Validation of Occupational Zoonotic Disease Questionnaire Using Fuzzy Delphi Method

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Research Methodology

Background:

• The Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) is integral to Design and Development Research (DDR) for systematic tool development and validation.
• Occupational zoonotic diseases pose risks, necessitating reliable tools for exposure assessment.
• Existing surveys require validation for specific contexts, such as in Malaysia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate an occupational zoonotic disease questionnaire using the Fuzzy Delphi Method within a Design and Development Research framework.
• To verify and adapt domains and items of the questionnaire based on expert consensus.
• To assess the usability of the validated questionnaire for future research.

Main Methods:

• Design and Development Research (DDR) phases: needs analysis, development/design, and usability.
• Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) applied with 14 experts to achieve consensus on questionnaire domains.
• Cognitive debriefing with veterinarians to determine questionnaire usability and achieve saturation.

Main Results:

• A total of 31 items (96.9%) achieved acceptable consensus agreement (78.8-91.9%) through the Triangle of Fuzzy Numbers and Defuzzification process.
• The threshold 'd' value ranged from 0.07-0.14, indicating robust consensus.
• Cognitive debriefing required only four veterinarians to reach the point of saturation.

Conclusions:

• The Fuzzy Delphi Method is a suitable, cost-effective, and time-efficient technique for tool validation across various professions within DDR.
• The validated Occupational Zoonotic Disease Questionnaire is ready for deployment in future studies.
• This validated tool will aid in understanding and mitigating occupational zoonotic disease risks, particularly in Malaysia.