title: First insights on the validity of the concept of Cancer Literacy: a test in a sample of Ticino (Switzerland) residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a measure of Cancer Literacy and have a first insight into the validity of the concept.
  
  
  METHODS
  A measure of Cancer Literacy was developed and administered to a sample of Ticino (Switzerland) residents (N=639). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity of the measure were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Cancer Literacy Score (CLS) showed acceptable internal consistency and 4-week test-retest reliability. Independent-samples t-tests and one-way ANOVAs confirmed that women, Swiss citizens, people with higher educational levels, people with a medical qualification, and people who had played an active role in the cancer experience of a family member or a friend presented significantly higher CLS. Correlational analyses indicated a more positive attitude towards screening participation and engagement in health-promoting behaviours in people with higher levels of Cancer Literacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Cancer Literacy scale provides us with evidence of the validity of our conceptual attempt to go in the direction of a context- and content-specific concept of health literacy. Despite some limitations and the need for further refinement before it can be applied on a larger scale, the scale already offers Ticino researchers and public health workers a comprehensive measure of cancer knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Communication and Health, University of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland. nicola.diviani@usi.ch
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diviani
authors.forename: Peter Johannes
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult