Cultural adaptation and the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the symptom management beliefs questionnaire.

PURPOSE: Assessment of aging-stereotyped and erroneous beliefs in managing symptoms is an essential task to enhance self-care and health outcomes of the older population. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Symptom Management Beliefs Questionnaire (K-SMBQ) to measure ageist beliefs in managing symptoms of older people.

METHODS: A convenience sample of 211 community-dwelling older women was used. The 12-item K-SMBQ was finalized after translation, synthesis, back-translation, content validity, and pilot testing. The psychometric properties of the K-SMBQ scale were examined by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, convergent validity, hypothesized relationship testing, and known-groups method, as well as internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

RESULTS: Three factors (i.e., Aging-Stereotypes, Pessimistic Expectations, and Good Patient's Attitudes) were extracted by exploratory factor analysis and the good fit of the three-factor structure was demonstrated by confirmatory factor analysis. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with conceptually and theoretically relevant concepts as well as by distinguishable features between three older age groups. The internal consistency was supported by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, item-total scale correlations, and inter-item correlations; thus, adequate test-retest reliability was demonstrated.

CONCLUSION: This study verified the psychometric properties of the K-SMBQ and provided evidence on the cultural relevance for the concept of ageist beliefs regarding symptom management in older Korean people. The development of nursing interventions to promote self-care of older people should be based on the consideration of negatively stereotyped and erroneous beliefs about health in old age.