Reliability and validity of EQ-5D-3L and FACT in Beijing's patients with cancer and precancerosis / 肿瘤

Objective: Based on the Cancer Screening Program in urban districts in Beijing from 2013 to 2014, target populations included pulmonary, mammary, esophageal, colorectal, hepatic and gastric cancers and precancerosis patients. The EQ-5D-3L and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) questionnaires were used to measure the patients' quality of life and the reliability and validity of EQ-5D-3L and FACT were analyzed. Methods: The EQ-5D-3L and FACT questionnaires were used to measure 1 001 patients with cancer and precancerosis. The Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to test the consistent reliability of EQ-5D-3L and FACT. The factor analysis was used to measure the construct validity of FACT and the FACT as standard to test the convergent validity of EQ-5D-3L. Results: Cronbach's α coefficients of EQ-5D-3L for pulmonary, breast, esophageal, colorectal, hepatic and gastric cancers were 0.846, 0.805, 0.877, 0.862, 0.793 and 0.844, respectively; the Cronbach's α coefficients of FACT were 0.935, 0.916, 0.950, 0.952, 0.915 and 0.953, respectively. The cumulative explained variances of FACT were 64.28%, 65.15%, 71.43%, 67.21%, 64.76% and 70.56%, respectively. Compared with FACT, the convergent validities of EQ-5D-3L were 0.592, 0.503, 0.715, 0.672, 0.561 and 0.444, respectively. The convergent validities of EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were 0.553, 0.606, 0.576, 0.579, 0.361 and 0.364, respectively. Conclusion: EQ-5D-3L and FACT questionnaires for pulmonary, breast, esophageal, colorectal, hepatic and gastric cancers and the precancerosis patients are verified to have good reliabilities, and the FACT questionnaires of six types of cancers are being verified to have good construct validities. The EQ-5D-3L questionnaires for esophageal, colorectal, pulmonary, hepatic and breast cancers are being verified to have good convergent validities; but for the gastric cancer and precancerosis, there are limited validities.

Information and rehabilitation needs of Indian breast cancer patients: Report of a cross-sectional study.

Background: Breast cancer causes significant disruption to the quality of life (QOL) of its patients, which is compounded further by lack of information and adequate facilities for rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in women who had completed their Primary treatment of breast cancer. The QOL was assessed by Functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) version 4, and information and rehabilitation needs were enquired about in a semi-structured interview. Results: A total of 154 patients were enrolled and divided into three groups according to the time elapsed after initial treatment; Group I: 1-2 years, Group II: 2-5 years, Group III: >5 years The FACT-B mean scores were; Group I (n = 64): 79.06 ± 14.60; Group II (n = 48): 85.75 ± 20.15; and Group III (n = 42): 89.83 ± 12.80. Patients in Group I scored lowest on physical well-being subscale, Group II on breast specific subscale and Group III on Social well-being subscale. Pain, lack of energy, inability to meet the needs of the family, fear that the condition will get worse and loss of body image were significant factors contributing to poor QOL. Analysis of interviewshowed many unmet information needs. Main rehabilitation needs were effective treatment of physical symptoms and counselling about body image issues and sexual dysfunctions. Easy availability of clinical and social support services were major felt needs in the long-term follow-up. Conclusions: Targeted Interventions are needed to address issues relating to QOL and rehabilitation needs of breast cancer patients.

Quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors compared to healthy check-up women / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to compare quality of life of disease-free patients after therapy for gynecologic malignancies at follow-up in comparison with healthy check-up patients. Our second objective was to assess correlation between demographic data, disease and treatment factors and quality of life scores. METHODS: Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) quality of life questionnaire at least 6 months after treatment for a gynecologic malignancy. Responses were compared to unmatched healthy women who were seen for standard gynecologic screening examinations. Statistical calculation was done using chi-squared tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis and Spearman rank correlations. Factors associated with FACT-G scores were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Eight hundred and seventy patients were recruited. The median time since therapy was 61 months (range, 6 to 173 months). The overall FACT-G scores were higher in the patient group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). The scores of each subscale measuring physical, functional, social/family and emotional well-being were also higher in the patient group (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed correlation between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, educational level, care giver, presence of economic problems and FACT-G scores. CONCLUSION: The quality of life scores were higher in gynecologic cancer patients after treatment. And the factors that associated with the higher score in the patient group are having husband as a caregiver, no financial problem, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score 0 or 1 and having high school or higher education.