Tool validation: Health professionals’ perception of the role for a cardiac rehabilitation program

Background: Complications from cardiovascular diseases represent a major concern to health professionals worldwide. Cardiac rehabilitation programs have proven to decrease disease progression, improve outcomes, and promote a healthy lifestyle. Similar evidence, however, has not been established in many countries, including Jordan. Exploring the health professionals’ understanding of the impact that a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) can make is necessary to increase stakeholder acceptance. One approach is to use a valid tool is that is focused on establishing a common understanding. Purpose: This study purpose was to validate a new composite tool that measured the health care professionals’ perceived role of cardiac rehabilitation programs, and factors influencing their establishment. Methods: A purposive sample of 110 health professionals working in clinical settings within Amman, Jordan completed a questionnaire, which was statistically examined for reliability and validity. Discussion: The resulting five themes (factors) from the internal consistency, principal component analysis and construct validity indicated that the questionnaire is valid and reliable. The emerging factors were: purpose of CRP; factors influencing establishing a CRP; definition of CRP; influence of CRP on health professionals’ scope of practice; and how does absence of CRP affect health professionals’ practice and patient outcome. Conclusion: Although the questionnaire is valid and reliable, it needs further study to ensure stability on retesting. There is a need to establish rehabilitation programs that on one hand expand the concept of health care and on the other expand the scope of practice and utilize the resources available within the community.