The development and psychometric properties of a survey to assess breast knowledge and attitudes of adolescent girls

Background: Breast health?education could alleviate breast concerns reported by adolescent girls. Purpose: This article describes the development and psychometric properties of a survey to measure knowledge in multiple aspects related to breasts, attitudes to breasts and breast issues and the likelihood of engagement with positive breast habits among adolescent girls. Methods: An 85-item, developmentally appropriate, breast survey was generated using previous research. Consultation with 13 breast experts and a focus group of 7 girls established face and content validity. Survey validity and reliability was established by item analysis with 148 girls, principal components analysis with 729 girls, confirmatory factor analysis with 921 girls, known groups validation with 15 breast experts and 18 girls, internal reliability (729 and 921 girls) and test-re test reliability (18 girls). Results: Results indicate that the final 39-item breast survey (10-subscales) is valid, reliable, and easy to administer. Discussion: Each subscale within the survey addresses adolescent girls? specific breast concern which is consistent with the breast needs of adolescent girls. Translation to Health Education Practice: This study offers researchers and health educators a survey that can be used to inform the design of breast health?education programs and determine the impact of such programs.