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Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory: development and initial validation of a multidimensional measure of fear of cancer recurrence

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Abstract

Background

Despite the fact that the fear of cancer recurrence is to varying degrees almost universal in cancer survivors, there is a lack of validated multidimensional instruments to evaluate this issue specifically.

Purpose

The goal of this study was to develop and empirically validate a multidimensional self-report scale for assessing the fear of cancer recurrence, the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI).

Methods

A provincial medical databank was used to randomly select a pool of 1,704 French-Canadian patients who had been treated for breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer within the past 10 years. Of these, 300 patients were asked to complete the FCRI on two occasions.

Results

The factorial analysis conducted on the final 42-item scale revealed a seven-component solution (64% of the variance) including the following factors: triggers, severity, psychological distress, coping strategies, functioning impairments, insight, and reassurance. The results also supported the internal consistency (α = 0.95) and the temporal stability (r = 0.89) of the FCRI, as well as its construct validity with other self-report scales assessing fear of cancer recurrence (r = 0.68 to 0.77) or related constructs such as psychological distress (r = 0.43 to 0.77) and quality of life (r = −0.20 to −0.36).

Conclusions

This study suggests that the French-Canadian version of the FCRI is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating the multidimensional aspects of the fear of cancer recurrence.

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Acknowledgment

The authors wish to acknowledge the important contribution of Jean-Marie Boisvert, Ph.D.; Lise Fillion, Ph.D.; Pierre Gagnon, M.D.; Catherine Gonthier; Jean-Philippe Gouin; Séverine Hervouet, M.Ps.; Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D.; Julie Maheux; Elizabeth Maunsell, Ph.D.; Josée Rhéaume, Ph.D.; Zeev Rosberger, Ph.D.; Annie Tremblay, M.D.; and Valérie Tremblay. This research was based on the Ph.D. dissertation of Sébastien Simard, M.Ps., conducted under the direction of Josée Savard, Ph.D. This study was funded by IDEA grants from the Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (no. 014420) and the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (no. 014459), as well as a studentship and a scientist award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research awarded to the first and second author, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Sébastien Simard & Josée Savard

  2. Laval University Cancer Research Center, 11 Côte du Palais, Québec, Québec, G1R 2J6, Canada

    Sébastien Simard & Josée Savard

Authors
  1. Sébastien Simard
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  2. Josée Savard
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Correspondence to Josée Savard.

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Sébastien Simard is now at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie, Hôpital Laval, Québec, Canada.

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Simard, S., Savard, J. Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory: development and initial validation of a multidimensional measure of fear of cancer recurrence. Support Care Cancer 17, 241–251 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0444-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0444-y

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