Evidence of content validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the PAPA Scale
Inappropriate antibiotic use in children constitutes a global challenge for patient safety, being influenced by caregivers’ perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors. The objective of the present study was to assess the content validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Parental Perception on Antibiotics Scale (PAPA Scale). This is a methodological study to obtain evidence of content validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the PAPA Scale. In the content validity stage, 24 healthcare judges assessed the items regarding clarity of language, practical pertinence, and theoretical relevance. After the suggested adjustments, the scale was applied to 209 parents of children who used antibiotics at home. Content validity was analyzed using the Content Validity Coefficient. Reliability was assessed through internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega, and through temporal stability, using the test-retest method via weighted Kappa and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The total content validity coefficients were 0.94 for clarity of language, 0.97 for practical pertinence, and 0.97 for theoretical relevance. Internal consistency indices by factor ranged from 0.597 to 0.864 for alpha and 0.603 to 0.862 for omega. Temporal stability presented ICC values between 0.337 and 0.648, indicating weak to moderate reliability. The Brazilian version of the PAPA Scale, comprising 36 items distributed across six factors, presented evidence of content validity and reliability, demonstrating potential for use in assessing parental perception of antibiotic use in children at home.