Adapting a Cancer Literacy Measure for Use Among Navajo Women. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yost, Kathleen J.; Bauer, Mark C.; Buki, Lydia P.; Austin-Garrison, Martha; Garcia, Linda V.; Hughes, Christine A.; Patten, Christi A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of transcultural nursing. Volume 28:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: health literacy -- cancer literacy -- American Indians -- questionnaires -- mammography; Transcultural nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Health attitudes -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/1043659616628964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6596

Abstract

Purpose: The authors designed a community-based participatory research study to develop and test a family-based behavioral intervention to improve cancer literacy and promote mammography among Navajo women.Method: Using data from focus groups and discussions with a community advisory committee, they adapted an existing questionnaire to assess cancer knowledge, barriers to mammography, and cancer beliefs for use among Navajo women. Questions measuring health literacy, numeracy, self-efficacy, cancer communication, and family support were also adapted.Results: The resulting questionnaire was found to have good content validity, and to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for use among Navajo women.Conclusions: It is important to consider culture and not just language when adapting existing measures for use with AI/AN (American Indian/Alaskan Native) populations. English-language versions of existing literacy measures may not be culturally appropriate for AI/AN populations, which could lead to a lack of semantic, technical, idiomatic, and conceptual equivalence, resulting in misinterpretation of study outcomes.