Development and validation of the social determinants of health screening scale-parent form

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening children for social determinants of health (SDOH).

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable tool for screening SDOH in children and adolescents aged 0-18 through their parents.

Design and methods: This methodological research was conducted with parents of 748 children admitted to a hospital in Turkey. An item pool was created from a literature review and interviews with 30 healthcare professionals. The scale's validity and reliability were tested through pilot and main applications.

Results: The scale, with 33 items across five factors, explained 57.256 % of total variability. Confirmatory factor analysis showed significant model fit (RMSEA = 0.052, χ2/df = 2.013). Cronbach's Alpha ranged from 0.646 to 0.909 for sub-dimensions, and 0.886 overall.

Conclusion: The scale is a valid and reliable tool for screening SDOH in children and adolescents through their parents and can be used in academic research and clinical practice.

Practice implications: The scale provides healthcare professionals with a practical tool for assessing social determinants of health in pediatric populations, facilitating early identification and intervention in both clinical settings and research applications.