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Table 2 Item characteristics of the FABIANA-checklist

From: The development and psychometric evaluation of FABIANA-checklist: a scale to assess factors influencing treatment initiation in anorexia nervosa

FABIANA-checklist (N = 18)

N

M

M1

SD

Adults

Adolescents

p

Item analysis

25 items

18 items

M

SD

M

SD

SK

KT

DIF

rtt

α

rtt

α

1

People from my social environment have never addressed my anorexia, or have done so too late.1

75

3.1

2.9

1.17

3.0

1.18

3.4

1.12

 

.24

 − .63

.47

.06

.71

.15

.77

2

There was at least one person in my social environment who understood at an early stage of the illness that I needed professional help (e.g. from a doctor, a psychotherapist or an counselling center)

75

3.6

 

1.51

3.7

1.51

3.3

1.53

 

 − .633

 − 1.16

.65

.42

.67

.34

.75

3

It helped me to look at or read articles regarding the successful treatment of anorexia or the recovery of other people with anorexia (e.g. books, reports, social media)

73

3.0

 

1.34

3.1

1.39

2.8

1.20

 

 − .08

 − 1.12

.50

.03

.71

.09

.77

4

My social environment often expressed concern about my anorexia

75

4.2

 

1.02

4.1

1.01

4.3

1.06

 

 − 1.003

.18

.79

.50

.68

.47

.75

5

At least one person from my social environment supported me practically in treatment initiation (e.g. arranged or accompanied me to medical appointments)

75

4.1

 

1.41

4.1

1.41

4.1

1.46

 

 − 1.313

.18

.78

.24

.69

.18

.77

6

My environment has encouraged me to take up treatment

74

4.5

 

.98

4.5

.93

4.5

1.15

 

 − 2.203

4.78

.86

.50

.68

.44

.75

7

My relatives or persons I relate to closely informed themselves on the subject of anorexia (e.g. read books, researched on the internet, visited a counseling center or a doctor 2)

75

2.7

 

1.59

3.3

1.40

4.1

1.11

*

 − .35

 − 1.18

.63

.31

.69

.26

.76

8

I had a doctor2 who arranged that I received appropriate treatment

75

3.2

 

1.46

3.2

1.44

3.2

1.55

 

 − .09

 − 1.38

.55

.50

.67

.53

.74

9

I had a doctor2 who recognized my anorexia at an early stage of the illness

75

2.3

 

1.40

2.2

1.42

2.4

1.36

 

.734

 − .77

.31

.47

.67

.55

.74

10

I had a doctor2 who told me unambiguously that I had anorexia

75

3.1

 

1.63

3.1

1.61

3.0

1.72

 

 − .13

 − 1.60

.51

.34

.68

.45

.75

11

I had a doctor2 who dealt badly with my difficulties concerning food, body-shape or weight (e.g. did not take my complaints seriously or trivialized them).1

75

2.7

3.3

1.59

2.7

1.56

2.5

1.69

 

 − .38

 − 1.44

.58

.33

.68

.28

.76

12

After my anorexia was recognized. I had regular appointments with a doctor2

74

3.3

 

1.43

3.2

1.40

3.8

1.45

 

 − .33

 − 1.22

.58

.39

.68

.40

.75

13

I had a doctor2 I trusted

75

3.4

 

1.48

3.3

1.43

3.4

1.63

 

 − .39

 − 1.25

.59

.47

.67

.51

.74

14

I had a doctor2 with high competence in the field of eating disorders

75

2.7

 

1.38

2.6

1.37

2.9

1.41

 

.18

 − 1.24

.41

.49

.67

.55

.74

15

I had a doctor who collaborated well with my other practitioners2

74

2.5

 

1.45

2.5

1.42

2.4

1.57

 

.604

 − .96

.36

.49

.67

.52

.74

16

It was difficult for me and/or my relatives or persons I relate to closely to find out whom I could consult best to get help.1

75

3.3

2.7

1.40

3.3

1.41

3.2

1.38

 

.33

 − 1.16

.42

.20

.70

.22

.76

17

I believed that undergoing psychotherapy was a sign of weakness.1

74

3.3

2.7

1.43

3.3

1.44

3.5

1.44

 

.28

 − 1.25

.42

.11

.70

.14

.77

18

By comparing with girls or women in the media (e.g. television. internet. social media) I considered a certain diet (e.g. a very restricted diet), a very slim figure or a very low weight to be normal so that I didn’t feel the need for treatment.1

75

3.8

2.2

1.32

3.8

1.31

3.7

1.35

 

.684

 − .79

.30

.17

.70

.12

.77

Excluded items (N = 7)

a

My social environment did not understand my illness (e.g. "Just start eating again").1

74

3.7

2.3

1.03

3.7

.98

3.7

1.17

 

.45

 − .58

.32

.17

.70

  

b

It helped me to exchange ideas with people who had already undergone psychotherapy

73

2.8

 

1.61

2.8

1.65

2.8

1.54

 

.12

 − 1.62

.45

 − .08

.72

  

c

At least one person from my social environment has frequently blamed me for my anorexia nervosa.1

75

2.7

3.3

1.43

2.7

1.50

2.8

1.26

 

 − .26

 − 1.24

.57

.02

.71

  

d

After my anorexia was diagnosed, I was in medical treatment for a long time without getting a clear recommendation for psychotherapy.1

73

1.8

4.2

1.09

1.7

.97

2.1

1.35

 

 − 1.553

1.79

.81

.13

.70

  

e

I was only ready for treatment as my (physical or mental) breaking point was reached

74

4.0

 

1.18

4.1

1.18

3.8

1.20

 

 − 1.073

.30

.75

 − .15

.72

  

f

I was afraid that the treatment would not be compatible with other things important to me (e.g. school, job, children).1

75

4.4

1.6

1.06

4.4

1.14

4.3

.86

 

1.614

1.72

.16

.08

.70

  

g

Without my physical symptoms and complaints, I would not have undergone psychotherapy

73

4.2

 

1.11

4.1

1.22

4.4

.61

 

 − 1.443

1.37

.80

 − .01

.71

  

Cronbach’s alpha (scale)

             

.70

 

.77

 
  1. 1Items were inverted for item analysis
  2. 2Patients are asked in the introduction of the questionnaire, to refer to the physicians they consulted before being referred to specialized care
  3. 3Left-skewed item
  4. 4Right-skewed items
  5. N = number of participants who completed the item; M = mean value, M1 = Mean value after item inversion, SD = standard deviation, p-values for simple t-tests comparing adults to adolescents, *p < .05, SK = skewness, KT = kurtosis, DIF = item difficulty (0–1), rit = item-total correlation, α = Cronbach’s alpha when item is deleted,