Development of the Arabic language readiness to Stop Smoking Questionnaire A-RSSQ.

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an Arabic language version of the "Smoking and Women Questionnaire" (SWQ) for men and women. DESIGN: The core elements of the SWQ were translated into Arabic, back-translated, and pilot tested to ascertain cultural sensitivity and appropriateness for both men and women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A convenience sample (N = 260) of smoking and nonsmoking adults completed a demographic sheet and the Arabic Readiness to Stop Smoking Questionnaire (A-RSSQ). Pre- and post tests were conducted on a smaller sample. METHODS: Researchers used methods to assure accuracy of content and understanding of concepts across cultures. Cronbach's alpha and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate instrument development. FINDINGS: The scale showed internal consistency. Pre- and post test stability was supportive of respondents' consistent attitudes over 2 weeks at both the item and scale level. Construct validity was shown for both men and women in that scores for smokers were significantly lower than for nonsmokers. The alpha reliability coefficient was .78 for the total scale. CONCLUSIONS: The A-RSSQ showed initial reliability and validity for men and women. It is useful as a cost-effective means for identifying people in the EMR who are ready to stop smoking.

Views of health promotion among primary health care nurses and midwives in Jordan.

The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of Jordanian nurses and midwives working in primary care settings regarding health promotion. Views of health promotion were examined using a descriptive survey design to measure nurses' perceptions of constraints, responsibilities for health promotion, and client's response to health education. All nurses and midwives (n = 104) working in the Irbid Governorate primary health care (PHC) and maternal and child health care (MCH) centers were surveyed and 95% responded. The data revealed that respondents acknowledged their responsibility to provide health activities and that nurses believed that they were better suited than physicians to do so. Fifty percent of respondents did not believe that lack of time was a barrier to carry out health promotion effectively. However, more midwives than nurses were pessimistic about patient teaching, patient acceptance, and the ability of the provider to make a difference in the patient's health behaviors.

An Arabic language version of the health promotion lifestyle profile.

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of an Arabic version of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile instrument in Jordan, whose society and culture differ from that of North America, where the instrument was developed. The instrument was translated into Arabic, back-translated, and pilot tested to ascertain cultural sensitivity. The Arabic version was then evaluated using a convenience sample of 950 adults in the northern part of Jordan using a principal components factor analysis. The order of factors was not entirely identical to those isolated previously during the psychometric assessment of the English language version. Only the structure of three factors--self actualization, health responsibility--and exercise were the same as those obtained in the English version. The forced, six factor solution explained only 39.3% of the variance in the measure. The alpha reliability coefficients were 0.89 for the total scale and ranged from 0.85 to 0.60 for the subscales. It was concluded that the Arabic version of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile has demonstrated initial reliability and validity. Further testing is recommended.