Mammography self-efficacy scale and breast cancer fear scale: psychometric testing of the Turkish versions.

BACKGROUND

Self-efficacy for mammography and breast cancer fear are important determinants to mammography use. No tools to measure these beliefs of Turkish women have been validated.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Turkish versions of the Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale (MSS-T) and the Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale (CBCFS-T).

METHODS

Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale and Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale were translated to Turkish language, validated by an expert panel, back translated, and tested. Cronbach α coefficients and item-total correlations were measured to evaluate the reliability of the scales. Exploratory factor analysis was used to estimate construct validity of the scales. Independent t tests, χ(2) tests, and logistic regression analyses were used to test theoretical relationships.

RESULTS

Factor analysis yielded 1 factor for MSS-T and 2 factors for CBCFS-T with eigenvalues greater than 1. Internal consistency values presented acceptable Cronbach α levels of .90 for MSS-T and .90 for CBCFS-T, and test-retest reliability correlations were 0.56 for MSS-T and 0.60 for CBCFS-T.

CONCLUSIONS

The MSS-T and CBCFS-T demonstrated acceptable preliminary values of reliability and validity. Further psychometric testing is recommended with women living in different regions of Turkey.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The scales can offer insights to nurses and other healthcare professionals about mammography self-efficacy beliefs, emotional needs, and concerns of Turkish women related to breast cancer fear. The scales may be useful as process measures to assess the efficacy of interventions designed to alter self-efficacy and fear and subsequently improve the mammography rates.