Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire (K-HCEQ)

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire (K-HCEQ) after translating it into Korean. Methods: Items were verified after translating the HCEQ into Korean, followed by back-translation and evaluation of content validity. The questionnaire survey was administered to 200 community-dwelling individuals aged≥65 years. Construct validity and criterion validity were evaluated, and Cronbach’s a was used to assess the reliability of the scale. Results: The final instrument consisted of three sub-factors and 10 items, as shown by confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, the criterion-related validity showed a correlation coefficient of .50 (p<.001), confirming the validity of the developed instrument. Cronbach’s a for all items was .94, and Cronbach’s a of the sub-factors ranged between .88 and .93. Conclusion: The Korean version of the HCEQ for the elderly is an objective indicator that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs aimed at older adults, thereby improving their health care empowerment.