Development and Validation of the Health Belief Model‐Based Occupational Exposure Risk Perception Scale for Nursing Staff
TL;DR
The proposed HBM‐based Occupational Exposure Risk Perception Scale (HBM‐OERPS) showed initial validity evidence and good internal consistency for assessing nurses′ perceptions of occupational hazards within an HBM framework.
Abstract
Background Nursing staff frequently encounter serious occupational exposure risks that may adversely affect both their physical well‐being and mental health. Their awareness of these risks plays a pivotal role in shaping protective behaviors and influencing how they recognize and respond to workplace hazards. However, existing assessment tools have several limitations, including a lack of robust theoretical foundation and an inability to reflect the complexity of contemporary clinical environments. Methods This multiphase study developed and validated a scale based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). The process included a structured literature review for item generation, a two‐round Delphi consultation, a pilot survey (400 nurses) with exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and a cross‐sectional validation sample (1250 nurses) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and the Spearman–Brown split‐half coefficient. Results The final scale comprised 32 items organized into five theoretically grounded dimensions: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and self‐efficacy. The results of EFA and CFA supported the proposed five‐factor model. Fit indices suggested an acceptable model fit: chi‐square/df = 2.941; RMSEA = 0.039; CFI = 0.974; NFI = 0.961; IFI = 0.974. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.927. The total Spearman–Brown split‐half coefficient was 0.659, and dimension‐level coefficients ranged from 0.832 to 0.937. Conclusion The proposed HBM‐based Occupational Exposure Risk Perception Scale (HBM‐OERPS) showed initial validity evidence and good internal consistency for assessing nurses′ perceptions of occupational hazards within an HBM framework. Nursing Implications The HBM‐OERPS provides an effective tool for future assessment of occupational exposure risk beliefs among nursing staff. This approach assists in identifying domain‐specific risk‐belief deficits and guides the design of targeted occupational safety education, resource allocation, and management strategies.