[Fear of progression in breast cancer patients--validation of the short form of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q-SF)].
OBJECTIVE
Fear of progression is one of the most prevalent symptoms in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to validate the 12-item short version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q-SF).


METHODS
A total of 1083 breast cancer patients were recruited by the Hamburg Cancer Register to fill out various questionnaires (response rate 67 %).


RESULTS
Estimates of reliability were high (Cronbach's alpha = .87). The original one-factor structure was replicated. We used the HADS, the PCL-C, and the SF-8, among others, to validate the FoP-Q-SF. Significant positive correlations were found for fear of progression, anxiety and intrusion (r > .60) as well as for avoidance, hyperarousal and depression (r > or = .49). Moderate to high (negative) correlations were observed with health-related quality of life, in particular with the mental health dimensions (r > or = .48). Patients with cancer recurrence reported significant higher levels of fear of progression (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The short form of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire appears to be a reliable and valid instrument which can be recommended for further use in research and clinical care.
Mehnert
Anja
A
Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. mehnert@uke-uni-hamburg.de
Herschbach
Peter
P
Berg
Petra
P
Henrich
Gerhard
G
Koch
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012803:Sick Role