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. 2017 May;28(3):278-285.
doi: 10.1177/1043659616628964. Epub 2016 Feb 15.

Adapting a Cancer Literacy Measure for Use Among Navajo Women

Kathleen J Yost  1 , Mark C Bauer  2 , Lydia P Buki  3 , Martha Austin-Garrison  2 , Linda V Garcia  2 , Christine A Hughes  1 , Christi A Patten  1
Affiliations

Adapting a Cancer Literacy Measure for Use Among Navajo Women

Kathleen J Yost et al. J Transcult Nurs. 2017 May.

Abstract

Purpose: The authors designed a community-based participatory research study to develop and test a family-based behavioral intervention to improve cancer literacy and promote mammography among Navajo women.

Method: Using data from focus groups and discussions with a community advisory committee, they adapted an existing questionnaire to assess cancer knowledge, barriers to mammography, and cancer beliefs for use among Navajo women. Questions measuring health literacy, numeracy, self-efficacy, cancer communication, and family support were also adapted.

Results: The resulting questionnaire was found to have good content validity, and to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for use among Navajo women.

Conclusions: It is important to consider culture and not just language when adapting existing measures for use with AI/AN (American Indian/Alaskan Native) populations. English-language versions of existing literacy measures may not be culturally appropriate for AI/AN populations, which could lead to a lack of semantic, technical, idiomatic, and conceptual equivalence, resulting in misinterpretation of study outcomes.

Keywords: American Indians; cancer literacy; health literacy; mammography; questionnaires.

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