Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Strength of the Cultural Affiliation Scale.
Julie A Kruse, Reg A Williams, Darlene Mood
PMID 26895416WHAT IT FOUND
A brief cultural affiliation survey sorted into four areas: lifestyle, language and holidays, relationships, and cultural health practices.
The health practices area was too weak to use alone. In 604 cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, African Americans scored higher than White patients.
Key findings
01The final factor solution grouped the survey into four areas: lifestyle, language and cultural holidays, relationships, and cultural health practices.
02African American patients had a higher mean total score than White patients, 24.0 and 14.8 on a 0 to 72 scale.
03The final 16-item score had overall reliability .88, but the cultural health practices factor had .46.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All participants were adult cancer patients receiving radiotherapy at one Midwest hospital, so the scale's structure may not hold for other patients or settings. It was not tested in children, and Asian American, Latino/Hispanic, and Native American groups were very small (4, 2, and 4 participants). The cultural health practices factor had only 2 items and low reliability (.46), so it should not be used alone. The study did not test whether using the SCAS changes clinician behaviour or patient outcomes. The factor structure was explored in this sample, and the authors say further testing is needed before treating it as final.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The supplied publication types list NIH and non-U.S. government research support, but the article does not name a specific funder or say whether the funder designed or wrote the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that using the SCAS improves culturally sensitive care. The study tested how survey items grouped and related to scores in 604 adult cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. It did not test whether clinicians who used the scale made better care decisions.