Ego depletion in cancer: why and how to measure it? The EDIC scale-a measure development research.

Abstract

Objective: To develop a measure for ego-depletion in oncology, as a foundational step for research and future interventions to reduce ego-depletion in adults coping with cancer.

Methods: Helsinki Ethical approval was granted by the ethics board of the medical centre with which the first author is affiliated. A cross-sectional field test was carried out. Based on the conceptualisation and measurement of ego-depletion, health professionals from a multidisciplinary team at a cancer centre developed items according to the content of ego-depletion and its demonstration in cancer. To validate the measure, we used the Piper Fatigue in Cancer scale, the Emotional and Functional well-being scales from the General Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale, and the Busing self-regulation scale. REDCap, a web-based application, was used to capture data, structure the questionnaire, and distribute it. The final sample comprised 364 respondents.

Results: Descriptive statistics and item characteristics were carried out. Item reduction was performed using partial inter-item correlations and factor analyses. A three-factor structure underlying 27 items on the Ego-Depletion in Cancer Scale (EDIC) was supported. We label the first factor 'Actively Withstanding Ego-depletion,' the second factor 'Ego-depletion Ambivalence,' and the third factor 'Ego Cognitive Exhaustion.' The EDIC significantly correlated with related measures (e.g. fatigue, self-control, and positive emotions; p < .05).

Conclusion: A full EDIC scale, three subscales of the 27 items, is presented. Correlations demonstrated convergent validity and suggested the EDIC is distinct from existing constructs. Implications and applications are discussed. A path analysis demonstrated that the EDIC scale is valid for measuring ego depletion in adults with cancer.