Journal of the College of Community Physicians (Dec 2022)
University Health Risk Behaviour (UniHRB) Inventory (Sinhala): a tool to assess common health risk behaviours among undergraduates in Sri Lanka
Abstract
Introduction: The degree of health risk behaviour (HRB) among undergraduates has not been researched extensively in Sri Lanka and there is no tool available to assess common HRBs in a university setting. Objectives: To develop, translate and validate a tool to measure common HRBs in Sinhalese second-year undergraduates in Sri Lanka Methods: The UniHRB-Inventory (Sinhala) was developed using a seven-step design process for tool development. An extensive literature review, nine key informant interviews (KII), and five focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out. A combination of deductive and inductive methods was used to define the domain and identify the questions to assess. Content and consensual validity was assessed using the modified Delphi process. A validation study was conducted among 666 second-year undergraduates at the University of Kelaniya selected using stratified-cluster sampling. Construct-validity of UniHRB-Inventory-Sinhala was assessed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) (n=333), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (n=333), multi-trait scaling analysis and convergent validity assessment (n=80). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability was assessed in a sub-sample (n=25). Results: There has been a deficit of choices for adapting an HRB tool for undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Violence and injuries, sexual risk behaviours, addictions to mobile phones and the internet are common among undergraduates. Students’ dismissive attitude towards violence and neglecting health behaviours, such as sleep deprivation and poor hygienic practice, were highlighted as important aspects of HRBs. The UniHRB-Inventory (Sinhala) with 70 items showed good face, content and consensual validity. A seven-factor model was identified through PCA, which was confirmed through CFA. UniHRB-Inventory domains and sensation seeking scale (SSS) total score showed correlations between 0.39-0.67. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.77 and test-retest reliability coefficients of seven domains ranging between 0.74-0.82 indicated high reliability. Conclusions & Recommendations: The newly developed UniHRB -Inventory (Sinhala) is a valid and reliable tool to assess common HRBs among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
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