Reliability and validity of Korean version of modified: Yale preoperative anxiety scale

PURPOSE The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) was developed for evaluating the level of preoperative anxiety in children. The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of the mYPAS (K-mYPAS) and to establish its validity and reliability based on the Korean preoperative pediatric patients. METHODS K-mYPAS was made through stringent back-translation procedure. Total enrolled 102 patients answered questionnaires of Korean version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (K-STAIC), and were videotaped for 2 to 5 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Three observers of experienced psychiatrist, surgeon, and nurse analyzed videotape with K-mYPAS comparing to K-STAIC. The inter- and intraobservers reliability, concurrent and construct validity, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value were analyzed. RESULTS The value of Cronbach α for interobservers reliability was 0.939 and intraobserver reliability was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Concurrent and construct validity were also statistically significant (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 81.3%, 91.4%, 81.3%, 91.4%, and 88.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION The K-mYPAS had good psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of preoperative anxiety in children.