Development and Assessment of the Media Impact on Health Information Perception and Behavior Scale (Mihipb-S) Using Content Validity Index Method

Abstract

With the omnipresence of media in the digital age, understanding its impact on individuals' health information perception and behaviors has become paramount. This study presents the meticulous development and rigorous validation of the Media Influence on Health Information Perception and Behavior Scale (MIHIPB-S) using the Content Validity Index (CVI) method. The scale development process comprised several critical phases, including item generation, expert panel formation, content validity assessment, and pilot testing. A panel of nine experts, encompassing diverse backgrounds such as psychology, public health, communication studies, and measurement development, rigorously examined each item's relevance to the construct of "Media Influence on Health Information Perception and Behavior." These experts assigned ratings on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from "Not relevant" (1) to "Highly relevant" (4). To determine content validity, the study adhered to established recommendations for acceptable cut-off scores which were contingent upon the number of experts involved Lynn, Davis, Polit & Beck, and Polit et al.2006. Various validity indices, including the Item-Level Content Validity Index (I-CVI), Scale-Level Content Validity Index based on the Average Method (S-CVI/Ave), and Scale-Level Content Validity Index based on the Universal Agreement Method (S-CVI/UA), were meticulously calculated. The outcomes of the content validity assessment were resoundingly positive. All items within the MIHIPB-S attained remarkably high I-CVI scores, significantly exceeding the established acceptable threshold. Moreover, the S-CVI/Ave, calculated as the mean of the I-CVI scores for all items, unequivocally demonstrated robust content validity (Hamie et al. Ozair et al., Lau et al., and Marzuki et al.2018. Of particular significance, the S-CVI/UA, representing the proportion of items achieving the highest relevance rating by all experts, decisively met the prescribed cut-off score. These findings unequivocally affirm the MIHIPB-S as an exceptionally valid and comprehensive instrument for capturing the complex dynamics of media's influence on health information perception and behavior. The MIHIPB-S emerges as an invaluable and validated tool poised to make substantial contributions to research, practice, and policymaking within the domains of health communication, media literacy, and public health. Its versatility extends to assessing the efficacy of media-based health interventions, evaluating the impact of media campaigns on health decision-making, and informing targeted health communication strategies. Future endeavors should explore opportunities for cross-cultural validation, longitudinal assessments, and adaptations to account for emerging media modalities.