Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire to assess occupational balance in parents of preterm infants

Abstract

Background Parents’ meaningful activities (occupations) and occupational balance are relevant to neonatal care. Valid and reliable self-reported measurement instruments are needed to assess parents’ occupational balance and to evaluate occupational balance interventions in neonatal care. The aims of this study were to develop a self-reported questionnaire on occupational balance in informal caregivers (OBI-Care) and to examine its measurement properties including construct validity and internal consistency. Methods and findings A mixed method multicenter study design was employed. Items of the OBI-Care were created with parents of preterm infants based on qualitative research methods. Measurement properties were analyzed with quantitative data of parents of preterm infants. Construct validity was assessed by determining dimensionality, overall and item fit to a Rasch model, differential item functioning and threshold ordering. Internal consistency was examined by determining inter-item and item-total correlations, Cronbach’s alpha and Rasch’s person separation index. Fourteen parents participated in item creation. Measurement properties were explored in data of 304 parents. Twenty-two items, summarized in three subscales were compiled to the OBI-Care. Items showed an overall fit and except one item, an item fit to the Rasch model. There was no evidence of differential item functioning and all items displayed ordered thresholds. Each subscale had good values of person separation indices and Cronbach’s alpha. Conclusions The OBI-Care demonstrates construct validity and internal consistency and is thus a suitable measurement instrument to assess occupational balance of parents of preterm infants in neonatal care. OBI-Care is generic and can be applied in various health care settings.

Examination of validity, reliability, and interpretability of a self-reported questionnaire on Occupational Balance in Informal Caregivers (OBI-Care) – A Rasch analysis

“…Construct validity and internal consistency of the German version of the OBI-Care have already been examined in one of our previous studies [ 37 ]. However, the results of both studies differ partly and to our knowledge this is the first time that measurement properties of the OBI-Care have been examined in another population of informal caregivers.…”

“…The subscales represent multidimensionality and recently identified dimensions of occupational balance. Sumscores are calculated for each subscale by summating according raw item values [ 37 ].…”

“…However, these measurement instruments were not specifically developed with and validated in a sample population of informal caregivers [ 37 , 38 ]. The self-reported questionnaire on Occupational Balance in Informal Caregivers (OBI-Care [ 37 ]) is a generic measurement instrument to assess occupational balance in informal caregivers [ 37 ]. It was specifically developed with parents of preterm infants, who are considered to be informal caregivers.…”

“…A German version of the OBI-Care was developed first and subsequently translated into English, only the German version is validated. Previous analyses of the measurement properties of the German version in a sample of parents of preterm infants demonstrated construct validity and internal consistency [ 37 ]. However, measurement properties of the German version of the OBI-Care have not been examined in a mixed population of informal caregivers, such as caregivers of persons of different ages and diagnoses [ 37 ].…”

“…Previous analyses of the measurement properties of the German version in a sample of parents of preterm infants demonstrated construct validity and internal consistency [ 37 ]. However, measurement properties of the German version of the OBI-Care have not been examined in a mixed population of informal caregivers, such as caregivers of persons of different ages and diagnoses [ 37 ]. The exploration of its measurement properties in a mixed population of informal caregivers is required to ensure its generic applicability to assess occupational balance in a wider range of informal caregivers.…”