Validating a Questionnaire for Community Participation in the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases

Abstract

Background & objectives: Considering that many risk factors of non-communicable diseases are rooted in people's lifestyles, the role and importance of society's participation in preventing and controlling these diseases is more evident than before. The present study was conducted to design and determine the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on ways to attract community participation in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases. Methods: This descriptive-applied study was conducted in 2022. The initial questionnaire was prepared based on the data from a combined research consisting of comparative study stages, interviews with experts and Delphi. Content validity was measured using a panel of 15 experts, the content validity ratio (CVR), and the content validity index (CVI). The test-retest method was utilized to determine the reliability of the questionnaire in a sample of 30 people. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20 software. Results: The final questionnaire with 52 items to attract people's participation in preventing non-communicable diseases was confirmed with a total content validity index score of 0.98 and a content validity ratio of 0.84. The results of Spearman's correlation coefficients for the seven questionnaire dimensions showed the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire components. Conclusion: Since the designed questionnaire obtained acceptable validity and reliability, it can be used confidently to determine community participation requirements in preventing non-communicable diseases.