Validating a previously untested Intentions and Beliefs around Smoking sub-scale for inclusion in the published Attitudes and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease (ABCD) Risk Questionnaire using a cross-sectional sample

Abstract

Objectives: To provide evidence of validity, reliability and generalisability of results obtained using the Attitudes and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease (ABCD) Risk Questionnaire with a sample of the English population surveyed within the SPICES Horizon 2020 project (Nottingham study site), and to specifically evaluate the psychometric and factor properties of an as-yet untested 5 item sub-scale relating to smoking behaviours. Design and setting: Community based cross-sectional study in Nottingham, UK. Participants: 466 English adults fitting inclusion criteria (aged 18+, without known history of CVD, not pregnant, able to provide informed consent) were included in the study. Methods: We re-validated the published ABCD questionnaire on a sample of the general population in Nottingham to confirm the psychometric properties. Furthermore, we introduced 5 items related to smoking which were dropped in the original study due to inadequate valid samples. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Psychometric and factor performance of untested 5 item smoking behaviours sub-scale Psychometric and factorial properties in combination with the remaining 18 items across 3 sub-scales Results: Analyses of the data largely confirmed the validity, reliability, and factor structure of the original ABCD Risk Questionnaire. Sufficient participants in our study provided data against an additional five smoking related items to confirm their validity as a sub-scale and to advocate for their inclusion in future applications of the scale. EFA and CFA calculations support some minor changes to the remaining sub-scales which may further improve psychometric performance and therefore generalisability of the instrument. Conclusions: An amended version of the ABCD Risk Questionnaire would provide public health researchers and practitioners with a brief, easy to use, reliable and valid survey tool. The amended tool may now assist public health practitioners and researchers to quickly survey patient or public intentions and beliefs around three key areas of individually modifiable risk (Physical Activity, Diet, and Smoking).