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Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale

The Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale (CUSES) is a 28-item self-reported measure of one’s personal ability to use condoms. Different aspects of condom use self-efficacy captured by the scale include individuals’ feelings of confidence in the ability to access condoms, put on or take off a condom, and negotiate condom use. The estimated time for administration is 20 to 30 minutes.

Categories

Geographies Tested: United States of America

Populations Included: Female, Male

Age Range: Adolescents, Adults

Items:

These questions ask about your own feelings about using condoms in specific situations. Please respond even if you are not sexually active or have never used (or had a partner who used) condoms. In such cases, indicate how you think you would feel in such a situation.

  1. I feel confident in my ability to put a condom on myself or my partner.
  2. I feel confident I could purchase condoms without feeling embarrassed.
  3. I feel confident I could remember to carry a condom with me should I need one.
  4. I feel confident in my ability to discuss condom usage with any partner I might have.
  5. I feel confident in my ability to suggest using condoms with a new partner.
  6. I feel confident I could suggest using a condom without my partner feeling "diseased."
  7. I feel confident in my own or my partner's ability to maintain an erection while using a condom
  8. I would feel embarrassed to put a condom on myself or my partner.*
  9. If I were to suggest using a condom to a partner, I would feel afraid that he or she would reject me.*
  10. If I were unsure of my partner's feelings about using condoms, I would not suggest using one.*
  11. I feel confident in my ability to use a condom correctly.
  12. I would feel comfortable discussing condom use with a potential sexual partner before we ever had any sexual contact leg, hugging, kissing, caressing, etc).
  13. I feel confident in my ability to persuade a partner to accept using a condom when we have intercourse.
  14. I feel confident I could gracefully remove and dispose of a condom after sexual intercourse.
  15. If my partner and I were to try to use a condom and did not succeed, I would feel embarrassed to try to use one again (eg, not being able to unroll condom, putting it on backwards, or awkwardness).*
  16. I would not feel confident suggesting using condoms with a new partner because I would be afraid he or she would think I've had a past homosexual experience.*
  17. I would not feel confident suggesting using condoms with a new partner because I would be afraid he or she would think I have a sexually transmitted disease.*
  18. I would not feel confident suggesting using condoms with a new partner because I would be afraid he or she would think I thought they had a sexually transmitted disease.*
  19. I would feel comfortable discussing condom use with a potential sexual partner before we ever engaged in intercourse.
  20. I feel confident in my ability to incorporate putting a condom on myself or my partner into foreplay.
  21. I feel confident that I could use a condom with a partner without "breaking the mood."
  22. I feel confident in my ability to put a condom on myself or my partner quickly.
  23. I feel confident I could use a condom during intercourse without reducing any sexual sensations.
  24. I feel confident that I would remember to use a condom even after I have been drinking.
  25. I feel confident that I would remember to use a condom even if I were high.
  26. If my partner didn't want to use a condom during intercourse, I could easily convince him or her that it was necessary to do so.
  27. I feel confident that I could use a condom successfully.
  28. I feel confident I could stop to put a condom on myself or my partner even in the heat of passion.

    *Items reverse coded during scoring.

    Response Options:
    Strongly agree - 0
    Disagree - 1
    Undecided - 2
    Agree - 3
    Strongly agree - 4

Scoring Procedures

Negatively worded items are reverse coded (specified with asterisk) and scores summed to create a scale total that ranges from 0 (less favorable attitudes toward condoms) to 160 (more favorable attitudes toward condoms).

Original Citation

Brafford, L. J., & Beck, K. H. (1991). Development and validation of a condom self-efficacy scale for college students. Journal of American College Health, 39(5), 219-225. doi: 10.1080/07448481.1991.9936238


Psychometric Score

Ease of Use Score

Scoring breakdown

Formative Research

Qualitative Research

Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework

Field Expert Input

Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing

Reliability

Internal

Test-retest

Interrater

Validity

Content

Face

Criterion (gold-standard)

Construct

KEY

Ease of Use

Readability

Scoring Clarity

Length

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