J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1058-1075, November-December 2022.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres22.1515_10.6.1058
Original Article
Design and validation of questionnaires to measure educational needs about medications in students, parents, and teachers in an elementary school
[Diseño y validación de cuestionarios para medir necesidades educativas sobre medicamentos en alumnos, padres y profesores en una escuela primaria]
Ana M. Téllez-López1, Brenda Y. Márquez Castro2, Isis Beatriz Bermudez-Camps2, Ivette Reyes Hernández2, Maricela López Orozco2, Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván1*
1Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Paseo Colón intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120, Toluca, Estado de México.
2Área Académica de Farmacia. Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. Circuito Ex Hacienda La Concepción S/N Carretera Pachuca-Actopan. CP 42160, San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hidalgo. México.
*E-mail: lmgomezo@uaemex.mx
Abstract
Context: To achieve a health literacy program aimed at improving the use of medicines, it is necessary to have tools that identify educational needs through valid and reliable instruments.
Aims: To validate instruments designed to evaluate the correct use of medicines in an elementary school in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, applying the Delphi method.
Methods: A descriptive, mixed study was carried out. Three questionnaires were designed based on a documentary analysis and the identification of influential variables expressed in dimensions and items, such as sociodemographic, pharmacotherapeutic, and clinical characteristics. The content validity was determined by applying the Delphi method, the mathematical model of Torgerson (MMT), and Aiken’s v coefficient, while the internal reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha value and the interobserver concordance by the Kappa index.
Results: Three questionnaires were designed with 33, 48, and 44 items addressed to students, parents, and teachers respectively. The content was valid meeting the MMT criteria and Aiken’s v values above 0.9. Reliability was moderate with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.6 and inter-observer agreement was moderate with Kappa index values of 0.4. Reliability and concordance values are accepted when considering the literature review and rigorous expert input.
Conclusions: The designed questionnaires contain valid and reliable items that will allow obtaining the necessary information to build an education program of medication use in an elementary school considering the integration of students, parents, and teachers.
Keywords: health literacy; knowledge; medicines; questionnaires; rational use medicines; validation.

Resumen
Contexto: Para lograr un programa de alfabetización en salud dirigido a mejorar el uso de los medicamentos es necesario disponer de herramientas que identifiquen las necesidades educativas a través de instrumentos válidos y fiables.
Objetivos: Validar instrumentos diseñados para evaluar el uso correcto de los medicamentos en una escuela primaria del estado de Hidalgo, México, aplicando el método Delphi.
Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, mixto. Se diseñaron tres cuestionarios a partir de un análisis documental y la identificación de variables de influencia expresadas en dimensiones e ítems, tales como características sociodemográficas, farmacoterapéuticas y clínicas. La validez de contenido se determinó aplicando el método Delphi, el modelo matemático de Tórgerson (MMT) y el coeficiente v de Aiken; en tanto que la confiabilidad interna a través del valor de alfa de Cronbach y la concordancia interobservadores por el índice Kappa.
Resultados: Se diseñaron tres cuestionarios con 33, 48 y 44 ítems dirigidos a alumnos, padres y profesores respectivamente. El contenido fue válido cumpliendo los criterios del MMT y valores de v de Aiken superiores a 0.9. La fiabilidad fue moderada con valores de alfa de Cronbach de 0.6 y la concordancia entre observadores moderada con valores de índice Kappa de 0.4. Se aceptan los valores de fiabilidad y concordancia al considerar la revisión bibliográfica y las aportaciones rigurosas de los expertos.
Conclusiones: Los cuestionarios diseñados contienen ítems válidos y fiables que permitirán obtener la información necesaria para construir un programa de educación del uso de medicamentos en una escuela primaria considerando la integración de alumnos, padres y profesores.
Palabras Clave: alfabetización en salud; conocimiento; cuestionarios; uso racional de medicamentos; validación.

Citation Format: Téllez AM, Márquez BY, Bermúdez IB, Reyes I, López M, Gómez LM (2022) Design and validation of questionnaires to measure educational needs about medications in students, parents, and teachers in an elementary school. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 10(6): 1058–1075. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres22.1515_10.6.1058
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