Author Area of Expertise
1. Sydeena Isaacs:
social determinants of health and health equity in rural communities with a focus on 1) policies and practices to improve access to nutritious foods in rural communities, 2) maternal and child nutrition, and 3) theory-driven interventions to improve diet quality and overall health outcomes in rural communities.
2. Jennifer Schroeder Tyson
public health practice with a major focus on public health preparedness and response in the context of maternal, child, and family populations
3. Ashely Parks
quality improvement, community capacity building, social determinants of health, and care coordination from the community, institutional (hospital), and integrated delivery system perspectives.
Abstract
Introduction: To date, referral practices based on social determinants of health (SDOH) among primary care providers (PCPs) and clinic staff in rural regions, including Appalachian North Carolina (NC), are not well understood.
Purpose: This study aims to develop and content validate a primary care engagement (PCE) survey to assess (1) engagement and burnout; (2) referral practices; and (3) self-efficacy and confidence in making referrals based on SDOH among PCPs and clinic staff in Appalachian NC.
Methods: Using the Social-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework, researchers developed a 37-item PCE survey. Content validation was completed by a panel of experts recruited from a convenience sample of faculty at a local university and PCPs and clinic staff practicing in Appalachian NC. Participants rated the degree of relevance of survey questions on a four-point Likert scale and provided additional feedback about the wording/appropriateness for the intended audience. Content validity index (CVI) scores were calculated for each question by averaging the degree of relevance ratings.
Results: Ten participants completed the study between August and November 2022 (nurse practitioners, academic researchers, clinical support staff/quality improvement associates, administrative staff supervisor, administrator/practice manager). CVI scores for each item ranged from 3.43 to 4.0. Comments regarding potential improvements were primarily focused on small edits, including grammar-related changes and opportunities for clarity and inclusivity.
Implications: High CVI ratings for all survey items indicate the overall approach/survey aim resonates with local clinicians and individuals with expertise in SDOH. This study and the final survey lay the foundation for collaborative, collective-impact initiatives that are directly informed by the survey findings.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0601.06
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Isaacs SE, Tyson JS, Parks AV. Check with the intended audience first! Content validation as a method for inclusive research for primary care engagement in rural Appalachia. J Appalach Health 2024;6(1):69–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0601.06
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