The Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale: A validation Study

Overview

Journal J Adv Nurs

Specialty Nursing

Date 2017 Nov 9

PMID 29117439

Citations 14

Authors

Teresa L Hagan

Susan M Cohen

Margaret Q Rosenzweig

Kristin Zorn

Clement A Stone

Heidi S Donovan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: To develop and psychometrically test the validity of the Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale.

Background: Female cancer survivors need to self-advocate to overcome challenges associated with cancer yet no valid measure of self-advocacy exists.

Design: Instrument development. Mixed-mode cross-sectional survey design.

Participants: We recruited adult females (18+ years; N = 317) with a history of invasive cancer from local and national tumour registries and advocacy organizations to complete online or paper questionnaires.

Methods: Between July 2014 - March 2015 to evaluate the construct validity based on evidence of the scale's: (1) internal structure consistent with the underlying model of self-advocacy; (2) sensitivity to differences between groups known to differ in self-advocacy skills; (3) relationships between self-advocacy and key potential predictors (openness and conscientiousness; information engagement; social support) and outcomes (symptom burden and healthcare utilization); (4) relationships between self-advocacy and related concepts (patient activation; self-advocacy within another patient population); and (5) relationships between self-advocacy and criterion measures. Analyses included an exploratory factor analysis, t tests, and bivariate correlations using validated, reliable measures for constructs.

Results: Evidence from all five hypotheses supported the construct validity of the Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale. The factor analysis confirmed the three underlying dimensions of self-advocacy resulting in a 20-item measure with strong internal consistency that explained almost half of response variance.

Conclusion: The Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale is a valid, reliable measure of how well adult female cancer survivors can get their needs met in the face of adversity.

Citing Articles

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Gender Differences in Self-Advocacy Among Cancer Survivors: How Women and Men Vary in How They Learn to Engage in Decision-Making and Social Support.

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The female self-advocacy in Cancer Survivorship scale is a psychometrically sound measure of self-advocacy in male cancer survivors.

Thomas T, Scott P, Nilsen M, Lee J, McCarthy M, Harris A Psychooncology. 2023; 33(1):e6269.

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Describing Self-Advocacy in Underrepresented Women With Advanced Cancer.

Bell S, Bergeron R, Murray P, Gazaway S, Thomas T Oncol Nurs Forum. 2023; 50(6):725-734.

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