TY - JOUR
T1 - Cross-cultural validation of the Cancer Stigma Scale in the general Japanese population
AU - Takeuchi, Emi
AU - Fujisawa, Daisuke
AU - Miyawaki, Rina
AU - Yako-Suketomo, Hiroko
AU - Oka, Koichiro
AU - Mimura, Masaru
AU - Takahashi, Miyako
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Cambridge University Press.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Background: The stigma associated with cancer has negative impacts on cancer patients as well as the general public, who have a potential risk of cancer. To the best of our knowledge, a validated measure to assess cancer stigma among the general Japanese population does not exist. Method: We translated the Cancer Stigma Scale (CASS) - a 25-item self-administered scale to evaluate stigma related to cancer - into Japanese and examined its psychometric properties. The Japanese version of CASS (J-CASS) was validated among a sample of the general Japanese population through an online survey to validate its test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity. Results: A total of 319 responses were included in the analysis. An exploratory factor analysis eliminated two original items but showed a six-factor model (Awkwardness, Severity, Avoidance, Policy Opposition, Personal Responsibility, and Financial Discrimination), which was similar to the original scale. Cronbach's alpha for each factor was satisfactory, ranging from 0.81 to 0.91. The internal correlation coefficients were above 0.70, except for Policy Opposition. The total and subtotal scores of each factor of the J-CASS were significantly associated with respondents' age, gender, familiarity with cancer patients, and social desirability, demonstrating the scales' good concurrent validity. A substantial proportion of the participants selected "unsure"for some items of the scale, suggesting a further need for refining the scale. Significance of results. This study demonstrated that J-CASS is a reliable and valid measure for evaluating misconceptions and stigma toward cancer in the general Japanese population.
AB - Background: The stigma associated with cancer has negative impacts on cancer patients as well as the general public, who have a potential risk of cancer. To the best of our knowledge, a validated measure to assess cancer stigma among the general Japanese population does not exist. Method: We translated the Cancer Stigma Scale (CASS) - a 25-item self-administered scale to evaluate stigma related to cancer - into Japanese and examined its psychometric properties. The Japanese version of CASS (J-CASS) was validated among a sample of the general Japanese population through an online survey to validate its test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity. Results: A total of 319 responses were included in the analysis. An exploratory factor analysis eliminated two original items but showed a six-factor model (Awkwardness, Severity, Avoidance, Policy Opposition, Personal Responsibility, and Financial Discrimination), which was similar to the original scale. Cronbach's alpha for each factor was satisfactory, ranging from 0.81 to 0.91. The internal correlation coefficients were above 0.70, except for Policy Opposition. The total and subtotal scores of each factor of the J-CASS were significantly associated with respondents' age, gender, familiarity with cancer patients, and social desirability, demonstrating the scales' good concurrent validity. A substantial proportion of the participants selected "unsure"for some items of the scale, suggesting a further need for refining the scale. Significance of results. This study demonstrated that J-CASS is a reliable and valid measure for evaluating misconceptions and stigma toward cancer in the general Japanese population.
KW - Cancer
KW - Discrimination
KW - Japan
KW - Stereotype
KW - Stigma
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U2 - 10.1017/S1478951520000486
DO - 10.1017/S1478951520000486
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85092602097
JO - Palliative and Supportive Care
JF - Palliative and Supportive Care
SN - 1478-9515
ER -