Development and validation of the cancer worries inventory: A measure of illness-related cognitions

The Worries Inventory (CWI), containing 60 Likertlike items and 1 open-ended item, was completed by 185 cancer patients, who also completed one of four other measures: the Profile of Mood States-Short Form, the Stanford Inventory of Cancer Patient Adjustment, the Revised Impact of Event Scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General. Factor analysis resulted in a shortened, 24-item CWI that contained five factors (death and dying, burden, spirituality, chemotherapy, and treatment) and demonstrated good internal consistencies. Construct validity was evidenced by significant inverse relationships with positive mood, self-efficacy for coping with cancer, quality of life, and intrusive thoughts and by a significant positive relationship with five measures of negative mood.