Abstract

ROLIM, Luísa  and  ZAGALO-CARDOSO, José A.. Pre-Symptomatic Testing Acceptance Scale: Validation Study with a Sample of At-Risk Subjects for Machado-Joseph Disease. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2005, vol.6, n.2, pp.165-189. ISSN 1645-0086.

This paper presents a study on the validation of the Pre-Symptomatic Testing Acceptance Scale, undertaken with a sample of at-risk subjects for Machado-Joseph disease. The present study has aimed to test the stability and reproducibility of the original factorial structure of the scale and to check its psychometric characteristics. We have still evaluated the convergence of the scale with another instrument of psychological evaluation. The results have shown a structure composed of 18 items and differentiated in three factors that have contributed with 51.6% to the total explained variance and its Cronbach alpha coefficient (Factor 1=.85; Factor 2=.76; Factor 3=.60) prove the adequate internal consistency of the instrument. The scale has not been influenced by the variables gender, age, schooling level, and the answers have not apparently been determined by the desire to please other people, which constitutes a further indicator of the scale construct validity. We have also observed a meaningful statistic association between adherence to the pre-symptomatic testing and attitudes in relation to doctors and medicine. In conclusion, the scale presents fairly satisfactory psychometric qualities, which enables its applicability to samples of at-risk people for other late onset neurogenetic diseases with pre-symptomatic testing.

Keywords : Adherence; Attitudes; Machado-Joseph disease; Pre-symptomatic testing; Validation.

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