Evaluation of Reliability and Validity of the Capa Anxiety Scale

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of Capa Anxiety Scale that is developed at Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics. Subjects and Methods: The study is carried out on two groups, aged between 8-15 years. The first group consists of 46 children that come for the first time to the clinic to be treated. The second group consists of 46 children who have been under treatment for at least 1 year. To measure anxiety in children, Capa Anxiety Scale that is developed in the department is applied. To test the reliability and validity of Capa Anxiety Scale, our results are compared with routinely used Frankl Scale, whose validity and reliability is already proven, by applying Spearman correlation analysis. Cronbach Alpha (internal consistency) is used to determine the reliability of the scale; Wilcoxon test were applied to evaluate the test-retest consistency and reproducibility. Results: Results from Cronbach Alfa analysis show that the the scale has high level of internal consistency. Wilcoxon test results for 2 separate groups show that the scale is reproducible. Conclusion: The evaluation with Frankl scale shows that the scale is valid.