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OCR for page 65
Assessing Quality of Life:
Measures and Utility
J. Ivy Brims md
Sharon Wood-Dauphinee
Quality-of-life research has included me study of levels of economic,
political, social, and psychological wellbeing resuldng from varying
governments and economic systems, as wed as policies and public pro-
grams related to heath. Schuessler and Fisher (1985) wrote Mat quality-
of-life research began in the 1960s wad We Report of the President's
Commission on National Goals in the United States. Most specialists
agree mat Me term "quality" has Me same meaning as "grade" or "rank,"
which can range from high to low or best to worst.
What elements of life are to be so graded? The Imits of analysis can be
as large as a nation. Countries can be racked on Weir economic systems
and on me types and amounts spent by governments on social programs
reladve to expenditures on industry and the military. At Me level of the
individual, the elements can be objective (for example, job, income,
shelter, and food) or subjective (happiness, sense of well-being, self-
re~ization and Me perceptions of the worth and value of life, and me
like).
Editors' Note: The authors have supplied information about sources of descriptions of measures and
their validity and ~liability. Those especially concerned about such matters may wish to go directly
to the section entitled "Strategies Used to Assess Instruments," and then to the section entitled "l~e
Sources of Descnp~ve ~fonnation for Quality-of-Iife Measures," which lists Awe key reference
WOTICs that provide names, descnpua~s, and properties of a number of standard instruments. Readers
may then skip to "Ten Review Fonns for Quality-of-Iife Measures," where sources are listed and
rewew forms supplied for some instruments not described in standard works. Ibis chapter contains a
special segment that describes utility analysis, a specie econanetnc approach to measures of quality
of life.
65
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66
J. I. WILLIAMS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
The best known studies of the quality of life of individuals are Rose of
Andrews and Wiley (1976) and Campbell and colleagues (1976, 1980)
at We Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Bow
teams of ~nves~gators asked questions about the domains of life sadsfac-
tion, including wow, marriage, leisure activities, family, housing, and
neighborhood. They developed a global measure of sadsfacdon by com-
bin~ng the scores in a genes measure.
Quality of life series In the health sector are more limited In scope. In
the health sciences, We task at hand is to assess We impact of disease and
its management, including interventions, on the well-being of the patient.
The health states of the Individuals may influence their quality of life
without detenn~ng it As Ware (1987) noted "jobs, housing, schools,
and the neighborhood are not attributes of an ~ndividual's health, and they
are wed outside the purview of We health care system."
Heady care researchers have developed numerous measures of quality
of life over We past two decades, and several review articles have com-
mented on Rose so far available. Their use in assessing the outcome of
health care interventions has become popular. As we have seen In
Chapter 2, recent studies have reported on the quality of life of men win
mild to moderate hypertension undergoing andhypertensive therapy, of
women win advanced breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, and of
cancer patients in hospice programs.
Although a variety of studies purport to assess quality of life, there is
remarkably little agreement about He underlying concepts or theoretical
framework Hat He measures represent. These measures may include
clinical symptoms (for example, pain, nausea, vomiting), functional dis-
ability (Katz Activities of Daily Livings, heals status measures (RAND
health status measures, Sickness Impact Profile), and measures of life
satisfaction and psychological weD-be~ng.
The World Heath Organization (WHO) has defined heady as a "state
of complete physical, mental, and social weld-being and not merely He
absence of disease or infirmity." Ware (1987) argues that five health
concepts are inherent in this definition: physical health, mental health,
social fi~nction~ng, role functioning, and general weD-being. He takes a
conservative approach to He study of quality of life in He health sciences.
Because the goad of health care is to maximize He health component of
He quality of life, he suggests Hat He measures be restncted to assessing
heals status.
Spider (1987) includes He burden of symptoms in his operational
decoration of health He would restrict the assessment of the attributes of
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ASSESSING QUALITY OF LIFE
67
heath to those who are definitely sicL He sees lime point In extending
me studies of quality of life in health care to me ostensibly healthy, but
few writers in the field agree win this point of view.
Wenger et al. (1984y, McDowell and Newell ~1987), and Kane and
Kane (1981) offer systematic reviews of a number of measures used in
qu~ity-of-life studies, including functional disability indices, heady status
scales, and measures of life satisfaction. In Weir reviews, these authors
discuss He reliability and validity of a number of me measures and Heir
uses in heath care studies. We list He ~ns~nents they treat in He
section entitled 'bee Sources of Desc~ip~ve Formation for Quality-of-
Life Measures." This chapter focuses on measures developed specifically
to assess quality of life.
ISSUES IN SELECTING QUALITY-OF-LIFE: MEASURES
To choose measures for assessing quality of life, researchers need to
address seven issues, briefly reviewed below.
Disease-Specific Versus Global Assessments
Measures may focus on He symptoms, complaints, disabilities, and
disruptions in life Hat are specific to He Caracas condition under study.
~deed, He disease-specific approach has been advocated in He study of
arthritis, heart disease, and the evaluation of chemotherapy.
Altematively, one can assess me quality of life resulting *om He
overeat consequences of disease and management on He functional ca-
pacities and padents' perception of weB-being. The more global meas-
ures cover a number of dimensions urchin a summary score. For ex-
ample, the Quality of Life Index developed by Spitzer et al. (1981)
includes one item for each of He following dimensions: activities of daily
living, pnncipal activities, heath, outlook, and support. Similarly, meas-
ures of life satisfaction and general weD-being are global in perspective.
Other measures, such as He linear analogue self-assessment scales
developed by Pnestman and Baum (1976) or the Breast Cancer Question-
naire Levine et al. 1988), are designed so that patients may repeatedly
assess Heir symptoms and report Heir physical and emotional responses
to adjuvant chemotherapy. The resulting scores show He padents' imme-
diate and specific responses to disease and treatment.
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68
J. 1. WIlLIAAiS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINFF:
Clinical Endpoints Versus ~ng-Term Outcomes
Fletcher et al. (1988) state that me clinical endpoints commonly used
for assessing prognoses include evidence of improvement foBow~ng inter-
vention, remission of disease, and recurrence. CI=cal endpoints tradi-
tionaDy focus on sets of outcomes that are assessed near Me time of
diagnosis and treannent. Long-mnge outcomes can be viewed as Rose
mat are important to patients as Hey live win Heir resulting states of
heath.
Patient Ratings Versus Proxy Assessments
Investigators generally prefer Hat patients rate their own quality of life.
Proxy assessments are important when patients are unable to respond. In
these circumstances, researchers may use quality~f-life measures com-
pleted by other persons such as ~ responsible clinician, spouse, close
friend, or relative of me padent.
Objective Versus Subjective Measures
Objective measures are based on variables mat can be observed and
recorded by venous testing procedures and assessors. Measures of dis-
ease activity, remission of symptoms, presence of side effects, changes in
functional capacity, ability to calTy out usual activities, and family and
social activities are phenomena that can be observed and recorded. These
variables are important determinants of quality of life, and agreement can
be reached about changes in status that have occulted.
Subjective measures provide oppormnides for individuals to express
Heir Noughts, knowledge, attitudes, moods, and feelings. Subjective
phenomena may be related to particular diseases or Apes of therapy, or
they may be more global.
Although researchers and policymakers tend to malce much of He
distinction between objective and subjective measures, bow are probably
necessary when assessing quality of life, and bow require ~nves~gadons
into Heir reliability and validity. It is pethaps supposing Hat He objective
measures often are not as weU standardized as He subjective measures;
objectivity does not automatically mean mat measures are reliable and
valid.
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ASSESSING QUAIdTY OF LIFE
Cognitive Functioning
69
Researchers commonly exclude cognitive funchon~ng from considera-
tion In studies of qualitr of life. Except for diseases and therapies that
obviously diminish mental capacity, investigators usually assume Mat the
cognitive abilities of individuals are unaffected by episodes of illness and
care. One may test this assumption by including tests of connive
funcdon~ng, as did Croog et al. (1986) in their study of antihypenensive
medications.
Ratings and Utilities
As Schuessler arid Fisher (1985) indicate, quality~f-life measures
provide ratings or rankings of heady and life. Some assessments attempt
to move *om states of health to judgments of ~e worm or value of life
win a given state of heals. Lnvestigators' working win concepts and
methods developed in economics, are desiring measures of the utilities
of heady states, win me typical scores ranging from 0 for "Dead" to ~ for
"Normal Heath." By multiplying the utility values by the number of
years individuals live win a given health state, survival time can be
expressed in Quality Adjusted Life Years (QUAY). Heath economists
have used this approach to compare technologies in terms of costs per
QALY gained. Not everyone agrees win such an approach, because it
tends to diminish He value of a good, but troubled, life.
Utility measures move He measurement of quality of life from rank-
ings to judgments of word1 and value. This extension of the field of study
is controversial; most particularly, me role of utility analysis in quality-of-
life research is hotly contested.
Timing of the Assessments
Measures such as He linear analogue self-assessment scales, the Func-
tional Living Index Cancer, and the Breast Cancer Questionnaire are
designed for repeated use before, during, and immediately after treatment.
The purpose of He repeated measures is to assess padents' short-temn
responses dunng the course of therapy.
Global assessment measures, such as He Spitzer Quality of Life Index,
are designed to reflect the quality of life foBow~ng He impact of disease
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70
J. I. WII1lAMS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
and management or to reflect global changes In assessments over a long
period of time. Investigators have used the Spitzer Quality of Life Index
for repeated assessments during me course of therapy (Coates et al. 1987,
Levine et at. 1988), but the scores tend to be less responsive to short-tenn
clinical changes than me disease-specific measures.
The basic issue is Me use of quality-of-life measures to assess short-
tenn against long-tenn responses to therapy. For example, Levine et al.
(1988) stopped taking assessments when patients withdrew from ~eat-
ment or relapsed. Conversely, Chubon (1987) used the Life Situation
Survey to compare the quality of life of patients in chronic care and
rehabilitation programs wad Lose of healthy subjects.
There is a problem win repeated self-assessment dunng me course of
therapy. Investigators have found it difficult to maintain high self-assess-
ment completion rates over seven weeks (Finkelstein et al. 1988, Ragha-
van et al. 1988) and were not able to use We assessments because of
missing values. Levine et al. (1988) minimized me problem by having
nurses interview the patients during clinic visits; this procedure, however,
added considerably to We time and costs of the study. If these measures
are to be used repeatedly, the time and costs of ma~nta~ng high response
rates over multiple assessments must be considered.
Summary
-
Some qualiW-of-life studies ma~ntain one perspective or point of view.
Yet it is becoming increasingly common for researchers to employ a mix
of perspectives and mesons in assessing qualibr of life. We have re-
viewed what is known about the conceptual framework, reliability, valid-
id, and uses of specific measures. In any study, several tools may be
combined to provide information on various perspectives: subjective and
objective, disease-specif~c and global, clinical endpoints and long-term
outcomes, and so on. No attempt win be made to sort out the combina-
dons of approaches researchers have employed. Examples of multiple
approaches to assessing quality of life are given in Chapter 2.
STRATEGIES USED TO ASSESS INSTRUMENTS
A bewildenng array of terms labels the properties of measures, and
researchers in the heath sciences frequency employ strategies for devel-
oping and testing measures that differ from Lose used in Me social
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ASSESSING QUALt7Y OFL1FE
71
sciences. To standardize our work, we developed He Review Form for
Quality-of-Life Measures. We used the Review Form to gamer biblio-
graphic information, Be stated purpose of me measure, its underlying
concept framework, and a descriptor of its content and fonnat. As
part of this review, we have Died to use terms Cat are consistent wad
Pose compiled in the Dictionary of Epidemiology Beast 1988) by the
International Epidemiology Association and that are used by writers in
epidemiology (Fe~nste~n 1987, McDowell and NeweB 1987) and Be
social sciences (Bohmstedt 1981, Kerlinger 1986, NunnaBy 1978~. This
section briefly reviews some s~ishcal and over expressions.
Reliability
Two basic strategies can be used to establish Be reliability of a meas-
ure. For those based on subjective ratings of attitudes, perceptions, and
sense of weD-being, investigators may assess Be reliability by examining
the consistency of patterns of response across me items. Me coefficient
alpha (Cronbach 1951) measures the intemal consistency of Be response,
based on the average correlation among Be items and the number of items
In Be instrument The coefficient assumes that the correlations in Be
matrix are all positive, because they represent the same dimension. Val-
ues of Cronbach's alpha range from O to I.
If Cronbach's alpha is high (for example, 0.80 or higher)' Be responses
are consistent, and the sum of Be item responses yields a score for Be
underlying dimensions Cat the item represents. S=ed another way, if Be
items are adequately sampled *om me domain of quality of life, Be son
of Be responses should give a better indication of the quality of life of Be
individual than Be response to any one item. A low coefficient alpha
would indicate Cat the items did not come from the same conceptual
domain or that Be noise in the items was substantial.
The items can be divided and placed on altemate forms of the measure;
the equivalence of the altemate fonns can be tested by comparing Be
alphas. Alternatively, me items on one form can be split into two groups,
and coefficients can be computed for each half and compared. Compa-
rable coefficients confirm the consistency of the responses.
The scores for the split fonns can also be correlated to see how Hey
correspond. The Speannan-Brown formula uses this correlation to esti-
mate the reliability of a scale containing ad items after adjusting for the
presence of twice as many items on the composite scale as in each of He
two groups (ZeDer and Cannines 1980~.
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72
J. 1. W7ll~AMS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
Researchers may decide to create a m~dimensional measure of qual-
ity of life and Men select items mat represent me dimensions of interest.
For example, quality-of-life measures may have items related to condi-
tions specific to disease and management (for example, nausea and vomit-
ing in response to chemotherapy for cancer), and Were may be additional
items related Deco physical functioning, and social and psychological well-
being.
Factor analysis s~tisticaDy defines a small number of factors or under-
lying dimensions that account for a high proportion of the common
variance of We items. Exploratoty factor analysis is used to identify and
discard items that are not correlated with We factors of interest. Altema-
tively, an investigator may use factor analysis to confirm mat items
selected to represent a single dimension of quality of life (for example,
physical functioning) principally load onto mat factor and correlate weakly
with over factors. The factor represents a single dominant dimension or
variable when the factor loadings for the items are relatively high 0.60
or higher—and me common variance and the factor loadings cannot be
increased by subdividing the items onto additional factors. Factors are
not considered stable unless the results can be replicated in a number of
samples and study settings. Once a factor is defined as representing a
single variable or dimension, We responses for ~e items on each factor
are summed to create the factor score.
For a measure with a fairly large number of items and a high coefficient
alpha, one can use factor analysis to define two or more factors underlying
the responses. A measure mat is intemaBy consistent may still not
represent a single dimension. Factor analysis is used to define the under-
ly~ng dimensions, and the coefficient alpha may men be used to assess the
strength of the consistency of the items on We separate factors.
The stability of a scale or factor score is assessed by correlating the
scores of subjects with the scores obtained in testing at another time. As
Bohmstedt (1981) has noted, the test-retest coefficient can be influenced
by true changes in scores. The interpretation of We coefficient of stability
is not always straightforward.
If me variables being considered are sufficiently objective to be evalu-
ated by persons over man me patients, it is possible to compare raters'
scores. For example, the Quality of Life Index is designed to be com-
pleted by the heady professions responsible for me care of We patient and
significant others as well as by patients themselves. Interrater agreement
indicates the reliability of the scores by different raters on a single occa-
sion, and intrarater agreement is We reliability of the scores by the same
rater over repeated testings.
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ASSESSING QUAL17Y OF LIFE
73
If the measure is categorical, Cohen's kappa Weiss 1981) is most
frequently used to assess the level of agreement beyond Mat expecter! by
chance. For mnkings of ordinal measures, Spearman's rho and Kend~l's
tau may be used as measures of agreement In addition to kappa. Pearson's
product moment correlation is commordy used for comparing quantitative
scores of raters.
The preferred measure of agreement is We ~ntracIass correladon coeff~-
cient. It is particularly useful when Were are Wee or more ratings. It
compares the variance between subjects, We variance between raters, and
We van ance between times wad We error v an ance. The intraciass corre-
lation is reliable if most of We variance in me mode! is accounted for by
me van ance between subjects and if me variances by raters and by lime
are minimal Weiss 1986~. The measure rests on the analysis of variance
and can be use with ordinal as wed as interval data An intraciass
correlation coefficient of, for example, 0.80 or higher indicates mat the
measure is highly reliable.
Scaling refers to We rules for assigning numbers to responses. The
scaling determines whether We measure is a nominal, ordinal, interval, or
ratio variable.
Validity
A first step in assessing the validity of a measure is to determine if the
content of the items represents the domain or dimension of interest. Face
validity is sometimes used to refer to me intuitive appeal of the items;
content validity is reserved for me judgments of experts or specialists.
When Were exists a v en able extemal to We measure against which me
scores can be checked, that v en able can be used as a cr~tenon to judge the
measures. For example, the quality-of-life scores should differentiate
patients dying of cancer, patients in intensive care, outpatients win chronic
diseases, and hearty individuals, even Cough mere may be substantial
overlaps in We distributions of scores.
Concurrent criterion validity refers to me ability of a measure to differ-
entiate between groups at We time the measure is applied. Predictive
criterion validity refers to the ability to use these scores to predict future
health-related events and states.
Quality-of-life measures can be compared win other measures as well.
Concepts derived from theory and operationalized into reliable and valid
measures are referred to as constructs. The measures under study can be
tested against the constructs to determine if We observed relationships are
as hypothesized. For example, quality of life should be negatively related
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74
J. I. WIlllAMS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
to measures of pain, anxiety, and depression. Similarly, a measure of
quality of life should be positively related to life satisfaction and genes
well-being.
To judge the sensitivity or responsiveness of a measure, me ~nvestiga-
tor should have a sense of how much change in a patient's clinical or func-
donal stems would produce a change In their quality-of-life score. Sign~fi-
cant clinical changes in the individual may not parallel changes in quality-
of-life scores. Alternatively, a relatively small change in clinical levels
may result in marked changes in a patient's sense of psychological well-
being.
Finally, Me practicality of a measure refers to He ease and convenience
of administration and interpretation. Practicality is particularly important
if a measure is to be used repeatedly.
A REVIEW OF SELECTED MEASURES FOR ASSESSING
QUALITY OF LIFE
We reviewed 10 measures for rating quality of life using the Review
Form for Quality-of-Life Measures. The section entitled "Ten Review
Forms for Quality-of-Life Measures" presents the completed fonns, and
Table 6-1 (see page 76, this volume) provides a summary.
The Quality of Life Index (Qua), developed by Spitzer et al. (1981),
has been tested In a variety of settings. It is used to assess He physical,
psychological, and social functioning of patients. The QL-! yields a score
that ranges from a high of 10 to a low of 0. Alternative fonns for
completion by He patient, He physician or over health professional,
relative, or significant other were developed to determine whether compa-
rable ratings could be obtained from several sources. The reliability and
validity of the QLl have been demonstrated in a series of studies in
Australia, Canada, and He United States win a variety of patients.
Chubon (1987), PadiBa et al. (1983), and Ferrans and Powers (1985)
developed global measures of quality of life to be completed by patients.
Chubon's Life Situation Survey assesses quality of life beyond disease-
specific conditions and functional limitations, comparing He responses of
patients in chronic care and rehabilitation programs with Hose of healthy
subjects. Chubon tested his instrument with prison inmates, hospital
patients, mentally retarded aunts, spinal injury patients, and Adversity
students. Although He samples have been relatively small, the instn~nent
appeared to wow well with all groups, and the differences in mean scores
were as predicted. Chubon also found positive changes in me mean
scores of patients who completed a program for chronic back pain.
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ASSESSrNG QUAl~TY OF luff
75
PadiBa's Quality of Life Index focused on physical conditions, ac-
tivities, and attitudes of the patients. We found no reports of Me measures
other than the articles published by the developers of the instruments.
PadiDa ong~naBy developed her measure while working with cancer
patients. She adapted the measure for use with colostomy patients, adding
a number of disease-specific items. Armour the measure was designed
to be global, we found no use of We adapted measure across conditions.
Ferrans' QuaUity of Life Index focused on We satisfaction of needs; this
measure is broader In scope. It taps life satisfaction In areas outside the
immediate reach of health care (for example, marriage, education, occu-
pation, future retirement), In addition to items related directly to heath.
By 1988' results had been reported for healthy graduate students and
dialysis padents.
Karnofsky and Burchemal (1949) were among the first to develop a
measure to assess the ability of cancer padents to perform dally activities.
Their measure has been studied extensively and is widely used, although
it has been criticized both conceptually and for its measurement proper-
ties. The consensus seems to be that it continues to be a useful tool for
physicians to use In rating We impact of cancer and cancer treatment on
patients' ability to lead normal lives.
The Functional Living Index—Cancer DICE is one of the newer
instruments. The FLIC contains 22 items pertaining to symptoms and
complaints related to cancer treatment, as wed as me impact of disease
and management on physical, psychological, and social functioning. The
items were tested on 837 patients in Winnipeg and Edmonton, Canada.
When the data were factor analyzed, Schipper et at. (1984) found mat the
mean factor scores for four padent groups decreased with the extent of
disease. The investigators have completed some construct validation
exercises. The FLIC is designed to be completed daily by patients. The
responsiveness of the scores to changes over time has yet to be estate
fished.
Selby et al. (1984) have taken another approach to We development of
an instrument for cancer patients. They took 18 items from the Sickness
Impact Profile and added 12 items based on clinical experiences along
with 2 statements for a global rating of quality of life and life satisfaction.
The resulting questionnaire is designed to be completed by either physi-
cians or padents. Factor analysis has been used to define We dimensions
the items represent. The changes in scores reflect response to chemo~er-
apy. We found no reports of uses of the instrument by investigators other
man Selby and his colleagues.
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ASSESSING QUAl]IY OF LIFE
105
Additionally, when the repeated scores of 96 breast cancer padents on
chemotherapy were enter into a regression analysis using Me item
assessing the overall quality of life as We dependent van able and the other
31 items as the ~ndependentvar~ables, between 68 percent arid 83 percent
of the variation In me global scale was explained. This information was
seen as an indication of content validity.
Construct: Using quality-of-life data from 96 patients, factor analysis
determined five factors Mat made clinical and biological sense for breast
cancer.
When the items derived from me SIP categories were compared wad
me linear analogue scores of me Sip, they correlated sign~ficandy and in
me expected direction. Group scores of patients with different levels of
clinical seventy differed sign~ficandy, demonstrating mat me ~ns~nent
could disdnguish between groups of patients.
Sensitivity: The instrument registered the ejects of chemotherapy when
me treatment was started. BeD et al. (1985) reported Rat the measure was
able to discriminate between high and low doses of chemotherapy. Data
from an independent observer were more precise man data from We pa-
dents.
Practicality: Padents report the instrument to be quick, easy, and accept-
able.
References and Applications:
Bed, D.R., Tannock, I.F., and Boyd, N.F. Quadity of life measurement in
breast cancer patients. Bndsh loun~al of Cancer 51~4~:577-580,
1985.
Twenty-five breast cancer padents participating in a randomized
controlled Dial of chemotherapy were assessed 3 weeks after che-
mo~erapy started (just prior to me next dose) and 24 hours later.
Scores were obtained from padents and physicians.
Bergner, M., Bobbit, R.A., Carter, W.B., and Gilson, B.S. The Sickness
em pact Profile: Development and final revision of a heal status
measure. Medical Care 19~:787-805, 1981.
9. Review Form for Linear Analogue Self-Assessment
Name of Measure: Linear Analogue Self-Assessment (LASA)
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106
Authors: Banm, M., and Priesunan, T.~.
J. 1. WIGWAMS AND S. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
Primary References:
Baum, M., Priesunan, T.~., West, R.R., and [ones, E.M. A comparison of
subjective responses In a trial comparing endocnne with cytotoxic
treatment in the advanced carcinoma of Me breast. European Joumal
of Clinical Oncology (Supplement) 1:223-226, 1980.
Priesunan, Ad., and Baum, M. Evaluation of quality of life in padents
receiving treatment for advanced breast cancer. Lancet 1~7965~:899-
900, 1976.
Purpose: The LASA is used to achieve a more complete picture of
patients' subjective responses ~ treatment.
Conceptual Framework: The developers vary In me number of items
Mat are used in me subjective ratings. For each variable, patients mark a
10-cendmeter line that is anchored at each end win words describing the
extremes of Mat symptom. These include:
Symptoms and side effects: alopecia, anorexia, appetite, constipa-
tion, diarrhea, dyspnea, fatigue, nausea, pain, vomiting, and "other."
Anxiety and depression: apprehension, depression, insomnia, irnta-
biIity, level of anxiety, mood, and weD-being.
Personal relations: decisionmaking, getting along win partners arid
others, sexual relationships, and social relationships.
Physical performance: ability to perfonn daily activities, employ-
ment, level of activist, and social activities.
Reliability:
Stability: Twenty-nine breast cancer patients completed forms with
10 items. These fonns were completed again 24 hours later at home. The
correlation between sums of scores was 0.87.
Scalability: Scores are summed across items; means and standard
deviations are reported. The LASA was designed for repeated testing
(weekly) over the course of treatment
Validity:
Concurrent: One hundred women with advanced breast cancer were
randomly allocated to endocnne or combination cymtoxic therapy. N~nety-
two were available for assessment; 51 completed the LANA. Fourteen of
Me 25 women in Me endocrine group completed Me LASA for six weeks.
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ASSESSING QUALITY OF LIFE
107
Women In Me cytotox~c group had higher symptom-related scores and
higher quality-of-life scores man women in me endocnne group. WeD-
being differences reached significance after ~ ~ weeks.
Predictive: Nonresponsive patients showed worse depression scores
man women responding to t;reannent.
Sensitivity: Changes in weekly scores indicate mat me LASA scores
reflect clinical changes.
Practicality: Generally, patients were able to complete me LASA homes
without difficulty. NamraBy, for patients with advanced cancers, Were
were marked patient attrition rates caused by deem or Habit to respond.
References and Applications:
Coates, A., DiDenbeck, C.F., McNeil, D.R, Kaye, S.B., Sims, K., Fox,
R.M., Woods, Ah., Milton, G.W., Solomon, I., and TattersaD, M.H.
On me receiving end IT. Linear Analogue Self Assessment MASAI
in He evaluation of aspects of me quality of life of cancer patients
receiving therapy. European Joumal of Cancer and Clinical Oncol-
ogy 19~:1633-1637, 1983.
One hundred and ten patients (30 with melanoma, 41 with lung
cancer, 39 win ovarian cancer) completed 506 LASA fonns. The
results were compared with performance states as measure by
He Eastem Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and response
to therapy. LISA fonns included items for global well-being
(for example, wet/-being, mood, appetite) and disease-specific
conditions (such as, pain, nausea, vomiting). Bow ECOG scores
arid the I,ASA scores for general well-being showed parallel and
marked deterioration during He penod of radiotherapy with sub-
sequent improvement.
Coates, A., Gebski, V., Bishop, I.F., leal, P.N., Woods, Ah., Snyder, R.,
TattersaB, M.H., Byme, M., Harvey, V., and GiU, G., for He Austra-
lian-New Zealand Breast Cancer Tnals Group, Clinical Oncology
Society of Australia. Improving He quality of life dunng chemo~er-
apy for advanced breast cancer. A comparison of intermittent and
continuous treatment strategies. New England Joumal of Medicine
317(24):149~1495, 1987.
Gough, I.R., Fum~val, C.M., Schilder, L., and Grove, W. Assessment of
me quality of life of patients win advanced cancer. European loumal
of Cancer and CI~rucal Oncology 19~:1161-1165, 1983.
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108
J. 1. WIlLlAMS AlID 5. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
Lanham, R.J., and DiGiannanton~o, A.F. Quality~f-life of cancer pa-
tients. Oncology 45(1):1-7, 1988.
A linear analogue scale consisting of 10 items, including feeling
of well-being, mood, level of physical activity, pain, nausea,
appetite, ability to perform work, social activities, level of anxi-
ety, and whether treatment is helping, was a~nin~stered to 98
cancer patients over 293 office visits and 137 family practice
padents over 137 visits. The differences in mean scores, 6.09 for
Me cancer patients and 6.67 for me healthy patients, were statisd-
cally significant, but Me investigators expected Me differences to
be larger. The group differences for men were statistically sig-
rnficant, but Me differences for women were not. Male cancer
patients had sign~ficandy lower scores than female cancer pa-
tients. The investigators identified work, physical activity, and
socialization as special needs for men that should be addressed.
Raghavan, D., Gnm~y, R., and Lancaster, L`. Assessment of quality of
life in long-tem~ survivors treated by first-line intravenous cisplatin
for invasive bladder cancer. Progress in Clinical and Biological
Research 260:625-63 1, 1988.
Questionnaires were sent to 29 patients by mail. In addition to the
LASA, Me investigators included mul~ple-choice questions on
physical well-being, symptoms of Me disease, side effects of
treatment, functional status, sexual function, social interaction,
satisfaction win treatment, and overall quality of life. Although
Me patients answered the multiple-choice questions readily, half
of them were unable to use Me LASA scales correctly. The
highest nonresponse rate was on Me LISA items related to sexual
fimction.
10. Review Form for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Questionnaire
Name of Measure: Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Questionnaire (BCQ)
Authors: Levme, M.N., Guyatt, G.H., Gent, M., De Pauw, S., Goodyear,
M.D., H~niuk, W.M., Arnold, A., Flndlay, B., Skillings, J.R., Bramwell,
V.H., et al.
Primary Reference:
Quality of life in stage I! breast cancer: An instrument for clinical teals.
Joumal of Clinical Oncology 6~12~:1798-~10, 1988.
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ASSESSING QUALITY OF l]FE
109
Purpose: In planning their study, Me investigators decided Deco develop a
new quesdonna~re to-measure the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on
physical, emotional, and social function of women wad stage ~ breast
cancer.
Conceptual Framework: The investigators reviewed We available meas-
ures of quality of life for cancer patients' but these did not focus on me
specific problems of women wad advanced breast cancer faced wad
receiving adjuvant therapy. Their god was ~ develop a measure specific
to me type of patient and me type of therapy. The items had to tap areas of
physical, emotional, and social well-being that were important to me
patient, quantifiable, valid, reproducible, responsive, simple, and conven-
lent to use.
The items were generated Trough a literature review and discussions
wad medical oncolog~s~ts, oncology nurses, and stage ~ breast cancer
padents. The original 150 items were pamd to 99, and 47 patients
receiving adjuv ant chemotherapy were asked to rate me importance of
these items on five-point Liken scales. The investigators grouped me
items into me areas of consequences of hair loss, emotional dysfunction,
physical symptoms, trouble and inconvenience associated USA treatment,
fatigue, nausea, and positive weB-being. They furler decided Tat each
area Could have a minimum of four items. The final 30 items were
selected, by area, in teems of me highest mean ratings of importance.
The women responded to items about how Hey had felt during He past
two weeks on a sevens nt scale.
Reliability:
Stability: At each visit, He women were asked if their condition had
changed dunng He past two weeks. On the first occasion that no change
was reported, me investigators compared the current and last scores on me
quality-of-life measures. The mean change scores and standard devia-
tions were deemed stable and reliable, but they were not statishcaBy
assessed.
Scalability: The responses for each item had a score from ~ to 7, and
He scores were summed across He 30 items. This score was later
sfonned so Hat it ranged from 0 to 10.
Validity:
Content: The methods used for generating and selecting items assured
the face and content validity of He items.
OCR for page 65
110
J. I. WI1MAJ`S AND 5. WOOD-DAUPHINEE
Construct: The first step was to average Me scores for aB visits for
each patient The mean BCQ scores were correlated wad the average
SCORES for prudent and physician global Wings and We Kamofsky, RAND
emotional, RAND physical, and Spider quality-of-life measures. The
correlations ranged from 0.41 to 0.62. An analysis of change scores for a
single two-week period showed Nat We global physical and emotional
assessments by me patients were more spongy correlated wad the qual-
ity-of-life ratings than We global assessments by the physicians.
Sensitivity: The women in We two Eminent groups had me same
therapy during the first 12 weeks, and We mean scores for women in the
two groups were equivalent. For one group the treatment continued for 36
weeks and We other group stopped treannent after 12 weeks. The BCQ
and Ka~nofsky scores were significantly lower for We short-te~m group
man the Midweek group between weeks 12 and 36. The RAND and
Spitzer scores did not vary si~ficandy dunng this period. The scores
converged again after 36 weeks, when aB women were off therapy.
Practicality: The lime, 30 minutes an interview, and costs of having me
forms a~nin~stered by a nursefinterviewer were considerable. The ~nves-
tigators have recommended that a self-a~n~rustered version of the ques-
tionna~re be tested.
Application: In He trial, 418 women were assigned to either 12 weeks or
36 weeks of adjuvant therapy. A nursep~nterviewer administered me
BCQ, He RAND Physical Health and Mental Heady Status queshon-
natures, and the Spitzer Quality of Life Index. The physician completed
the Kamofsky Index. Global ratings of physical and emotional function-
ing were provided independency by the physician and He patients. The
measures were completed at He beginning and me follow-up visits over a
period of 80 weeks. The women stopped completing the measures when
there was a recurrence of disease or they refused trea~nent. The patients
averaged lO visits and completed approximately 85 percent of the poten-
hal assessments.
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