Development and validation of the stroke knowledge test.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of stroke knowledge (the Stroke Knowledge Test [SKT]) using a systematic test construction process and to investigate the psychometric properties of this test. There are relatively few published measures of stroke knowledge, and, of those that exist, relatively little is documented about test construction or psychometric properties. Such tests are important for evaluation of stroke education programs.

METHOD

Test construction involved systematic generation of pilot test items, expert review of pilot items, and calculation of pilot item properties. After final item selection, two experiments were conducted to determine if the SKT was sensitive to varying levels of stroke knowledge and to estimate the reliability of the test.

RESULTS

The final version of the test included 20 items with good content coverage, acceptable item properties, and positive expert review ratings. Results from psychometric investigations suggest that SKT has relatively good reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and construct validity (i.e., SKT scores significantly increased after stroke education [cf. nonstroke education], and community-dwelling older adults who had a relative with stroke [and more prior exposure to stroke information] scored higher on the SKT than those without a stroke relative).

CONCLUSION

Findings provide preliminary support for the SKT as a valid and reliable tool for assessing stroke knowledge. The SKT may be used to identify individual information needs of stroke survivors and their caregivers or as a tool to evaluate group- or community-based stroke education programs.