Mammography Self-efficacy Scale and Breast Cancer Fear Scale: Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Versions Among Saudi Women.

Abstract

Early screening for breast cancer (BC) is critical for improving health outcomes and reducing mortality. Research has shown that self-efficacy and fear of BC can influence patients' screening behaviors. Validated measures to assess these constructs among Saudi women are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic versions of the Champion Mammography Self-efficacy Scale (CMSES) and Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale (CBCFS) in a sample of Saudi women. The CMSES and CBCFS were back-translated into Arabic using an established translation protocol. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α coefficients. Construct validity was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analytical procedures. The findings from the factor analysis confirmed the unidimensional structure of both scales as reported by the original authors. Additionally, both scales exhibited high internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficients) of .91 for the modified CMSES-Arabic and .94 for the CBCFS-Arabic. This article provided initial evidence of reliability and construct validity for the modified CMSES-Arabic and the CBCFS-Arabic. Nurses and other allied health professionals can now use these measures to better understand how self-efficacy and fear of BC are related to compliance with cancer screening among Saudi women and in other Arabic-speaking contexts. The scales could also be useful for developing and testing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving mammography testing rates.