Psychometric properties and development of a structured questionnaire to assess the perception, attitude, and job satisfaction among respiratory therapists

Abstract

BackgroundOver the past ten years, significant transformations have occurred in the healthcare landscape, presenting respiratory therapists (RTs) with a mix of challenges and opportunities. Hence, their perceptions about career progression and job satisfaction will be critical factor in determining the recruitment and retention of RTs. However, there are no studies in the literature that comprehensively assessed these aspects using a reliable and valid measure specific to RTs. Our objective was to develop and psychometrically test a Standardized Questionnaire (SQ) for evaluating RT's overall job satisfaction. MethodsFollowing consultations with experts and interviews conducted with RTs, a preliminary questionnaire was devised for the purpose of exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The 49 items of the Structured Questionnaire (SQ) were used for verification of the theorized factor structure and content validity using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for the global fit were done. Cronbach's alpha was performed to estimate the internal consistency. The samples of RTs were collected from India between August 2021 and January 2022. ResultsA convenience sample comprising 409 respiratory therapists (RTs) employed in India participated in the survey conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors that explained 61.2 % of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded a 3-factor structure (X2/df = 4.4, p < 0.02, standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.05, goodness of fit index = 0.94, comparative fit index = 0.98). The Cronbach's alpha was 0.94 for the total scale. ConclusionsExploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) are becoming more prevalent, especially in the development and psychometric evaluation of instruments. This Structured Questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool that has utility for assessing perceptions, satisfaction, and attitude among Respiratory Therapists and for making comparisons of similar psychometric measures.