Validation of a modified Berger HIV stigma scale for use among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stigma around hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important and understudied barrier to HCV prevention, treatment, and elimination. To date, no validated instrument exists to measure patients' experiences of HCV stigma. This study aimed to revise the Berger (2001) HIV stigma scale and evaluate its psychometric properties among patients with HCV infection.

Methods

The Berger HIV stigma scale was revised to ask about HCV and administered to patients with HCV (n = 270) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Scale reliability was evaluated as internal consistency by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to evaluate construct validity by comparing item clustering to the Berger HIV stigma scale subscales. Item response theory was employed t

SUBMITTER: Saine ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7001940 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature