Translation and Validation of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care (Facit-Pal-14) Scale

Abstract

Introduction: In palliative care, assessing outcomes and evaluating quality of life (QoL) are essential to ensure high-quality, evidence-based care. The aim of this study was the Greek validation of the Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care (FACIT-PAL-14) in patients with cancer. Methods: The FACIT-PAL-14 was translated into Greek and administered to 185 patients with cancer treated in two central hospitals of Athens, Greece. Data collection lasted from January to March 2022. FACIT-PAL-14 is a 41 item measurement of QoL that includes the 27 items of the FACIT-General and 14 additional items that form the palliative care scale. The Monroe Dunaway Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), was used to evaluate the criterion validity. Also the following analyses were conducted; confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), concurrent validity, internal consistency and instrument stability. Results: Participants’ mean (SD) age was 57.37(14.38) and the majority were women (55.1%) and had breast cancer (31.4%). Three factors were exported from the statistical analysis of the palliative care scale that explained the 62.21% of the variance. Τhese factors were psychological wellbeing, physical symptoms and close relationships. FACIT-PAL-14 and its factors had high internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total score of the FACIT-PAL-14 questionnaire was 0.781. Intraclass correlation (ICC) between initial assessment and reassessment of the FACIT-PAL-14 factor 1, factor 2, factor 3 and total score were 0.985, 0.972, 0.981 and 0.991 respectively. FACIT-PAL-14 subscales presented moderate correlation with MDASI subscales. Conclusion: The Greek version of FACIT-PAL-14 is valid and reliable scale in patients with cancer.