Designing and Validating The Persian Version of a Questionnaire for Estimating Exposure to Occupational Dust among Stone Carving and Stone Cutting Workers

Ashrafi Asgarabad, Ahad; Khanjani, Narges; Samareh Fekri, Mitra; GhotbiRavandi, Mohammad Reza

Designing and Validating The Persian Version of a Questionnaire for Estimating Exposure to Occupational Dust among Stone Carving and Stone Cutting Workers

Authors

Ahad Ashrafi Asgarabad

Narges Khanjani

Mitra Samareh Fekri

Mohammad Reza GhotbiRavandi

Abstract

Introduction: The accurate amount of stone carvers&#039; exposure to dust cannot be always measured with dust measuring devices. In this study, the researchers tried to estimate long term exposure of stone carving workers to dust by using a researcher- made questionnaire. Methods: Stone carving workshops in Kerman, Iran were visited and after obtaining informed consent, the researcher-made questionnaire was completed for each worker. The questionnaire included 46 questions in 4 sections. Experts from Iran and abroad cooperated in confirming the face and content validity and according to their comments the questionnaire was validated in two stages. In order to prove the construct validity of the questionnaire, the scores of dust exposure and respiratory symptoms were compared. The reliability was determined by test-retest and calculating R-Cronbach. Results: Finally, 27 questions were approved for the final questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was r=0.954, P<0.001 according to test retest and 0.80 according to Kappa. Internal reliability of the questionnaire was 0.86. Construct validity was confirmed and those who had higher exposure to dust showed significantly more respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: With regard to the acceptable reliability and validity, this questionnaire can be used to estimate the amount of exposure to dust in stone carving workers.

Keywords

Questionnaire

Dust exposure

Stone cutting workers

Stone carving workers

Iran