Lo, Chris, Hales, Sarah, Zimmermann, Camilla, Gagliese, Lucia, Rydall, Anne, and Rodin, Gary (2011) Measuring death-related anxiety in advanced cancer: preliminary psychometrics of the Death and Dying Distress Scale. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 33 (Suppl 2). s140-145.

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Abstract

The alleviation of distress associated with death and dying is a central goal of palliative care, despite the lack of routine measurement of this outcome. In this study, we introduce the Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS), a new, brief measure we have developed to assess death-related anxiety in advanced cancer and other palliative populations. We describe its preliminary psychometrics based on a sample of 33 patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. The DADDS broadly captures distress about the loss of time and opportunity, the process of death and dying, and its impact on others. The initial version of the scale has a one-factor structure and good internal reliability. Dying and death-related distress was positively associated with depression and negatively associated with spiritual, emotional, physical, and functional well-being, providing early evidence of construct validity. This distress was relatively common, with 45% of the sample scoring in the upper reaches of the scale, suggesting that the DADDS may be a relevant outcome for palliative intervention. We conclude by presenting a revised 15-item version of the scale for further study in advanced cancer and other palliative populations.

Item ID:	69163
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2752-7549
Copyright Information:	© 2011 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Date Deposited:	18 Dec 2024 01:31
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2002 Evaluation of health and support services > 200202 Evaluation of health outcomes @ 100%
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