title: Validation of a deprivation index for public health: a complex exercise illustrated by the Quebec index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the widespread use of deprivation indices in public health, they are rarely explicitly or extensively validated, owing to the complex nature of the exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the proposals of British researchers, we sought to validate Quebec's material and social deprivation index using criteria of validity (content, criterion and construct validity), reliability and responsiveness, as well as other properties relevant to public health (comprehensibility, objectivity and practicality).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed the international literature on deprivation indices, as well as publications and uses of the Quebec index, to which we added factual data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the review, it appears that the Quebec index responds favourably to the proposed validation criteria and properties. However, additional validations are required to better identify the contextual factors associated with the index.
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pampalon
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gamache
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Philibert
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011203:Poverty; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011792:Quebec; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Quebec; deprivation; index; reliability; social inequalities in health; validity