Validity and measurement invariance of the

Background: University dropout remains a major challenge in higher education, particularly in health sciences programs, where academic demands are high and retention is critical for workforce sustainability. Psychometrically sound instruments for assessing constructs associated with the dropout process remain limited, especially in Latin American contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of a Methods: A cross-sectional methodological study was conducted using secondary data from two universities in Cali, Colombia (public: Results: The three-factor model showed an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.964, TLI = 0.954, SRMR = 0.057, RMSEA = 0.080). Factor loadings were significant and substantial ( Conclusions: The instrument demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and measurement invariance across key groups, supporting its use for comparative analyses. These findings support its use for assessing and comparing satisfaction with education, academic burnout, and dropout intention among health sciences students. However, these constructs, particularly dropout intention, should not be interpreted as equivalent to actual dropout risk. Further longitudinal research is needed to determine its ability to predict actual dropout and support individual-level screening decisions.