Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties in Brazilian Adults

ABSTRACT

Background

The assessment of knowledge about cardiovascular diseases through instruments helps to identify gaps and educational needs of the target audience.

Purpose

To validate and verify the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (HDKQ-BR) for adults in Brazil.

Methods

Cross-sectional methodological study carried out in a Brazilian city with 300 participants. Internal consistency, temporal stability (test-retest) and convergent structural validity were verified. Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to determine parameters a (discrimination) and b (difficulty) of each item and the unidimensionality of the instrument and the differential item functioning (DIF) for sex, education and age.

Results

The internal consistency of the HDKQ-BR was 0.694. The test-retest reliability was confirmed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.779). According to the IRT, parameter a was between 0.176 and 1.175 and parameter b between −10.834 and 4.969.

Discussion

The HDKQ-BR showed unidimensional structure and adequate psychometric performance for its application in populations with the same profile in Brazil.

Translation to Health Education Practice

To assess the knowledge of an adult population about CVDs is important for improving the health literacy. The study focused on Area I of Responsibilities for Health Education Specialists (Assessment of Needs and Capacity).

Disclosure statement

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