Development and initial validation of the Self-Efficacy for Skin Self-Examination Scale in a Canadian sample of patients with melanoma

Catherine Bergeron; Chelsea Moran; Adina Coroiu; Annett Körner

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.006

Development and initial validation of the Self-Efficacy for Skin Self-Examination Scale in a Canadian sample of patients with melanoma

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019 Jun:40:78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.006. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Authors

Catherine Bergeron¹, Chelsea Moran², Adina Coroiu³, Annett Körner⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address: catherine.bergeron2@mail.mcgill.ca.
² Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
³ Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
⁴ Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Louise Granofsky Psychosocial Oncology Program, Segal Cancer Centre, Montreal, Canada; Psychosocial Oncology Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.

PMID: 31229210
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.006

Abstract

Purpose: Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, although survival rates are high if detected early. Skin self-examination (SSE) is a health behaviour that can lead to early detection of melanoma and more positive health outcomes. Self-efficacy for SSE is a potential predictor of engaging in skin self-exams. However, no standardized measures of self-efficacy for SSE are currently available. The present study reports on the development and initial validation of a measure assessing self-efficacy for SSE.

Method: Based on a literature review, including previous studies assessing this construct, the research team developed 9 items capturing confidence in one's ability to conduct SSE. Items were subsequently revised by the research team and two dermatologists, resulting in the elimination of 4 items and modifications to the response options. The final 5-item Self-Efficacy for SSE scale was administered to a sample of 242 melanoma patients recruited from local hospitals. We assessed the scale's factor structure through exploratory factor analysis and the internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha. Scale scores were correlated with intentions to perform SSE, physician support for SSE, skin cancer-specific distress, general distress, and sociodemographic variables to assess convergent and divergent validity.

Results: The scale was found to be unifactorial with adequate model fit, have acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.74), and initial evidence of convergent and divergent validity, as indicated by the scale correlating with physicians' support for SSE (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), intention to perform SSE (r_s = 0.21, p < 0.01) and a weak correlation with general distress (r = 0.15, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Pending future research corroborating these findings, this measure has potential for use by nurses and other health professionals in follow-up care to identify individuals at risk for low self-efficacy for SSE requiring more targeted educational SSE interventions.

Keywords: Exploratory factor analysis; Melanoma; Scale development and validation; Skin self-examination; self-efficacy.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Canada
Early Detection of Cancer
Female
Humans
Male
Melanoma / diagnosis*
Middle Aged
Reproducibility of Results
Self Efficacy*
Self-Examination / psychology*
Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Surveys and Questionnaires*