title: Extending the use of the Web-based HIV Testing Belief Inventory to students attending historically Black colleges and universities: an examination of reliability and validity.
abstract: This study sought to extend the use of a Web-based HIV Testing Belief Inventory (wHITBI), developed and validated in a majority White university in the southeastern United States, to students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The 19-item wHITBI was reviewed by experts to qualitatively assess its construct validity, clarity, relevancy, and comprehensiveness to HBCU students. Participants were recruited from 15 HBCUs (valid N = 372). Mean age was 20.5 years (SD = 2.4), 80% were females, 92% were heterosexual-oriented, and 58% had prior HIV test(s). Reliability coefficients revealed satisfactory internal consistencies (Cronbach's alphas: .58 approximately .85). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that items were loaded consistently with the four constructs: perceived benefits, concerns of HIV risk, stigma, and testing availability/accessibility. Data indicated good model fits (RMSEA = .06; CFI = .93; IFI = .93; RMS = .07), with all items loaded significantly. Findings showed that the psychometrics of wHITBI appears to maintain its integrity in this sample with satisfactory reliability coefficients and validities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. shou@uga.edu
authors.forename: Su-I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult