Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Sarcopenia Disease Risk Perception Scale among Turkish older adults

This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Sarcopenia Disease Risk Perception Scale (SDRPS-TR), addressing the lack of disease-specific risk perception tools in Türkiye.

The validation process was conducted in two phases: (i) translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SDRPS into Turkish and (ii) psychometric evaluation of the SDRPS-TR. A total of 323 Turkish individuals (132 males, 191 females; mean age: 71.6±7.8 years; range, 60 to 93 years) were included between December 2024 and January 2025. Content validity was assessed using the content validity index. Construct validity was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed by measuring internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and split-half reliability (Spearman-Brown coefficient).

Content validity index values ranged between 0.85 and 1.00, confirming strong content validity. Exploratory factor analysis identified a two-factor structure (perceived susceptibility and perceived severity), explaining 55.8% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model fit with acceptable indices. The SDRPS-TR demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.929) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.844, 95% confidence interval 0.764-0.907).

The SDRPS-TR is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring sarcopenia risk perception among Turkish older adults. The availability of SDRPS-TR provides important opportunities for the early identification of at-risk individuals. It also supports clinical screening and community-based health education efforts, contributing to timely intervention for sarcopenia.