The factor structure of the revised Illness Perception Questionnaire in a population of oesophageal cancer survivors

Objectives : To determine whether the proposed seven‐factor structure of the Illness Perception Questionnaire—Revised (Timeline Acute/Chronic, Timeline Cyclical, Consequences, Personal Control, Treatment Control, Illness Coherence and Emotional Representations) is appropriate among a population of oesophageal cancer survivors. Methods : Everyone registered with the Oesophageal Patients' Association in the UK ( n = 2185) was mailed a questionnaire booklet, which included the Illness Perception Questionnaire—Revised. Responses from 587 oesophageal cancer survivors (27%) were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis. Results : The proposed seven‐factor structure provided a reasonable fit of the data. Modification indices suggested that a significantly better fit could be provided if one of the items on the Timeline Acute/Chronic factor loaded on the Treatment Control factor and an error covariance was added between two other items on the Timeline Acute/Chronic factor. Conclusions : The model fit for the seven‐factor structure proposed by Moss‐Morris et al . ( Psychol Health 2002;17:1–16) was found to be adequate in our study. However, the structure of the timeline acute/chronic factor needs to be considered, particularly when the IPQ‐R is to be used among older people with a potentially life‐threatening illness or those receiving palliative care. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.