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Measuring Psychological Consequences of Screening: Adaptation of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire into Dutch

Quality of Life Research volume 15, pages 933–940 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of a Dutch adaptation of an originally Australian instrument measuring the psychological impact of breast cancer screening. Methods: The three subscales (emotional, physical, social) of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire (PCQ) underwent formal linguistic and cultural translation. A total of 524 women under intensive surveillance because of increased breast cancer risk were asked to complete the questionnaire at 2 months prior to screening, at the day of the screening visit preceding the screening, and 1–4 weeks after screening. Acceptability, score distribution, internal consistency, scale structure, responsiveness to change and construct validity were analysed. Results: Response rates were high (98–94%) and there were very few missing answers and non-unique answers. All scales had Cronbach’s αs > 0.70. The physical and social subscale showed ceiling effects. The item-own scale correlations were only slightly higher than the corresponding item-other scale correlations. Factor analysis showed that the assumed three separate subscales were replicated in our study. Pre- and post-screening effect sizes for the emotional scale were larger than for the other two scales. All PCQ scales correlated with the scales of two other psychological measures (p ≤ 0.01). The emotional scale and the total PCQ score were able to differentiate between subgroups varying in affective risk perception (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: The Dutch PCQ is useful in measuring psychological impact among women under intensive surveillance because of high breast cancer risk.

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Abbreviations

HADS:

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

IES:

Impact of Event Scale

MRI:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRISC Study:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening Study

PCQ:

Psychological Consequences Questionnaire

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    A. J. Rijnsburger, M. L. Essink-Bot, E. van As & H. J. de Koning

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC – Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075, EA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    A. J. Rijnsburger

  3. Faculty of Health, School of Medical Practice and Population Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

    J. Cockburn

Authors
  1. A. J. Rijnsburger
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  2. M. L. Essink-Bot
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  3. E. van As
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  4. J. Cockburn
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  5. H. J. de Koning
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. J. Rijnsburger.

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Rijnsburger, A.J., Essink-Bot, M.L., van As, E. et al. Measuring Psychological Consequences of Screening: Adaptation of the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire into Dutch. Qual Life Res 15, 933–940 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-5093-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-5093-8

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Cross-cultural adaptation
  • High-risk
  • Psychological morbidity
  • Screening