Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP-J) Using Rasch Analysis: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP) was an assessment instrument for health-related behaviors and was translated into Japanese (HELP-J) using subjective rating scales. This study investigated the internal validity of the HELP-J using a Rasch analysis. Snowball and purposive sampling were used for data collection. The data obtained from the 109 respondents were subjected to Rasch analysis to assess their internal validity. The rating scale analysis supported a 3-category scale; five of the seven subscales showed unidimensionality. Thus, this study presents essential information on the possibility of translating the original HELP into Japanese and converting it into a unidimensional scale.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• community-dwelling older adults, healthy lifestyle, Rasch analysis
• subjective rating scale

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan [Grant no. S18017].

Notes on contributors

Megumi Nakamura

Megumi Nakamura, M.S., an OTR, certified OT of the Japan Rheumatism Foundation, is a PhD candidate at Osaka Prefecture University and a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences. She became an Occupational Therapist in 1997. In her early career, she worked in an acute care hospital. She is currently conducting research on preventive care in communities and enhancing exercise adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Katsushi Yokoi

Katsushi Yokoi, Ph.D., OTR, is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Osaka Metropolitan University. Dr. Yokoi became an occupational therapist in 1989. In his early career, he focused on pediatric occupational therapy. He has been conducting epidemiological studies on occupation and health over the last decade.

Hiroko Tanimura

Hiroko Tanimura, M.S., Specialist Occupational Therapist (Hand Therapy), Japan Hand Therapy Society, is a lecturer at the Occupational Therapy Department of Kyoto Iken Senmon Gakko. She became an Occupational Therapist in 1985. In her early career, she contributed to the development of acute hand therapy by training occupational therapists. She has been studying occupational therapy over the last decade.

Eric J. Hwang

Eric J. Hwang, Ph.D., OTR/L, is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Dr. Hwang was an occupational therapist in 1994. During his early career, he focused on sensorimotor interventions and school-based services for pediatric populations. Over the last decade, Dr. Hwang has developed his research interest and expertise in occupation-based health promotion through his practice as a consultant in community settings, serving clients with mental illnesses and older adults with chronic conditions and dementia.