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.

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.