Ohlsson-Nevo E, Ahlgren J, Karlsson J. Impact of health-related stigma on psychosocial functioning in cancer patients: Construct validity of the stigma-related social problems scale.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2020;
29:e13312. [PMID:
32865867 PMCID:
PMC7757179 DOI:
10.1111/ecc.13312]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of Stigma-related Social Problems scale (SSP) in a cancer population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The SSP was sent to 1,179 cancer patients. Mean age was 67.9 year and 43% were women. Tests of internal consistency reliability, construct validity, item-scale convergent validity, ceiling and floor effects and known-group validity were conducted.
RESULTS
The response rate was 62%, and the final sample comprised 728 patients. Reliability coefficients were high for both subscales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94). Exploratory factor analyses confirmed the unidimensionality and homogeneity of the scales. Item-scale correlations for both scales indicated satisfactory item-scale convergent validity. The proportion of subjects scoring at the lowest possible score level was 26% for the Distress scale and 28% for the Avoidance scale, while ceiling effects were marginal (<1%). The proportion of missing items was low, ranging from 1.4% to 1.5%. Known-group validity tests confirmed that the scales could capture expected differences between subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS
The SSP scale is a feasible instrument with sound psychometric properties that is validated in a study on 728 cancer patients. The instrument can be used to identify cancer patients at risk for psychosocial disturbances and thus in need of support.
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