Measuring cognitive complaints in breast cancer survivors: psychometric properties of the patient's assessment of own functioning inventory.

Abstract

Cognitive complaints are a concern for breast cancer survivors. Among various published measures for cognitive complaints, the Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory (PAOFI) is one of the few assessing a spectrum of cognitive abilities, including those most commonly reported by breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the PAOFI in breast cancer survivors. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with a sample of breast cancer survivors (n = 189) who had completed all primary cancer treatments. Construct validity was examined by correlating factor scores with valid measures of cognitive complaints, fatigue, and quality of life. Reliability was measured by internal consistency of the items in each factor within this sample, a separate sample of breast cancer survivors with high persistent cognitive complaints (n = 72), and healthy controls (n = 63). Factor scores were compared across the three samples. A five-factor structure similar to the PAOFI standardization study was found, with factors related to executive functioning (accounting for most of the variance), two aspects of memory functioning, language, and motor/sensory-perceptual abilities. Factor scores highly correlated with measures of cognitive complaints, fatigue, and quality of life. Executive functioning and memory-related factors achieved adequate reliability across samples. Scores were significantly different across the three samples as expected. The PAOFI is a reliable and valid tool for measuring cognitive complaints in breast cancer survivors.