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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-02-2021 | Melanoma | Original Article

Psychosocial distress in patients with cutaneous melanoma: validation of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI)

Authors: Chelsea Moran, Adina Coroiu, Annett Körner

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI) in a sample of patients with melanoma.

Methods

This study uses data from an observational study with longitudinal follow-up examining predictors of skin self-examination in melanoma patients from Montréal, Canada. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to investigate the factor structure of the 15-item SCI scale. Correlations with other psychosocial measures of anxiety and depression, fear of cancer recurrence, quality of life, and emotional well-being were computed to examine construct validity.

Results

EFA results with 241 participants revealed a two-factor structure with acceptable fit and no significant cross-loadings. CFA results with a subsample of 173 participants examining the two-factor structure and second-order structure found equivalent fit for the two solutions. Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale score and both subscales was high. Both factors showed positive associations with measures of anxiety and depression and fear of cancer and negative associations with quality of life and emotional well-being.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the SCI functions as a reliable two-factor scale assessing emotional and social distress in patients with melanoma, with the total SCI score assessing overall psychosocial distress.

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Title: Psychosocial distress in patients with cutaneous melanoma: validation of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI)
Authors: Chelsea Moran
Adina Coroiu
Annett Körner
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Melanoma
Melanoma
Anxiety
Skin Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05568-w

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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