The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS): A replication validation study

This study replicates a validation of the Interprofessional Collaboration Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS), a 20-item self-report instrument designed to assess behaviours associated with patient-centred, team-based, collaborative care. We appraised the content validity of the ICCAS for a foundation course in interprofessional collaboration, investigated its internal (factor) structure and concurrent validity, and compared results with those obtained previously by ICCAS authors. Self-assessed competency ratings were obtained from a broad spectrum of pre-licensure, health professions students (n = 785) using a retrospective, pre-/post-design. Moderate to large effect sizes emerged for 16 of 20 items. Largest effects (1.01, 0.94) were for competencies emphasized in the course; the smallest effect (0.35) was for an area not directly taught. Positive correlations were seen between all individual item change scores and a separate item assessing overall change, and item-total correlations were moderate to strong. Exploratory factor analysis was used to understand the interrelationship of ICCAS items. Principal component analysis identified a single factor (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96) accounting for 85% of the total variance—slightly higher than the 73% reported previously. Findings suggest strong overlaps in the proposed constructs being assessed; use of a total average score is justifiable for assessment and evaluation.