Psychometric properties of the Chinese version Fear of Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire-7 (FCR-7)

Abstract

This article investigates the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the 7-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire (FCR-7). A total of 1,025 cancer patients were recruited and asked to complete the Chinese FCR-7, Fear of Progression Questionnaire—Short Form (FoP-Q–SF), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and 7-item General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). The internal consistency and test–retest reliabilities were examined. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on random split-half samples. Overall relationships of FCR-7 with other psychological constructs were examined. The Chinese FCR-7 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .87), test–retest reliability (r = .90), and item–total correlations (range = .583–.872). The unitary factor structure was supported by the EFA and the CFA fit statistics (comparative fit index = .99, root-mean-square error of approximation = .039, 95% confidence interval [.01, .07]). The total score of FCR-7 was positively associated with FoP-Q–SF (r = .756, p < .01), PHQ-9 (r = .522, p < .01), and GAD-7 (r = .553, p < .01). Patients with low monthly income (p < .001) and family cancer history (p = .012) and those who had gone through chemotherapy (p = .001) tended to report higher fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). The FCR-7 has been translated and successfully culturally adapted into a Chinese version. It is a reliable and valid measurement for assessing FCR.