The Translation Process, Validity and Reliability Study in Occupational Health Psychology amongst Healthcare Professionals by Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix: A Multimethod Study

Abstract

Introduction: Questionnaires are designed to measure specific constructs. Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) includes various domains/areas like work place well-being, work related stress, flourishing, resilient coping, coping mechanisms, compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress. At times, specific questionnaire may not be available and if available, may not be in the language intended to be used by the respondents. A new questionnaire needs to be developed or translation of an available questionnaire into the respondents’ language is required in such case. Aim: To detail out the translation process of the study tools (questionnaires/scales) and to assess the validity and reliability of these study tools used in OHP. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional, Quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical college, Anand District, Gujarat, India, from February 2021 to January 2023 using multimethod study design amongst the healthcare professionals. For translation, standard World Health Organisation (WHO) translation guide was followed. Nine scales/questionnaires along with a socio-demographic and a qualitative proforma were finalised to achieve the objectives. The questionnaires availability in public domain was taken into consideration while selecting the questionnaires. Reliability analysis and validity assessment was done. Reliability measure was checked for internal consistency by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. Construct validity was assessed by Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix. Translation was done in Hindi and Gujarati languages. Results: Flourishing scale (FS), Brief resilient coping scale, compassion satisfaction and work satisfaction were positively correlated and all these were negatively correlated with all the stress measures, Depression, anxiety measures of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), Burn out and secondary traumatic stress. Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency measure was calculated for different sub domains of the nine questionnaires. Construct validity was analysed by calculating correlation coefficients between different identified constructs/sub constructs. Variables measuring similar construct were found to be positively correlated and significant. Conclusion: Variables/questionnaires measuring a similar construct were found to be positively correlated and significant, whie opposite constructs were negatively correlated. The questionnaires need to be translated in the language in which the participants can understand. The better linguistic comprehension will increase the internal validity of the study.

Keywords

• convergent validity
• divergent validity
• transation guide