Initial validity and reliability testing of the SGBA-5

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sex and gender significantly impact health outcomes through distinct biological and sociocultural mechanisms.
• Existing Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA) methods lack accessible, nuanced measurement tools for health research.
• The Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Tool - 5 item (SGBA-5) was developed to address this measurement gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of the SGBA-5.
• To assess the SGBA-5's suitability for health sciences research where sex or gender are not primary study variables.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi consensus study involving 14 Canadian researchers assessed item validity using a 5-point Likert scale.
• Consensus was defined as 75% of experts rating an item 4 or 5.
• Reliability was tested using a two-arm test-retest approach with university students (n=89) and older adults (n=71).

Main Results:

• The Delphi study achieved consensus on the validity of the SGBA-5's biological sex item (93%).
• Consensus was not reached on the validity of gendered health items (identity, expression, roles, relations), with agreement ranging from 50% to 64%.
• Test-retest results confirmed all SGBA-5 items demonstrated high reliability in both student and older adult groups.

Conclusions:

• The SGBA-5 is a reliable tool for health research, with confirmed validity for its biological sex item.
• The gendered health items show potential validity, warranting further investigation.
• The SGBA-5 can be further developed as a valuable instrument for incorporating sex and gender considerations in health research.