Initial Evaluation of the Validity and Reliability of the Culturally Adapted Spanish CaSUN (S-CaSUN)

Purpose: There is a dearth of knowledge and limited research on the needs of Hispanic male cancer survivors (HMCSs). There is a clear need for the development of culturally and linguistically adapted needs assessment tools that are valid and reliable for use among the growing HMCS population. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to describe the field testing and psychometric evaluation of the translated and culturally adapted Spanish Cancer Survivor Unmet Needs Measure (S-CaSUN). Methods: Hispanic male cancer survivors (n = 84) completed the Spanish CaSUN (S-CaSUN), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Population (FACT-GP). Construct validity of the S-CaSUN was assessed by correlation analysis among aforesaid measures. A test-retest procedure with 2-week delay was used to examine reproducibility with a participant subsample (n = 50). Cronbach’s alpha was computed to assess internal consistency of the S-CaSUN. Results: Construct validity of the S-CaSUN was estimated by moderate correlation with the HADS anxiety (r = 0.55, P \u3c 0.001) and depression scales (r = 0.60, P \u3c 0.001) and the FACT-GP (r = − 0.62, P \u3c 0.001). The test-retest correlation coefficient for the S-CaSUN was 0.78. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.96. Field testing yielded a mean S-CaSUN score of 38.3 (SD = 26.2); all needs and positive change items were endorsed. Conclusion: Findings from field testing and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the S-CaSUN provide initial evidence of validity and reliability of the measure and highlight the importance of going beyond translation when adapting measures to take culture, literacy, and language into consideration. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Reliable, culturally, and linguistically valid instruments facilitate identification of unique unmet needs of Hispanic cancer survivors that, in turn, can be addressed with evidence-based interventions. As cancer centers continue to develop survivorship programs, the S-CaSUN may be useful for a growing group of cancer survivors

Perceptions of colorectal cancer among three ethnic subgroups of US blacks: a qualitative study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently associated with one of the highest burdens of morbidity and mortality among American men and women. Racial/ethnic disparities are well documented and the subject of intense research and intervention. Our understanding of disparities related to awareness and perceptions about causes, risk, factors, and screening for CRC among subgroups of blacks in the United States is limited. This may be in part because grouping. US-born blacks and foreign-born blacks as one homogeneous group obscures possible within-group differences. This study aimed to explore the cultural perceptions of CRC among 3 ethnic subgroups of blacks: African Americans (US born), foreign-born blacks from English-speaking Caribbean countries, and Haitian-born blacks. The study was informed by a community-based participatory research approach, using a cross-sectional mixed qualitative and quantitative methods design. A total of 62 individuals from the 3 ethnic subgroups participated in semistructured, in-depth qualitative and structured quantitative interviews. Qualitative findings revealed no stark differences among the 3 ethnic subgroups in their overall perceptions of cancer as well as their attitudes related to barriers, motivation, and resources for CRC screening. However, there were subtle differences in perceptions of curability, preventive practices, and preferred sources of information among the three ethnic subgroups of US blacks. The study has important implications for the design of educational materials and targeted interventions for diverse groups of US blacks