Browsing by Author "Jayasuriya, R."

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Assessing mental well-being in a Sinhala speaking Sri Lankan population: validation of the WHO-5 well-being index
(BioMed Central., 2020) Perera, B.P.R.; Jayasuriya, R.; Caldera, A.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
PURPOSE: The WHO-5 well-being index is a widely used, short rating scale that measures subjective well-being. We translated the WHO-5 index into Sinhala and tested its psychometric properties including measurement invariance among diverse groups in a community sample in Sri Lanka. METHODS: The sample of 267 persons aged between 16 and 75 years was recruited from a semi-urban area. 219 completed a paper-based questionnaire and 48 responded to an online survey. Construct validity was tested for factorial validity (Confirmatory Factor Analysis -CFA), convergent validity and known group validity. Composite reliability for congeneric measures and test-retest reliability were also tested. Multi-group CFA (MG-CFA) was used to test measurement invariance. RESULTS: The translated Sinhala version demonstrated good content and face validity. Internal consistency reliability of the five items had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85 and test-retest reliability over 2 weeks was satisfactory (Pearson r = 0.72, p < 0.001, ICC = 0.82). Confirmatory factor analysis supported factorial validity with a [Formula: see text] =4.99 (p = 0.28), a RMSEA of 0.03 (90% C.I. =0.00-0.10), a SRMR of 0.02, a TLI of 0.99 and a CFI of 0.99; factor loadings were between 0.55 and 0.89. Measurement invariance was acceptable for configural, metric and scalar invariance for gender. WHO-5 scores were significantly negatively correlated with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Pearson's r = - 0.45, p < 0.001) scores and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores (Pearson's r = - 0.56, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Sinhala translation of WHO-5 well-being index has shown acceptable psychometric properties and can be used for assessing mental well-being in the community in Sri Lanka. Further testing of the measure with larger and diverse (including different ethnic/cultural) groups are indicated to test measurement invariance of the measure. KEYWORDS: Sri Lanka; Validation; WHO-5 Sinhala version; Well-being.
Effect of daily stressors and collective efficacy on post-traumatic stress symptoms among internally displaced persons in post-war northern Sri Lanka
(Cambridge University Press, 2023) Somasundaram, D.; Jayasuriya, R.; Perera, R.; Thamotharampillai, U.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Tay, A.K.
BACKGROUND: Daily stressors have been shown to mediate the relationship of war trauma and trauma-related distress among refugees and internally displaced persons exposed to war and conflict. AIMS: To examine the extent to which the relationship between war-related trauma and mental distress was mediated by daily stressors and collective efficacy among internally displaced communities a decade after exposure to war. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study, we recruited a random sample of residents in villages severely affected by conflict in five districts in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Measures of war trauma, daily stressors, collective efficacy and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were examined. Statistical analyses of the mediating and moderating effects of daily stressors were conducted using regression based methods. RESULTS: Daily stressors mediated the association of war trauma and PTSS, as both paths of the indirect effect, war trauma to daily stressors and daily stressors to PTSS, were significant. The predictive effect of war trauma on PTSS was positive and significant at moderate and high levels of daily stressors but not at low levels. Higher levels of neighbourhood informal social control, a component of collective efficacy, function as a protective factor to reduce effects of war trauma and daily stressors on mental distress in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Daily stressors are an important mediator in the well-established relationship between war exposure and traumatic stress among internally displaced persons, even a decade after the conflict. Mental health and psychosocial support programmes that aim to address mental distress among war-affected communities could reduce daily stressors and enhance collective efficacy in this context.
Measuring mental well-being in Sri Lanka: validation of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) in a Sinhala speaking community
(BioMed Central, London, 2022) Perera, B.P.R.; Caldera, A.; Godamunne, P.; Stewart-Brown, S.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Jayasuriya, R.
Background: Well-being is an important aspect of people's lives and can be considered as an index of social progress. The Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale (WEMWBS) was developed to capture subjective mental well-being. It is a widely tested measure of mental well-being at the population level and has 14 items and a short-form with 7 items. This study was carried out to culturally validate and adapt the WEMWBS among a Sinhala speaking population in Sri Lanka. Methods: A forward and backward translation of the scale into Sinhala was done followed by a cognitive interview. The translated and culturally adapted scale and other mental health scales were administered to a sample of 294 persons between the ages of 17-73 using a paper-based version (n = 210) and an online survey (n = 84). Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were tested. Construct validity, and convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using the total sample. Results: The translated questionnaire had good face and content validity. Internal consistency reliability was 0.91 and 0.84 for the 14-item and 7-item scales, respectively. Test-retest reliability over two weeks was satisfactory (Spearman r = 0.72 p < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one factor model. Convergent validity was assessed using WHO-5 well-being index (Spearman r = 0.67, p < 0.001), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Spearman r = (-0.45), p < 0.001) and Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) (Spearman r = (-0.55), p < 0.001). Conclusions: The translated and culturally adapted Sinhala version of the WEMWBS has acceptable psychometric properties to assess mental well-being at the population level among the Sinhala speaking population in Sri Lanka.
Translational research for diabetes self-management in Sri Lanka: A randomized controlled trial
(Elsevier, 2015) Jayasuriya, R.; Pinidiyapathirage, M.J.; Jayawardena, R.; Kasturiratne, A.; de Zoysa, P.; Godamunne, P.; Gamage, S.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
AIMS: The study tested the hypothesis that a theory driven Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) intervention delivered by trained nurses would result in a clinically significant improvement in glycaemic control. METHODS: Patients with an HbA1c >7.5% (58mmol/mol) and free of diabetes complications were enrolled into a randomized controlled trial (n=85). Intervention consisted of four sessions and monthly follow up for 6 months. Biochemical tests, and diet and physical activity assessments were done in both groups. Analysis of covariance was used to test the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS: At 6 months, there was a significant difference (P=0.001) in HbA1c between the groups controlling for baseline values and other variables. Based on the primary outcome, 28% in the intervention group achieved the target value of 6.5% HbA1c, compared to 8% in the "usual care" group (P<0.001; η2=0.65). The reduction in total energy intake and increase in physical activity was significant in the intervention group between baseline and follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The DSM intervention has resulted in a clinically significant impact on glycaemia, change in diet and physical activity, and has demonstrated the feasibility of using it within existing care arrangements in a developing country setting. Copyright © 2015 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.