Development and psychometric properties of a questionnaire to evaluate the professional behavior of medical residents

Given the critical ways in which medical residents’ professional behavior affects public health and the quality of care, this study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a questionnaire assessing the professional behavior of medical residents in Iran. Initially, an item pool was created based on a literature review and analysis of relevant questionnaires, particularly the Guidelines and Evaluation Tools for Adherence to Professional Principles by Medical Residents. The instrument’s psychometric properties were then assessed through content validity, face validity, construct validity, and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 and STATA-16. The initial version included 62 items. Content validity, evaluated by 25 experts across health and medical fields, yielded a Content Validity Ratio (CVR) >0.37 and a Content Validity Index (CVI) >0.79, leading to the removal of 13 items. Face validity, assessed with 12 medical residents via the impact score method, led to the elimination of 3 additional items. Construct validity, examined with 217 medical residents, identified six factors explaining approximately 84.7% of the total variance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a six-factor structure of the final 18-item instrumen. Reliability was confirmed through internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94) and stability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.83). The final questionnaire provides a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the professional behavior of medical residents and general medical students in clinical settings. It is recommended that educators, administrators, and healthcare policymakers utilize this instrument to assess professional conduct, identify areas for improvement, and design targeted interventions to enhance professional behavior in medical training.