Abstract
Stigma is common among patients with chronic illnesses. It affects the delivery of healthcare for not addressing the psychological components and may interfere with the patient's attendance to necessary health care services. Therefore, a valid and reliable instrument to measure anticipated stigma related to chronic illness is vital to inform possible interventions. This study aimed to translate the Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS) into the Amharic language and evaluate its psychometric properties in Ethiopia. The CIASS was translated into Amharic language using standard procedures. The Amharic version was completed by 173 patients (response rate 96%) with chronic illness from three referral hospitals in the Amhara region. Internal consistency was examined through Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity by using a Pearson correlation of P-value less than or equal to 0.05. The internal consistency was estimated at Cronbach alpha of 0.92. By using a structural equation model, and modification indices a model fitness testing was run and shows a root mean squared error of approximation 0.049 (90% CI, 0.012-0.075). The structural validity results in 78.8% of confirmatory factor analysis showed from the extraction of the three-dimension (components). Validity tests for convergent by using Pearson correlation positively correlated with common mental distress and negatively correlated with quality of life-BREF, and the construct validity shows a good valid tool to CIASS. The Amharic language version of the chronic illness anticipated stigma scale shows a satisfactory level of reliability and validity on different psychometric measures of assessment. The tool may be useful for future researchers and patients with chronic illness in the Amharic-speaking population. Moreover, it will be used to see the psychological burden related to chronic illness and for comparison among international population groups.
Highlights
Stigma is an attribute that labels a person in discriminatory ways
Validity tests for convergent by using Pearson correlation positively correlated with common mental distress and negatively correlated with quality of life– BREF, and the construct validity shows a good valid tool to Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS)
The Amharic language version of the chronic illness anticipated stigma scale shows a satisfactory level of reliability and validity on different psychometric measures of assessment
Summary
Stigma is an attribute that labels a person in discriminatory ways. Erving Goffman (1963) classically defined stigma as an “attribute that is deeply discrediting”. In 2001, Link and Phelan expanded the stigma model to include loss of social status in addition to discrimination experiences [2]. It is shifting from the ‘kingdom of the well’ to the ‘kingdom of the sick [3]. Anticipated stigma is the perception/belief of the individual that prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping will likely occur in the future [4]. In other words, it is an anticipation of the enacted stigma [5]. Stigma is common among patients with chronic illnesses. This study aimed to translate the Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS) into the Amharic language and evaluate its psychometric properties in Ethiopia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
