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The Caregivers Quality of Life Cancer index scale (CQoLC): an exploratory factor analysis for validation in French cancer patients’ spouses

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Caregivers Quality of Life Cancer index scale (CQoLC) in a sample of spouses of French cancer patients.

Methods

The CQoLC, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 (MOS SF-12) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered to 300 spouses aged 21–85 years. Clinical data such as severity of cancer, medical treatment and duration of illness were obtained from a review of medical records.

Results

An exploratory factor analysis yielded a 23-item measure with one factor explaining 38.76% of the variance: labeled impairment of quality of life. The correlations between this factor and MOS SF-12 were negative for the physical component (ρ = −0.351, p < 0.001) and positive for the mental component (ρ = 0.184, p < 0.005). One-way ANOVA with STAI scores indicated good discriminant validity (F[2, 237] = 4.80, p < 0.01, η2 = 0.04). Participants with low anxiety had a better quality of life than those with moderate and high anxiety.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that the CQoLC has sufficient validity and reliability to assess the impairment of quality of life in spouses of French cancer patients.

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Acknowledgment

The study was supported in part by a grant from the "Institut National du cancer, INCa".

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Montpellier, route de mende, 34199, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    Florence Cousson-Gélie

  2. University of Montpellier 3, Laboratory Epsylon, Montpellier, France

    Anaïs Lafaye, Stéphanie De Chalvron & Florence Cousson-Gélie

  3. Comprehensive Cancer Center Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France

    Nadine Houédé & Houchingue Eghbali

Authors
  1. Anaïs Lafaye
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  2. Stéphanie De Chalvron
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  3. Nadine Houédé
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  4. Houchingue Eghbali
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  5. Florence Cousson-Gélie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florence Cousson-Gélie.

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Lafaye, A., De Chalvron, S., Houédé, N. et al. The Caregivers Quality of Life Cancer index scale (CQoLC): an exploratory factor analysis for validation in French cancer patients’ spouses. Qual Life Res 22, 119–122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0113-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0113-y

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