Psychometric properties of a scale focusing on perceived attributes of a health promoting school approach.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the psychometric properties of a newly-designed scale intended to measure the perceived attributes of a Health Promoting School initiative and its context in terms of factor structure, reliability and predictive validity. The scale was developed to explore possible predictors of the adoption of the Healthy School approach (HS) in Québec.


METHODS
Data were gathered from a 2007 cross-sectional study of 107 schools and 141 participants (school principals and school health promotion delegates). The scale was based on 7 attributes borrowed from the theories on diffusion of innovation. The factor structure of the scale was tested by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.


RESULTS
The final scale included 14 items capturing 4 factors: school contextual barriers, collective efficacy, anticipated benefits and relative advantages. Reliability, in terms of internal consistency of the factors, ranged from a high of 0.85 to a low of 0.60. Three of the 4 factors significantly predicted HS adoption.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the scale showed good psychometric properties and may be useful to assess the attributes that could influence the adoption of this type of initiative.
Deschesnes
Marthe
M
Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec. Marthe.Deschesnes@inspq.qc.ca
Trudeau
François
F
Kébé
Mababou
M
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards*; D040241:Social Marketing; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires