Abstract
Background: Older adults are more susceptible to colorectal cancer (CRC). Psychosocial constructs in the Health Belief Model are targets for interventional studies. No tool to measure these beliefs of older Chinese people has been validated.
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the preliminary psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Colorectal Cancer Perceptions Scale (CRCPS).
Methods: The CRCPS was translated to Chinese language, validated by an expert panel, and tested. Interviewer-administered surveys were carried out with a convenience sample of 219 community-dwelling Chinese adults 60 years or older and were included in the analysis.
Results: Six factors were retained, with items on susceptibility and benefits remaining as designed, whereas those on severity formed 2 factors, labeled severity-fear and severity-life impact, and those on barriers again formed 2 factors, labeled psychological barriers and knowledge barriers. Cronbach's [alpha] values ranged from .74 to .88, and test-retest reliability correlations ranged from .38 for psychological barriers to .69 for knowledge barriers. Respondents who had undergone CRC screening had significantly lower mean scores on severity-fear, severity-life impact, psychological barriers, and knowledge barriers compared with those who had not.
Conclusions: The results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the CRCPS. Further psychometric testing is recommended.
Implications for Practice: The survey provides a useful tool to assess CRC health beliefs, which interventions should address to improve screening rates among older Chinese adults.