[Validation of a Spanish questionnaire to evaluate habits, attitudes, and understanding of exposure to sunlight: "the beach questionnaire"]. / Validación de un cuestionario en español sobre comportamientos, actitudes y conocimientos relacionados con la exposición solar: <>

BACKGROUND: Questionnaires are the usual method for investigating sun-related behavior. However,such tools must be validated through evaluation of their measurement properties.The aim of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Spanish questionnaire evaluating habits, attitudes, and understanding of exposure to sunlight. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 422 participants found on beaches. For the test-retest analysis, 70 hospital-based health professionals were interviewed on 2 separate occasions.The construct validity, internal consistency, and reproducibility were analyzed. RESULTS: Factorial analysis of the principal components confirmed the construct validity with commonalities and factor saturations > 0.50, and revealed multiple dimensions with Cronbach a values > 0.70.The items on habits and understanding showed intraclass correlation and d coefficient values > 0.70, but those on attitude had lower stability values (0.50-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Spanish questionnaire with demonstrated validity and reliability for evaluating habits, attitudes, and understanding of exposure to sunlight. It will be a useful instrument for future epidemiologic studies and research into the prevention of skin cancer in Spain.

Validación de un cuestionario en español sobre comportamientos, actitudes y conocimientos relacionados con la exposición solar: «Cuestionario a pie de playa» / Validation of a Spanish Questionnaire to Evaluate Habits, Attitudes, and Understanding of Exposure to Sunlight: 'The beach questionnaire'

Introducción. Los cuestionarios son el método habitual de investigación de las conductas relacionadas con la exposición solar. Sin embargo, para que un instrumento sea válido debe acreditar sus propiedades de medición. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la validez y la fiabilidad de un cuestionario en español sobre comportamientos, actitudes y conocimientos relacionados con la exposición solar en la playa. Pacientes y método. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal administrándose el cuestionario a una muestra de 422 participantes a pie de playa. Para la prueba del test-retest se encuestó a 70 participantes del medio hospitalario en dos ocasiones diferentes. Se analizaron la validez, la consistencia interna y la reproducibilidad de los ítems del instrumento. Resultados. El análisis factorial de los componentes principales mostró valores de comunalidades y saturaciones factoriales > 0,50, y reveló la presencia de múltiples dimensiones que presentaron valores de coeficiente alfa de Cronbach > 0,70. Los ítems de comportamientos y conocimientos evidenciaron coeficientes de correlación intraclase y delta > 0,70. Los ítems del apartado de actitudes mostraron valores moderados de estabilidad (0,50-0,80). Conclusiones. Se presenta el primer cuestionario sobre comportamientos, actitudes y conocimientos relacionados con la exposición solar, elaborado en español, con garantías de validez y fiabilidad. Este instrumento constituirá una herramienta de utilidad en la investigación epidemiológica y del ámbito de la prevención primaria del cáncer de piel en España (AU)

Background. Questionnaires are the usual method for investigating sun-related behavior. However, such tools must be validated through evaluation of their measurement properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Spanish questionnaire evaluating habits, attitudes, and understanding of exposure to sunlight. Patients and Methods. In a cross-sectional study, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 422 participants found on beaches. For the test-retest analysis, 70 hospital-based health professionals were interviewed on 2 separate occasions. The construct validity, internal consistency, and reproducibility were analyzed. Results. Factorial analysis of the principal components confirmed the construct validity with commonalities and factor saturations > 0.50, and revealed multiple dimensions with Cronbach a values > 0.70. The items on habits and understanding showed intraclass correlation and d coefficient values > 0.70, but those on attitude had lower stability values (0.50-0.80). Conclusions. This is the first Spanish questionnaire with demonstrated validity and reliability for evaluating habits, attitudes, and understanding of exposure to sunlight. It will be a useful instrument for future epidemiologic studies and research into the prevention of skin cancer in Spain (AU)