Open AccessValidation of the instrument of health literacy competencies for Chinese-speaking health professionals
Author(s) -
Li-Kwan Chang,
ShenMing Chen,
Li Ling Liao,
Fei Wu,
Pei Lin Hsieh,
Hsiao Jung Chen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0172859
Subject(s) - rasch model , health literacy , delphi method , psychology , item analysis , medical education , psychometrics , scale (ratio) , applied psychology , discriminant validity , construct validity , reliability (semiconductor) , test (biology) , literacy , medicine , health care , clinical psychology , internal consistency , computer science , pedagogy , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , economics , biology , economic growth
The study aimed to illustrate the constructs and test the psychometric properties of an instrument of health literacy competencies (IOHLC) for health professionals. A multi-phase questionnaire development method was used to develop the scale. The categorization of the knowledge and practice domains achieved consensus through a modified Delphi process. To reduce the number of items, the 92-item IOHLC was psychometrically evaluated through internal consistency, Rasch modeling, and two-stage factor analysis. In total, 736 practitioners, including nurses, nurse practitioners, health educators, case managers, and dieticians completed the 92-item IOHLC online from May 2012 to January 2013. The final version of the IOHLC covered 9 knowledge items and 40 skill items containing 9 dimensions, with good model fit, and explaining 72% of total variance. All domains had acceptable internal consistency and discriminant validity. The tool in this study is the first to verify health literacy competencies rigorously. Moreover, through psychometric testing, the 49-item IOHLC demonstrates adequate reliability and validity. The IOHLC may serve as a reference for the theoretical and in-service training of Chinese-speaking individuals’ health literacy competencies.