Translation and preliminary validation of an ageism scale for dental students in Brazil (ASDS-Braz).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ageism is a major barrier for age-appropriate care. The aim of this study was to translate and perform a preliminary validation of an ageism scale for dental students (ASDS) in Brazil (ASDS-Braz). METHODS: The 27-item original ageism scale was translated from English into Brazilian Portuguese. A panel of five Brazilian dental educators revised the scale to establish content validity. The translated version was completed by 156 dental students in the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil. Principal component analysis, internal consistency reliability and discriminant validity were estimated. RESULTS: All items in the Brazilian Portuguese version received a content validity index score ≥0.80 indicating that they were relevant to the topic. The principal component analysis produced a 12-item scale with three components that accounted for 51% of the overall variance. The first component contained six items associated with a negative view of older adults; the second component contained three items dealing with the complexity of providing care for older adults; and the third component contained three items associated with a positive view of older people. Discriminant validity did not show any differences related to demographic factors, the semester of studies and history of living with older people. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary validation of the ASDS-Braz produced a 12-item scale with three components with acceptable validity and reliability. Future research in a larger, multi-institutional sample is now warranted.