Development process of an assessment tool for disruptive behavior problems in cross-cultural settings: the Disruptive Behavior International Scale – Nepal version (DBIS-N)

Authors

Matthew D. Burkey, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Lajina Ghimire, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Nepal
Ramesh P. Adhikari, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Nepal
Brandon A. Kohrt, Duke University
Mark J.D. Jordans
Emily E. Haroz, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Lawrence S. Wissow, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-1-2016

Journal

International Journal of Culture and Mental Health

Volume

9

Issue

4

DOI

10.1080/17542863.2016.1226372

Keywords

conduct disorder; Disruptive behavior disorders; low-income countries; Nepal; oppositional defiant disorder; scale; validation

Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Systematic processes are needed to develop valid measurement instruments for disruptive behavior disorders in cross-cultural settings. We employed a four-step process in Nepal to identify and select items for a culturally valid assessment instrument: (1) we extracted items from validated scales and local free-list interviews; (2) parents, teachers and peers (n = 30) rated the perceived relevance and importance of behavior problems; (3) highly rated items were piloted with children (n = 60) in Nepal; (4) we evaluated internal consistency of the final scale. We identified 49 symptoms from 11 scales, and 39 behavior problems from free-list interviews (n = 72). After dropping items for low ratings of relevance and severity and for poor item-test correlation, low frequency and/or poor acceptability in pilot testing, 16 items remained for the Disruptive Behavior International Scale – Nepali version (DBIS-N). The final scale had good internal consistency (α = 0.86). A 4-step systematic approach to scale development including local participation yielded an internally consistent scale that included culturally relevant behavior problems.

APA Citation

Burkey, M., Ghimire, L., Adhikari, R., Kohrt, B., Jordans, M., Haroz, E., & Wissow, L. (2016). Development process of an assessment tool for disruptive behavior problems in cross-cultural settings: the Disruptive Behavior International Scale – Nepal version (DBIS-N). International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 9 (4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2016.1226372