Development and psychometric evaluation of a colorectal cancer screening scale based on preventive health model: Application of Smart-PLS software

 Many cancer cases are diagnosed in late stages. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the colorectal cancer screening scale in people under 50 years old. A sample of male and females selected by randomized blocking method and completed the screening questionnaire. For reliability and validity, the Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, Fornell-Larker matrix and second-order confirmatory factor analysis were using Smart-PLS (Partial least squares) software were used. In all 160 people aged 30 to 50 years old completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 37.56 ± 5.67 years. The majority 101 were female, most (88.1%) were married and only 46 had a university education. By eliminating 15 questions from 37 colorectal cancer screening questions, the model was fitted appropriately. Also, the divergent and convergent validity of the model was confirmed. Response efficiency and perceived self-efficacy had maximum and minimum factor loading respectively (0.35 and 0.19). The total Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.86 and the composite reliability coefficients were higher than 0.7 and were at the optimum level. The results shown that the colorectal cancer screening scale with 22 items had acceptable validity and reliability. The scale allows us to have a better perception of the factors affecting colorectal cancer screening.