Construction and validation of the instrument: checklist and risk assessment matrix in mountain sports

• Author(s): Mata, C ; Pereira, C ; Carvalhinho, L
• Date: 2025
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/37990
• Origin: Repositório Científico da Universidade de Évora
• Subject(s): instrument validation; risk assessment; checklis; risk factors; mountain
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

This study aims to develop and validate the checklist instrument and risk assessment matrix (CMAR) in mountain sports, namely hiking, canyoning, and climbing. The development of the CMAR was carried out through document analysis, literature review, and expert consultation. The content validation of the CMAR was done using the Delphi technique, involving 10 experts (aged: 35-58 years, 42.30± 7.70 years; experience in the area: 17.00± 6.8 years), and the construct validation using exploratory factor analysis, involving 548 technicians and practitioners of hiking (n= 182), canyoning (n= 183), and climbing (n= 183). The 1st CMAR version proved to be relevant, clear and objective (ICCspecialists: .85-.90) and included 51 items (risk factors) grouped into 3 dimensions. The final version of the CMAR included 36 items structured in 4 dimensions (human, materials and equipment, environmental, and safety and emergency), to be evaluated in a risk matrix of 5x5 points (probability x consequence), which leads up to a stratified risk level corresponding to a recommendation, action, and treatment (KMOmodel: 0.816; justified variance model: 56.4%). CMAR demonstrated good reliability and good-to-acceptable values for construct validation, enabling its use in risk analysis and management in mountain sports, such as hiking, canyoning, and climbing.