The Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge (SCSK) Scale

Abstract

Increasing public knowledge remains one of the key aims of skin cancer awareness campaigns, yet diagnosis rates continue to rise. It is essential we measure skin cancer knowledge adequately so as to determine the nature of its relationship to sun-related behaviors. This study investigated the psychometric properties of a new measure of skin cancer knowledge, the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge (SCSK) scale. A total of 514 Western young adults (females n = 320, males n = 194) aged 18 to 26 years completed measures of skin type, skin cancer knowledge, tanning behavior, sun exposure, and sun protection. Two-week test-retest of the SCSK was conducted with 52 participants. Internal reliability of the SCSK scale was acceptable (KR-20 = .69), test-retest reliability was high (r = .83, n = 52), and acceptable levels of face, content, and incremental validity were demonstrated. Skin cancer knowledge (as measured by SCSK) correlated with sun protection, sun exposure, and tanning behaviors in the female sample, but not in the males. Skin cancer knowledge appears to be more relevant to the behavior of young women than that of young males. We recommend that future research establish the validity of the SCSK across a range of participant groups.

Factors affecting knowledge levels of oncology nurses about skin cancer and sun protection

“…(2018). The internal consistency (Kuder Richardson–20), Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test–retest reliability of the original scale were 0.69, 0.72 and 0.83, respectively (Day, Wilson, Roberts, & Hutchinson, 2014; Haney et al., 2018). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.91 in this study.…”

Australian young adults’ tanning behaviour: The role of ideal skin tone and sociocultural norms

“…Scores ranged from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge. In a sample of Western young adults, 2-week test-retest reliability was r = .83 (Day et al, 2014).…”

“…(multiple choice; Day, Wilson, Roberts, & Hutchinson, 2014). Scores ranged from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge.…”

“…The Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge scale consists of 25 items (15 true-false and 10 multiple-choice) that assess skin cancer and sun health knowledge, for example, 'Solariums/sun beds are a safe way to get a tan' (true-false) and 'What does SPF mean?' (multiple choice; Day, Wilson, Roberts, & Hutchinson, 2014). Scores ranged from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge.…”

“…When the questionnaire used in the T1 study was developed, we were interested in participants' previous tanning behaviour over the past few years to understand whether or not they ever, infrequently or regularly, engaged in different forms of tanning behaviour. This information was sufficient for evaluating a measure of skin cancer knowledge (Day et al, 2014). However, as tanning behaviour was a key outcome of the current study, the T1 tanning items would impede meaningful comparisons to other literature, which typically ask participants' their behaviour over the past 6 months to a year in open-ended format.…”