Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of the Professional Collaborative Practice Tool for Community Pharmacists and Physicians in Arabic-Speaking Countries

BACKGROUND: The importance of collaboration between physicians and community pharmacists in healthcare is increasingly recognized. Enhanced cooperation positively impacts medication management and patient outcomes by merging medical and pharmaceutical expertise for improved health care. Previously, the Professional Collaborative Practice Tool, which is crucial for assessing such collaboration, was unavailable in Arabic. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the tool in Arabic-speaking countries while focusing on community pharmacists' perspectives on collaborative practice with physicians.

METHODS: The study, which spanned 10 months, involved a cross-sectional survey of 303 community pharmacists across Arabic-speaking nations. The translation process followed the standard "forward-backward" technique from English to Arabic. Validation employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling, with indices like root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), incremental fit index (IFI), normed fit index (NFI), McDonald's fit index (MEI), and comparative fit index (CFI). Convergent validity was assessed using average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR), while discriminant validity was evaluated through latent factor correlation in the three-factor model against the square root of AVE values. Reliability was gauged using Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS: CFA confirmed the Professional Collaborative Practice Tool's structural validity in Arabic. The model's robustness was indicated by fit indices (CFI: 0.974, NMI: 0.954, IFI: 0.974, MEI: 0.887, RMSEA: 0.063). AVE values exceeding 0.50 validated the explanatory power of the latent constructs. CR values (≥0.70) indicated strong internal consistency and reliability. The tool demonstrated superior discriminant validity, with lower inter-factor correlations than the square root of AVE values. High Cronbach's alpha coefficients (>0.70) across all factors and the model reflected excellent internal consistency. The ICC (0.95) suggested exceptional long-term reliability.

CONCLUSION: This study successfully translated, validated, and enhanced an instrument measuring collaborative practice among community pharmacists in Arabic-speaking countries. The tool effectively assesses collaboration levels crucial for services like comprehensive medication reviews, thereby influencing patient outcomes. It supports the essential role of strengthening the partnership between physicians and community pharmacists in delivering patient-centered healthcare services. The validated instrument can be incorporated into regular assessments in community pharmacies to monitor and improve collaborative behaviors.