Validation of the battery of instruments for the evaluation of psychosocial risk factors

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to adapt and validate the results of the Batería de Instrumentos para la Evaluación de Factores de Riesgo Psicosocial (Battery of Instruments for the Evaluation of Psychosocial Risk Factors) developed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia in 2010. Materials and methods: An instrumental study was conducted with a total of 478 workers who underwent an occupational medical examination from March to September 2014. The following analyses were performed: psychometric properties by judges’ criteria, validity by Aiken’s V coefficient, construct validity by exploratory factor analysis, and reliability and internal consistency by Cronbach’s Alpha. Results: In the content validity analysis using judges’ criteria, only items with V = 1 (p = 0.032) were considered, resulting in 108 items in the Inside-Work scale form A, 96 items in the Inside-Work scale form B, and 29 items in the Outside-Work scale. A higher-than-standard item homogeneity level (rit > 0.20), and adequate reliability and internal consistency levels were demonstrated by Cronbach’s Alpha in the Inside-Work scale form A, Inside-Work scale form B, Outside-Work scale and Stress scale. In the convergent validity analysis, statistical significant correlations were obtained in most of the dimensions between the Outside-Work scale and Stress scale, and the Inside-Work scale form A and Stress scale. Conclusions: Criteria validity and convergent validity were determined in the Inside-Work scale form A, Inside-Work scale form B and Outside-Work scale, with empiric evidence of measurements consistent with the psychosocial risk construct being found. Moreover, internal consistency coefficients were estimated, with adequate levels being obtained in the assessed dimensions, according to the minimum level suggested for the research.