Psychometric properties of the physical environment problems and barriers scale in older adults' homes using an ergonomic approach

Abstract

Background: As older adults prefer to live in their homes, it is of paramount importance to examine the adaptation of the environment to the older adults' capabilities.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate psychometric properties of a scale to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults' homes using an ergonomic approach in Iran.

Methods: This mixed-method investigation was conducted in two stages in Yazd, Iran. The primary 71-item version of the questionnaire was developed according to qualitative findings and a thorough review of the literature. Then the psychometric characteristics, including face, content, construct validity, were assessed. Content validity was also assessed using CVI and CVR. Finally, its reliability and construct validity were confirmed by composite reliability (CR), Fornell-Larker matrix, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Smart PLS software version 3.

Results: The face validity of the developed scale was acceptable, and the mean scores of CVI and CVR were 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. The preliminary draft of the scale was categorized into seven dimensions. Factor validity and reliability were confirmed by acceptable factor loadings, and desirable realms of composite reliability (>0.7) average variance extracted (>0.5). The cross-loading method and the Fornell-Larker matrix were used to evaluate the divergent validity of the scale, and the results confirmed its acceptable fit.

Conclusions: The findings indicated that reliability reached acceptable values, and different aspects of validity were almost confirmed. Accordingly, the questionnaire was to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults' homes; however, it requires further validation for future use in other contexts.

Keywords: Psychometrics; barriers; ergonomic; home environment; older adults.