title: Testing the psychometric properties of the Participation Scale in Eastern Nepal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the psychometric properties of the Participation Scale (P-scale) among people with various disabling conditions in Eastern Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 153 individuals with disabling conditions was selected through systematic random sampling. The following psychometric properties were tested: structural validity (explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses), internal consistency, inter-tester reliability, construct validity and floor and ceiling effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The explanatory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure ('work-related participation' and 'general participation'). The confirmatory factor analysis suggested good model fit. The internal consistency measured with Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 for the whole scale and 0.78 and 0.93 for the subscales. The inter-tester reliability coefficient was 0.90. All hypothesized correlations were as expected confirming the construct validity of the scale. No floor or ceiling effects were identified for the whole scale; only the subscale 'work-related participation' showed a ceiling effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the analyses suggest that the psychometric properties of the P-scale are sufficient in the context of Eastern Nepal. Use of the P-scale will require (re-) confirmation of its validity in each new cultural context.
authors.affiliation: Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sharonstevelink@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stevelink
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Terwee
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banstola
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Brakel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*