Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the EPInfant Scale among Typically Developing Children Aged 6-16 Years.

Aims: The EPInfant scale is a self-assessment for children that measures perceived exertion (PE) during physical exercise. This study aimed to translate the scale into Arabic (EPInfant-Ar) and test its psychometric properties.

Methods: The revised version was tested for face and content validity. Oxygen saturation, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion were measured during a 3-minute step test with a sample of 93 children. PE and HR were examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient () to assess the concurrent validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were calculated using Cronbach's alpha (), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and r coefficient. A minimum detectable change with 95% confidence interval (MDC) and percentage of change (MDC%) was also measured.

Results: Content validity showed an excellent level of expert agreement. There was a moderate correlation between PE rated by the scale and HR ( = 0.47, < .001). The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were acceptable ( = 0.89; ICC 0.81; 95%Cl: 0.71-0.87,  = 0.81) with low measurement error (MDC = 2.66 and MDC% = 61.10%).

Conclusions: The EPInfant-Ar scale was considered valid and reliable for assessing PE after physical exercises in typically developing children aged 6-16 years.