Predictive validity of the attitudes toward medical help-seeking scale

OBJECTIVE This study examines the predictive validity of the action/intention subscale of the attitudes toward seeking medical help scale in a college sample. PARTICIPANTS Participants were 51 female undergraduates recruited from psychology classes. Data were collected at two time points between January and April, 2011. METHODS Students completed the attitudes subscale and a measure of medical contacts twice, over a two month interval. RESULTS Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the measure were supported. Correlations between time one attitudes and medical contacts/intentions at time two provide evidence for predictive validity of the measure. CONCLUSION This relatively brief, psychometrically sound measure of attitudes toward medical help seeking can be used to identify individuals who may be reluctant to seek health care and to assess the effectiveness of health education programs.