Test development and validation of a back education posttest.
Assessment of physiotherapeutic treatment efficacy is dependent on valid outcome assessment. This study examined the validity of an existing back education knowledge posttest through a series of validation tests, generated a revised test. Methods included test-item analysis, content and construct validity, expert panel review, and a series of field trials. Purposive samples and subgroups, with varying levels of knowledge of back care concepts, participated in the study. Results of the study found the existing test possessed content validity. The final version of the alternate posttest was able to detect statistically significant differences among subgroups with varying knowledge levels by one-way analysis of variance (F = 116, p < .000). This research is an initial evaluation of a new instrument, and future research is required to fully validate this instrument.