Designing and psychometric evaluation of a tool for testing anxiety related to the colonoscopy test

Abstract

Background. More than 1 million colorectal cancers (CRC) are diagnosed annually. This cancer is the cause of 600,000 deaths, and many of these deaths can be reduced by screening. Colonoscopy is the best screening method and tool to diagnose CRC, but it causes anxiety and worry in patients. In addition, no appropriate tool has so far been introduced for assessing anxiety in these patients. Accordingly, the present study aimed to design and psychometrically evaluate a tool for assessing anxiety in patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods. This methodological study used a descriptive-cross-sectional approach to design a psychometric questionnaire. ­To this end, 106 ­­patients participated in this research, and the questionnaire was completed online. The validity of the list and the analysis of its main components were determined through exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation and confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability of the tool was also checked with Cronbach’s alpha. Results. Overall, 20 terms of the questionnaire were examined by exploratory analysis, and 5 factors explained 57.76% of the total variance. The internal consistency of the tool with Cronbach’s alpha was 0.91. Conclusion. The findings of the research revealed that the tool for assessing anxiety in patients undergoing colonoscopy with 20 items and 5 factors has adequate validity and reliability and can be used to assess the anxiety of colonoscopy patients. Practical Implications. The results of this research can change policies in the field of treatment to reduce the anxiety of colonoscopy patients.

Keywords

• anxiety
• colonoscopy
• factor analysis
• psychometric assessment