Abstract
BackgroundAdolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors require psychometrically rigorous measures to assess their psychosocial well-being. Without methodologically adequate scales the accuracy of information obtained on the prevalence of needs, predictors of risk, and the potential success of any interventions, can be questioned. This review assessed the psychometric properties of measures designed specifically to identify the psychosocial health of this unique population.MethodsMedline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were searched to identify measures developed to assess the psychosocial health of AYA cancer survivors. Searches were limited to the years 1998-2008. A search of Medline revealed that the number of publications related to the assessment of psychosocial well-being in AYA cancer survivors prior to this period were minimal. The psychometric properties of identified measures were evaluated against pre-determined and generally accepted psychometric criteria including: reliability (internal consistency and test-retest); validity (face, content, construct, and criterion); responsiveness; acceptability; and feasibility.ResultsSeven quality of life measures met the inclusion criteria. No measures of unmet need were identified. All seven measures reported adequate internal consistency, face, content, and construct validity. Test-retest reliability, criterion (predictive) validity, responsiveness, acceptability, and feasibility were rarely examined.ConclusionsThere is a need to further evaluate the psychometric properties of existing quality of life measures for AYA cancer survivors. Valid, reliable, and acceptable measures which can assess the psychosocial needs of this population should also be developed.
Highlights
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors require psychometrically rigorous measures to assess their psychosocial well-being
The aim of this review is to critically examine the psychometric properties of multi-dimensional, self report measures developed to assess the psychosocial health of AYA cancer survivors
All of the psychosocial measures developed for AYA cancer survivors included in this review showed high total scale internal consistency
Summary
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors require psychometrically rigorous measures to assess their psychosocial well-being. Advances in treatment mean that between 73-82% of AYA diagnosed with cancer will survive up to five years post-diagnosis [5,6,7,8]. Increasing survival rates mean that a greater number of AYAs are living longer with the psychosocial sequelae of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment [7,8,9,10]. AYAs experience the wide range of physical, psychological, social and spiritual concerns of cancer survivors of all ages, but often have additional and unique needs due to their cancer occurring during a crucial stage of their personal and social development [11,12,13]. The majority have a history of lymphoma, leukaemia, invasive skin, genital, endocrine, brain or bone cancer [4,6,7,8]
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