Abstract

PINA-LOPEZ, Julio Alfonso. Validation of an instrument to measure behavioral competencies in HIV+ persons. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2003, vol.45, n.4, pp.293-297. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of an instrument to measure behavioral competences in HIV/AIDS-infected persons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in November and December 2002 in Hermosillo, Sonora State, Mexico. An instrument consisting of 24 items was applied to 60 HIV-positive subjects who received health care through two Mexican Ministry of Health institutions. Statistical analysis consisted of Student s t test for item discrimination and Cronbach s alpha for testing construct reliability. RESULTS: All but two items were able to discriminate correctly; factorial analysis resulted in three factors that jointly accounted for 48% of the variance. Finally a two-item index was obtained. The survey as a whole attained a Cronbach s alpha of 0.856. CONCLUSIONS: And advantage of this instrument is that it is clear, as it has good item discrimination.In addition, this instrument has construct validity.

Keywords : behavioral competencies; reliability; validity; HIV [AIDS]; Mexico.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )