title: Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cervix questionnaire in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cervical cancer is ​​the second most common tumor among Brazilian women, studies that evaluate the quality of life of these women are still scarce. This situation is explained by the lack of specific and validated tools for this purpose in Portuguese (Brazil). The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the FACT-CX (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cervix) questionnaire in a population of Brazilian women with cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The psychometric properties of the FACT-CX questionnaire were tested in a sample of 100 women diagnosed with cervical cancer who were previously treated in the Barretos Cancer Hospital. We analyzed the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient--ICC), confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity (correlation with the SF-36 questionnaire), and discriminant validity by disease stage and two questions related to self-perception of health was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scales had Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.61 to 0.80. However, three scales did not have a statistically significant coefficient greater than 0.70. The ICC ranged from 0.68 to 0.82 and all considered satisfactory. Factor analysis did not generate consistent components. The FACT-G and FACT-CX total scores had good internal consistency and reproducibility, and also correlated well with the General Health and Vitality scales of the SF-36. However, only two FACT-CX scales had a significant correlation with SF-36. Discriminant analysis showed that FACT-CX failed to discriminate groups according to clinical stage but was able to divide the women according to the self-perception of health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FATC-CX total score had good internal consistency, reproducibility and discriminant validity. In addition, it correlated well with General Health and Vitality scales of SF-36. However, three scales had questionable internal consistency and only two had significant correlation with SF-36.
authors.affiliation: Graduation Program in Public Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil ; Research and Teaching Institute, Barretos Cancer Hospital (IEP-HCB), Barretos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Menezes Sirna
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fregnani
authors.forename: José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fregnani
authors.forename: Maria do Rosário
authors.initials: Mdo R
authors.lastname: Dias de Oliveira Latorre
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*