The development and validation of the health belief model questionnaire for measuring factors affecting adherence in the elderly with hypertension

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to validate the questionnaire on the health belief model questionnaire to assess health beliefs that could influence adherence to hypertension in the elderly. METHODS: The questionnaire was based on a study of the literature and discussion with experts. The questionnaire was then circulated via social media. Participants who met the following criteria were asked to participate in the study: (1) aged 60-79 years of age, (2) had antihypertensive medications in the last three months, and (3) had a mobile phone with an active number. The questionnaire consists of six domains: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived self efficacy. The findings were grouped by domain and tested for reliability and validity using SPSS ver.24. RESULTS: Thirty participants completed the questionnaire. Each domain was tested for its reliability and validity at a value of 0.05. The result shows that each domain had a Cronbach's alpha value greater than 0.7, with a total score of 0.89 indicating that all domains in the questionnaire were reliable. Furthermore, of the 49 items in the questionnaire, only two items were invalid while the rest of the items demonstrated their validity based on the Pearson Correlation (>r table 0.361; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This self administered health belief model questionnaire was a valid and reliable instrument to assess health beliefs in elderly with hypertension.