Extending the use of the web-based HIV Testing Belief Inventory (wHITBI) to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): An examination of reliability and validity

Purpose: This paper extended the use of a web-based HIV Testing Belief Inventory (wHITBI), developed and validated by Hou among a majority white university in southeast U.S., to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Methods: The 19-item wHITBI, along with other items in the survey, was reviewed by an expert panel to qualitatively assess the construct validity, clarity, relevancy, and comprehensiveness to HBCU students. Students were recruited from 15 HBCUs across the U.S. (valid N=372). Seven of the HBCUs were in rural and 10 HBCUs were private colleges. Results: The mean age of students was 20.5 (SD=2.4) years, 80% females, 92% heterosexual oriented, and 58% been tested for HIV previously. Reliabilities of the four subscales in wHITBI revealed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ranging from .58 to .85). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the wHITBI items were loaded in a way consistent with the four theoretical constructs: perceived benefits, concerns of HIV risk, HIV stigma, and availability/accessibility of testing. Results obtained from LISREL confirmed the structure of the inventory indicated by good model fit indices (chi-squre/df =2.06; RMSEA=.06; NNFI=.90; CFI=.93; IFI=.93; RMS=.07), with all factor loaded significantly (p < .001). Conclusions: The psychometrics of the wHITBI demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity in the original study with a majority white student sample and appears to maintain its integrity in a sample of HBCU students. The wHITBI has the validated evidence as a potential viable assessment and evaluation tool for HIV prevention programs delivered via the Internet.