To IPAS or not to IPAS? Examining the construct validity of the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

Students’ attitudes toward interprofessional teamwork can be linked to successful interprofessional education. This points to the importance of identifying a scale that may be useful in keeping track of the change in students’ attitudes over time. In response to this, using a combination of within- and between-network approaches to construct validity, we examined the psychometric acceptability of the Interprofessional Attitude Scale (IPAS) involving 274 Chinese healthcare and social care pre-licensure students in Hong Kong. Overall results indicated that IPAS had good internal consistency. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis provided support to the overall five-factor solution although one negatively worded item obtained non-significant factor loading. Results of the between-network analysis suggest that various subscales of IPAS correlated systematically with other theoretically relevant variables: teamwork attitudes, communication, and team effectiveness. The IPAS is a valid measure to examine predominantly Chinese healthcare and social care students’ interprofessional attitudes in online interprofessional education.

KEYWORDS:

• Construct validation
• interprofessional attitudes
• interprofessional education

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fraide A. Ganotice

Fraide A. Ganotice, Jr., is a Senior Lecturer and the program coordinator of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice at Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. His research interest focuses on understanding the factors that underpin the success of interprofessional education in Hong Kong.

Amy Yin Man Chow

Amy Yin Man Chow is a Professor and Bachelor of Social Work Programme Director in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong.

Kelvin Kai Hin Fan

Kelvin Kai Hin Fan  is a Research Assistant at Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

Ui Soon Khoo

Ui Soon Khoo is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

May Pui San Lam

May Pui San Lam is a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

Rebecca Po Wah Poon

Rebecca Po Wah Poon is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

Francis Hang Sang Tsoi

Francis Hang Sang Tsoi is a Senior Technical Officer at Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

Michael Ning Wang

Michael Ning Wangis an Assistant Professor in the School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong

George L. Tipoe

George L. Tipoe is an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Assistant Dean (Enrichment Year) at Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. He is the Director of Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.