Reliability and Validity of a Family Cancer and Health Communication Scale.

Objective: To examine the reliability and validity of a new measure for family cancer and health communication and perception of cancer for college undergraduates, the Family Cancer and Health Communication Questionnaire (FCHCQ). Methods: Randomly selected undergraduates (N = 327) completed the FCHCQ online. Results: Results indicated nearing acceptability of reliability for the examining the constructs of family cancer and health communication and perception of cancer, including significant correlations among the constructs in the questionnaire. Validity was supported through confirmatory factor analysis which suggested the models fit the data for the constructs. Conclusions: This pilot study indicates support for the FCHCQ as a new instrument to measure the construct validity of family cancer and health communication and perception of cancer among college undergraduate students. These initial results provide a foundation for continued development and analysis of the FCHCQ for use among college undergraduate students. The findings will lead to the expansion of the FCHCQ for use among various groups and the general population. Through further investigation, this questionnaire may indicate barriers and facilitators of cancer and overall health communication within families with the intent to develop interventions for increasing communication. Thus, increasing awareness of familial risks for hereditary and genetic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]