title: Development and psychometric evaluation of a sexual health care knowledge scale for oncology nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a sexual health care knowledge scale for oncology nurses and to evaluate its psychometric properties using Rasch analysis and the known-groups technique.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although sexual oncology has become a popular topic and sexual health care is now promoted, there has been a lack of instruments supported by psychometric evaluations to measure nurses' knowledge of sexual health issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The initial 72 items were compiled to form the Sexual Health Care Scale - Knowledge (SHCS-K) for oncology nurses using a literature review and analysis of existing research tools. After a specialist panel verified content validity, the questionnaire was shortened to 58 items. The data were analyzed using a Rasch model to investigate the items with respect to unidimensionality of fit and difficulty and reliability distribution. Discriminant validity was examined using the known-groups technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two items did not fit with the Rasch model. Person and item separation-index ratios were 3.33 and 9.45, respectively, which confirmed that the SHCS-K functioned well. The reliability was good, at 0.99. Significant differences in marital status, levels of education, and participation in SHC training were observed between groups. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 55 items, with a total score range of 0-55.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SHCS-K was found to be a valid and reliable measure for evaluating levels of sexual health care knowledge among this sample of oncology nurses.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Nursing Policy Research Institute, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Secondary Special Education, College of Education, Jeonju University, PO Box 560-759, 45 Baengma-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medical to Health Science, Dankook University, 119, Dandae-ro, Cheonan 330-714, Korea. Electronic address: jhee90@dankook.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jung-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011361:Professional Competence; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D060728:Reproductive Health; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Knowledge; Nurse; Sexual health