Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the interactive observation scale for psychiatric inpatients

Context: The utilization of interactive observation scales can improve the quality of care. Aims: The aim of this study was to validation and reliability of the Persian version of the Interactive Observation Scale for Psychiatric Inpatients (IOSPI). Settings and Design: This methodological study was done in the two educational hospitals in Tehran. Materials and Methods: Translation of the IOSPI into Persian followed the stepwise, iterative procedures developed by the International Quality of Life Assessment project approach. The validity and reliability of the IOSPI were evaluated by using a total of 300 sets of ratings accomplished by psychiatric nurses on 40 adult psychiatric inpatients observed daily for 1 month by 6 nurses; they were interviewed by two psychologists who filled in separately the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 and using exploratory factor analysis and the internal consistency and test–retest. Results: The total scores of the IOSPI showed a significant correlation with total scores of the BPRS (r = 0.69), meeting the criteria of concurrent validity. Exploratory factor analysis of 16 IOSPI items revealed four distinct clusters of items that represented higher-order increased psychomotricity, social interest, self-reliance, and psychotic status. Four factors of eigenvalues are >1, which explains 70.13% of the total variance. There was also good reliability estimated by an (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86) of the IOSPI. Conclusions: The results showed a favorable validity and reliability for the Persian version of the IOSPI for the psychiatric patients. It was confirmed as an efficient tool to use for therapeutic care by the psychiatric nursing staff.