BACKGROUND: In order to explore the influence of anxiety on decision-making processes, valid anxiety measures are needed. We evaluated a prostate cancer screening (PCS) anxiety scale that measures anxiety related to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, the digital rectal examination (DRE), and the decision to undergo PCS (PCS-D) using two samples in different settings.
METHODS: We assessed four psychometric properties of the scale using baseline data from a randomized, controlled decision aid trial (n = 301, private clinic; n = 149, public).
RESULTS: The 3-factor measure had adequate internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the 3-factor model did not have adequate fit. When subscales were considered separately, only the 6-item PCS-D anxiety measure had adequate fit and was invariant across clinics.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of a 6-item PCS-D anxiety measure with age-appropriate men in public and private settings. The development of unique anxiety items relating to the PSA test and DRE is still needed.
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Linder SK, Swank PR, Vernon SW, Morgan RO, Mullen PD, Volk RJ Are you the author?
Reference: BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2012 Jun 8;12(1):52
doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-12-52
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22681782