Psychometric validation of the Korean versions of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale and Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale

Abstract

Purpose: Strategies for reducing vaccine hesitancy and negative attitudes toward vaccination and measures to accurately assess them have been developed worldwide. The Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) and Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale (VAX) are reliable and valid tools. This study evaluates the validity and reliability of the Korean versions of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (K-VHS) and Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale (K-VAX).

Methods: We translated the VHS and VAX into Korean using forward and backward translations and tested their psychometric attributes. We collected data from a sample of 2,292 Koreans, recruited in June 2021 from a large online panel using quotas for age and gender. We used content validity, construct validity with confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity, and convergent validity to assess the validity of the scales, and tested their reliability with evaluations of internal consistency and stability.

Results: The K-VHS and K-VAX showed good model fits in the validity tests, with seven items for one factor and 12 items for four factors, respectively. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94 for the K-VHS, and 0.86 for the K-VAX) and stability (ICC = 0.86 for the K-VHS, and 0.88 for the K-VAX) of the measures indicated that they are reliable.

Conclusions: Both tools are effective psychometric instruments for assessing vaccine hesitancy and vaccination attitudes in Korean adults. K-VHS and K-VAX would be useful for predicting vaccination behaviors in novel infectious disease contexts and communicating the evidence needed to develop related policies or programs.

Keywords: Attitude; Hesitancy; Korea; Psychometrics; Vaccines.