title: Examining Psychometric Characteristics of a Menopausal Health Questionnaire: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menopause is a natural event in a woman's life which affects her general health and quality of life. However, currently there is no Persian instrument for measuring health status during this period. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Menopausal Health Questionnaire in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was translated to Persian with the approach of Jones et al and its validity was assessed by a panel of experts. The Persian version was tested among 300 patients who had referred to the gynecological clinic at the Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan. Convenience method was used for sampling. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess construct validity of collected data. Test-retest method was used to determine reliability in two-week intervals and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to check the internal consistency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to research findings, the exploratory factor analysis showed an acceptable fitness. Varimax rotation indicated 6 factors with Eagan values more than 1, which explained 49.27% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire tool was 0.84 and it was from 0.50 to 0.82 for the subcategories. All factors had a significant case-total correlation. Results of test-retest showed the stability of the questionnaire and its subcategories, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was assessed to be 0.93.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 14-item Menopausal Health Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to assess postmenopausal women's health.
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Ph.D. Candidate of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasibeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Pregnancy Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayyeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khazaeian
authors.affiliation: Gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Safoura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khazaeian
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Faculty Member, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University of Rasht, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masjoudi
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Faculty Member, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azita Fathnejad
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. of Midwifery, Faculty Member, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University of Karaj, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Anvar-Sadat Nayebi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nia
keywords: Factor Analysis; Health; Menopause; Psychometrics