Patient-caregiver communication concordance in cancer—refinement of the Cancer Communication Assessment Tool in an Australian sample

Abstract

Purpose The objective of this study was to expand the international psychometric validation of the Cancer Communication Assessment Tool for Patients and Families (CCAT-PF) within a sample of Australian cancer patients. Methods Survey data from 181 cancer patient-caregiver dyads ≥ 18 years of age with solid or haematological cancers were analysed (85.4% response rate). Spearman’s rho was used to examine the correlation between CCAT-P and CCAT-F scores and weighted kappa the agreement between them. Exploratory factor analysis using scree plot and Kaiser-Guttman criteria was conducted to evaluate the scale structure. Cronbach’s α and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to measure internal consistency and concurrent validity respectively. Results Mean scores were the following: CCAT-P 46.2 (9.8), CCAT-F 45.7 (9.4), and CCAT-PF 24.1 (8.0). We confirmed the poor concordance between patient and caregiver reporting of items in the CCAT-PF, with all but two items having weighted kappa values < 0.20 and Spearman’s rho < 0.19. We derived a three-factor solution, disclosure, limitation of treatment, and treatment decision making, with reliability ranging from Cronbach’s α = 0.43–0.53. The CCAT-P and CCAT-F showed strong correlations with preparation for decision-making (CCAT-P: r = 0.0.92; CCATF: r = 0.0.93) but were weakly associated with patient/caregiver distress related with having difficult conversations on future care planning. Conclusion Preliminary validation of the CCAT-PF in the Australian setting has shown some similar psychometric properties to previously published studies, further supporting its potential utility as a tool to assess patient-caregiver dyadic communication. Trial registration ACTRN12620001035910 12/10/2020 retrospectively registered.