ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Development of the cancer-related loneliness assessment tool: Using the findings of a qualitative analysis to generate questionnaire items
K. B. Cunningham PhD, MSc, MA (Hons),
T. Kroll PhD, Dipl-Psych (GER),
M. Wells PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RGN,
Corresponding Author
K. B. Cunningham PhD, MSc, MA (Hons)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
DHSRU, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
Correspondence
Kathryn Burns Cunningham, DHSRU, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorT. Kroll PhD, Dipl-Psych (GER)
Professor
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
Search for more papers by this authorM. Wells PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RGN
Professor
NMAHP Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
Search for more papers by this authorK. B. Cunningham PhD, MSc, MA (Hons),
T. Kroll PhD, Dipl-Psych (GER),
M. Wells PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RGN,
Corresponding Author
K. B. Cunningham PhD, MSc, MA (Hons)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
DHSRU, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
Correspondence
Kathryn Burns Cunningham, DHSRU, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorT. Kroll PhD, Dipl-Psych (GER)
Professor
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
Search for more papers by this authorM. Wells PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RGN
Professor
NMAHP Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information:
The work was supported by a University of Dundee PhD studentship.
Abstract
The aim of this research was to develop a tool to identify and assess the qualities of cancer-related loneliness in adult cancer survivors who have completed treatment. In addition to reporting the development of the tool, we explicate the process of using the findings of a qualitative analysis to generate questionnaire items, as currently little guidance exists on this topic. The findings of our qualitative research exploring the experience of loneliness in adult cancer survivors who had completed treatment, together with the findings of our concept analysis of loneliness, were used to develop an assessment tool for cancer-related loneliness following treatment completion. Cognitive testing was undertaken to assess fidelity of comprehension and feasibility in administration. The Cancer-Related Loneliness Assessment Tool is a 10-item self-report questionnaire capturing the essential elements of cancer-related loneliness following treatment completion. Experts believed the questionnaire to be face-valid and usable in clinical practice, and preliminary cognitive testing indicated that the items generate the information intended and individuals have little trouble completing the tool. Following further development work, the tool could be employed to identify cancer-related loneliness following treatment completion. It could also aid with the development/adaptation and evaluation of person-centred interventions to address such loneliness.
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