Fear of progression in partners of chronically ill patients

Behav Med. 2011 Jul;37(3):95-104. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2011.605399.

Abstract

Fear of progression (FoP) is one of the most prevalent symptoms in cancer patients. This chronic disease does not only have a profound impact on patients, but also on their spouses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a spouse FoP questionnaire (FoP-Q-SF/P) in 227 partners of chronically ill patients (breast cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus) in Germany. Estimates of reliability were high (α = 0.88). The original one-factor structure of the FoP-Q-SF for patients was replicated. We used the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-revised, Short Form-8 Health Survey, Quality of Marriage Index, Partnership Questionnaire, and Dyadic Coping Inventory to validate the FoP-Q-SF/P. Significant positive correlations were found for anxiety, hyperarousal and intrusion (r > .61) as well as for depression and avoidance (r > .51). Partners of patients with cancer reported significantly higher levels of FoP than did partners of patients with diabetes mellitus. The FoP-Q-SF/P is a reliable and valid instrument that can be recommended for further use in research and clinical care.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / nursing
  • Disease Progression*
  • Fear / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / nursing
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires