JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Population aging is rapidly reshaping the Brazilian labor force, increasing the participation of adults aged 50 years and older and intensifying the need for safe, inclusive, and age‑friendly workplaces. Preventive behaviors at work play a vital role in protecting workers’ physical, social, and psychological health; however, no validated Brazilian Portuguese instrument is currently available to measure their frequency. The Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale (Échelle de Fréquence des Comportements Préventifs au Travail), developed in Canada, evaluates how often workers adopt six key preventive behaviors grounded in the Model of Preventive Behaviors at Work. A culturally adapted and psychometrically validated version is therefore needed to support occupational health research, surveillance, and evidence‑based interventions for Brazilian older workers.

Objective:

This study aims to describe the protocol for the cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale for workers aged 50 years and over.

Methods:

This methodological study will be conducted based on international guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation and questionnaire validation and will be completed in six steps: (1) forward translation, (2) forward translation synthesis, (3) back translation, (4) harmonization and expert appraisal of relevance, (5) pretesting with the target population, and (6) field testing and psychometric evaluation. Data collection will take place remotely with Brazilian workers aged 50 years and over during a 12‑month period, beginning in winter 2026.

Results:

Steps 1 and 2 were completed in February 2026, and step 3 (back‑translation) began in March 2026, alongside preparations for step 4. The study is progressing according to the established methodological timeline. Field testing and psychometric evaluation are expected to be carried out between spring–fall 2026, with preliminary results anticipated in winter 2026.

Conclusions:

This study will produce the first Brazilian Portuguese version of the Preventive Behaviors at Work Frequency Scale, enabling the assessment of preventive behaviors among older workers and strengthening occupational health research and practice in Brazil. The adapted instrument is expected to support cross‑national research, inform evidence‑based workplace interventions, and contribute to the promotion of safe, inclusive, and sustainable work participation among aging workers.