Abstract
Introduction: The Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS, 16 items, 5 dimensions) designed to measure the level of decisional conflict experienced by patients making health care decisions has not yet been validated in French. Methods: A national sample of French cancer patients (n = 644) facing the decision to undergo BRCA genetic testing was tested for this purpose, including a control group and an experimental group who had received an information booklet. Reliability and criterion validity were investigated. To check the validity of the factors selected, an exploratory factor analysis was then conducted, followed by confirmatory factor analyses. Results: Reliability was satisfactory ( α = 0.913). Women who definitely wanted to undergo genetic testing showed significantly lower DCS scores than uncertain women (p<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis suggested an optimal 4-dimensional model. In the control group, confirmatory factor analyses showed that the French model was more accurate than the original one. When the decision-making conflicts decreased (in the experimental group), both models yielded only fairly accurate indices. Conclusion: The French version of the DCS was found to give a reliable overall score. However, special care should be taken when using the individual subscores. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the context in which the decision-making occurs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
PF Stalmeier MS Roosmalen LC Verhoef et al. (2005) ArticleTitleThe decision evaluation scales Patient Educ Couns 57 286–293 Occurrence Handle15893210 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.pec.2004.07.010
AM O’Connor (1995) ArticleTitleValidation of a decisional conflict scale Med Decis Making 15 25–30 Occurrence Handle7898294 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB3cngvVE%3D
Jacobsen MJ, O’Connor AM (Ottawa Health Decision Centre). User Manual – Decisional conflict. 2005 Available from URL: http://decisionaid.ohri.ca/docs/Eval_Meas/User_Manuals/Decisional_Conflict.pdf [accessed May 12, 2006]
J Mancini C Noguès C Adenis et al. (2006) ArticleTitleImpact of an information booklet on satisfaction and decision-making about BRCA genetic testing Eur J Cancer 42 871–881 Occurrence Handle16563745 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ejca.2005.10.029
JM Bland DG Altman (1997) ArticleTitleCronbach’s alpha BMJ 314 572 Occurrence Handle9055718 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB3cfnslI%3D
JM Linacre (2003) A User’s Guide to Winsteps Ministep Rasch-Model Computer Programs Mesa Press Chicago, Ill
A Diamantopoulos JA Siguaw (2000) Introducing LISREL: A Guide for the Uninitiated SAGE publications Thousand Oaks, CA
N Koedoot S Molenaar P Oosterveld et al. (2001) ArticleTitleThe decisional conflict scale: further validation in two samples of Dutch oncology patients Patient Educ Couns 45 187–93 Occurrence Handle11722854 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mnnslekuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0738-3991(01)00120-3
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mancini, J., Santin, G., Chabal, F. et al. Cross-cultural validation of the Decisional Conflict Scale in a sample of French patients. Qual Life Res 15, 1063–1068 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-6003-9
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-6003-9