Assessment Of Cancer Therapy-General Scale Research Articles

The Association Between Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Chinese Lung and Liver Cancer Patients

Patient satisfaction has been accorded increased importance in evaluating the quality of health care. However, only a few studies have examined factors associated with patient satisfaction in cancer populations, with no data currently available in Chinese oncology populations. We sought to examine the longitudinal course of the relationship between patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) in Chinese cancer patients. A total of 253 liver cancer patients and 334 lung cancer patients were assessed during their first outpatient visit (baseline) and at 2 follow-up interviews (FU1 and FU2). QoL was measured by the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale [FACT-G (Ch)]. Patient satisfaction was assessed by the Nine-Item Chinese Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (ChPSQ-9) and the cognitive subscale of the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS-Cog). Linear mixed effects (LME) models were fitted to identify predictors of patient satisfaction and QoL. Results of LME analyses showed no significant between-group differences in psychosocial, satisfaction, and QoL measures over time (all P > 0.05). Age [beta = -0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.03 to 0.00, P < 0.05] and optimism (beta = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.30, P < 0.001) predicted MISS-Cog and ChPSQ-9, respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, only ChPSQ-9 (beta = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.18, P < 0.001) predicted QoL scores. No significant association between MISS-Cog and QoL was found. General emotional support from health professionals (ChPSQ-9) was a more effective predictor of QoL than was a measure of informational support (MISS-Cog) among these patients. Because expectations of clinical care likely vary by culture, and nature and stage of disease, measures of patient satisfaction that address both informational and care expectations are important.

Eating ability predicts subsequent quality of life in Chinese patients with breast, liver, lung, or nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A longitudinal analysis

Eating dysfunction is a well-recognized consequence of orophagic tract cancers, but also occurs with other cancers. There is a relative absence of data assessing the impact of eating function on QoL in cancer populations other than those with disease of the oro-phagic tract. We assessed longitudinal changes in eating function and quality of life (QoL), and examined whether eating function predicted QoL over time in a sample of Chinese patients with breast, lung, liver, and nasopharyngeal cancers. Overall, 1 079 patients with breast, liver, lung, or nasopharyngeal carcinoma were assessed during their first outpatient visit (baseline) and at two follow-up interviews (FU1 and FU2). Three dimensions of eating function, including ability, appetite, and enjoyment, were assessed using three 11-point self-rated items. QoL was measured by the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G (Ch)). Linear mixed effects (LME) models evaluated mean differences on eating function and QoL scores across interviews and across cancer groups, and the effects of eating function on QoL. After adjustment for socio-demographic and medical variables, pain and depression, eating function significantly predicted patient overall (standardized βs ranged from 0.091 to 0.163, ps<0.05), physical (standardized βs ranged from 0.101 to 0.200, ps<0.05), and functional (standardized βs ranged from 0.120 to 0.162, ps<0.05) aspects of QoL scores over time. Eating dysfunction significantly impacts QoL in cancer populations other than those with orophagic disease. Change of eating function appears to be a common problem in cancer patients regardless of cancer site.

Normative data for functional assessment of cancer therapyGeneral scale and its use for the interpretation of quality of life scores in cancer survivors

The aims of this study were to derive population-based reference values for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale–General (FACT-G) and to investigate the impact of sociodemographic variables (e.g. age, sex, health status) on these quality of life (QOL) scores, and to compare the normative QOL scores with those of various groups of cancer survivors. A random sample of 2 000 members of the Austrian public were sent questionnaires containing the FACT-G and questions relating to demographic data and health status. A total of 968 questionnaires were returned giving an overall response rate of 50.6% (females 48.3%, age 49.3±16.8). Subjects with higher education reported higher QOL values; divorced and widowed persons had significantly lower QOL scores. Higher age was also associated with lower QOL scores. After bone marrow transplantation, patients generally showed lower QOL scores than the age- and sex-matched population-based sample, whilst in breast cancer survivors there was reduced QOL regarding social well-being. Survivors of Hodgkin's disease were found to have higher functional and social well-being scores than those of the general population sample. Sociodemographic variables should always be taken into consideration when interpreting QOL scores. Furthermore, unless patient data are compared with normative values, phenomena such as adaptation and response shift might be missed or misinterpreted.

Validation of an international questionnaire, the measure of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-general scale, for Korean cancer patients

of 1 on the GSRS reflux dimension) after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The mean score changes were 1.48 for omeprazole 20 mg, 1.32 for omeprazole 10 mg, and 1.15 for ranitidine 150 mg, and the proportions of patients who were free from reflux symptoms were 42%, 34%, and 26%, respectively Thus, the difference of 0.33 score points between omeprazole 20 mg and ranitidine 150 mg corresponded to a difference of 16% in the proportion of symptom-free patients. The difference of 0.16 score points between omeprazole 20 mg and omeprazole 10 mg corresponded to an 8% difference in the proportion of symptom-free patients. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that a treatment difference of 0.5 point is unrealistic and too large to define a clinically relevant treatment difference in studies in which a large proportion of patients become symptom free.

Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy: association between satisfaction with information provided and quality of life.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is highly prevalent in southern China. Prominent acute side effects of radiotherapy create problems in daily living and working that can generate considerable financial difficulties. A better adjustment to a diagnosis of NPC appears to be associated with an improved rate of recovery, a better quality of life (QoL), a quicker return to work, and normal functioning. Patient satisfaction with physician consultation and the way information is provided in particular may have significant bearing on QoL. The current study reports on short-term QoL after radiotherapy in NPC patients as a function of satisfaction with the information provided. Newly referred Hong Kong Chinese NPC patients (n = 211) completed interview measures at baseline before the initiation of radiotherapy, at 4 months after baseline (immediate posttreatment consultation) (FU 1), and again at 8 months (short-term postradiation period) after baseline (FU 2). Satisfaction with the information provided was measured by five items selected from the cognitive subscale of the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS). QoL was measured by the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G (Ch)). After adjustment for overall patient satisfaction (the PSQ-9), optimism, worry about family, anger, eating ability, subjective health, family income, and occupation at FU 1, treatment between baseline and FU 1, and disease recurrence after baseline, the 5-item MISS at FU 1 (beta = 0.21, P < 0.01) was found to significantly predict patient QoL at FU 2. Adjustment for baseline QoL and disease stage did not appear to alter this relation (beta = 0.20, P < 0.01). To the authors' knowledge, there is very little research concerning NPC. The results of the current study reinforced the need to improve physicians' information provision during consultations with Chinese NPC patients shortly after the end of treatment.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN METASTATIC PROSTATE CANCER AMONG MEN OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS: FEASIBILITY AND CRITERION RELATED VALIDITY OF 3 MEASURES

Purpose Identification of metastatic disease progression is often difficult but important. Previous studies of quality of life in metastatic disease have been limited by the small number of respondents who were not white or of lower socioeconomic status. Quality of life assessment is generally done using self-administration techniques but this method is of limited usefulness for patients of low socioeconomic status, many of whom have limited reading abilities. We evaluated the feasibility and validity of interviewer administration of 3 quality of life instruments for patients of low socioeconomic status with metastatic prostate cancer. Materials and Methods We used instruments previously validated with self-administration methodology, including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-30, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale and Quality of Life Index. Subjects were men with metastatic prostate cancer with stable (78) or progressive (32) disease at 4 Veterans Affairs medical centers and 1 other site. Of the patients 94% were Veterans Affairs patients and more than 60% were black. Results Each quality of life instrument required less than 10 minutes of interviewer administration and was able to discriminate between patients with stable versus progressive disease on several health status domains. Conclusions These data support the feasibility and validity of quality of life measurement in patients of low socioeconomic status with metastatic prostate cancer. Consideration should be given to adding quality of life instruments to patient encounter even among low socioeconomic status, low literacy populations.