title: A reliability generalization meta-analysis of coefficient alpha and test-retest coefficient for the aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale is an instrument used to determine the health-related quality of life in adult and elderly men. The purpose of this study was to synthesize internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability for the AMS scale and its three subscales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 123 studies reviewed, 12 provided alpha coefficients which were then used in the meta-analyses of internal consistency. Seven of the 12 included studies provided test-retest coefficients, and these were used in the meta-analyses of test-retest reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AMS scale had excellent internal consistency [α = 0.89 (95% CI 0.88-0.90)]; the mean alpha estimates across the AMS subscales ranged from 0.79 to 0.82. The AMS scale also had good test-retest reliability [r = 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.88]; the test-retest reliability coefficients of the AMS subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.83. There was significant heterogeneity among the included studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AMS scale and the three subscales had fairly good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Future psychometric studies of the AMS scale should report important characteristics of the participants, details of item scores, and test-retest reliability.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan.|b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Pang
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan.|b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan.|b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|d Department of Urology , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|e Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan , and.
authors.forename: Kun-Hao
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|e Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taiwan , and.
authors.forename: Jiun-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: b Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Men's Health Center , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c School of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|f Department of Psychiatry , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Keelung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Meta-analysis; aging males’ symptoms; health-related quality of life; internal consistency; test–retest reliability