A Methodological Study: Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Attitudes towards Cancer Scale

Introduction: The 30-item Attitudes Towards Cancer Scale (ATC) is used in English speaking countries to measure attitudes towards cancer patients which has not been validated in Turkish population.
Aims: The aim of this study was to test the validity, reliability, responsiveness and psychometrics of the Turkish ATC (T-ATC) version.
Study Design: It is a methodological study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in a University Hospital, a State Hospital and a Private Hospital in Manisa, Turkey, from April-August 2014.
Methodology: A sample of 300 nurses (263 women, age: 31.5±7.1 years) in three hospitals. The adaptation of the original ATC into Turkish was achieved the guidelines published in the literature. Construct validity was established factor analysis with principal components extraction. Factor analysis with varimax rotation, using Kaiser criterion (eingenvalues > 1.0). The adequacy of internal consistency reliability of the T-ATC was examined with Cronbach’s alpha (α), Spearman Brown split-half value, inter-item correlation. Inter-item correlation of the T-ATC was examined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).
Results: One-factor structure of the T-ATC was demonstrated by analysis with principal components extraction. As for, internal consistency of T-ATC, it was supported by Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.68), Spearman Brown split-half value (0.57 for the first half and 0.61 for the second half), inter-item correlation was ranged from 0.21-0.46.
Conclusion: The T-ATC showed initial evidence of the reliability and validity that can be used in Turkish speaking countries in order to measure attitudes towards cancer and patients with cancer.