Cultivating excellence: Development and validation of a bilingual competency self-assessment tool for infection prevention and control practitioners.

Abstract

Background: The study aimed at developing and validating a bilingual competency self-assessment tool for infection prevention and control practitioners based on the core competencies proposed by the World Health Organization.

Methods: The study was conducted from December 2021 to June 2023. The bilingual tool (Brazilian Portuguese and English versions) was developed according to 4 stages: (1) conceptual framework establishment and item generation; (2) content validity; (3) response process validity; and (4) internal structure validity.

Results: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the tool was organized into 5 areas, 36 items, and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.89 and 0.97; the English version of the tool was organized into 5 areas, 37 items, and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.91 and 0.98.

Discussion: The bilingual tool gathers evidence of content validity and internal structure validity.

Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that these are the first self-assessment tools that have utilized the core competencies proposed by the World Health Organization as a conceptual basis. Such tools can be applied in countries of all income classifications, which makes it possible to design educational initiatives and enhance core competencies.