Development of Healthcare Providers Perception of Heart Disease (HPPHD) Instrument and Assessment of Its Psychometric Properties

People's perception of heart disease risk is effective in their response to disease, potential risks, decision making, and reduction of heart disease and is an important predictor of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, no tool is available to assess the risk of heart disease in Iran.

This study aimed to develop an instrument for healthcare providers’ perception of heart disease to be used in Iran.

This mixed-method study was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the concept of healthcare providers’ perception of the risk of heart disease was explained using the hybrid concept analysis method. In the second stage, the items of the instrument were developed using the results of the qualitative part, including eight interviews with healthcare providers and a review of the literature on the research problem. In the third stage, using a methodological study, the psychometric properties of the instrument were assessed using face validity, content validity (content validity ratio and content validity index), and exploratory factor analysis. Its reliability was also determined using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest methods. All data analyses were performed using the SPSS 21 software.

After defining heart disease risk perception, a pool containing 30 items was extracted. After assessing the face validity and quantitative and qualitative content validity, the number of items was reduced to 28. The instrument was then distributed among 300 medical staff and the results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the instrument consisted of 27 items divided into four factors, namely “warning to avoid the risk, “risk of unhealthy lifestyle”, “perceiving the risk of heart disease”, and “perceiving the power to control the risk factors”. These four factors explained 70.028% of the total variance of the instrument. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed using internal consistency (α = 0.931) and its stability was approved by the test-retest method (ICC = 0.8).

Given the acceptable validity and reliability of the 27-item Healthcare Providers Perception of Heart Disease (HPPHD) instrument, it is recommended to be used.