Assessing attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions: Psychometric properties of a Brief Attitudes Scale

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Teles, S (Author) Other; ferreira, a (Author) FMUP; Constança Paúl (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Health & Social Care in the Community

ISSN: 0966-0410

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-ZY1

DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13227

Abstract (EN): Participant attitudes are an explanatory factor for attrition in online health-related interventions. However, its assessment prior to interventions start is uncommon, partly because proper measures are missing. This study presents the psychometric properties of a new scale measuring attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions (OPIs). Structural validity, reliability and screening performance of the Online Psychoeducational Intervention - Brief Attitudes Scale (OPI-BAS) were studied in a sample of 157 dementia caregivers. Scale cut-off scores were derived to categorise the participants into 'OPIs sympathisers' or 'non-sympathisers'. Groups were compared across sociodemographic and internet use variables. A parsimonious five-item version of OPI-BAS demonstrated good structural validity, with one factor explaining 63.3% of variance. Internal consistency of the scale was high (alpha = 0.85). OPI-BAS showed good screening performance in identifying individuals with either a preference to use conventional face-to-face or online psychoeducational interventions (area under the curve = 0.84). An optimal cut-off score of 20 was suggested by the receiver operating characteristic graph, providing good sensitivity (74%) and specificity (84%). No significant differences were found between groups on sociodemographic and internet use variables. Attitudes towards OPIs were overall positive, but face-to-face interventions were preferred. This study offers preliminary support to the psychometric quality of OPI-BAS. This short scale has practical applications for research and intervention.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10