Abstract
BackgroundStigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world. The behaviour presented by patients as a result of social discrimination has contributed to delays in diagnosis and the abandonment of treatment, leading to an increase in the cases of TB and drug resistance. The identification of populations affected by stigma and its measurement can be assessed with the use of valid and reliable instruments developed or adapted to the target culture. This aim of this study was to analyse the initial psychometric properties of the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale in Brazil, for TB patients.MethodsThe Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale is a specific scale for measuring stigma associated with TB, originally validated in Thailand. It presents two dimensions to be assessed, namely Community perspectives toward tuberculosis and Patient perspectives toward tuberculosis. The first has 11 items regarding the behaviour of the community in relation to TB, and the second is made up of 12 items related to feelings such as fear, guilt and sorrow in coping with the disease. A pilot test was conducted with 83 TB patients, in order to obtain the initial psychometric properties of the scale in the Brazilian Portuguese version, enabling simulation of the field study.ResultsAs regards its psychometric properties, the scale presented acceptable internal consistency for its dimensions, with values ≥0.70, the absence of floor and ceiling effects, which is favourable for the property of scale responsiveness, satisfactory converging validity for both dimensions, with values over 0.30 for initial studies, and diverging validity, with adjustment values different from 100%.ConclusionThe results found show that the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale can be a valid and reliable instrument for the Brazilian context.
Highlights
Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world
Eighty-three patients who were under treatment for TB at the four referral outpatient clinics participated in the study
The psychometric properties obtained through the pilot test, which included a sample of 83 patients under treatment for TB at the four referral outpatient clinics, permitted a preliminary analysis of the reliability and validity of the scale version adapted for use in Brazil
Summary
Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world. The identification of populations affected by stigma and its measurement can be assessed with the use of valid and reliable instruments developed or adapted to the target culture This aim of this study was to analyse the initial psychometric properties of the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale in Brazil, for TB patients. Among the political and social commitments to reduce the stigma, the identification of affected populations is highlighted, as well as the assessment of the stigma by means of valid and reliable tools, developed or adapted for the target culture The use of these instruments in different countries and languages contributes to the identification of the health needs, decision taking and care improvements, besides enhancing the communication among researchers and professionals from different cultures [3]. No formally adapted scales exist in Brazil for measuring TBrelated stigma
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