425P - Preliminary study: Assessment of public trust in traditional medicine and medical treatment in cancer patients in Indonesia - Study validity and reliability of the Universitas Sebelas Maret Trust and readiness assessment for cancer patients (UNS – TRAfCP35) questionnaire

Background

In Indonesia, traditional medicine is still trusted, especially as a cancer therapy. Cancer treatment, which has many side effects, triggers the patient's anxiety. The patient's decision may contradict the advice of a health professional, affecting the prognosis of cancer. Health professionals are responsible for delivering explicit and adequate information to prevent misinformation that may affect decision-making for patient care. The Universitas Sebelas Maret Trust and Readiness Assessment for Cancer Patients (UNS – TRAfCP35) is an instrument designed to assess a patient's understanding of cancer, confidence in alternative medicine, and a patient's confidence in medical therapies. This study aims to see the validity and reliability of UNS – TRAfCP35 in assessing patients' understanding of cancer, trust in alternative medicine, and trust in medical treatment for cancer patients in Indonesia.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted on 100 patients at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, using UNS-TRAfCP35. The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions divided into 3 parts: 15 questions regarding patients' understanding of cancer, 8 questions regarding their belief in alternative medicine, and 12 questions about patients' trust in medical treatment. Validity and reliability were used using Pearson and Cronbach alpha.

Results

Validity tests showed that the understanding of cancer (r = 0.236–0.456), the patient's confidence in alternative medicine (r = 0.301–0.688) and the patient's confidence in medical care (r = 0.324–0.765) had r > 0.196. Reliability tests showed that the questions from each section had Cronbach alpha values of 0.712, 0.830, and 0.844, respectively. Alfa Cronbach > 0.60. The values indicate that all questions in the questionnaire are valid, reliable, consistent, and qualified for further analysis for the treatment of cancer patients.

Conclusions

This study shows that UNS – TRAfCP35 is valid and reliable for assessing patients' understanding of cancer, trust in alternative medicine, and medical care.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.