Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scale

Ching Fen Tsai, Pei Shan Tsai, Chien Liang Liu, Yen Kuang Lin, You Li Ling, Ing Jy Tseng, Yuan Mei Liao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Women with breast cancer experience a wide spectrum of symptoms after diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms experienced by this specific population might not be fully assessed using available traditional Chinese-language symptom measures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the latent constructs and psychometric properties of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (C-BCPT) Symptom Scale. Methods: Two hundred women with breast cancer were recruited in Taiwan. Psychometric properties, including construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, of the C-BCPT Symptom Scale were tested after translating the original instrument. Results: A 21-item C-BCPT Symptom Scale, with 7 extracted factors accounting for 72.26% of the total variance, resulted from an exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was confirmed by significant correlations between scores on the C-BCPT Symptom Scale and the Taiwan-version Short Form-36 Health Survey (r = -0.49 to -0.53)/Greene Climacteric Scale (r = 0.81). Reliability coefficients for the overall scale/6 extracted factors (Cronbach's α = 0.72-0.88) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.77-0.94) of the translated instrument were satisfactory, whereas 1 reliability coefficient for 1 extracted factor was inadequate (Cronbach's α = 0.57). Conclusion: An interpretable structure with preliminary acceptable psychometric properties of the C-BCPT Symptom Scale was obtained; the C-BCPT can help traditional Chinese-speaking healthcare professionals perform adequate assessments of the symptoms experienced by women with breast cancer. Implications for Practice: The C-BCPT Symptom Scale can be used in clinical practice and research to assess symptoms experienced by this specific population or effects of related interventions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E18-E30
Number of pages13
JournalCancer Nursing
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1 2018

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Factor analysis
  • Psychometrics
  • Symptoms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Oncology(nursing)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scale'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this