Objective To scientifically construct a self-management behavior scale for postoperative patients with osteoporotic fractures, in order to assess the self-management behavior level of this patient population. Methods Between November 2022 and February 2023, a scale item pool was constructed using literature analysis and expert panel discussions. A preliminary version of the scale was formed based on feedback from 30 experts and 15 patients. From March 2023 to March 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to survey 230 patients post-osteoporotic fracture surgery from a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou. Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were used to assess the reliability of the scale, while content validity and exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate its validity. Results The developed scale consisted of 5 dimensions and 27 items. The content validity index for each item ranged from 0.933 to 1.000. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 common factors, explaining 65.964% of the cumulative variance. The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were 0.934, 0.780, and 0.958, respectively. The Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability for each dimension ranged from 0.849 to 0.897, 0.816 to 0.904, and 0.826 to 0.894, respectively. Conclusions The self-management behavior scale for post-osteoporotic fracture surgery patients demonstrates good reliability and validity. It is a highly authoritative and scientific tool that can be used effectively to assess self-management behaviors in these patients and provide a basis for developing personalized self-management interventions.
Objective To develop a characterization observation scale for rats with spleen Qi deficiency based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic principle of “governing exterior to infer interior”, to serve as a methodological tool for dynamic and holistic syndrome-level assessment. Methods An initial item pool was constructed through systematic literature review up to January 1, 2025. Two rounds of Delphi expert consultation (14 experts) were conducted for preliminary item screening. Using a 5-fluorouracil-induced spleen Qi deficiency rat model, macroscopic characterization data were collected from 48 Wistar rats. Five statistical methods were comprehensively applied for empirical item screening and validation: discrete trend analysis, discrimination analysis, correlation analysis, Cronbach’s α coefficient, and stepwise discriminant analysis. Results The expert consultation showed good consensus (Kendall’s W=0.519, P<0.001) and high authority (authority coefficient=0.81). Based on observational data from the animal experiment involving 47 rats (1 rat died of gastric hemorrhage during intragastric administration on day 5 of the experiment), after multiple statistical screenings, a final 16-item scale was established, covering dietary intake, weight change, mental state, stool consistency, coat condition, and other aspects. The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.993) and discriminant validity (correct classification rate=100%). Conclusions The scale developed in this study not only provides clear clinical observation targets and good operability, but also operationalizes the TCM principle of “governing exterior to infer interior” in a measurable form. It offers a practical tool for syndrome evaluation in spleen Qi deficiency animal models, integrating TCM theoretical insights with modern measurement science. This work contributes to promoting the standardization and systematization of TCM syndrome assessment.