title: Development and validation of the Pre-hospital Stroke Symptoms Coping Test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Measures of specific knowledge of coping with pre-hospital stroke symptoms can help educate high-risk patients and family caregivers. This study aimed to develop and validate the Pre-hospital Stroke Symptoms Coping Test (PSSCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reliability and validity were analyzed using multiple data sources. The Delphi expert consultation method was applied to assess the test's surface validity and content validity index. The final edition of the 19-item PSSCT contained 3 sections assessing coping with typical symptoms and symptoms associated with vomiting and twitching. Its psychometric properties were investigated in a community sample of 300 high-risk patients and family members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PSSCT was readily accepted by participants. It demonstrated adequate surface validity and content validity, and good internal consistency (KR20 = 0.822) and test-retest reliability (0.769), with difficulty (P) and degree of differentiation (D) ranges of 0.28-0.83 and 0.15-0.66, respectively. It was also able to distinguish between individuals who had/had not experienced a stroke. Experienced individuals scored significantly higher overall and on coping with typical symptoms and twitching (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PSSCT can practically and directly assess critical knowledge regarding coping with pre-hospital stroke symptoms and has good reliability and validity.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qiuli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing department, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Yanni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*