Validating the Multidimensional Health Perceptions Questionnaire: A traumatic brain injury model systems Rasch analysis.

PURPOSE/

OBJECTIVE

The Multidimensional Health Perceptions Questionnaire (MHPQ) is a comprehensive self-reported multidimensional measure of health perceptions that was previously validated in a sample of individuals with no specific health conditions. It has 8 subscales: Anticipated Discrimination and Judgment, Communication With Healthcare Providers, Spiritual Health Beliefs, Health Self-Efficacy, Trust in Social Health Advice, Trust in Medicine, How Health Affects My Life, and How Others Affect My Health. The study objective was to determine MHPQ structural validity among English-speaking adults with ≥ 1 year history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) who required inpatient rehabilitation.

RESEARCH METHOD/

DESIGN

The MHPQ was administered via electronic survey (REDCap) or telephone interview to 250 participants enrolled in the TBI Model Systems National Database study. We conducted Rasch analysis per MHPQ subscale to confirm the structural validity of the MHPQ. The sample was 30.8% cisgender-female (68.4% cisgender-male, 0.8% Other gender), 18-90 years old (M = 45.8, SD = 16.2), 16.0% Hispanic/Latino, and White (68.0%), Black (18%), and all other races (2.0-5.2%).

RESULTS

Internal consistency reliabilities ranged from acceptable to excellent across subscales (Cronbach's alpha = .64-.91). Rasch analysis confirmed unidimensionality in all subscales, with 2 items removed to improve unidimensionality and fit indices (final 51 items). The MHPQ displayed excellent reliability via item (.77-.99) and person (.74-.87) separation indices per subscale.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This study established psychometric evidence for the MHPQ as a measure to comprehensively characterize health perceptions among adults with chronic TBI, which could support more culturally responsive and person-centered care. Future work will validate the Spanish-language version of the MHPQ and evaluate subscale test-retest reliability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).