Construct Validity of the Staff Resource Adequacy Questionnaire for Healthcare Professionals (SRAQ-HP): An...

Background: An effective healthcare system relies on sufficient and competent human resources. However, many countries face staff shortages, burnout, and turnover, which threaten the quality and safety of care. To address the absence of validated tools assessing healthcare professionals' perceptions of staff resource adequacy in Latvia, the Staff Resource Adequacy Questionnaire for Healthcare Professionals (SRAQ-HP) was developed. Methods: This study examined its construct validity through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a nationwide sample of 1369 healthcare professionals. EFA supported a three-factor structure comprising (1) adequacy of workload and staff resources, (2) quality of care, and (3) working conditions and support. Results: The instrument demonstrated high internal reliability (Cronbach's α > 0.94) and moderate model fit indices (CFI/TLI > 0.90; RMSEA = 0.145; SRMR = 0.100). Although RMSEA values (0.145) were above conventional cutoffs, this was expected given the large sample and model complexity. Convergent validity was supported by correlations with established measures-the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Anticipated Turnover Scale (ACT)-while criterion validity showed significant predictive value only for moral distress. Conclusions: Overall, the SRAQ-HP demonstrates promising psychometric properties and practical applicability for assessing staff resource adequacy in healthcare settings, although further refinement and re-validation (particularly of one reverse-worded item) are recommended before broader implementation.