Validation of the Portuguese version of the Attitudes to Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire: an exploratory approach

Abstract

Background: The lack of cultural and linguistically sensitive instruments prevents the opportunity of assessing attitudes and barriers of health care staff towards evidence-based practice. The aim of this communication is to report the validation process in the Portuguese context of the Attitudes to Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire. Methods: We developed a cross-sectional, descriptive psychometric validation study. For cultural adaptation, a bidirectional translation was carried out, accordingly to common standards. To determine the psychometric properties of the questionnaire we conducted a Principal Component Analysis with Varimax orthogonal rotation. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Results: We obtained 244 valid questionnaires with a 64.2% response rate. Data collected explained that the questionnaire showed an acceptable internal consistency (a = .63). Subjected the questionnaire to a principal components analysis using Varimax method, we obtained eight dimensions that explain 56.66% of total variance. Conclusions: The exploratory factorial analysis conducted demonstrated valid empiric evidence and the questionnaire could be used in our context.