Content Validation and Reliability Test for Depression, Stigma, Social Support and Patient’s Satisfaction Scale among Tuberculosis Patients in Serian Division, Sarawak

Abstract

This study evaluated the content validity and internal consistency reliability of four psychosocial measurement instruments-the PHQ-9 (depression), Tuberculosis Stigma Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (PSQ-18) among tuberculosis (TB) patients in the Serian Division of Sarawak. The instruments were adopted from their original versions and subsequently validated among TB patients in the Serian Division of Sarawak. Content validation, conducted by eight experts in public health and psychiatry, utilised item-level and scale-level content validity indices, with all items demonstrating strong agreement in relevance, clarity, simplicity and lack of ambiguity requiring no modifications. A pilot study (n = 56) was then carried out to assess internal consistency, yielding Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.73 and 0.95, with an overall reliability score of 0.86, indicating good to excellent reliability. The findings confirmed the psychometric robustness and cultural appropriateness of these instruments for evaluating psychosocial determinants in TB care. These validated tools provide a reliable framework for future research and interventions aiming at enhancing patient-centred care and addressing psychosocial challenges in TB populations.