URDU TRANSLATION AND VALIDATION OF THE SHAME AND STIGMA SCALE FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

This study aimed to translate and validate the Shame and Stigma Scale (originally developed by Kissane, 2013) into Urdu for head and neck cancer patients. The Department of Urdu Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad conducted forward and backward translations to ensure linguistic accuracy and conceptual integrity. The Urdu version was tested on 225 patients (mean age 43.33 ± 11.47), and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the scale’s original factor structure. Reliability was excellent, with Cronbach’s alpha above 0.94, and validity was supported by strong convergent and discriminant correlations. The validated Urdu scale offers a reliable tool for assessing shame and stigma in Urdu-speaking populations, aiding psycho-oncology research and practice. Future studies are encouraged to use dyadic samples from multiple hospitals for broader insights.