title: Development and validation of the cervical cancer knowledge and beliefs of Appalachian women questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical cancer rates in Appalachia are persistently higher in Appalachia when compared to the rest of the United States. No quantitative instrument exists that examines the cervical cancer knowledge, behavior, and beliefs of Appalachian women. The purpose of this research is to develop, test, and use a new instrument that quantifies the cervical cancer knowledge, behavior, and beliefs of Appalachian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Constructs from the Health Belief Model, Health Promotion Model, findings from the qualitative literature, and the researcher's clinical background were used to construct an initial 58-item instrument.
  
  
  METHODS
  Appalachian residence, intact uterus, age 21-64 year, and English speaking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content and construct validity techniques decreased the initial 58-item instrument (5 demographic questions, 9 behavior questions, and 44 cervical cancer knowledge and belief questions) to a 27-item instrument consisting of 5 demographic items, 8 behavior items, and 14 knowledge and belief items. Construct validity was supported with items clustering into 4 factors explaining 53% of the variance. Pilot study testing (20 subjects) and main study testing (217 subjects) composes the sample pool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new instrument demonstrated initial reliability and validity. Revision and retesting in other populations within Appalachia should comprise the next step to confirm reliability and validity.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001061:Appalachian Region; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult