Reliability and validity of a questionnaire measuring concerns, perceived impact, adequacy of practice and preventive measures of COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers in Malaysia

Abstract

COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented burden on healthcare workers (HCWs) physically and mentally. Therefore, it is important to assess the psychological impact of the pandemic on HCWs mental well-being to be able to address the issue and plan appropriate interventions. However, validated instruments to evaluate mental health concerns suited for Malaysian HCWs are limited. This study aims to validate an adapted and translated questionnaire that measures the concerns, perceived impact, adequacy of practice and preventive measures related to COVID-19 measures (CIPP-Q). Items in the CIPP-Q were adapted from previous literature and local COVID-19 protocols. Items were developed in a dual-language, Malay-English format. Content validity was established with a panel of experts and face validity was conducted among a group of HCWs and researchers. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed to determine the dimensionality and internal consistency of the instrument. Final version of the CIPP-Q contained 39 items grouped into six constructs. A single component explaining 51.43 to 69.50% of the variance was extracted from each of the six constructs, demonstrating good dimensionality of the questionnaire. Whereas, Cronbach’s alpha for each construct ranged from 0.738 to 0.917, indicating good internal consistency. The CIPP-Q is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian HCWs.