Design and psychometric property analysis of the Opening to Communication in Cancer Patients Scale (OCCPS)

Abstract

Communication process between patients, family and health professionals has been relevant in psycho-oncology, reason why assessment scales have been developed in order to measure this process. Expressing about issues related to concerns about death and cancer has been related to more adaptive coping, and promotes adaptation to cancer. Thus, having an assessment tool to measure the opening patient has to communicate these issues (aluding to liberty and confidence) is useful. Nevertheless we have not detected measurement tools designed to assess the opening patients have related to communication in this context. Aim: To design a scale that measures in a brief form only the opening to communication about death and cancer and to study psychometric properties of the same. Method: Instrumental study, participants were 225 patients diagnosed with different types of cancer. The 9 item scale was administered to the participants in a private oncologic clinic in Querétaro, Mexico. The study sample was splited in halfs and the internal structure was studied by an exploratory factorial analysis in the first half, and in the other half, by a confirmatory factorial analysis.Results:Comunication Opening in Cancer Patients Scale (COCPS) has 9 items, and showed a unifactorial internal structure. Cronbach alfa value from the scale resulted acceptable (α = .866 in the first half, and α = .865 on the second half). Conclusion: The COCPS has psychometric properties that indicate that it can be used in mexican cancer patients.