| Background: The inadequate awareness of livestock breeders on brucellosis transmission, as well as their improper
knowledge about preventing brucellosis is considered as one of the important barriers to animal vaccination
against brucellosis. The present study aimed to design and validate a brucellosis prevention questionnaire focused
on animal vaccination. The valid questionnaire was used to design, implement, and evaluate an interventional
training program.
Method: A brucellosis prevention questionnaire (BPQ) was developed in the exploratory psychometric study. In
addition, face-to-face interviews were conducted to formulate its initial items, the results of which were merged
with those obtained from literature review. Further, the face, content, and construct validity of the questionnaire
were assessed by co-operating livestock breeders, veterinarians, and health educationists. The impact score (IS), and
content validity ratio (CVR) and index (CVI) of the items were calculated, and the construct validity of the
questionnaire was evaluated through factor analysis. Furthermore, the reliability of the results related to the
questionnaire was measured by using Cronbach’s alpha, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and composite
reliability, as well as the standard error of measurement (SEM).
Results: The questionnaire was finalized with 53 items and its validity was confirmed by CVI (0.90), CVR (0.74), and
IS (4.30). Additionally, the items were loaded into three constructs of awareness, attitude, and practice. Further, the
predictive power of awareness, attitude, and practice was determined as 43.43, 15.81, and 15.78%, respectively.
Furthermore, the fitness of the proposed model among the constructs was confirmed by the root mean square
error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.08, as well as normed chi-square (× 2/ df) < 5.0, comparative fit index (CFI) ≥
0.90, and Tucker- Lewis index (TLI) ≥ 0.9.
Conclusion: The brucellosis prevention questionnaire represented acceptable psychometric properties. The factors
influencing the preventive behavior of livestock breeders can be identified by applying the questionnaire, and cooperating veterinarians and educational planners |