Validating the Chinese version of the Cancer Survivors’ Partners Unmet Needs measure (C‐CaSPUN) and exploring unmet needs in Chinese cancer survivor–family caregiver dyads

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the psychometric properties of the C‐CaSPUN in Chinese family caregivers (FCs) of cancer survivors (CaS) and to compare the unmet needs of CaS‐FC dyads. Methods A questionnaire survey, consisting of five Chinese version measurement scales, was used to collect data from CaS‐FC dyads. Statistical methods used included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach's α, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson's correlation. Results Participants consisted of 610 survivor–caregiver dyads. EFA and CFA established the four‐factor construct C‐CaSPUN, comprising relationship impact and life perspective, information and health care, quality of life (QoL) and survivorship care. All of the C‐CaSPUN scales had good internal reliability (Cronbach's α ≥ 0.752). The ICC for test–retest ranged from 0.645 to 0.782 at the scale level, with an average ICC value of 0.653. The concurrent validity was evidenced by C‐CaSPUN being negatively associated with SF‐12 MCS and positively related to anxiety and/or depression. In addition, the correlation coefficient scores between C‐CaSPUN factors and the C‐CaSUN total scale ranged from moderate to good (r = 0.505–0.671). Conclusions Study findings may support the reliability and validity of the C‐CaSPUN in measuring the unmet needs of FCs of Chinese CaS.

Validation of the Modified Thai Cancer Survivor’s Unmet Needs (T-CaSUN) for Cholangiocarcinoma Patients

“…Internal consistency of the T-CaSUN was good (r =0.79, factor loading score range = 0.46-0.96). These results were comparable to the original CaSUN by Hodgkinson et al (Hodgkinson et al, 2007), and the Dutch (Keeman et al, 2018), Spanish (Tyson et al, 2018), Chinese (Li et al, 2020) and Japanese (Komatsu et al, 2020) CaSUN version. The high internal consistency of CaSUN in different cultural contexts, including this study, shows the evidence of its strong reliability and indicates that this tool is well designed and eligible to answer the question in the short time, as shown by the participants' comments.…”

“…Therefore, to understand these unmet needs may assist in the development of beneficial interventions for CCA survivors. Nowadays, this instrument has not only been extensively recognized, adapted, and interpreted for use in the healthcare settings in various nations, including Dutch (Hodgkinson et al, 2007), Spanish (Tyson et al, 2018), Chinese (Li et al, 2020), and Japanese (Komatsu et al, 2020), but it has also been demonstrated to be a rational and trustworthy evaluation tool. In Thailand, the original version of this tool was being applied for evaluating unmet needs among various cancer survivors such as breast cancer and lung cancer by Pongthavornkamol et al (Pongthavornkamol et al, 2019), yet for CCA survivors remain lack of validated unmet scales that limit the comparability of the finding.…”

“…These differences could be due to differences in the population, healthcare system, or study design. As a result, the original version of the CaSUN questionnaire was used differently in different investigations, as indicated by the incompatible items and natural factors generated (Keeman et al, 2018;Tyson et al, 2018;Komatsu et al, 2020;Li et al, 2020), and several methodology flaws were discovered in many earlier CaSUN validation research. Similarly, the methodological approaches used in numerous investigations were either insufficient or inappropriate; for example, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) analysis with principal component and orthogonal rotation suggested that the underlying structures of CaSUN are both uncorrelated and unlikely to be correct, leading to the belief that the underlying structures of CaSUN are both uncorrelated and unlikely to be correct.…”

The dyadic relationship of supportive care needs with quality of life in lung cancer survivor and spousal caregiver couples

“…Although our study found that actor effects were more powerful than partner effects, the partial partner effects (LC survivors to the spousal caregiver only) of unmet SCNs on QOL were also noted. In line with prior work, 37 LC survivors' unmet SCNs not only reduce their QOL but also have an adverse impact on the health outcomes of their caregivers. This finding resonates with the collective culture found in most Asian countries, where family members play an important role in caregiving tasks.…”

“…Higher levels of unmet SCNs in LC survivors and their spousal caregivers can lower the overall QOL of the dyad. These findings are largely attributable to suboptimal cancer care in China, which creates unmet SCNs in LC survivors or spousal caregivers, 36 , 37 that manifest as physical (eg, breathlessness, fatigue, interference with daily functioning), psychological (fear of recurrence, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression), social (healthcare system), and governmental (lack of information) needs. 7 , 13 Furthermore, amidst the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, China implemented a range of restrictive actions on the public to reduce transmission, which may have hampered both receiving effective therapies and the normal lives of cancer patients and their families.…”