Revision and validation of the“Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(Elderly Edition)”based on the Delphi process

Objective:This study aimed to revise the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(Elderly Edition)(CCMQ-EE),as well as evaluate its reliability and validity.The objective was to provide a more accurate Chinese medicine constitution identification tool for geriatric health management and help further research on the relationship between geriatric diseases and constitution type,etc.Methods:The Delphi method and a cross-sectional survey of the elderly population were used.From April to October 2021,experts in different fields were invited to participate in the questionnaire,and items were revised through the experts'ratings and feedback.From December 2021 to February 2022,the revised CCMQ-EE was validated in the elderly population.Results:The coefficients of variation of rationality and importance scores decreased to less than 0.25 in the third round of Delphi.The Kendall coordination coefficients of rationality and importance in the third round were 0.15 and 0.17(P=.031 and P=.007,respectively).The revised CCMQ-EE was established with 34 items.The factor loadings of subscales were between 0.39 and 0.92,and the fitting effects of other subscales were acceptable,except for the inherited special constitution.The Cronbach alpha and test-retest reliability coefficients of each subscale ranged from 0.65 to 0.83,and 0.66 to 0.96,respectively.The composite reliability and average variance extraction were between 0.66 and 0.84,and between 0.32 and 0.57,respectively.The reliability and validity of the revised CCMQ-EE were acceptable or satisfactory.Conclusion:The revised CCMQ-EE was developed through a three-round Delphi process and internal team discussion.After the verification in the elderly in Beijing area,its measurement performance was good.The updated questionnaire can probably replace the initial version to better promote health management and help healthy aging by identifying the constitution type of the elderly.

Development and evaluation of short form of constitution in Chinese medicine questionnaire:a national epidemiological survey data of 21948 cases

OBJECTIVE:To develop the best short form of constitution in Chinese medicine questionnaire(CCMQ)and evaluate its psychometric properties in Chinese population.METHODS:A total of 21948 subjects were used to refine the short form.Correlation coefficient,exploratory factor analysis(EFA)and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to analyze and select items to form the short form.Separate sample of 205 subjects were collected to further evaluate the short from.EFA,confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),item-scale correlation,discriminant validity,internal consistency reliability and split-half reliability were carried out to evaluate the short form.RESULTS:The short form CCMQ included 26 items.Seven common factors of characteristic root>1 were extracted to explain 58.488%of the total variation.Result of CFA was consistent with the 9-factors structure.The mean differences of Blood-stasis body constitution and Qi-stagnation body constitution had statistical significance in body mass index differentiation.Cronbach's alpha coefficient of short form CCMQ was 0.863.The split-half reliability of total scale was 0.813,and each scale was 0.568-0.770.The item-scale correlations ranged from 0.620-0.849.CONCLUSION:The short form CCMQ consisted of 26 items with good psychometric properties.The short form should be recommended for the measurement of health of Chinese population in any clinical trial.

Correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and Traditional Chinese Medicine constitutions: an analysis based on a sample from general population of China

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between smoking and drinking and constitution types from Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory.METHODS:The Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(CCMQ)was used.A sample of 8448subjects from nine provinces and municipalities was chosen from the database of the TCM constitution and health status survey.Constituent ratio and correspondence analysis were used to find the relationship between smoking and drinking and TCM constitution.RESULTS:There was an association between smokinganddrinkingandtheGentleness,phlegm-dampness,and dampness-heat type constitutions.People that did not smoke tobacco or drink alcohol tended to have Yang-deficiency,Yin-deficiency,Qi-depression,Qi-deficiency,special diathesis,orblood-stasis type constitutions.CONCLUSION:There was a significant correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and TCM constitutions.To improve patient health,more attention should be paid to tobacco and alcohol control.