Development and validation of the Cancer Knowledge Scale for the general population: An item response theory approach.

Objective: To develop and validate a new measure of cancer knowledge for members of the general population who have never been diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: Initially, 20 items were generated to measure cancer knowledge. After expert refinement and cognitive interviews, 11 items remained and were completed by 1,076 adults with no history of cancer.

Cancer disclosure to friends: Survey on psychological distress and perceived social support provision.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with the degree of distress experienced by patients with cancer before disclosing their cancer diagnosis to a friend and their perceptions of social support upon disclosure.

Methods: Adult patients with cancer participated in a cross-sectional Internet-based survey on their behaviour when disclosing their diagnosis to a selected friend, degree of distress before this disclosure and perceived social support upon disclosure.

Results: Of 473 eligible respondents, around half were middle-aged (40-59 years) and around half were men.