The factor structure of the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire in a population of oesophageal cancer survivors

Martin Dempster*, Noleen K. McCorry

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)
316 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives
To determine whether the proposed 7-factor structure of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (Timeline Acute/Chronic, Timeline Cyclical, Consequences, Personal Control, Treatment Control, Illness Coherence and Emotional Representations) is appropriate among a population of oesophageal cancer survivors.

Methods
Everyone registered with the Oesophageal Patients’ Association in the UK (n=2185) was mailed a questionnaire booklet which included the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised. Responses from 587 oesophageal cancer survivors (27%) were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis.

Results
The proposed 7 factor structure provided a reasonable fit of the data. Modification indices suggested that a significantly better fit could be provided if one of the items on the Timeline Acute/Chronic factor loaded on the Treatment Control factor and an error covariance was added between 2 other items on the Timeline Acute/Chronic factor.

Conclusions
The model fit for the 7 factor structure proposed by Moss-Morris et al. (2002) was found to be adequate in our study. However, the structure of the timeline acute/chronic factor needs to be considered, particularly when the IPQ-R is to be used among older people with a potentially life-threatening illness or those receiving palliative care.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)524-530
JournalPsycho-oncology
Volume21
Issue number5
Early online date08 Feb 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2012

Keywords

  • Cancer; oncology; oesophagus; factor analysis, illness perceptions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

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