TY - JOUR
T1 - Structural properties and psychometric improvements of the Health Literacy Questionnaire in a Slovak population
AU - Kolarcik, Peter
AU - Cepova, Eva
AU - Madarasova Geckova, Andrea
AU - Elsworth, Gerald R.
AU - Batterham, Roy W.
AU - Osborne, Richard H.
PY - 2017/6/1
Y1 - 2017/6/1
N2 - Objectives: Health literacy is an important determinant of health and health equity and therefore requires robust measurement. The aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) including revised wording of response categories. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of the general Slovak adult population (N = 360, mean age 39) was conducted with the HLQ following its translation and cultural adaptation. Psychometric tests (confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability) and association (linear regression, ANOVA) with sociodemographic variables were undertaken. The performance of alternative version of response options were explored with the Mann–Whittney U test and item response theory. Results: A highly restrictive nine-factor confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit [χ2WLSMV = 1684 (df = 866), p < 0.0001; CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.938, RMSEA = 0.051, WRMR = 1.297] and reliability was acceptable (range 0.73–0.84). The revised response categories had a better distribution with lower average scores in three domains, compared with the original, and improved item information curves. Conclusions: The nine HLQ scales are robust, providing a fine-grained assessment of health literacy. The revised response options improve psychometric properties and are recommended for future studies.
AB - Objectives: Health literacy is an important determinant of health and health equity and therefore requires robust measurement. The aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) including revised wording of response categories. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of the general Slovak adult population (N = 360, mean age 39) was conducted with the HLQ following its translation and cultural adaptation. Psychometric tests (confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability) and association (linear regression, ANOVA) with sociodemographic variables were undertaken. The performance of alternative version of response options were explored with the Mann–Whittney U test and item response theory. Results: A highly restrictive nine-factor confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit [χ2WLSMV = 1684 (df = 866), p < 0.0001; CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.938, RMSEA = 0.051, WRMR = 1.297] and reliability was acceptable (range 0.73–0.84). The revised response categories had a better distribution with lower average scores in three domains, compared with the original, and improved item information curves. Conclusions: The nine HLQ scales are robust, providing a fine-grained assessment of health literacy. The revised response options improve psychometric properties and are recommended for future studies.
KW - Cultural adaptation
KW - Health literacy
KW - Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)
KW - Item response theory
KW - Measurement
KW - Psychometrics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85014142673&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00038-017-0945-x
DO - 10.1007/s00038-017-0945-x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28258403
AN - SCOPUS:85014142673
SN - 1661-8556
VL - 62
SP - 591
EP - 604
JO - International Journal of Public Health
JF - International Journal of Public Health
IS - 5
ER -