Purpose

Recognition has been growing that when developing effective and affordable survivorship care programmes, it is crucial to assess cancer survivors' unmet needs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, including construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity, of the Chinese version of the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs measure (C–CaSUN) using a sample of Chinese adult cancer survivors.

Method

A test battery, consisting of a self-developed information sheet and four Chinese version measurement scales [CaSUN, the Benefit Finding Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short Form (SF-12)], was applied to collect data from Chinese adult cancer survivors. Statistics methods used included exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's coefficient α, Pearson's correlation, and Kappa coefficient.

Results

There were 610 cancer survivors. Factor analysis confirmed the five-factor model of C–CaSUN, including information and medical care, life perspective, relationship, comprehensive support, and quality of life. Cronbach's α for all of the C–CaSUN scales was greater than 0.845. The test-retest correlations at the scale level, including the total and the five factors between the two time points, ranged from good to excellent (r = 0.713–0.833). The average Kappa coefficient at the item level was 44%. Evidence of significant negative correlations with SF-12 MCS, and positive correlations with anxiety and depression, established the concurrent validity of the C–CaSUN.

Conclusions

Evidence indicates that the C–CaSUN is a reliable and valid measure of unmet needs in Chinese cancer survivors. Findings support the five-factor construct of C–CaSUN.