Development of a disease risk perception assessment tool for first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer in China: A study based on the modified Delphi method

Background : There remains a lack of specific instruments tailored to assess disease risk perception among first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an assessment tool for disease risk perception among first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer in China. Methods : Using the framework of disease risk perception attitudes, we conducted a literature review, facilitated discussions within a research group, and employed the Delphi expert consultation method to screen items and quantify the dimensions and components of risk perception. A preliminary assessment tool was constructed to evaluate disease risk perception among first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer. From November to December 2024, a two-round questionnaire survey was administered to 20 experts in China using the Delphi method. The enthusiasm, authority, concentration, and consensus of opinions among experts were evaluated; additionally, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to determine the item weights. Results : The response rates for both rounds of expert consultation questionnaires were 100%, with an expert authority coefficient of 0.938. Kendall's concordance coefficients for the two rounds were 0.303 and 0.438, respectively (P < 0.001). The final assessment tool comprised two dimensions and twenty-six items designed to evaluate disease risk perception among first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer. Conclusions : The developed assessment tool demonstrated significant scientific rigor and practical applicability in evaluating disease risk perception among first-degree relatives of patients with esophageal cancer, thereby providing a reference standard for implementing interventions to mitigate disease risks.