Validation of the brazilian version of primary care assessment tool (Pcat) for oral health-pcatool brazil oral health for professionals

Abstract

This study verified the internal consistency and reliability of an instrument to evaluate dental services in Primary Health Care (PHC). In order to verify the factor validity, a factor analysis with principal component extraction and vari-max orthogonal rotation method was used. Factors with three or more items with factor loadings greater than 0,35 were selected. This instrument’s reliability was verified using internal consistency (total item correlation >0,30 and Cronbach alpha = or >0,70)). 562 dentists participated in the study. In the factor analysis, ten factors were kept, which explain 40,95% of the total varia-tion. Regarding the internal consistency, only 3 items presented insufficient correlation. Also on internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha, the following values of the coefficients were identified: Access (0.55), Continuity (0,74), Care Coordination (0,55), Coordination-Information System (0.21), Comprehensiveness of Services Available (0,91), Comprehensiveness of Services Provided (0,79), Family Orientation (0.66), Community Orientation (0,87), Cultural Competence (0,81). For the success ratio of the scale, all results were higher than 88%, less the “Information Systems” component (21%).