title: Validation of the flemish CARES, a quality of life and needs assessment tool for cancer care.
abstract: The Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES) is a quality of life (QOL) and needs assessment instrument of US origin that was developed in the 90's. Since November 2012 the copyright and user fee were abolished and the instrument became publicly available the present study aims to reinvestigate the psychometric properties of the CARES for the Flemish population in Belgium.
  
  
  
  The CARES was translated into Flemish following a translation-back translation process. A sample of 192 cancer patients completed the CARES, concurrent measures, and questions on socio-demographic and medical data. Participants were asked to complete the CARES a second time 1 week later, followed by some questions on their experiences with the instrument. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, construct validity, concurrent validity and feasibility of the CARES were subsequently assessed.
  
  
  
  The Flemish CARES version demonstrated excellent reliability with high internal consistency (range .87-.96) and test-retest ratings (range .70-.91) for all summary scales. Factor analysis replicated the original factor solution of five higher order factors with factor loadings of .325-.851. Correlations with other instruments ranging from |.43|-|.75| confirmed concurrent validity. Feasibility was indicated by the low number of missing items (mean 2.3; SD 5.0) and positive feedback of participants on the instrument.
  
  
  
  The Flemish CARES has strong psychometric properties and can as such be a valid tool to assess cancer patients' QOL and needs in research, for example in international comparisons. The positive feedback of participants on the CARES support the usefulness of this tool for systematic assessment of cancer patients' well-being and care needs in clinical practice.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02282696 (July 16, 2014).
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. bojoura.schouten@uhasselt.be.
authors: Bojoura
authors: B
authors: Schouten
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.|AZ Delta, Rode-Kruisstraat 20, 8800, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Hellings
authors: Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors: Elke
authors: E
authors: Van Hoof
authors: Department of Public health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, PB 7001, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.|Belgian Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBAM), Kapucijnenvoer 33-blok J, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Vankrunkelsven
authors: Jessaziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Bulens
authors: Department of Public health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, PB 7001, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Buntinx
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.|Jessaziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Mebis
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.|ICURO, Guimardstraat 1, 1040, Brussel, Belgium.
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Vandijck
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.|Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Rue des Flamboyants, B.P 6006, 97306, Cayenne Cedex, France.
authors: Ward
authors: W
authors: Schrooten
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: CARES; Cancer; Needs assessment; Psycho-oncology; Psychosocial; Quality of life; Validation