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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 8/2012

01-08-2012 | Original Article

The Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (PDQ-BC) is a useful instrument to screen psychosocial problems

Authors: Mirjam P. J. Bogaarts, Brenda L. Den Oudsten, Jan A. Roukema, Johanna M. G. H. Van Riel, Laurens V. Beerepoot, Jolanda De Vries

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 8/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Recently, the Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (PDQ-BC), a screening instrument specific for patients with early-stage breast cancer, was developed. The aim of this study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the PDQ-BC, in particular the subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems.

Methods

Before patients received treatment (N = 123), they completed the PDQ-BC, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-100) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

Results

Floor effects were present in 44% of the subscales, whereas ceiling effects were only found in the social support subscale (11%). The PDQ-BC subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems were highly correlated with the corresponding WHOQOL-100 facets social support, sexual activity and financial resources. Furthermore, the subscale depressive symptoms (PDQ-BC) was highly significantly correlated with the CES-D. Low correlations were found between the PDQ-BC subscales and questionnaires that were expected to be unrelated. Exceptions are the subscales trait anxiety and state anxiety, which had a high correlation with the CES-D. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the subscales trait anxiety, state anxiety, depressive symptoms, body image and physical problems ranged from 0.70 to 0.87. Social problems had a low consistency (0.39). Corrected item–total correlations confirmed the PDQ-BC structure.

Conclusions

The PDQ-BC has expected floor effects, few ceiling effects and sufficient internal consistency. Furthermore, the construct validity on the PDQ-BC subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems was good. Thus, the PDQ-BC can be used to screen psychosocial problems in patients with early-stage breast cancer as part of routine care.
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Metadata
Title
The Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (PDQ-BC) is a useful instrument to screen psychosocial problems
Authors
Mirjam P. J. Bogaarts
Brenda L. Den Oudsten
Jan A. Roukema
Johanna M. G. H. Van Riel
Laurens V. Beerepoot
Jolanda De Vries
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 8/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1256-z

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