Valued Outcomes in the Cancer Experience (VOICE)(TM): Development and validation of a multidimensional measure of perceived control

Objective. Enhancing cancer patients' sense of control can positively impact psychological well-being. We developed and assessed the psychometric properties of Valued Outcomes in the Cancer Experience (VOICE)(TM), a measure of patients' perceived control over key personal priorities within their cancer experience. Methods. VOICE construction and testing were completed in three phases with separate participant samples: (1) item generation and initial item pool testing (N= 459), (2) scale refinement (N= 623), and (3) confirmatory validation (N= 515). Results. A 21-item measure was developed that captures cancer patients' sense of control in seven key domains: (1) Purpose and Meaning, (2) Functional Capacity, (3) Longevity, (4) Quality Care, (5) Illness Knowledge, (6) Social Support, and (7) Financial Capability. VOICE demonstrated adequate internal consistency (full-scale alpha = 0.93; factor alpha = 0.67-0.89) and adequate to strong convergent and discriminatory validity. Significance of results. VOICE measures cancer patients' perceived control across a diverse range of personal priorities, creating a platform for elevating patient perspectives and identifying pathways to enhance patient well-being. VOICE is positioned to guide understanding of the patient experience and aid the development and evaluation of supportive care interventions to enhance well-being.