaling and Rasch analysis, which did not support the original two-factor structure of the scale. A five-item HH subscale and a four-item CAM subscale (worded in a negative direction) fitted the Rasch model and were unidimensional (chi-square 8.44, P=0.39, PSI=0.69 versus chi-square 17.33, P=0.03, PSI=0.77). Two CAM items (worded in the positive direction) had significant misfit. In conclusion, we have shown that the original two-factor structure of the HCAMQ could not be supported but that two valid shortened subscales can be used, one for HH Beliefs (four-item HH), and the other for CAM Beliefs (four-item CAM). It is recommended that consideration is given to rewording the two discarded positively worded CAM questions to enhance construct validity

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More information

Published date: 2009
Keywords: acupuncture, health beliefs, outcomes research, rasch analysis

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 69358
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/69358
ISSN: 1741-427X
PURE UUID: e3403d5a-2683-40db-ac2d-fa917ba8585e

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Date deposited: 05 Nov 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 19:30

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Contributors

Author: Paula Kersten
Author: Peter J. White
Author: A. Tennant

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