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Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship 1/2015

01-03-2015

The Concerns About Recurrence Questionnaire: validation of a brief measure of fear of cancer recurrence amongst Danish and Australian breast cancer survivors

Authors: Belinda Thewes, Robert Zachariae, Søren Christensen, Tine Nielsen, Phyllis Butow

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is prevalent amongst survivors, and breast cancer survivors are particularly vulnerable. Currently, there are few well-validated brief measures of FCR and none specific to breast cancer. This manuscript describes the development and initial validation of a new measure of FCR for breast cancer survivors, the Concerns about Recurrence Questionnaire (CARQ), and reports its initial validation in an Australian and Danish population-based sample of breast cancer survivors.

Methods

CTT analyses explored scale reliability and validity; Rasch analyses explored model fit statistics, item bias (DIF) and local dependency. Three-item, four-item and five-item versions were considered.

Results

Two hundred eighteen Australian women aged 28–45 years diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (stages 0–2) and 2001 Danish women diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 1–3) aged 26–70 completed the CARQ. Based on the results of both CTT and IRT analyses, the four-item English version of the scale performed best. Although the CTT analyses suggested that the CARQ-4 was reliable and valid in both samples, Rasch analyses identified item bias relative to age, and local dependence which may be remedied by further scale development.

Conclusions

The CARQ-4 English version is currently one of the most rigorously tested brief scales of FCR available.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The availability of more valid and reliable brief measures of FCR will help to promote research and screening of FCR amongst cancer survivors.
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Metadata
Title
The Concerns About Recurrence Questionnaire: validation of a brief measure of fear of cancer recurrence amongst Danish and Australian breast cancer survivors
Authors
Belinda Thewes
Robert Zachariae
Søren Christensen
Tine Nielsen
Phyllis Butow
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0383-1

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