Psychometric evaluation of the Brief Cancer Impact Assessment among breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The increasing number of cancer survivors brings greater attention to the biopsychosocial impact of surviving cancer. Instruments exist that measure quality of life (QOL), symptoms, and specific types of functioning after cancer; however, a reliable and valid assessment of the perceived impact of cancer (IOC) on the life plans and activities of cancer survivors has been missing. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 16-item Brief Cancer Impact Assessment (BCIA).


METHODS
Factor analysis with Promax oblique rotation established the factor structure of the BCIA in 783 ethnically diverse breast cancer survivors, >or=2 years after diagnosis. Construct validity was assessed by comparing factor-based scale means by demographic and treatment characteristics, and correlating scales with psychosocial and health-related QOL scales.


RESULTS
Factor analysis revealed four factors measuring the IOC on caregiving and finances, exercise and diet behaviors, social and emotional functioning, and religiosity. Scale scores differed by demographic and treatment characteristics according to expectations, and the pattern of correlations with psychosocial and health-related QOL generally supported the construct validity of the scales.


CONCLUSIONS
Including the BCIA with measures of QOL, symptoms, and functioning will allow researchers to gain a more comprehensive assessment of the biopsychosocial IOC in survivors.
Alfano
Catherine M
CM
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
McGregor
Bonnie A
BA
Kuniyuki
Alan
A
Reeve
Bryce B
BB
Bowen
Deborah J
DJ
Wilder Smith
Ashley
A
Baumgartner
Kathy B
KB
Bernstein
Leslie
L
Ballard-Barbash
Rachel
R
Malone
Kathleen E
KE
Ganz
Patricia A
PA
McTiernan
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012380:Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*