Psychometric properties of the Dominic Interactive in a large French sample.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the psychometric properties of the Dominic Interactive (DI) in school-aged children in a different cultural environment than Quebec.


METHODS
In a large French region, 100 schools and 25 children (aged 6 to 11 years) per school were randomly selected. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires to children (DI), parents (sociodemographic characteristics, mental health services use), and teachers (child school achievement). DI psychometric properties were assessed by examining: the distribution of each DI diagnosis; comorbidity between diagnoses; alpha coefficients measuring internal consistency; and correlates of psychopathologies with sociodemographic status and health care services use. Estimates of DI properties were compared with those from a sample of community children in Quebec.


RESULTS
Complete data were available for 1274 children (54.4%). The internal consistency of each DI diagnosis of the French version was reasonable, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.62 to 0.89. The psychometric properties and comorbidity were consistent with the version from Quebec.


CONCLUSIONS
The satisfactory psychometric properties of the DI along with other demonstrated advantages of this instrument (children enjoy the activity, parents approve of it, and it is cost-effective) and its cultural adaptability support the consideration of the DI for epidemiologic studies in diverse cultures.
Shojaei
Taraneh
T
EA 4069 Paris Descartes University, Fondation MGEN pour la Santé Publique, Paris, France.
Wazana
Ashley
A
Pitrou
Isabelle
I
Gilbert
Fabien
F
Bergeron
Lise
L
Valla
Jean-Pierre
JP
Kovess-Masfety
Viviane
V
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011792:Quebec; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors