DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEALTH BELIEF SCALE FOR MASK WEARING DURING COVID-19
HEALTH BELIEF SCALE FOR MASK WEARING IN COVID-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23160335Keywords:
Covid-19, Health Belief Model, Mask-Wearing, Scale Development, Validity and ReliabilityAbstract
Objective: During the pandemic, mask wearing was a worldwide public health priority. However, people's health beliefs may affect their mask-wearing behaviors. The aim of this study is to develop the ‘Health Belief Scale for Mask Wearing during Covid-19 (HBSMW-COVID-19)’.
Methods: This cross-sectional and methodological study included 645 volunteer participants aged 18 or older, residing in various regions of Turkey. Data were analyzed using content validity, construct validity, criterion validity, split-half reliability, Cronbach's α coefficient, and item-total correlation analyses.
Results: The draft version of the scale demonstrated a content validity index of 0.98. Results of the exploratory factor analysis identified a six-factor solution explaining 70.87% of the overall variance. Confirmatory factor analysis produced the following results: ‘χ²/df = 2.77, GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.95, NFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.05, and SRMR = 0.045’. The Spearman–Brown and Cronbach's α correlation coefficients were 0.827 and 0.856, respectively.
Conclusion: The HBSMW-COVID-19 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing individuals' health beliefs related to mask wearing. The scale can guide healthcare professionals and policymakers in developing and implementing interventions to promote protective behaviors during similar pandemics.
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