title: Measuring and Validating a General Cancer Predisposition Perception Scale: An Adaptation of the Revised-IPQ-Genetic Predisposition Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Illness perceptions are linked to individual help-seeking and preventive behaviors. Previous illness perception studies have identified five dimensions of illness-related experience and behaviour. The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) for genetic predisposition (IPQ-R-GP) was developed to measure illness perceptions in those genetically-predisposed to blood disease. We adapted the IPQ-R-GP to measure perceptions of generalized cancer predisposition. This paper describes the development and validation of the Cancer Predisposition Perception Scale (CPPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The draft CPPS scale was first administered to 167 well Hepatitis B carriers and 123 other healthy individuals and the factor structure was examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis. Then the factor structure was confirmed in a second sample comprising 148 healthy controls, 150 smokers and 152 passive smokers using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six-factors comprising 26 items provided optimal fit by eigen and scree-plot methods, accounting for 58.9% of the total variance. CFA indicated good fit of the six-factor model after further excluding three items. The six factors, Emotional representation (5 items), Illness coherence (4 items), Treatment control (3 items), Consequences (5 items), Internal locus of control (2 items) and External locus of control (4 items) demonstrated adequate-to-good subscale internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.63-0.90). Divergent validity was suggested by low correlations with optimism, self-efficacy, and scales for measuring physical and psychological health symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CPPS appears to be a valid measure of perceived predisposition to generic cancer risks and can be used to examine cancer-risk-related cognitions in individuals at higher and lower cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wendy Wing Tak
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiuyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jennifer Hiu Fai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ching Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Man Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Janice Wing Hang
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens