Measuring illness uncertainty in men undergoing active surveillance for prostate cancer

  • Donald E. Bailey
  • , Meredith Wallace
  • , David M. Latini
  • , Josephine Hegarty
  • , Peter R. Carroll
  • , Eric A. Klein
  • , Peter C. Albertsen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Uncertainty is an aversive experience and plays an important role in the lives of men undergoing active surveillance (AS; earlier referred to as watchful waiting) for early-stage prostate cancer. Yet reliable and valid measures of uncertainty have not been fully tested in this population. This secondary analysis therefore tested the reliability of the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale Community Form (MUIS-C; M.H. Mishel, 1997b) for use with men undergoing AS for prostate cancer. Methods: Item-Total correlations were conducted on the 23 items of the MUIS-C with four samples of men undergoing AS. Results: Cronbach's alpha for the full MUIS-C was .908; 22 of 23 items showed significant positive correlations with the total score. Removing the item without a significant correlation from the reliability analysis increased Cronbach's alpha to .913. Conclusions: The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form for Active Surveillance is a reliable and valid tool for measuring uncertainty with men undergoing AS for prostate cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-199
Number of pages7
JournalApplied Nursing Research
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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