The Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (PDQ-BC) is a useful instrument to screen psychosocial problems.

PURPOSE

Recently, the Psychosocial Distress Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (PDQ-BC), a screening instrument specific for patients with early-stage breast cancer, was developed. The aim of this study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the PDQ-BC, in particular the subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems.

METHODS

Before patients received treatment (N = 123), they completed the PDQ-BC, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-100) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

RESULTS

Floor effects were present in 44% of the subscales, whereas ceiling effects were only found in the social support subscale (11%). The PDQ-BC subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems were highly correlated with the corresponding WHOQOL-100 facets social support, sexual activity and financial resources. Furthermore, the subscale depressive symptoms (PDQ-BC) was highly significantly correlated with the CES-D. Low correlations were found between the PDQ-BC subscales and questionnaires that were expected to be unrelated. Exceptions are the subscales trait anxiety and state anxiety, which had a high correlation with the CES-D. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the subscales trait anxiety, state anxiety, depressive symptoms, body image and physical problems ranged from 0.70 to 0.87. Social problems had a low consistency (0.39). Corrected item-total correlations confirmed the PDQ-BC structure.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDQ-BC has expected floor effects, few ceiling effects and sufficient internal consistency. Furthermore, the construct validity on the PDQ-BC subscales social support, sexual problems and financial problems was good. Thus, the PDQ-BC can be used to screen psychosocial problems in patients with early-stage breast cancer as part of routine care.