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- Title
Psychometric properties of cancer survivors' unmet needs survey.
- Authors
Campbell HS; Sanson-Fisher R; Turner D; Hayward L; Wang XS; Taylor-Brown J; Campbell, H Sharon; Sanson-Fisher, Rob; Turner, Donna; Hayward, Lynda; Wang, X Sunny; Taylor-Brown, Jill
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>This study aims to develop a psychometrically rigorous instrument to measure the unmet needs of adult cancer survivors who are 1 to 5 years post-cancer diagnosis. "Unmet needs" distinguishes between problems which survivors experience and problems which they desire help in managing.<bold>Methods: </bold>The survey was developed from a comprehensive literature review, qualitative analysis of the six most important unmet needs of 71 cancer survivors, review of the domains and items by survivors and experts, cognitive interviews and a pilot test of 100 survivors. A stratified random sample of 550 cancer survivors, selected from a population-based Cancer Registry, completed a mailed survey to establish reliability and validity.<bold>Results: </bold>The final 89-item Survivors Unmet Needs Survey (SUNS) has high acceptability, item test-retest reliability and internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha 0.990), face, content and construct validity. Five subscales measure Emotional Health needs (33 items, 19.4% of variance), Access and Continuity of Care (22 items, 15.1%), Relationships (15 items, 12.1%), Financial Concerns (11 items, 10.3%) and Information needs (eight items, 8.1% of the variance).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>This instrument has strong psychometric properties and is useful for determining the prevalence and predictors of cancer survivors' unmet needs across types of cancer, length of survivorship and socio-demographic characteristics. Use of the SUNS will enable more effective targeting of programmes and services and guide policy and health planning decisions.<bold>Relevance: </bold>This study is an important step toward evidence-based planning and management of problems which the growing survivor population requires assistance in managing.
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2010, Vol 18, Issue 2, p221
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-009-0806-0