Data management in the digital health environment scale development study*

PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a scale that measures individuals' perceptions of privacy, security, use, sharing, benefit and satisfaction in the digital health environment. METHOD: Within the scope of the study, in the scale development process; The stages of literature review, creation of items, getting expert opinion, conducting a pilot study, ensuring construct and criterion validity, and reliability analyses were carried out. The literature was searched for the formation of the question items. To evaluate the created question items, expert opinion was taken, and the question items were arranged according to the feedback from the experts. In line with the study's purpose and objectives, the focus group consisted of individuals aged 18 and above within the community. The convenience sampling method was employed for sample selection. Data were collected using an online survey conducted through Google Forms. Before commencing the survey, participants were briefed on the research's content. A pilot study was conducted with 30 participants, and as a result of the feedback from the participants, eliminations were made in the question items and the scale was made ready for application. The research was conducted by reference to 812 participants in the community. Expert evaluations of the question items were obtained, and a pilot study was conducted. A sociodemographic information form, a scale developed by the researcher, Norman and Skinner's e-Health Literacy Scale, and the Mobile Health and Personal Health Record Management Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: The content validity of the research was carried out by taking expert opinions and conducting a pilot study. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to ensure construct validity. The total variance explained by the scale was 60.43%. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 20-Item 5-factor structure exhibited good fit values. According to the analysis of criterion validity, there are significant positive correlations among the Data Management in the Digital Health Environment Scale, Norman and Skinner’s e-Health Literacy Scale and the Mobile Health and Personal Health Record Management Scale (p < 0.01; r = .669, .378). The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale is .856, and the test–retest reliability coefficient is .909. Conclusion: The Data Management in the Digital Health Environment Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that measures individuals' perceptions of privacy, security, use, sharing, benefit and satisfaction in the digital health environment.