A Preventive Behavior Questionnaire for Older Workers in Brazil: Protocol for a Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation Study.

BACKGROUND

Population aging is rapidly reshaping the Brazilian labor force, increasing the participation of adults aged 50 years and older and intensifying the need for safe, inclusive, and age‑friendly workplaces. Preventive behaviors at work play a vital role in protecting workers' physical, social, and psychological health; however, no validated Brazilian Portuguese instrument is currently available to measure the frequency of these behaviors. The Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale (Échelle de Fréquence des Comportements Préventifs au Travail), developed in Canada, evaluates how often workers adopt 6 key preventive behaviors grounded in the model of preventive behaviors at work. A culturally adapted and psychometrically validated version is therefore needed to support occupational health research, surveillance, and evidence-based interventions for Brazilian older workers.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe the protocol for the cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale for workers aged 50 years and older.

METHODS

This methodological study will be conducted based on international guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation and questionnaire validation and will be completed in six steps: (1) forward translation, (2) forward translation synthesis, (3) back translation, (4) harmonization and expert appraisal of relevance, (5) pretesting with the target population, and (6) field-testing and psychometric evaluation. Data collection will be conducted over a 12-month period among Brazilian workers aged 50 years and older.

RESULTS

A Mitacs grant was obtained for 2025 to 2026. Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and pretesting involving 30 participants were completed between February 2026 and August 2026. Field-testing and psychometric evaluation are scheduled to begin in September 2026, with data collection and analysis expected to be completed by the end of February 2027. Study findings are anticipated to be published in 2027.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will provide the first Brazilian Portuguese version of the Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale for workers aged 50 years and older. The adapted instrument is expected to support research and evidence-based workplace interventions aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable aging at work. Furthermore, the methodological framework described in this protocol may guide future cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation studies.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/95636.