Cross Cultural Exploration of the Perceived Health Competence Scale

Mary J. Polchert

School of Nursing and Health Professions, Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojn.2015.57067                

Abstract

The eight-item Perceived Health Competence Scale (PHCS) is a measure of self-efficacy in general health management that is used to predict health outcomes and behaviors. The PHCS has been shown to be a reliable and valid instrument but has been used in primarily white European Americans. The PHCS is positively correlated to health status and coping abilities. Younger, healthier populations score higher on the PHCS compared to elderly who are managing chronic illness. This study examined the PHCS in three Midwestern samples: African American elders which revealed two separate factors in PHCS; Native Americans who evaluated the PHCS as a single construct; and a Spanish speaking sample. In the latter sample, findings suggest health competence may be a multi-dimensional construct. Further evaluation of the Spanish version of the PHCS and population characteristics are needed to measure health competence beliefs.

Keywords

Health Promotion, Self-Efficacy, Health Management, Latino/Hispanic Populations, Native Americans, African American Elders, Health Competence, Access to Health Services, Instrument Development, Pilot Study, Translation of Instruments

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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