TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychometric properties of the FACT-G quality of life scale for family caregivers of cancer patients
AU - Song, Lixin
AU - Tan, Xianming
AU - Bredle, Jason
AU - Bennett, Antonia V.
AU - Northouse, Laurel
N1 - Funding Information:
The funding sources for our data included R01CA090739 (PI: Northouse) and R01CA107383 (PI: Northouse) from the National Cancer Institute. Lixin Song’s work was partially supported by R01NR016990 National Institute of Nursing Research (PI: Song), R21 CA212516 National Cancer Institute (PI: Song) and University Cancer Research Fund, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Xianming Tan’s work was partially supported by R01NR016990 National Institute of Nursing Research (PI: Song) and P30CA016086 National Cancer Institute (PI: Earp). Antonia Bennett’s work was partially supported by U2CNR014637 National Institute of Nursing Research (PI: Kutner). Acknowledgement
Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the expert guidance and contributions of Dr. Mary R. Lynn and the editorial assistance of Dr. Shari Miller at the School of Nursing University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - Purpose: This study aimed to examine psychometric properties of a caregiver version of the well-established Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G) after conducting focus groups and obtaining expert input. Methods: We made minor wording modifications to the Patient FACT-G to enable caregivers to report how the illness affected their overall quality of life (QOL) and well-being on four subscales (physical, social, emotional, functional). We tested the acceptability, precision, factor structure, reliability and validity of the Caregiver FACT-G among partners of prostate cancer patients (N = 263) and caregivers (spouses, siblings, adult children) of patients with advanced cancer (breast, lung, colorectal, prostate) (N = 484) using data from two Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs). Results: With a factor structure similar to the Patient FACT-G, Caregiver FACT-G was acceptable and precise in measuring caregiver QOL, with high inter-factor correlations and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alphas 0.81–0.91). The Caregiver FACT-G had strong convergent validity demonstrated by significant positive correlations with caregiver self-efficacy (0.25–0.63), dyadic communication (0.18–0.51), and social support (0.18–0.54) in both samples. It also had strong discriminant validity evidenced by significant inverse correlations with negative appraisal of caregiving (− 0.37 to − 0.69), uncertainty (− 0.28 to − 0.53), hopelessness (− 0.25 to − 0.60), and avoidant coping (− 0.26 to − 0.58) in both samples. Caregivers’ baseline FACT-G scores were significantly associated with their physical (0.23) and mental well-being (0.54; 4-month follow-up) and their depression (− 0.69; 3-month follow-up), indicating strong predictive validity. Conclusion: This is the first study evaluating the psychometric properties of the Caregiver FACT-G. More psychometric testing is warranted, especially among caregivers of diverse sociocultural backgrounds.
AB - Purpose: This study aimed to examine psychometric properties of a caregiver version of the well-established Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G) after conducting focus groups and obtaining expert input. Methods: We made minor wording modifications to the Patient FACT-G to enable caregivers to report how the illness affected their overall quality of life (QOL) and well-being on four subscales (physical, social, emotional, functional). We tested the acceptability, precision, factor structure, reliability and validity of the Caregiver FACT-G among partners of prostate cancer patients (N = 263) and caregivers (spouses, siblings, adult children) of patients with advanced cancer (breast, lung, colorectal, prostate) (N = 484) using data from two Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs). Results: With a factor structure similar to the Patient FACT-G, Caregiver FACT-G was acceptable and precise in measuring caregiver QOL, with high inter-factor correlations and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alphas 0.81–0.91). The Caregiver FACT-G had strong convergent validity demonstrated by significant positive correlations with caregiver self-efficacy (0.25–0.63), dyadic communication (0.18–0.51), and social support (0.18–0.54) in both samples. It also had strong discriminant validity evidenced by significant inverse correlations with negative appraisal of caregiving (− 0.37 to − 0.69), uncertainty (− 0.28 to − 0.53), hopelessness (− 0.25 to − 0.60), and avoidant coping (− 0.26 to − 0.58) in both samples. Caregivers’ baseline FACT-G scores were significantly associated with their physical (0.23) and mental well-being (0.54; 4-month follow-up) and their depression (− 0.69; 3-month follow-up), indicating strong predictive validity. Conclusion: This is the first study evaluating the psychometric properties of the Caregiver FACT-G. More psychometric testing is warranted, especially among caregivers of diverse sociocultural backgrounds.
KW - Cancer
KW - Caregiver
KW - Psychometric properties
KW - Quality of life
KW - Reliability
KW - Validity
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U2 - 10.1007/s11136-020-02477-7
DO - 10.1007/s11136-020-02477-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 32246432
AN - SCOPUS:85082974273
VL - 29
SP - 2241
EP - 2252
JO - Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation
JF - Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation
SN - 0962-9343
IS - 8
ER -