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Revisiting the Common Misconceptions About Traumatic Brain Injury Scale (CM-TBI); What Does It Really Measure?
Christine Padgett1, Hoang Nguyen, Peta S Cook
1Author Affiliations: School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Nipaluna/Hobart, Lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia (Dr Padgett and Ms Hannon); Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Nipaluna/Hobart, Lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia (Drs Nguyen, Doherty, Ziebell, and Eccleston); and School of Social Sciences, College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania, Nipaluna/Hobart, Lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia (A/Prof Cook).
The Common Misconceptions in Traumatic Brain Injury (CM-TBI) scale lacks psychometric support. A revised 18-item scale offers a more focused measure, but a new tool is needed to differentiate TBI knowledge from misconceptions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychometrics
- Public Health
Background:
- The Common Misconceptions in Traumatic Brain Injury (CM-TBI) scale requires validation and updating.
- Understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has evolved since the scale's development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the factor structure and validity of the 40-item CM-TBI scale.
- To develop and evaluate additional concussion-focused items to expand the scale's scope.
Main Methods:
- A purposive sample of 988 participants completed the CM-TBI and 5 additional concussion items.
- Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the scale items.
Main Results:
- 19 items were removed due to poor wording, conceptual integrity, or low discrimination.
- An 18-item revised scale emerged after factor analysis, with 8 items removed.
- The revised scale demonstrated better psychometric properties.
Conclusions:
- The current CM-TBI structure lacks psychometric support.
- A distinction between knowledge and misconceptions in TBI is necessary.
- A revised scale is proposed, but a new instrument for TBI knowledge and misconceptions is needed.
