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Validation of a measurement tool to assess awareness of breast cancer

Linsell, Louise, Forbes, Lindsay J.L., Burgess, Caroline, Kapari, Marcia, Thurnham, Angela, Ramirez, Amanda J. (2010) Validation of a measurement tool to assess awareness of breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 46 (8). pp. 1374-1381. ISSN 0959-8049. (doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2010.02.034) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:77966)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2010.02.034

Abstract

Aim: Until now, there has been no universally accepted and validated measure of breast cancer awareness. This study aimed to validate the new Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) which assesses, using a self-complete questionnaire, knowledge of breast cancer symptoms and age-related risk, and frequency of breast checking.

Methods: We measured the psychometric properties of the BCAM in 1035 women attending the NHS Breast Screening Programme: acceptability was assessed using a feedback questionnaire (n = 292); sensitivity to change after an intervention promoting breast cancer awareness (n = 576), and test–retest reliability (n = 167). We also assessed readability, and construct validity using the ‘known-groups’ method.

Results: The readability of the BCAM was high. Over 90% of women found it acceptable. The BCAM was sensitive to change: there was an increase in the proportion of women obtaining the full score for breast cancer awareness one month after receiving the intervention promoting breast cancer awareness; this was greater among those who received a more intensive version (less intensive version (booklet): 9.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.5–14.1%; more intensive version (interaction with health professional plus booklet): 30%, 95% CI: 23.4–36.6%). Test–retest reliability of the BCAM was moderate to good for most items. Cancer experts had higher levels of cancer awareness than non-medical academics (50% versus 6%, p = 0.001), indicating good construct validity.

Conclusions: The BCAM is a valid and robust measure of breast cancer awareness suitable for use in surveys of breast cancer awareness in the general population and to evaluate the impact of awareness-raising interventions.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.02.034
Additional information: Unmapped bibliographic data: DB - Scopus [Field not mapped to EPrints] M3 - Article [Field not mapped to EPrints]
Uncontrolled keywords: Awareness; breast neoplasms; epidemiologic measurement; psychometrics; validation studies
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Lindsay Forbes
Date Deposited: 28 Oct 2019 11:35 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:26 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/77966 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Forbes, Lindsay J.L..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4654-9520
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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