Standardization of the Oncology Patients Social Acceptance Questionnaire

Background: Cancer affects not only physical health but also social functioning and psychological well-being. The attitudes of the general public toward people with cancer can significantly influence patients’ quality of life, treatment outcomes, and social reintegration. Despite progress in education and awareness, some stereotypes and fears persist, contributing to stigmatization and social distance. To measure these attitudes reliably, the Oncology Patients Social Acceptance Questionnaire (OSA-7) was developed — a brief tool assessing social acceptance and willingness to support individuals with cancer. The study aimed to standardize the OSA-7 questionnaire in a Polish adult sample and to evaluate its psychometric properties, including reliability, factor structure, and normative interpretation. Methods: A total of 200 healthy adults aged 18–75 completed the OSA-7. The questionnaire consists of seven statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), with one reverse-scored item. Cronbach’s α, item-total correlations, and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess internal consistency and dimensionality. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons (gender, age, and contact with cancer) were conducted to develop preliminary norms. Results: The OSA-7 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.83). All items correlated positively with the total score (r = 0.55–0.7). Factor analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure explaining 47% of the variance, supporting the conceptual coherence of the scale. The mean total score was 26.6 [standard deviation (SD) = 5.2], with 83.5% of participants demonstrating high or very high acceptance of people with cancer. No significant differences were found across gender or age groups, although respondents with prior contact with a cancer patient tended to show higher acceptance levels. Conclusions: The OSA-7 is a psychometrically sound and concise instrument for assessing social acceptance toward individuals with cancer. It demonstrates high reliability, a clear one-factor structure, and interpretive value for identifying variations in public attitudes. The tool may be useful for research, public health initiatives, and educational programs aimed at reducing stigma and promoting social integration of oncology patients.