LOCUS OF CONTROL ORIENTATION AND LEVEL - Drake University

The disadvantage of the VAS scale for use with surgical patients is that
vision and ability to concentrate on the printed scale may be altered by the
surgical experience. Understanding these factors, the nurses adapted the VAS.
The nurse described the tool to the person as a scale number 0 to 10 with the 0
end representing no pain, a 5, or the middle of the scale, being moderate pain,
and the 10 end as severe pain. The person was asked to choose a number that
best described his or her present level of pain. The number chosen was then
documented in the patient record.
The Multidimensional Hdth Lwus of Control Scales
(MHLC scales)
The MHLC scales are widely accepted as the most reliable and valid
measure of a person's LOG (locus of control) specific to health issues (Rock et
al., 1987). The MHLC is an t 8-item Likert-type questionnaire measuring three
dimensions of LOC. Based on responses on the MHLC scales, persons are
placed in one of three categories: Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLC),
Chance Health bcus of Control (GHLC), or Powerful Others Health Locus of
Control (PHLC). Six questions represent each of the three scales.
The MHLC scales forms A & B were tested by creating a questionnaire
that combines the MHLC scales with Levenson's Internal, Powerful Others, and
Chance (I, P & C) sde items, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale
(shortened to 10 items), two questions regarding health status and questions
regarding demographic data. The questionnaire was distributed to adults (16
and older) at an airport to get a divergent S~imple. 44 percent of the sample
and, of these, 49 percent were male and 74 percent college educated.