Psychometric evaluation of the SARI stigma assessment scale and an understanding of stigma amongst people affected by leprosy in Iran

Background: The SARI (Stigma Assessment and Reduction of Impact) project was designed to measure and then reduce the burden of the stigma of leprosy. Since there is no valid and reliable Persian version of this tool in Iran, this research aimed to translate this tool and study its psychometry. Methods and materials: After determining the face and content validity, construct validity was determined using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) method. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used in order to assess the reliability (internal consistency) of the tool, and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used in order to verify the reliability of SARI over time. Results: The results of this study show that the SARI tool has an acceptable content and construct validity. In terms of reliability, the value Cronbach’s alpha overall was 0·897. The inter-class correlation coefficient was calculated based on the test-retest results. According to the obtained coefficients, the reliability of SARI tool was considered acceptable. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the reliability and validity of this tool are acceptable for use in related research in Iran.