Development and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of Agni Assessment Scale: A Measure of Functional Digestive Capacity Based on Ayurveda

BACKGROUND: As traditional systems of medicine gain global popularity and acceptance, it has become essential to validate their unique concepts using evidence-based research methodologies. This study aims to develop a self-assessment tool called the Agni Assessment Scale (AAS) to identify the state of Agni, a key concept in Ayurveda that represents digestive and metabolic functions. It also seeks to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. METHODS: The development of the scale was divided into two phases involving 467 participants from India. In the first phase, an initial pool of items was created through a literature review, consultations with clinicians, and a field study (n = 100). The second phase screened the items for their content validity, conducted an exploratory factor analysis (n = 367), and tested for reliability. RESULTS: Preliminary evidence supported the factorial structure of the 26-item Agni Assessment Scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) provided support for four subscales: Samagni subscale, Vishamagni subscale, Mandagni subscale, and Tikshnagni subscale. The final version demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (subscale α ranging from 0.57 to 0.83), with all subscales except Samagni meeting conventional reliability thresholds. CONCLUSION: The EFA demonstrated promising psychometric properties and conceptual coherence with Ayurvedic theory, though further validation in clinical and cross-cultural contexts is essential.