Development and Psychometric Analysis of A 44-Item HIV/AIDS Knowledge Scale: An Iranian Cultural and Population Based Study

The pandemic of HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly in the Middle East, in particular in Iran. Designing an educational program involves assessment of the educational needs of people with valid and culture-based tools. This study was conducted with the aim of psychometric analysis of an instrument for assessment of HIV/AIDS knowledge based on the Iranian culture in different population groups.

In this psychometric analysis, 58 items related to AIDS knowledge were prepared based on a literature review. Then, the face validity and content validity of the instrument was determent by the impact item score, content validity ratio (CVR), and content validity index (CVI). The reliability of the scale was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and test-retest.

Based on face validity and content validity, the research scale had 44 items with an item impact score > 1.5, a CVR > 0.49, and a CVI > 0.79. The Scale had three sections, general knowledge about HIV/AIDS (9 items), knowledge about HIV transmission (25 items), and knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention (10 items). The Scale also had a high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient=0.77-0.91, ICC=0.88)

The results of the study showed the instrument was a valid and reliable scale for measurement of knowledge about HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: Psychometric, Face validity, Content validity, Reliability, HIV/AIDS, Knowledge