Reliability, factor structure and validity of the Condom Barriers Scale for use with men in substance abuse treatment.

As part of the baseline assessment for protocol CTN-0018 (Reducing HIV/STD Risk Behaviors: A Research Study for Men in Drug Abuse Treatment), participants were administered the Condom Barriers Scale, an instrument originally developed to measure barriers women perceive as impeding condom use. This poster describes the protocol team’s assessment of the psychometrics of the CBS when used with a sample of men at high risk for HIV. Second-order confirmatory factor analysis of the CBS generally supported the underlying 4-factor subscale structure previously identified with women. However, exploratory factor analysis revealed several specific discrepancies in the factor structure between men and women. Some minor modifications of item assignment to scales are indicated when using the CBS with men. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability estimates were moderate to high in value. Overall, the analysis indicates the CBS is a potentially valid and reliable instrument for assessing barriers to condom use with men.

Related protocols: CTN-0018