Purpose/objectives: To consider psychometric estimates of the validity and reliability of the Spanish translation of a mammography-specific self-efficacy scale.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Setting: Three primarily Hispanic churches and a Hispanic community center in a low-income urban area of New Jersey.
Sample: 153 low-income Hispanic women aged 40-85 years.
Methods: The translated scale was administered to participants during a six-month period. Internal consistency, reliability, and construct and predictive validity were assessed.
Main research variables: Demographic variables included income and insurance status. Outcome variables included total mammography-specific self-efficacy and having had a mammogram within the past two years.
Findings: Preliminary evidence of reliability and validity were found, and predictive validity was demonstrated.
Conclusions: The health needs of specific populations can be addressed only when research instruments have been appropriately validated and all relevant factors are considered. Diverse groups of low-income women face similar challenges and barriers in their efforts to get screened.
Implications for nursing: Nurses are in an ideal position to help women with preventive care decision making (e.g., screening for breast cancer). Understanding how a woman's level of self-efficacy affects her decision making should be considered when counseling a client.
Keywords: Hispanic women; breast cancer; mammography; self-efficacy; validation.