VALIDATION OF A DECISIONAL CONFLICT SCALE

The study objective was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a d ecisional conflict scale (DCS) that elicits: 1) health-care consumers' uncertainty in making a health-related decision; 2) the factors contr ibuting to the uncertainty; and 3) health-care consumers' perceived ef fective decision making. The DCS was developed in response to the lack of instruments available to evaluate health-care-consumer decision ai ds and to tailor decision-supporting interventions to particular consu mer needs. The scale was evaluated with 909 individuals deciding about influenza immunization or breast cancer screening. A subsample of res pondents was retested two weeks later. The test-retest reliability coe fficient was 0.81. Internal consistency coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.92. The DCS discriminated significantly (p < 0.0002) between thos e who had strong intentions either to accept or to decline invitations to receive influenza vaccine or breast cancer screening and those who se intentions were uncertain. The scale also discriminated significant ly (p < 0.0002) between those who accepted or rejected immunization an d those who delayed their decisions to be immunized. There was a weak inverse correlation (r = -0.16, p < 0.05) between the DCS and knowledg e test scores. The psychometric properties of the scale are acceptable . It is feasible and easy to administer. Evaluations of responsiveness to change and validation with more difficult decisions are warranted.