Face and content validity of an instrument to measure dampness and mold damage in a Spanish-speaking Latin American context

Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to dampness and mold in houses can lead to health problems among residents. Objective: To assess the face and content validity of the "Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool. General Buildings" instrument, proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, for use in Spanish-speaking Latin American contexts. Materials and Methods: A face and content validation study was conducted through expert evaluation using the Delphi method. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated for clarity, coherence, sufficiency, and relevance, as well as the level of agreement among raters. Results: A total of 20 expert evaluators participated, with an average of 18.5 ± 9.09 years of experience; 50% held doctoral degrees, and the other 50% held master s degrees. The CVI scores were above 0.75 for all items, except for "room/area type" which had a CVI of 0.65. Agreement among experts was statistically significant (p < 0.05) except for "room/area type" (p = 0.055). Adjustments to the instrument were made based on the evaluators' recommendations. Discussion: This study is one of the first to validate this instrument, with potential for adaptation to various settings beyond residential, including hospitals, educational institutions, and workplaces. Conclusion: The face and content validation process enabled the development of an instrument for assessing dampness and mold damage in Spanish-speaking Latin American settings, generating a semi-quantitative indicator. This tool is recommended for use in home visits and research to support data on factor validity, Rasch analysis, and reliability in its application.