Validation of a German Version of the Physicians' Reactions to Uncertainty Scales
Author Information
Author(s): Antonius Schneider, Joachim Szecsenyi, Stefan Barie, Katharina Joest, Thomas Rosemann
Primary Institution: Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Medical Hospital Heidelberg
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate the validity of a translated and culturally adapted version of the Physicians' Reaction to Uncertainty scales (PRU) in primary care physicians.
Conclusion
The psychometric properties of the rearranged German version of the PRU are satisfying, and it could contribute to the evaluation of the impact of uncertainty in primary care physicians.
Supporting Evidence
- The principal factor analysis confirmed the four-factor structure underlying the 15 items.
- Good item-scale correlations were obtained, with Pearson's correlation coefficient ranging from 0.56–0.84.
- Cronbach's alpha of the rearranged version was 0.86 or higher for all scales.
- Test-retest reliability exceeded 0.84 for most scales.
Takeaway
This study created a German version of a questionnaire to help doctors understand how they feel about uncertainty in their work, and it seems to work well.
Methodology
The original questionnaire was translated, culturally adapted, and assessed through a structured process involving 93 GPs, with test-retest reliability evaluated after two weeks.
Potential Biases
The homogeneity of the sample may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Limitations
The study's high internal consistency may be due to the homogenous group of physicians, and external validity could not be evaluated as there is no similar questionnaire available in Germany.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 93 GPs, with a higher number of male participants and a mean age of 49.2 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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