Assessing the competencies of change agents among healthcare and social services professionals: developing a self-administered questionnaire using the Delphi method

Abstract

The agency of health and social services (HSS) professionals, or their role as change agents (CA), remains under-invested, notably due to a low sense of competence. It is therefore important to evaluate the effects of training in this role on sense of competence and competencies. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a self-administered questionnaire evaluating these effects. The research team conducted three rounds of Delphi interviews with experts knowledgeable about the CA role or pedagogy with HSS professionals. The group of experts comprised four women and two men, mostly university professors. After consultation, the experts reached consensus on all the questions, making modifications such as adding, ordering and bonifying questions, improving syntax and wording and choice of answers. To conclude, the Delphi method supported the design of a tool to support HSS professionals in their professional development.