Fear of Disease Scales

Based on the retrieved evidence, the primary validated scale for measuring fear of disease progression (FoP) is the **Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF)** and its partner version. ### Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) This is the core instrument identified across multiple studies for assessing FoP in patients. | Feature | Description | | :--- | :--- | | **Full Name** | Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) | | **Original Developer** | Mehnert et al. (2006) [1][4] | | **Chinese Version** | Translated and validated by Wu Qiyun et al. (2015) [1][4] | | **Structure** | 12 items across 2 dimensions: <br> - **Physical Health Fear** (6 items) <br> - **Social Family Fear** (6 items) [1][4] | | **Scoring** | 5-point Likert scale (1 = "never" to 5 = "always") [1][4] | | **Score Range** | 12 to 60 (higher scores indicate greater fear) [1][4] | | **Clinical Threshold** | **≥34 points** indicates clinically significant psychological dysfunction related to FoP [1][2][4] | | **Psychometric Properties** | - **Cronbach's α**: 0.840–0.911 across studies, indicating good to excellent internal consistency [1][3][4] <br> - **Construct Validity**: Demonstrated good construct validity in Chinese populations [3] | ### Partner Version: FOP-Q-SF/P A specific version exists for assessing FoP in the patient's partner or spousal caregiver. | Feature | Description | | :--- | :--- | | **Full Name** | Chinese Fear of Disease Progression Questionnaire-Short Form for Partners (FOP-Q-SF/P) | | **Target Population** | Spousal caregivers of cancer patients [2] | | **Structure** | Identical to FoP-Q-SF: 12 items, 2 dimensions (physical health, social-family function) [2] | | **Scoring** | Same 5-point Likert scale, total score range 12–60 [2] | | **Clinical Threshold** | ≥34 points, indicative of mental dysfunction related to FoP [2] | | **Psychometric Properties** | Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.89 in the cited study [2] | ### Summary of Clinical Application - **Primary Instrument**: The **FoP-Q-SF** is the standard, validated tool for quantifying a patient's fear of disease progression or recurrence. - **Clinical Cut-off**: A score of **≥34** is the established threshold for identifying patients with a clinically significant level of fear that may require psychological intervention. - **Partner Assessment**: The **FOP-Q-SF/P** allows for parallel assessment of the psychological burden on the patient's partner, which is crucial for a holistic family-centered care approach. --- *Disclaimer: This information is synthesized from the provided literature for clinical reference. Clinical decisions should be based on a comprehensive patient assessment and professional judgment.*