title: Validation of English-language versions of three scales measuring attitudes towards smoking, smoking-related self-efficacy and the use of smoking cessation strategies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the validity of English translations of three scales initially developed in French, measuring perception of the adverse effects of smoking, self-efficacy and the use of smoking cessation strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2001, 5667 people from 97 countries (4724 smokers and 943 ex-smokers) answered the scales on the internet, of which 997 (18%) took part in a follow-up 86 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The factor structures of the scales were generally maintained after translation. Internal consistency coefficients were 0.5-0.9. Test-retest reliability was >0.7 for the "Adverse effects" and self-efficacy scales, but was low (0.2-0.4) for self-change strategies, which probably reflects active use of these strategies in this sample. The translated scales performed adequately in most tests of construct validity. In particular, higher self-efficacy ratings predicted smoking cessation at follow-up, and a lower self-efficacy predicted relapse in baseline ex-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The validity of the scales was maintained after translation in English.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Case Postale, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Derek H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Etter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations