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Development and validation of the Short-Form Survivor Unmet Needs Survey (SF-SUNS)

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Abstract

Purpose

The Survivor Unmet Needs Survey (SUNS) is one of the only unmet needs measures that was developed and evaluated utilising a population-based sample of cancer survivors. At 89 items, the current scale is quite burdensome. The current study aimed to develop a valid and reliable short version of this survey.

Methods

A heterogeneous sample of 1,589 cancer survivors, aged 19 years or over at diagnosis, diagnosed with a histologically confirmed cancer in the previous 12 to 60 months, completed the SUNS. Using these data, we employed a combined theoretical and statistical method of reducing the number of items in the SUNS. The shortened survey was examined for construct validity, internal consistency, discriminant validity and floor and ceiling effects.

Results

Fifty-nine items were removed. Construct validity closely reflected the original structure of the SUNS. However, all items from the Emotional health and Relationships domains loaded onto one factor. Cronbach's alpha for the final four domains were 0.85 or above, demonstrating strong internal consistency. Intra-class correlations of the three domains from the original survey (Financial concerns, Information and Access and continuity of care) and shortened survey were high (>0.9). Discriminant validity illustrated the short-form SUNS' ability to discriminate between those who had recently received treatment and those who had not.

Conclusions

This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the short-form SUNS (SF-SUNS). Future studies should confirm the test–retest reliability and predictive validity of the SF-SUNS utilising large, independent, population-based samples of cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (grant # 018777) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant # KAL82607). This research was supported by a Strategic Research Partnership Grant from Cancer Council NSW to the Newcastle Cancer Control Collaborative. The authors thank the many cancer survivors and support persons who generously gave their time to advance our understanding of this disease. The contributions of co-investigators and partners at the Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Care Manitoba, Alberta Health Services Cancer Registry, and CancerCare Nova Scotia are acknowledged as well as research staff at the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact. Finally, we would like to acknowledge statistical support provided by Robin Burkhalter from the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact and Dr Patrick Mcelduff from the University of Newcastle.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no financial disclosures or conflict of interests. The authors also have full control of the primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave, West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    H. Sharon Campbell

  2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle & Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia, 2308

    Alix E. Hall & Rob W. Sanson-Fisher

  3. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle & Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Daniel Barker

  4. Epidemiology and Cancer Registry, CancerCare Manitoba, Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Donna Turner

  5. Patient and Family Support Services, CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada

    Jill Taylor-Brown

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  1. H. Sharon Campbell
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Correspondence to Alix E. Hall.

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Campbell, H.S., Hall, A.E., Sanson-Fisher, R.W. et al. Development and validation of the Short-Form Survivor Unmet Needs Survey (SF-SUNS). Support Care Cancer 22, 1071–1079 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2061-7

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