Designing self-efficacy scale for preventive behaviors against Covid-19

Given the importance of self-efficacy in coping with Covid-19 in the long term and the ability of individuals to protect themselves against this disease, the present study aimed to design a self-efficacy scale in preventive behaviors against Covid-19.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 292 patients referring health centers in Arak during 2021-2022 through a random sampling method. Face validity was examined qualitatively and quantitatively, and the ratio and content validity index of the instrument was calculated with the qualitative judgment of a panel of 10 experts. Reliability was then examined and confirmed by determining internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient). Factor analysis was used to finalize the tool.

Total 173 (59.2%) participant were male and the mean (SD) age was 37.6 (12.8) years old and the largest age group were 41-59 years old. Also, 163 people (48.3%) had a history of COVID-19. The mean of content validity index (CVI) was 0.94 and the content validity ratio (CVR) was 0.89. The average calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.89 and the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.86 Validators in exploratory factor analysis of self-efficacy tool in 10 two-factor items that explained 66.8% of the variance of self-efficacy of COVID-19.

The results of this study provided appropriate evidence regarding a reliable and valid tool based on cultural validation for self-efficacy of prevention behaviors against COVID-19 in Iranian society.