Abstract

GRIEP, Rosane Harter; DORA, Chor; FAERSTEIN, Eduardo  and  LOPES, Cláudia. Test-retest reliability of measures of social network in the "Pró-Saúde" Study. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 2003, vol.37, n.3, pp. 379-385. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102003000300018.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate test-retest reliability of social network-related information of the" Pró-Saúde" study. METHODS: A test-retest reliability study was conducted using a multidimensional questionnaire applied to a cohort of university employees. The same questionnaire was filled out twice by 192 non-permanent employees with two weeks apart. Agreement was estimated using kappa statistics (categorical variables), weighted kappa statistics, log-linear models (ordinal variables), and intraclass correlation coefficient (discrete variables). RESULTS: Estimates of reliability were higher than 0.70 for most variables. Stratified analyses revealed no consistently varying patterns of reliability according to gender, age or schooling strata. Log-linear modelling showed that, for the study ordinal variables, the model of best fit was "diagonal agreement plus linear by linear association". CONCLUSIONS: The high level of reliability estimated in this study suggests that the process of measurement of social network-related aspects was adequate. Validation studies, which are currently being conducted, will complete the quality assessment of this information.

Keywords : Interpersonal relations; Interprofessional relations; Workers; Reproducibility of results; Universities; Linear models; Questionnaires; Social network; Log-linear models; Reliability.