Translate and psychometric evaluation of the scale of knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle after coronary event

Abstract

Background

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The level of self-care after coronary events is closely linked to understanding cardiovascular risk factors and adopting healthier lifestyle behaviors. An appropriate scale can help healthcare providers measure patients’ understanding of cardiovascular risk factors and provide educational interventions. This study aimed to translate and conduct a psychometric evaluation of the scale of knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle after coronary events.

Methods

A standardized guideline was followed for translating and culturally adapting the English version of the Scale of Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle after Coronary Events. The study included 300 patients with CHD aged 23 to 90. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to analyze construct validity. Internal consistency was estimated with Cronbach’s alpha (0.98), and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess scale stability (0.84).

Results

A total of 300 patients with an average age of 56.6 ± 12.7 were evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed construct validity, resulting in a 4-factor model comprising knowledge of cardiovascular risks (7 items), knowledge of lifestyle recommendations (6 items), knowledge of cholesterol and blood pressure control (5 items), and knowledge of diabetes (3 items). Together, these factors explained 67.34% of the total variance. The Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency of the scale was 0.851. Additionally, scale stability, as measured by the test-retest method, was 0.84, which is acceptable according to the minimum value of 0.70.

Conclusion

The translated Scale of Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle after Coronary Events demonstrated strong psychometric properties among patients with CHD. The scale is both reliable and valid, providing healthcare providers with a practical tool to evaluate patient understanding and guide educational efforts aimed at enhancing post-coronary event self-care.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.