Engagement of female staff in prehospital emergency medical services from the perspective of service recipients: development and psychometric testing of the scale

Asghari, Elnaz; Dadashzadeh, Abbas; Sarbakhsh,  Parvin; Aziznejhad, Ebrahim

doi:10.61186/rabms.10.1.35

Volume 10, Issue 1 (1-2024) Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences 2024, 10(1): 35-46 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.61186/rabms.10.1.35

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Asghari E, Dadashzadeh A, Sarbakhsh P, Aziznejhad E. Engagement of female staff in prehospital emergency medical services from the perspective of service recipients: development and psychometric testing of the scale. Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences 2024; 10 (1) :35-46
URL: http://ijrabms.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-290-en.html

Engagement of female staff in prehospital emergency medical services from the perspective of service recipients: development and psychometric testing of the scale

Elnaz Asghari

, Abbas Dadashzadeh

, Parvin Sarbakhsh

, Ebrahim Aziznejhad ^*

.Sc student, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract: (1116 Views)

Background & Aims: Although most countries have long used female staff for prehospital emergency medical services (EMS), this is quite a recent development for the Iranian health system. It is hence necessary to analyze the perspectives of its recipients about the feasibility of assigning female staff to prehospital EMS to improve this service and compare it with other countries. This study aimed to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale for assessing the feasibility of using female staff in prehospital EMS.
Materials & Methods: This was a methodological study. The literature was reviewed to develop items for the scale. The scale's content validity index (CVI) was then evaluated based on expert opinions, and its face validity was examined by eliciting comments from the target group and experts. Following that, 456 EMS recipients from East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, completed the electronic version of the scale. Finally, the construct validity and reliability of this scale were determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), respectively.
Results: The findings confirmed the scale's high content validity and internal consistency, as well as its acceptable face validity. The EFA findings also revealed three factors, all of which were based on primary domains: the need for engagement (17 items), groundwork (14 items), and staffing (9 items).
Conclusion: The study's findings suggested that the intended scale's design and psychometric properties were appropriate for Iranian culture. Therefore, it can be used to examine public opinion before, during, and after the inclusion of female personnel in prehospital EMS.

Keywords: Female, Emergency Medical Services, Patients, Psychological Test, Questionnaire Design

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Type of Study: orginal article | Subject: Special

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