Validation and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the questionnaire for assessing the childbirth experience (QACE)

Abstract

Abstract Background:The aim of this paper was to translate and determine the psychometric properties of the questionnaire for assessing the childbirth experience (QACE) among Chinese postpartum women (C-QACE). Method:The cross-cultural adaptation process followed Beaton (2000) intercultural debugging guidelines. A total of 235 women were included to test the psychometric properties of the C-QACE. Participants were asked to complete the demographic characteristics form, the C-QACE, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The psychometric testing of the C-QACE were evaluate through item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, divergent validity and internal consistency reliability. Results: Item analysis showed that the critical ratios of all items were greater than 3 , and all item-total correlation coefficients were greater than 0.4. The finding of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed the presence of four components with eigenvalues greater than 1, explaining a total variance of 67.682%. And the scree plot showed it was acceptable to retain four factors (emotional status, relationship with staff, first moments with the new born, and feelings at one month postpartum). In terms of the divergent validity, the QACE subscale and total score were in a significant positive correlations with the EPDS and GAD-7. Regarding the internal consistency reliability, the Cronbach’s alpha of the QACE total score was 0.812, and the subscales was ranging of 0.611 to 0.844. Conclusion: The Chinese version of QACE is a relevant tool for measuring childbirth experience into the Chinese context with acceptable validity and stability.