title: Construct validation of the readiness for interprofessional learning scale: a Rasch and factor analysis.
abstract: In order to improve efficiency and collaboration in healthcare service provision, it is recommended that students engage in interprofessional education; that is, learning with, from and about professions other than one's own profession. Such endeavors are often impeded by pre-existing attitudes; therefore, self-reporting scales such as the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) have often been used in studies to gauge perspectives. The original 19-item version of the RIPLS was completed by 418 undergraduate healthcare students from a large Australian University. A principal component analysis with a varimax rotation was first carried out followed by Rasch model analyses on the RIPLS data. A four-factor solution was produced by the initial factor analysis, which did not correspond to the original three-factor solution identified by the RIPLS authors. The subsequent Rasch analyses of the four-factor structure produced two misfitting items, and reconfirmed a four-factor solution. The 17-item four-factor RIPLS demonstrated a good fit to the Rasch model and exhibited good reliability and dimensionality. A four-factor RIPLS solution was identified and confirmed via two statistical approaches. Two items were found not to fit the new RIPLS four-factor structure and it is recommended that they be discarded. Further refinement of the RIPLS is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Frankston, Australia. brett.williams@monash.edu
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult