Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale

The modifiedYa l ePreoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) is widely used to measure children’s anxiety levels. The aim of this study was to translate the m-YPAS into Turkish and test its validity and reliability in Turkish children.

The English version of the m-YPAS was translated into Turkish using the forward-back-forward translation technique. This study enrolled 120 children. The m-YPAS was administered to 120 children who were recorded on video. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) was used for only 30 of 120 children. The videotapes were evaluated by two experienced observers [an anesthesiologist, ObA(an), and a psychologist, ObB(ps)]. The interrater reliability, concurrent validity, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were analyzed.

The mean age of the children was 7.8 ± 2.2 years.The weighted kappa values of the m-YPAS between observers were in substantial agreement (κw = 0.74–0.80) and almost perfect agreement (κw = 0.84–0.85). The Cronbach alpha values were high [α = 0.85 for ObA(an) and α = 0.86 for ObB(ps)]. The correlation between m-YPAS and STAIC showed good agreement (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity were high, and the predictive value was 92.86%.

The Turkish version of the m-YPAS can be applied as a reliable and valid observational questionnaire for Turkish children.