Development and Cross-Cultural Validation of the Vietnamese Version of the Disaster Prevention Consciousness Scale: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Aims: The Japanese Disaster Prevention Consciousness Scale (J-DPCS) addresses all natural disasters, making it more adaptable to foreign populations. However, certain items in the scale refer to disaster preparedness measures which may not be emphasized in countries where infrastructure development for disaster prevention is less prioritized, hence the need for modification. We aimed to validate the 20-item J-DPCS and develop and evaluate the Vietnamese Disaster Prevention Consciousness Scale (V-DPCS) through a cross-sectional survey in Japan and Vietnam. Methods: We surveyed 618 Japanese adults and 496 Vietnamese adults. The J-DPCS was validated using factor analysis, internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's αand McDonald's ω, and concurrent validity was examined using the Spearman's rank-order correlations and bootstrapping. For the V-DPCS, item difficulty and discrimination were estimated using the Item Response Theory (Two-Parameter Logistic model). Item-total correlations with bootstrapping were used to assess reliability. Differences in response scales between Japan and Vietnam were adjusted, and a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results: Factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure for both versions, with acceptable internal consistency for most factors. Factor 1 (0.85), 2 (0.79), and 3 (0.80) maintained strong reliability compared to their original values (0.906, 0.863, and 0.868, respectively). Factor 4 had a low reliability coefficient of 0.60 and 0.55 in the original and 20-item version, respectively. Factor 5 consisted of four items with similar Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Conclusion: The 20-item J-DPCS demonstrated strong validity and reliability. The validated core model of the V-DPCS, consisting of 12 items across Factors 1-3, is suitable for cross cultural application. However, Factors 4 and 5 require further development to enhance measurement stability. These findings underscore the complexities of adapting disaster prevention scales across cultures and support the utility of the core V-DPCS structure in diverse settings.