Validity and reliability of the Perceived Stress Scale among cancer survivors / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To test the validity and reliability of the Perceived Stress Scale-14 items (PSS-14) applied in cancer survivors.Methods:Totally 652 cancer survivors (patients who had finished active treatments and were in convalescence) were selected and a field questionnaire survey was conducted among them.Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to test the construct validity of PSS-14.Correlation between the two dimensions (discriminant validity) and correlation between stress and quality of life were analyzed to further test its validity.The intemal consistency reliability,split-half reliability,retest reliability and sensitivity analysis were adopted to test the reliability of PSS-14.Results:Two common factors were extracted in the exploratory factor analysis.The cumulative percentage of variance explained was 60.8％.The index of confirmatory factor analysis were:TLI =0.92,CFI =0.93,SRMR =0.07,RMSEA =0.08.The correlation coefficient between the two dimensions of PSS-14 was-0.16 (P ＜0.001).The correlation coefficients between the score of PSS-14 and each dimension of EORTC QLQ-C30 were 0.24-0.55 (P ＜ 0.001).The Cronbach α coefficients of the whole scale and the two dimensions named "perceived coping ability" and "perceived distress" were 0.78,0.91 and 0.88 respectively.After the scale was split into two parts,the Cronbach α coefficients of each part were 0.66 and 0.60.The Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.79.The Guttman split-half coefficient was 0.79.After one item was removed from the scale each time,the Cronbach a coefficients of the remaining items varied from 0.75 to 0.77.The retest reliability of the whole scale and the two dimensions were 0.89,0.86 and 0.85 respectively.Conclusion:PSS-14 shows favorable validity and reliability,suggesting the utility to assess stress of cancer survivors as a self-administered inventory.

Associations between vegetables and fruit intake and quality of life in breast cancer patients / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the associations between vegetables and fruit intake and quality of life in breast cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 3 344 community breast cancer patients were selected through cluster sampling method between April and July 2013, in Shanghai, China. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which included socio-demographic situation, cancer survival and health behaviors(i.e. vegetables or fruit intake, exercise), European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) QLQ-C30 Simplified Chinese version(3rd edition) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale (FACT-G) Simplified Chinese version(4th edition) were used to evaluate the quality of life. Crude quality of life scores were compared between groups. Multiple linear models were used to calculate and compare adjusted means of quality of life between groups, controlling relevant factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After adjusting relevant factors, breast cancer patients who ate more than 250 g vegetables reported higher EORTC physical functioning scores, cognitive functioning scores, emotional functioning scores, global health scores than patients who ate equal or less than 250 g vegetables(respectively (80.79 ± 0.85) vs (79.34 ± 0.82), (80.07 ± 1.03) vs (77.84 ± 0.99), (84.17 ± 0.95) vs (82.76 ± 0.92), (65.75 ± 1.50) vs (62.92 ± 1.45)), t values respectively were 2.76, 3.54, 2.40, 3.17, all P values were <0.05; and breast cancer patients who ate more than 250 g vegetables reported higher FACT-G social well-being scores, function well-being scores, FACT-G total scores than patients who ate equal or less than 250 g vegetables (respectively (17.92 ± 0.40) vs (17.31 ± 0.39), (14.86 ± 0.42) vs (14.34 ± 0.40), (74.78 ± 1.01) vs (73.05 ± 0.97)), t values respectively were 2.49, 2.05, 2.90, all P values were <0.05. After adjusting relevant factors, breast cancer patients who ate fruit everyday reported higher EORTC physical functioning scores, role functioning scores, cognitive functioning scores, emotional functioning scores, social functioning scores, global health scores than patients who didn't eat fruit everyday (respectively (80.40 ± 0.82) vs (79.22 ± 0.87), (89.81 ± 1.00) vs (88.06 ± 1.05), (79.78 ± 0.99) vs (77.11 ± 1.04), (84.43 ± 0.92) vs (81.56 ± 0.97), (77.95 ± 1.25) vs (75.56 ± 1.31), (65.48 ± 1.44) vs (61.74 ± 1.51)), t values respectively were 2.15, 2.64, 4.07, 4.71, 2.89, 4.02, all P values were <0.05; and breast cancer patients who ate fruit everyday reported higher FACT-G physical well-being scores, social well-being scores, emotional well-being scores, functional well-being scores, FACT-G total scores than patients who didn't eat fruit everyday(respectively (23.35 ± 0.26) vs (22.85 ± 0.28), (17.91 ± 0.39) vs (16.98 ± 0.41), (18.59 ± 0.22) vs (18.18 ± 0.23), (14.79 ± 0.40) vs (14.17 ± 0.42), (74.71 ± 0.97) vs (72.17 ± 1.02)), t values respectively were 2.92, 3.65, 2.91, 2.35, 4.05 , all P values were <0.05.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are active associations between vegetables / fruit intake and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Proper diet may help improve quality of life in breast cancer patients.</p>

Associations between physical exercise and quality of life in breast cancer patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the associations between physical exercise and quality of life in breast cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3 344 community breast cancer patients between April and July 2013 in Shanghai, China. Data were collected using a questionnaire, including socio-demographic situation, cancer survival and health behaviors, and scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 Simplified Chinese version and FACT-G Simplified Chinese version.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among a total of 3 344 breast cancer patients, the patients doing exercise reported significantly higher EORTC physical functioning scores, role functioning scores, emotional functioning scores, global health scores, and FACT-G physical well-being scores, social well-being scores, emotional well-being scores, functional well-being scores, and FACT-G total scores than the patients who didn't take exercise (P < 0.05, P(Adjusted)<0.05) . Breast cancer patients who did exercise more than or equal to 5 times/week reported significantly higher EORTC role functioning scores, cognitive functioning scores, emotional functioning scores, global health scores and FACT-G physical well-being scores, functional well-being scores, and FACT-G total scores than patients who did exercise less than 5 times/week (P < 0.05, P(Adjusted)<0.05 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are active associations between physical exercise and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Engagement in physical exercise is beneficial to breast cancer patients with long-term survival.</p>