Validation of scales measuring attitudes and norms related to mammography screening in women veterans.
Validation of psychosocial measures for use in mammography screening research has been given inadequate attention in the literature. The authors report on the validation of 5 measures examining 4 attitudinal constructs (i.e., pros, cons, outcome expectations, and cancer worries) and 1 social influence construct (i.e., subjective norms) in a 22-item inventory. The study participants consisted of a national, randomly sampled population of women veterans (n = 2,910). After minor revision of scales, the authors found independent measures for 4 constructs: pros, cons, cancer worries, and subjective norms. The authors concluded that these scales have acceptable psychometric properties; support construct validity; and provide brief, reliable, and valid measures of attitudes toward and norms regarding mammography screening. These scales may be useful for intervention research.
Tiro
Jasmin A
JA
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, TX, USA. tiroj@mail.nih.gov
Diamond
Pamela M
PM
Perz
Catherine A
CA
Fernandez
Maria
M
Rakowski
William
W
DiClemente
Carlo C
CC
Vernon
Sally W
SW
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003710:Demography; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*