Cultivating Excellence: Development and Validation of a Bilingual Competency Self-Assessment Tool for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners.

Abstract

Background: The study aimed at developing and validating a bilingual competency self-assessment tool for infection prevention and control practitioners based on the core competencies proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: The study was conducted from December/2021 to June/2023. The bilingual tool (Brazilian Portuguese and English versions) was developed according to four stages: 1) conceptual framework establishment and item generation; 2) content validity; 3) response process validity; and 4) internal structure validity.

Results: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the tool was organized into five areas, 36 items, and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.89 and 0.97; the English version of the tool was organized into five areas, 37 items, and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.91 and 0.98.

Discussion: The bilingual tool gathers evidence of content validity and internal structure validity.

Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that these are the first self-assessment tools that have utilized the core competencies proposed by the WHO as a conceptual basis. Such tools can be applied in countries of all income classifications, which makes it possible to design educational initiatives and enhance core competencies.