Original Research
Developing conceptually sound items for a clinical courage questionnaire
AUTHORS
Robert Brooks1 PhD, Associate Professor Rural Medicine 
Isabella A White2 Academic GP Trainee
Lucie Walters3 FACRRM, Director *
Susan Williams4 PhD, Researcher
Ian Couper5 MFamMed, FCFP(SA), Director
Jill Konkin6 FRRMS, Interim Coordinator Rural Integrated Community Clerkship
David G Campbell7 MBBS, FACRRM, Censor-in-Chief
AFFILIATIONS
1 Department of Rural Health, Broken Hill University, Broken Hill, NSW 2880, Australia
2 Adelaide Rural Clinical School, The University of Adelaide, Nairne, SA 5252, Australia
3 Adelaide Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Mount Gambier, SA 5290, Australia
4 Department of Rural Health, University of Sydney, Broken Hill, NSW 2880, Australia
5 Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
6 Office of Rural & Regional Health, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
7 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre, Lakes Entrance, Vic. 3909, Australia
ACCEPTED: 12 January 2023
early abstract:
Introduction: Clinical courage can be described as a rural doctor’s adaptability and willingness to undertake clinical work at the limits of their training and experience to meet the needs of their patients. This paper describes the in-house development of survey items to include in a quantitative measure of clinical courage.
Methods: The questionnaire development involved two key concepts: a second order latent factor model structure and a nominal group technique used to develop consensus amongst the research team members.
Results: The steps taken to develop a sound clinical courage questionnaire are described in detail. The resulting initial questionnaire is presented, ready for testing with rural clinicians and refinement.
Conclusions: This paper outlines the psychometric process of questionnaire design and presents the resultant clinical courage questionnaire.