title: Psychometric Evaluation of an Adolescent and Young Adult Module of the Impact of Cancer Instrument.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and evaluate a new instrument that measures unique aspects of long-term survivorship for people diagnosed with cancer as Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA), not measured by existing tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new candidate instrument-the Impact of Cancer for Adolescent and Young Adult (IOC-AYA) cancer survivors-was developed and administered to AYA cancer survivors aged 18-35 years who were 15-29 years old when diagnosed with cancer. Psychometric properties of newly derived scales were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analyses of items derived seven new and specific subscales: Social Life; Uncertainties, Worries and Wonders; Cognitive Function; Sense of Purpose/Life Goals; Identity; Health Behaviors; and Health Literacy. Two separate and conditional subscales were formed: Relationship Concerns (partnered/unpartnered) and Having Children (at least one child/no children). Internal consistency measurements for these subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.90. Expected associations within and among IOC-AYA subscales and standardized measures of quality of life were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychometric analyses indicated that this initial version of the IOC-AYA measures distinct and relevant constructs for survivors diagnosed with cancer in adolescence and young adulthood. Future work is needed to confirm the responsiveness to change and further validate the instrument in multiple and representative samples. Use of the IOC-AYA instrument in research and clinical practice will inform the development of psychosocial and supportive care interventions that not only minimize or prevent long-term deleterious effects of cancer but also promote positive adaptation, resilience, and the achievement of age-specific developmental tasks.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Husson
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Michigan School of Social Work , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zebrack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: distress; instrument development; psychosocial impact of cancer; quality of life; survivorship