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Dissertation
The development and psychometric evaluation of the AIDS Knowledge Scale (AKS-DD) for individuals with developmental disabilities
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
Nov 1996
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00008528
Abstract
In response to the AIDS crisis, HIV/AIDS prevention programs are being promoted nationwide. Therefore, there is a need to develop instruments for measuring individuals' AIDS knowledge. A review of the literature indicates that no instrument has yet been specifically developed to assess AIDS knowledge within the developmentally disabled population. This study presents the development and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the AIDS Knowledge Scale For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities (AKS-DD). Two phases of research were involved in this study. During phase I, a behavioral-analytic approach was used during the content validation process. Groups of experts were asked to validate item content and to determine if items were understandable to persons with mild mental retardation. An informal testing was conducted on a group of 20 individuals with mild mental retardation to ensure feasibility of administration. The final instrument consisted of a 5-item pretest, 25 items with a yes-no format, and several demographic items. During phase II, the AKS-DD was administered to an initial sample of 100 adult individuals with mild mental retardation in community-based settings for a preliminary evaluation of its psychometric properties. A series of analyses of variance (ANOVAS) of AKS-DD initial and retest scores indicated no significant differences regarding gender, marital status, race, living arrangement, and level of education. An exploratory factor analysis suggested that the AKS-DD can be regarded as a heterogeneous instrument. To evaluate temporal stability, the AKS-DD was administered to a subset of 50 individuals from the initial sample on two occasions spaced approximately 4 to 5 weeks apart. A test-retest reliability coefficient of.86 was obtained. Results suggest that the AKS-DD appears to have adequate initial psychometric properties and that it is a stable measure of AIDS knowledge among individuals with developmental disabilities. The results also suggest that the AKS-DD may serve as a useful measure when evaluating the impact of HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The present findings support the need for continuing efforts to provide HIV/AIDS education for the developmentally disabled population.
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Details
- Title
- The development and psychometric evaluation of the AIDS Knowledge Scale (AKS-DD) for individuals with developmental disabilities
- Creators
- Sharon J. Moore
- Awarding Institution
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xii, 111 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (1996-1998); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1996-1998)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888787504721