Divided attention assessment: cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Divided Attention Questionnaire (P-DAQ) among male older drivers

With the rise in older drivers and in-vehicle technologies that may cause cognitive distractions, assessing cognitive abilities like divided attention is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptation of the Persian version of the Divided Attention Questionnaire (P-DAQ) among male older drivers. Methods: This methodological study employed convenience sampling for participant selection, with data collected from older adults via face-to-face interviews in Khorramabad, Iran. The P-DAQ was translated, culturally adapted, and its psychometric properties were analyzed using SPSS v.22, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A total of 200 participants were included in the study. The mean (SD) score for the P-DAQ, Attentional Control Scale (ACS) and Adelaide driving self-efficacy scale (ADSES) were 38.06 (16.10), 42.39 (8.57) and 95.08 (12.3), respectively. Experts confirmed face, content, and cross-cultural validity. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit (GFI = 0.92). The questionnaire’s convergent validity was assessed by examining its Pearson correlation with the ACS (r = -0.72, p < 0.05) and ADSES (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.86) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.99) were high. Divided attention scores varied significantly by demographic factors including age, kidney disease, drug abuse, a history of car accidents, education levels, perceived economic status, and the number of medications used (p < 0.05). The P-DAQ demonstrated high validity and reliability, making it a valuable tool for assessing divided attention among male older drivers.