Content validation of the child community health inclusion index: a modified e-Delphi study

Participation is a human right and a key component of health and development in children with disabilities. Inclusive communities and environments facilitate participation. Currently, there are no measures that comprehensively assess the inclusion of children with disabilities in Canadian communities. This study aims to establish the content validity and improve the clarity of the Child Community Health Inclusion Index (CHILD-CHII). A modified e-Delphi technique was conducted. A purposeful convenience sample of community stakeholders was recruited. The importance and clarity of each item were rated on a Likert scale in two separate rounds. Depending on consensus, items were retained, modified, or omitted. A total of 48 participants completed the first round of the Delphi technique and 38 completed the second. In total, 106 items were presented of which 101 items were rated important with high consensus and were retained. A total of 17 items were modified for clarity and presented in the second round. In the second round, all 17 modified items were deemed clearer. The CHILD-CHII and its validated content assess aspects of the community that align with social determinants of health. Measuring these aspects may identify barriers to inclusion and inform the development of interventions, health strategies, and policies to improve community inclusion and child health.