Adaptation and validation of the Van Rie tuberculosis stigma scale in Vietnam

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Psychometrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Stigma associated with Tuberculosis (TB) negatively impacts diagnosis, disease concealment, and individual well-being.
• Culturally validated TB stigma scales are lacking in many high-burden countries.
• This study addresses the need for a validated TB stigma scale in Vietnam.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Van Rie TB stigma scale (VTSS) in the Vietnamese population.
• To culturally adapt the VTSS for use in Vietnam.
• To assess the scale's reliability and validity in a Vietnamese TB patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Phase 1 involved cultural and linguistic adaptation of the VTSS for the Vietnamese context.
• Phase 2 included a survey with people diagnosed with TB, utilizing the adapted VTSS, a depression scale, and a quality of life scale.
• Data analysis employed Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), construct validity assessment, and evaluation of floor/ceiling effects.

Main Results:

• Adaptation involved rewording items to the first person; TB/HIV co-infection items showed lower relevance.
• CFA indicated adequate fit, but some item factor loadings were low.
• EFA revealed good internal consistency (α=0.85) and a single dominant factor, though construct validity was low.

Conclusions:

• The adapted VTSS demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties for use in Vietnam.
• Consideration should be given to removing TB/HIV co-infection items and item 10, depending on the study's objectives.
• The scale provides a valuable tool for assessing TB stigma in Vietnam.