Abstract
AIM: To translate and culturally adapt the ATTITUDES tool to the Italian context, assessing its validity and reliability in evaluating Italian students' attitudes towards interprofessional education (IPE) through simulations. DESIGN: This is a cultural adaptation and psychometric pre-post validation study. METHODS: The tool translation was conducted using the forward-backward translation method. The subjects participated in interprofessional simulation sessions on obstetric emergencies in the delivery room, part of the standard training programme. Participants were invited to complete the Italian version of the ATTITUDES (I-ATTITUDES) before and after the training. RESULTS: A total of 81 midwifery students and medical residents participated in interprofessional simulation sessions. The average total score was significantly higher in the post-simulation questionnaires compared to the pre-simulation ones (137.84 vs. 143.03), indicating improved students' attitudes and perceptions about IPE using simulations as a learning modality. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) suggested a five sub-scale structure of attitudes toward teamwork in interprofessional training that fit the original ATTITUDES. The model showed good fit indices with Cronbach's alphas between 0.76 and 0.80 for four subscales and Cronbach's alpha = 0.46 for one subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that the Italian version of the I-ATTITUDES tool is valid. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: The I-ATTITUDES enables educators to assess and improve interprofessional simulation training by identifying specific learning needs, supporting tailored and effective teamwork education in clinical settings. IMPACT: This study addressed the lack of a validated Italian-language tool to assess students' attitudes toward IPE through simulation. The study successfully translated and validated the I-ATTITUDES questionnaire, demonstrating strong psychometric properties. It also found that the tool is sensitive to differences in students' educational backgrounds and prior clinical experiences. The I-ATTITUDES tool can impact IPE in Italy, particularly among students and residents in obstetrics and midwifery programmes. Its adaptability suggests broader relevance for other healthcare disciplines. REPORTING METHOD: STROBE.