[Validation of an instrument to measure behavioral competencies in HIV positive persons].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability and validity of an instrument to measure behavioral competences in HIV/AIDS-infected persons.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in November and December 2002 in Hermosillo, Sonora State, Mexico. An instrument consisting of 24 items was applied to 60 HIV-positive subjects who received health care through two Mexican Ministry of Health instiutions. Statistical analysis consisted of Student s t test for item discrimination and Cronbach s alpha for testing construct reliability.


RESULTS
All but two items were able to discriminate correctly; factorial analysis resulted in three factors that jointly accounted for 48% of the variance. Finally a two-item index was obtained. The survey as a whole attained a Cronbach s alpha of 0.856.


CONCLUSIONS
And advantage of this instrument is that it is clear, as it has good item discrimination. In addition, this instrument has construct validity.
Piña-López
Julio Alfonso
JA
Centro de Información para la Salud, Secretaria de Salud del Estado de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México. jpina@salud.gob.mx
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Validación de un instrumento para medir competencias conductuales en personas VIH positivas.