DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A FAMILY PREVENTION AND CONTROL SCALE FOR HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN ATHLETES

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a scale for assessing family prevention and control measures against Helicobacter pylori infection among athletes. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine the scale's reliability and validity. Participants: The study included 300 athletes diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection. Results: The scale was structured into three distinct dimensions, with reliability scores ranging from 0.89 to 0.96. Validity assessments through confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded the correlation coefficients among items, confirming the scale's construct validity. The model fit indices were within acceptable ranges, affirming the scale's structural integrity. Conclusion: The newly developed scale is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the effectiveness of family-based prevention and control strategies against Helicobacter pylori infection in athletic populations. This tool can assist in enhancing targeted interventions to mitigate infection rates among athletes, ultimately supporting their health and performance.