Design and psychometric evaluation of the fathers’ fear of childbirth scale: a mixed method study

Abstract Background Fear of childbirth is reported in 13% fathers, and it may have adverse consequences for the fathers’ health as well their families. To reduce fear expectant an appropriate screening tool needed. Due to lack a valid reliable questionnaire measure childbirth, this study was conducted develop Fathers’ Childbirth Scale evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods This mixed method two phases. In qualitative phase (or item generation), semi-structured interviews were with 20 literature review performed generate items pool. quantitative evaluation), reliability face, content, construct validity scale evaluated. establish validity, exploratory confirmatory factor analyses performed. Reliability evaluated through internal consistency composite measures. Results The primary version contained 32 items, which reduced 17 while establishing validity. Exploratory analysis extracted factors, namely process (12 items) hospital (5 items). These factors explained 50.82% total variance. Goodness fit indices within acceptable. Internal all greater than 0.70. Conclusion has suitable assessing fathers. It simple report instrument that can be easily implemented by care professionals.