Content validation of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL with advanced cancer patients and health care professionals from palliative care services in Chile

Abstract Background: The assessment of patients’ quality of life (QOL) is essential when evaluating the outcome of palliative care; however, no instruments have been validated for measuring symptoms and QOL in patients receiving palliative care in Chile. We aimed to investigate the content validity of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (QLQ-C15-PAL), replicating the methods used previously to shorten the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) for use among patients in palliative care.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2017 in four palliative care services. Patients with advanced cancer and health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to individual interviews to determine the relevance, appropriateness and relative importance of the 30 items of the QLQ-C30 for evaluating the outcome of palliative care, and whether relevant additional issues should be included. Results: A total of 48 patients and 35 HCPs participated. The most important dimensions selected were pain, physical functioning, sleeping difficulties, emotional functioning, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, and social functioning. Qualitative data identified important additional issues not covered by the questionnaire such as satisfaction with care, emotions and psychological support, as well as linguistic issues in the dyspnea and constipation items. Conclusions: The EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL showed good content validity in the assessment of symptoms and QOL of advanced cancer patients; therefore, we recommend the use of this questionnaire in palliative care in Chile. Dyspnea and constipation items were revised by the EORTC group. More research is needed to add a social dimension for a comprehensive assessment of patients’ QOL.

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Content validation of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL with advanced cancer patients and health care professionals from palliative care services in Chile

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-020-00586-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leslye Rojas-Concha ◽

Maiken Bang Hansen ◽

Morten Aagaard Petersen ◽

Mogens Groenvold

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Advanced Cancer Patients ◽

Care Services ◽

Palliative Care Services ◽

Eortc Qlq

Abstract Background The assessment of patients’ quality of life (QOL) is essential when evaluating the outcome of palliative care; however, no instruments have been validated for measuring symptoms and QOL in patients receiving palliative care in Chile. We aimed to investigate the content validity of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (QLQ-C15-PAL), replicating the methods used previously to shorten the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) for use among patients in palliative care. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2017 in four palliative care services. Patients with advanced cancer and health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to individual interviews to determine the relevance, appropriateness and relative importance of the 30 items of the QLQ-C30 for evaluating the outcome of palliative care, and whether relevant additional issues should be included. Results A total of 48 patients and 35 HCPs participated. The most important dimensions selected were pain, physical functioning, sleeping difficulties, emotional functioning, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, social functioning, lack of appetite, role functioning and constipation. Qualitative data identified important additional issues not covered by the questionnaire such as satisfaction with care, emotions and psychological support, as well as linguistic issues in the dyspnea and constipation items. Conclusions The EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL showed good content validity in the assessment of symptoms and QOL of advanced cancer patients; therefore, we recommend the use of this questionnaire in palliative care in Chile. Dyspnea and constipation items were revised by the EORTC group. More research is needed to add a social dimension for a comprehensive assessment of patients’ QOL.

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Correction to: Content validation of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL with advanced cancer patients and health care professionals from palliative care services in Chile

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-020-00656-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leslye Rojas-Concha ◽

Maiken Bang Hansen ◽

Morten Aagaard Petersen ◽

Mogens Groenvold

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Content Validation ◽

Advanced Cancer Patients ◽

Care Services ◽

Palliative Care Services ◽

Eortc Qlq

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

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Patients with advanced cancer: when, why, and how to refer to palliative care services

Current Oncology ◽

10.3747/co.25.4453 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C. Courteau ◽

G. Chaput ◽

L. Musgrave ◽

A. Khadoury

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Spiritual Support ◽

Early Introduction ◽

Care Services ◽

Life Threatening Illness ◽

Palliative Care Services ◽

Primary Focus

Palliative care (pc) is a fundamental component of the cancer care trajectory. Its primary focus is on “the quality of life of people who have a life-threatening illness, and includes pain and symptom management, skilled psychosocial, emotional and spiritual support” to patients and loved ones. Palliative care includes, but is not limited to, end-of-life care. The benefits of early introduction of pc services in the care trajectory of patients with advanced cancer are well known, as indicated by improved quality of life, satisfaction with care, and a potential for increased survival. In turn, early referral of patients with advanced cancer to pc services is strongly recommended. So when, how, and why should patients with advanced cancer be referred to pc services? In this article, we summarize evidence to address these questions about early pc referral:■ What are the known benefits?■ What is the “ideal” pc referral timing?■ What are the barriers?■ Which strategies can optimize integration of pc into oncology care?■ Which communication tools can facilitate skillful introduction of pc to patients?

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Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the EORTC QLQ–C15–PAL for patients with advanced cancer

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951516000195 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 628-634 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hanife Ozcelik ◽

Yasemin Guzel ◽

Esra Sonmez ◽

Fatma Aksoy ◽

Ruchan Uslu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

University Hospital ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Turkish Version ◽

European Organization ◽

Emotional Function ◽

Eortc Qlq

AbstractObjective:Assessing quality of life, which is the main focus of palliative care, is highly important. The number of available, specific, simple, and valid assessment instruments for patients with advanced cancer in Turkey is limited. The aim of our study was to perform a psychometric evaluation of the Turkish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–Core 15–PAL (EORTC QLQ–C15–PAL).Method:The study was conducted in İzmir with patients who had received treatment in the palliative care unit of a university hospital between November of 2011 and December of 2013. Sociodemographic and disease characteristics forms, the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale, and the EORTC QLQ–C15–PAL Scale were employed in order to gather data.Results:A total of 150 patients completed the study: 55.3% of participants were female, 80.7% were married, and the average age was 52.76 ± 14.55. The value of Cronbach's α in the analyses ranged from 0.93 to 0.98. Most questionnaire areas had low to moderate correlations with the others. The moderate correlations were between fatigue and physical function (–0.41) and between insomnia and emotional function (–0.53). Conversely, weak correlations were found between nausea/vomiting and appetite loss (0.31) and between insomnia and pain (0.22). KPS scores decreased, patient physical and emotional function were diminished, global QoL declined, and patients' symptoms became more frank.Significance of results:We concluded that the EORTC QLQ–C15–PAL is a valid and reliable tool to determine the quality of life of advanced cancer patients who are undergoing palliative treatment in Turkey.

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Does a Patient-Held Quality-of-Life Diary Benefit Patients With Inoperable Lung Cancer?

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2008.17.5687 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 70-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Moyra E. Mills ◽

Liam J. Murray ◽

Brian T. Johnston ◽

Chris Cardwell ◽

Michael Donnelly

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Standard Care ◽

Care Quality ◽

Care Group ◽

Consistent Difference ◽

Life Questionnaire

Purpose To examine the effect of weekly completion of a patient-held quality-of-life (QOL) diary in routine oncology practice for palliative care patients. Patients and Methods In a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, 115 patients with inoperable lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive either standard care or a structured QOL diary (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and the related lung cancer module LC13) that they completed at home each week for 16 weeks. Patients were encouraged to share the QOL information with health professionals involved in their care. Changes in QOL over time (measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung questionnaire and the Palliative Care Quality of Life Index), discussion of patient problems, and satisfaction with communication and general care were assessed at baseline and at 2 and 4 months after baseline. Results Analysis of QOL indicated a small but consistent difference between patients in the diary group and the standard care group. The diary group had a poorer QOL in many domains. Two different QOL summary scores (total and overall QOL) indicated a statistically significant between-group difference. No effects were found in relation to satisfaction with care, communication, or the discussion of patient problems. Conclusion The regular completion of a QOL questionnaire without appropriate feedback to health care professionals and without the provision of appropriate support may have a negative impact on inoperable lung cancer patients. Further research should focus on identifying features such as feedback loops that are required for the successful and meaningful use of QOL questionnaires in routine patient care.

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Predictive factors of overall quality of life in advanced cancer patients using EORTC QLQ-C30

Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research ◽

10.1586/14737167.2014.864560 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 139-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gemma Cramarossa ◽

Liang Zeng ◽

Liying Zhang ◽

Ling-Ming Tseng ◽

Ming-Feng Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Predictive Factors ◽

Advanced Cancer Patients ◽

Eortc Qlq C30 ◽

Eortc Qlq

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Shifting Palliative Care Paradigm in Primary Care From Better Death to Better End-of-Life : A Swiss Pilot Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-153919/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Johanna Sommer ◽

Christopher Chung ◽

Dagmar M. Haller ◽

Sophie Pautex

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Primary Care ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Pilot Study ◽

End Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Advanced Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Patients suffering from advanced cancer often loose contact with their primary care physician (PCP) during oncologic treatment and palliative care is introduced very late.The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and procedures for a randomized trial of an intervention to teach PCPs a palliative care approach and communication skills to improve advanced cancer patients’ quality of life. Methods: Observational pilot study in 5 steps. 1) Recruitment of PCPs. 2) Intervention: training on palliative care competencies and communication skills addressing end-of-life issues.3) Recruitment of advanced cancer patients by PCPs. 4) Patients follow-up by PCPs, and assessment of their quality of life by a research assistant 5) Feedback from PCPs using a semi-structured focus group and three individual interviews with qualitative deductive theme analysis.Results: 8 PCPs were trained. PCPs failed to recruit patients for fear of imposing additional loads on their patients. PCPs changed their approach of advanced cancer patients. They became more conscious of their role and responsibility during oncologic treatments and felt empowered to take a more active role picking up patient’s cues and addressing advance directives. They developed interprofessional collaborations for advance care planning. Overall, they discovered the role to help patients to make decisions for a better end-of-life.Conclusions: PCPs failed to recruit advanced cancer patients, but reported a change in paradigm about palliative care. They moved from a focus on helping patients to die better, to a new role helping patients to define the conditions for a better end-of-life.Trial registration : The ethics committee of the canton of Geneva approved the study (2018-00077 Pilot Study) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki

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