German translation and validation of the Interprofessional Facilitation Scale

ABSTRACT

We identified evidence from item response theory (IRT) to examine a German translation of the Interprofessional Facilitation Scale (IPFS). The IPFS was administered to n = 130 mixed-health profession participants in a post-interprofessional education practicum questionnaire. We used IRT analyses to examine the following three aspects of the IPFS: (a) general factor strength, (b) subscale usability, and (c) item bias. First, findings indicate a strong, general factor underlying the IPFS that supports unidimensional interpretations. Second, findings supported IPFS overall reliability, but failed to support subscale reliabilities. Third, item bias assessment using a comparator-French sample (n = 89) indicated insubstantial differences across German and French samples. Taken together, we find sufficient evidence to support the IPFS-German translation’s application in IPE contexts and unidimensional interpretations. Subscores are not advisable for interpretation, and future researchers should aim to further inspect potential item bias.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• Interprofessional Facilitation Scale
• IPFS
• item response theory
• teamwork

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Matthew J. Kerry

Matthew Kerry is a Scientific Research Associate at the Zürich University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Health. He applies substantive methods to a broad array of health-sciences education and health services research.

Adeline Paignon

Adeline Paignon is a Scientific Assistant at the Geneva School of Health Sciences and University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland conducting health services research.

Joanne Wiesner Conti

Joanne Wiesner Conti is a Scientific Assistant at the University of Geneva`s Standardized Patient Program.

Michael Sy

Michael Sy is a Scientific Research Associate at the Zürich University of Applied Sciences Department of Health.

Marion Huber

Marion Huber is Head of the Interprofessional Teaching and Practice Unit at the Zürich Universiy of Applied Sciences Department of Health.