Putting occupational balance on the radar: Content validity of the 11-item Danish Occupational Balance Questionnaire

Assessment of occupational balance is of clinical relevance for occupational therapists working with patients with reduced occupational performance. Clinical practice lacks validated assessment tools to measure occupational balance.

To establish the content validity of the 11-item Danish version of the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-DK) with a radar chart add-on for use in occupational therapy practice.

A convergent mixed-methods study was performed investigating content validity. Three group interviews were conducted in 3 settings with 12 occupational therapists. A deductive content analysis covered face validity, relevance, comprehensiveness and comprehensibility. The relevance of the 11 items was further assessed using a content validity index.

All items were found to be relevant to the construct of occupational balance. Even so, concerns were raised regarding content validity. The comprehensiveness was questioned regarding the coverage of the balance of meaningful occupations. Comprehensibility was questioned for 6 of the 11 items, and the response scale.

Content validity was investigated. The doubts raised in relation to comprehensiveness call for new wordings or elaborate instructions to enhance constructional clarity. The response scale levels should be adapted.