Assessing attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions: Psychometric properties of a Brief Attitudes Scale. (10th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teles, Soraia; Ferreira, Ana; Paúl, Constança
• Is Part Of: Health & social care in the community. Volume 29:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: e1
• Page End: e10
• Publication Date: 2020-11-10
• Subjects: Attitude Scales -- caregivers -- dementia -- education and training -- support -- technology; Public welfare -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Human services -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-0410

Abstract

Abstract: Participant attitudes are an explanatory factor for attrition in online health‐related interventions. However, its assessment prior to interventions start is uncommon, partly because proper measures are missing. This study presents the psychometric properties of a new scale measuring attitudes towards online psychoeducational interventions (OPIs). Structural validity, reliability and screening performance of the Online Psychoeducational Intervention – Brief Attitudes Scale (OPI‐BAS) were studied in a sample of 157 dementia caregivers. Scale cut‐off scores were derived to categorise the participants into 'OPIs sympathisers' or 'non‐sympathisers'. Groups were compared across sociodemographic and internet use variables. A parsimonious five‐item version of OPI‐BAS demonstrated good structural validity, with one factor explaining 63.3% of variance. Internal consistency of the scale was high ( α = 0.85). OPI‐BAS showed good screening performance in identifying individuals with either a preference to use conventional face‐to‐face or online psychoeducational interventions (area under the curve = 0.84). An optimal cut‐off score of 20 was suggested by the receiver operating characteristic graph, providing good sensitivity (74%) and specificity (84%). No significant differences were found between groups on sociodemographic and internet use variables. Attitudes towards OPIs were overall positive, but face‐to‐face interventions were preferred. This study offers preliminary support to the psychometric quality of OPI‐BAS. This short scale has practical applications for research and intervention.