Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Aug 5;19(15):9641.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159641.

Development and Validation of the COVID-19-Related Stigma Scale for Healthcare Workers (CSS-HCWs)

Makoto Tsukuda  1 , Yoshiyasu Ito  1 , Keisuke Nojima  2 , Tomonori Kayano  3 , Junko Honda  1
Affiliations
Review

Development and Validation of the COVID-19-Related Stigma Scale for Healthcare Workers (CSS-HCWs)

Makoto Tsukuda et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Stigma among healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an issue that requires immediate attention, as it may otherwise lead to the collapse of healthcare systems. In this study, we developed the COVID-19-related stigma scale for healthcare workers (CSS-HCWs) and assessed its reliability and validity. Data were collected online from 500 participants, including physicians and nurses involved in COVID-19 care. The first item of the draft scale was developed based on a literature review and qualitative study. The draft scale consisted of 24 items, which were rated on a six-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated and the data distribution was analyzed. To assess the scale's validity and reliability, structural validity was evaluated through an exploratory factor analysis. Criterion-related validity was examined through a correlation analysis using the E16-COVID19-S, a COVID-19 scale developed for physicians in Egypt. Reliability was evaluated by examining the scale's stability and internal consistency. The findings revealed that the stigma scale was a valid and reliable instrument. The final scale consisted of 18 items across three domains: personal stigma, concerns of disclosure and others, and family stigma. In conclusion, the scale is a valid and reliable instrument that can measure COVID-19-related stigma among healthcare workers.

Keywords: COVID-19; Japan; healthcare workers; reliability; stigma scale; validity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Khan M., Adil S.F., Alkhathlan H.Z., Tahir M.N., Saif S., Khan M., Khan S.T. COVID-19: A global challenge with old history, epidemiology and progress so far. Molecules. 2020;26:39. doi: 10.3390/molecules26010039. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dhakal B.P., Sweitzer N.K., Indik J.H., Acharya D., William P. SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardiovascular disease: COVID-19 heart. Lung Circ. 2020;29:973–987. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.05.101. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hossain M.M., Sultana A., Purohit N. Mental health outcomes of quarantine and isolation for infection prevention: A systematic umbrella review of the global evidence. SSRN Electron. J. 2020;42:e2020038. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3561265. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Holmes E.A., O’ Connor R.C., Perry V.H., Tracey I., Wessely S., Arseneault L., Ballard C., Christensen H., Silver R.C., Everall I., et al. Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for action for mental health science. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7:547–560. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30168-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baldassarre A., Giorgi G., Alessio F., Lulli F.G., Arcangeli G., Mucci N. Stigma and discrimination (SAD) at the time of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2020;17:6341. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176341. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types