Investigation for Preliminary Assessment of Lifestyle Influence and Socioeconomic Determinants in Cardiovascular Health and Disease Risks, in Fategarh Sahib District, Punjab, India
Keywords:
Cardiovascular Health, Lifestyle Influence, Socioeconomic Status, Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson Correlation CoefficientsAbstract
This pilot study investigates the lifestyle influence and socioeconomic determinant on cardiovascular health and disease exposure risk, in Fatehgarh Sahib District Punjab, India, with a focus on assessing the likelihood of a larger study or investigative initiative. Refining data collection methods, estimating sample sizes, and addressing ethical concerns were the key objectives included in this study.
Twenty (20) participants from four tehsils (Amloh, Bassi Patha, Ftehgarh Sahib and Khamanon), in Fatehgarh Sahib District Punjab State were recruited through convenient sampling, and data was collected in two phases via a Google Form questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp contacts.
The study assessed participants' knowledge and insight of lifestyle influence and socioeconomic impacts on cardiovascular health in the region under study. Using Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson correlation coefficients, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were calculated respectively, in order to test the methodology and other instrument for the main study. Most measures demonstrated well to excellent reliability, particularly in test-retest reliability, suggesting high stability and consistency over time. Nevertheless, the internal consistency for "Indicators that Determine Cardiovascular Health (CVH)" was moderately low, indicating the need for refinement in that area.
The study successfully identified the viability or feasibility of the research methodology and highlighted the reliability of the instruments, setting a strong basis for the actual study. Slight methodological changes, particularly in cardiovascular health indicators, are recommended to ensure sturdiness.
Downloads
References
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests." Psychometrika, v; 16(3), pp: 297-334.
Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). "Making sense of Cronbach's alpha." International Journal of Medical Education, v;2, pp: 53-55.
Cohen, R. J., & Swerdlik, M. E. (2018). Psychological Testing and Assessment: An Introduction to Tests and Measurement. 9th edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Carmines, E. G., & Zeller, R. A. (1979). Reliability and Validity Assessment. Sage Publications.
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric Theory. 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill.
Streiner, D. L. (2003). "Starting at the beginning: an introduction to coefficient alpha and internal consistency." Journal of Personality Assessment, v; 80(1), pp: 99-103.
Taber, K. S. (2018). "The Use of Cronbach’s Alpha When Developing and Reporting Research Instruments in Science Education." Research in Science Education, v: 48, pp: 1273-1296.
Streiner, D. L., & Norman, G. R. (2008). Health measurement scales: A practical guide to their development and use (4th ed.).
DeVellis, R. F. (2016). Scale Development: Theory and Applications, 4th ed. Sage Publications.
National Health Systems Resource Centre, 2021: Government of Punjab Statistical Data on Health Indicators in the Region.
