Quality of life scales for patients with cancer: how often to administer?

AIMS: To determine the optimum frequency of quality of life assessment in patients with cancer. METHODS: The Spitzer unidimensional overall quality of life scale was administered to 41 patients with cancer comparing a monthly assessment with averaged weekly assessments (group 1) and two monthly assessment with averaged weekly assessments (group 2). RESULTS: Monthly and two monthly measures reflected the averaged weekly scores well although some patients reported difficulty recalling quality of life over the two month period. However patients generally preferred the weekly assessments. CONCLUSION: For longitudinal study of quality of life in patients with cancer weekly assessment is optimal. If weekly assessment is practically difficult monthly or two monthly measurements give a good reflection of averaged weekly scores but patients are more comfortable with monthly rather than two monthly measurements.

Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the efficacy of Abbott Testpack Strep A compared with throat culture for the diagnosis of group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus in general practice. METHODS: one hundred and fifty-four specimens were obtained from general practices in selected regions, and were tested for group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus using both Abbott Testpack Strep A and throat culture. RESULTS: sensitivity of the rapid diagnostic test was 79.4%, specificity 93.3%. The negative predictive value of the test was 94.1%; the positive predictive value 77.1%. CONCLUSION: maximum cost effectiveness is achieved, with respect to short term costs and benefits, by diagnosing and treating solely on the basis of Abbott Testpack Strep A results. When possible complications are taken into consideration, initial testing by Abbott Testpack Strep A, followed by confirmatory laboratory testing of negative Testpack results becomes a feasible alternative.