The Structure of the FACT-Cog v3 in Cancer Patients, Students, and Older Adults

Abstract

Context: The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive (FACT-Cog) version 3 questionnaire is designed to assess perceived cognitive function and impact on quality of life in cancer patients.

Objectives: We examined the factor structure of the FACT-Cog version 3 in samples of cancer patients, older adults, and students.

Methods: Data from three populations were sourced. Cancer patient data (N = 158) came from two studies, one evaluating a web-based cognitive training program, and the other evaluating symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy. The older adult sample (N = 477) was commercial brain training users in the general population. The student sample (N = 154) came from a study examining the relation between cognitive test performance and perceived cognitive function.

Results: The patient sample conformed to the traditional four-factor structure (impairments, abilities, noticeability, and quality of life), with some support for separating the broad impairment/ability factors into specific cognitive domains. The older adult sample was best described using both impairments/abilities and specific cognitive domains. The student sample suggested two impairment/ability factors but separation of concentration/acuity and memory/verbal impairment items.

Conclusion: The FACT-Cog can be used in populations other than cancer patients, with modifications to the scoring system. Even when used with cancer patients, it is worth considering scoring specific cognitive domains separately.

Keywords: FACT-Cog; cancer patients; cognitive ability; cognitive impairment; confirmatory factor analysis; older adults; students.

Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.