GOALS OF WORK: This paper describes the development of a self-rating scale to measure preparatory grief in advanced cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer patients (PGAC) instrument incorporates seven multi-items scales. The final sample consisted of 200 patients. The questionnaire was completed at baseline and 3 days later with a cross-validation sample of 100 patients. MAIN RESULTS: The average time required to complete the questionnaire was 9 min. All scales met the minimum standards of reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient >0.70). The test-retest reliability in terms of Spearman-rho coefficient was also satisfactory (p < 0.05). Validity was demonstrated by content validity, factor analysis, convergence and discriminative validity, inter-scales correlations, concurrent validity with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and known-group validity with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. CONCLUSIONS: The PGAC is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of anticipatory grief in patients with advanced stage cancer.
GOALS OF WORK: This paper describes the development of a self-rating scale to measure preparatory grief in advanced cancerpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancerpatients (PGAC) instrument incorporates seven multi-items scales. The final sample consisted of 200 patients. The questionnaire was completed at baseline and 3 days later with a cross-validation sample of 100 patients. MAIN RESULTS: The average time required to complete the questionnaire was 9 min. All scales met the minimum standards of reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient >0.70). The test-retest reliability in terms of Spearman-rho coefficient was also satisfactory (p < 0.05). Validity was demonstrated by content validity, factor analysis, convergence and discriminative validity, inter-scales correlations, concurrent validity with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and known-group validity with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. CONCLUSIONS: The PGAC is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of anticipatory grief in patients with advanced stage cancer.
Authors: Maxwell T Vergo; Jeremy Whyman; Zhigang Li; Jeanne Kestel; Spencer L James; Christopher Rector; John M Salsman Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2016-09-01 Impact factor: 2.947