Environmental health knowledge of healthcare professionals: Instrument development and validation using the Rasch model

• Published in: Environmental research 2023-10, Vol.235, p.116582, Article 116582
• Main Authors: Vrotsou, Kalliopi, Subiza-Pérez, Mikel, Lertxundi, Aitana, Vergara, Itziar, Marti-Carrera, Itxaso, Ochoa de Retana, Lourdes, Duo, Irene, Ibarluzea, Jesus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Environmental health knowledge; Healthcare professionals; Questionnaire development; Rasch model; Reliability; Validation
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116582

environmental risk factors constitute a major public health issue, calling for preventive actions and interventions at multiple levels. An important step in this direction is increasing the environmental health (EH) knowledge of the healthcare professionals. In this context, tools designed to measure such knowledge are of imperative importance. The aim of the present study was to develop an EH knowledge tool for healthcare professionals. a group of experts defined the knowledge areas of the EH tool and their corresponding items. An online pilot and a validation study were performed. Internal consistency reliability was measured with the Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20) estimate, the construct validity and uni-dimensionality of the tool were assessed with the Rasch model. Known-groups validity was analysed with the two-sample t-test. a total of n = 151 and n = 444 healthcare professionals and end-year medical and nursing students, participated in the pilot and the validation study, respectively. The resulting 33-item EH knowledge questionnaire for healthcare professionals (EHKQ-HP) obtained a KR-20 = 0.82. The scale is uni-dimensional. Its construct validity was verified, and its items cover a wide range of difficulties. Separation statistics were adequate and known-groups behaved as hypothesized. the EHKQ-HP is a valuable resource for measuring the EH knowledge of the healthcare professionals. As such it will be useful in detecting EH knowledge gaps, and helping public health agents in making informed decisions when developing interventions for increasing this very knowledge. This would consequently help in improving the health of the general population. •Healthcare professionals should have a leading role in promoting Environmental Health (EH).•For this to be achieved, their EH literacy has to be increased.•An EH knowledge level questionnaire was created by a group of experts.•The EHKQ-HP can measure the EH knowledge level of the target population.•And, it will be useful for developing adequate educational interventions.