Development of a Culturally Specific Instrument for Mammography Screening: An Example With American Indian Women in Vermont

Abstract

This article presents the triangulation process for translating qualitative data about mammography screening from a grounded theory study with American Indian women in Vermont, into questionnaire items based on an existing model of behavior change, the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) Stages-of-Change. Qualitative data were used to derive a theory, Moving in Between Mammography, which suggested that traditionality influenced American Indian women’s screening decisions. To examine the relationship between mammography and traditionality, new items were developed for each of three key TTM constructs: Pros, Cons, and Processes-of-Change. The process for developing the new TTM-based items, as well as traditionality items specific for American Indian women living off-reservation, are presented. This article provides one example of how an instrument can be developed within a culturally competent nursing framework.