scholarly journals Application of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to Ethiopian Cancer Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yemataw Wondie ◽  
Andreas Hinz

Objectives: Fatigue is a frequent debilitating symptom associated with cancer. However, scientific data on cancer-related fatigue is scarce in developing nations. This work examines psychometric properties of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) and analyzes the level of fatigue among Ethiopian patients with cancer in comparison with data from Germany.Methods: A sample of 256 patients with cancer drawn from a hospital in Ethiopia was examined with the MFI-20 and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). A comparative sample of 780 German patients with cancer served as the control.Results: The MFI-20 scales and total score showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.60–0.93) with a considerable convergent validity between MFI-20 and the EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue scale (r = 0.67–0.75). The Ethiopian patients with cancer reported higher levels of fatigue than the German patients. Analyses of variance showed that Ethiopian patients with cancer who were illiterate, having advanced cancer, and those who did not receive either surgery or chemotherapy reported especially high levels of fatigue.Conclusion: The MFI-20 is a fairly reliable and valid instrument to be used with Amharic speaking patients with cancer. The high level of fatigue in these patients implies that appropriate cancer care is needed in developing countries.

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
JÖRG DIRMAIER ◽  
SILKE ZAUN ◽  
UWE KOCH ◽  
TIMO HARFST ◽  
HOLGER SCHULZ

Objective: Recent years have shown an increase in the use of questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life to verify the quality of treatment in the field of oncology. An often used cancer-specific questionnaire is the “Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer” (EORTC QLQ-C30). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 1) in order to determine the feasibility and appropriateness for its use in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany with heterogeneous diagnoses.Methods: The questionnaire was administrated to a sample of 972 cancer patients at the beginning of treatment and to 892 patients after treatment. Besides descriptive analysis, the statistical analyses include confirmatory analysis and the multitrait/multimethod approach to test the questionnaire's postulated scale structure (factorial validity) and its reliability (internal consistencies). The analysis also includes a comparison of responsiveness indices (effect size, reliable change index) to test the sensitivity of the instrument.Results: The EORTC QLQ-C30 showed satisfactory levels of reliability and sensitivity, but the postulated scale structure could not be confirmed. The results illustrate that the varimax-rotated solution of a principal component analysis does not confirm the scale structure postulated by the authors. Correspondingly, the selected fit indices within the scope of the confirmatory factor analysis do not show satisfactory results either.Significance of results: We therefore consider version 1 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 to be only limitedly useful for the routine assessment of changes in the quality of life of cancer patients in inpatient rehabilitation in Germany, especially because of the instrument's length and possible redundancies. For this reason, a scoring procedure limited to a subset of items is suggested, revealing satisfactory to good psychometric indices. However, further psychometric tests are necessary, especially with regard to validity and sensitivity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Augusto Claudio Pereira ◽  
Nayara De Paula Passarin ◽  
Jordana Henriques Coimbra ◽  
Gabriela Grasso Pacheco ◽  
Marcel Pereira Rangel

Introdução: A qualidade de vida de pacientes oncológicos tem sido objeto de estudo em muitos trabalhos brasileiros. Contudo, apesar da alta prevalência de indivíduos submetidos a radioterapia, poucos estudos com ênfase nesse grupo de pacientes foram identificados. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida e a prevalência de sintomas depressivos em pacientes com neoplasias malignas durante o tratamento radioterápico. Método: Estudo transversal quantitativo realizado com 153 pacientes oncológicos em vigência de tratamento radioterápico em um centro especializado em oncologia e radioterapia, localizado no Noroeste do Estado do Parana. Os dados foram coletados entre marco e setembro de 2018. O European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) e o Inventario de Depressão de Beck foram utilizados para avaliar a qualidade de vida e os sintomas depressivos, respectivamente. Resultados: Os domínios “qualidade de vida”, “função cognitiva” e “função social” foram os que menos se mostraram prejudicados na amostra estudada, enquanto “insônia”, “perda de apetite” e “dificuldades financeiras” destacaram-se entre os maiores preditores de baixa qualidade de vida. Ademais, contatou-se que 22% dos indivíduos avaliados apresentaram algum grau de transtorno de humor, sendo 11% diagnosticados com depressão. Conclusão: O declínio na qualidade de vida e a prevalência de sintomas depressivos em pacientes oncológicos, mesmo os em vigência de radioterapia, enaltecem a importância de intervenções precoces que visem a restabelecer a funcionalidade e o bem-estar.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 583-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacie Hudgens ◽  
Jonathon Gable ◽  
Matthew H. Kulke ◽  
Emily Bergsland ◽  
Lowell Brian Anthony ◽  
...  

583 Background: Telotristat ethyl is a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor in development for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome (CS) in patients who receive somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy. In TELESTAR, a pivotal Phase 3 study, telotristat ethyl significantly reduced bowel movement (BM) frequency compared to placebo. Objective: The objective of this study was to psychometrically assess meaningful change in BM frequency using data collected within the TELESTAR study. Methods: An anchor-based approach consisted of mapping change from baseline in BM frequency to other patient reported assessments of change. These included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) Diarrhea Symptom responders, the EORTC GI.NET21 GI Symptom responders, and patient reported adequate relief at Week 12 (responders had a ≥ 10-point decrease in scores from Day 1 to Week 12). Parameters included within group mean change from baseline to Week 12, t-tests of the change (Wilcoxon Rank Sum for adequate relief), effect size (ES: calculated as the difference between mean on-treatment and baseline BM frequency, divided by the standard deviation of the baseline), and related confidence intervals. Results: There were 135 patients with CS, with a mean age of 63.6 years and mean baseline BM frequency of 5.7 BM/day. Anchor-based analyses indicated significant differences in BM frequency between adequate relief groups at Week 12 (ES: -1.58 vs. -0.79; p = 0.014), responders and non-responders on the EORTC QLQ-C30 Diarrhea Symptoms domain (ES: -1.24 vs. -0.59; p < 0.0001), and responders and non-responders on the EORTC GI.NET21 GI Symptoms Domain (ES: -1.49 vs. -0.75; p = 0.0053). These corresponded to BM frequency reductions of 1.7-1.9 BM/day, or ≥ 30%. Conclusions: Results of this study indicated that patients with CS experienced clinically meaningful reductions in BM frequency of ≥ 30% over the course of 12 weeks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Binotto ◽  
Gilberto Schwartsmann

Introdução: O câncer de mama pode alterar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde das pacientes. Objetivo: Compreender o impacto da quimioterapia para câncer de mama na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, compreendendo artigos publicados entre 2007 e 2019, disponíveis nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS e SciELO. Analisaram-se 25 artigos na íntegra. Resultados: Os questionários mais frequentemente utilizados nos estudos foram o European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) e o módulo complementar European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BR23). Em relação às alterações da qualidade de vida, a saúde global diminui durante a quimioterapia, mas pode melhorar após o término do tratamento. O aumento dos sintomas é relatado em diversos estudos e prejudicou a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde das pacientes. Entretanto, os sintomas diminuem após o término da quimioterapia, exceto para algumas escalas. As escalas de imagem corporal, função sexual e funcionamento físico pioram ao longo do tratamento. A qualidade de vida mental/psicológica tem oscilações durante o tratamento, assim como a escala sobre as relações sociais. Conclusão: A qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de mulheres com câncer de mama é afetada negativamente pelo tratamento quimioterápico, expressando maior impacto nas escalas de sintomas.


1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1249-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Hjermstad ◽  
S D Fossa ◽  
K Bjordal ◽  
S Kaasa

PURPOSE The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated instrument that assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients. It is used in cancer clinical trials in Europe, Canada, and the United States, and has demonstrated high reliability and validity in different groups of cancer patients. Despite thorough testing of reliability and validity, we have not identified any reports on its test/retest reliability; thus, a test/retest study was performed at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH). MATERIALS AND METHODS Cancer patients from the outpatient clinic who were off treatment for > or = 3 months were eligible for the study. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was given to the patients when they presented for their visit. The second questionnaire was received by the patients 4 days later. Of 291 eligible patients, 270 (93%) agreed to participate and 190 (73%) completed both questionnaires. RESULTS The test/retest reliability measured by Pearson's correlation coefficient was high for all functional scales, with a range from .82 for cognitive and role function to .91 for physical function. The r value for global HRQOL was .85. For the symptom scales--nausea/vomiting, fatigue, and pain--the coefficients were .63, .83, and .86, respectively. The single-item coefficients ranged from .72 for diarrhea to .84 for financial impact. The Spearman rank correlation was in the same range for all dimensions. CONCLUSION The EORTC QLQ-C30 seems to yield high test/retest reliability in patients with various cancer diagnoses whose condition is not expected to change during the time of measurement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 5469-5478
Author(s):  
Yemataw Wondie ◽  
Andreas Hinz

Abstract Purpose Cancer is of increasing prevalence in less-developed countries. However, research on the patients’ quality of life (QoL) in these countries is very limited. The aim of this study was to examine QoL of cancer patients in Africa. Method A sample of 256 cancer patients treated in an Ethiopian hospital was examined with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A group of 1664 German cancer patients served as a comparison group. Results Most of the scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 showed acceptable reliability in the Ethiopian sample. Compared with the German cancer patients, the Ethiopian patients showed lower QoL in most dimensions, especially in financial difficulties, physical functioning, pain, and appetite loss (effect sizes between 0.52 and 0.75). Illiteracy, tumor stage, and treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) were associated with QoL in the Ethiopian sample. QoL was strongly correlated with fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a suitable instrument for measuring QoL in Ethiopia. The detriments in QoL in the Ethiopian patients indicate specific cancer care needs for the patients in a developing country.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1944-1951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Bordeleau ◽  
John Paul Szalai ◽  
Marguerite Ennis ◽  
Molyn Leszcz ◽  
Michael Speca ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a standardized group psychosocial intervention on health-related quality of life (HrQOL) in women with metastatic breast cancer and to explore the effect of missing data in HrQOL analyses. Patients and Methods: Between 1993 and 1998, seven Canadian centers randomly assigned 235 eligible women to participate in a weekly, 90-minute, therapist-led support group that adhered to principles of supportive-expressive (SE) therapy or to a control arm (no SE). All women received educational material and any type of medical or psychosocial care deemed necessary. HrQOL data were prospectively collected using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months. The primary HrQOL analyses compared scores in the two study arms. Analyses were limited to women with appropriate baseline HrQOL information (n = 215). Results: Baseline EORTC QLQ-C30 scores were not different between the two study arms (all P > .05). Primary analysis of all subscales failed to show a significant influence of the intervention on HrQOL (all P > .05). There was a significant deterioration over time in several functional scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30: global (P = .03), physical (P = .0002), role (P = .01), and cognitive functioning (P = .04); and in symptom scales: dyspnea (P = .007), appetite loss (P = .04), and fatigue (P = .003); these changes were independent of randomization allocation. Results were similar in additional analyses of overall HrQOL using a variety of approaches to handling missing data. Conclusion: Supportive-expressive group therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer does not appear to influence HrQOL, as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Dewi Kurniawati ◽  
Frederik George Kuhuwael ◽  
Abdul Qadar Punagi

Latar belakang: Karsinoma nasofaring (KNF) berpengaruh terhadap kualitas hidup penderita, baik dari kankernya sendiri, maupun pengobatan serta efek sampingnya. Penilaian kualitas hidup penderita KNF dapat secara unidimensional menggunakan parameter status tampilan Karnofsky Performance Scale (Karnofsky PS) atau multidimensional memakai parameter European Organization For Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) dan European Organization For Research And Treatment Of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N35).Tujuan: Menilai kesesuaian hasil skor Karnofsky PS, EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-H&N35 dalam menilai kualitas hidup penderita KNF dengan menentukan korelasi antar parameter dan menentukan estimasi skor Karnofsky PS menggunakan skor EORTC QLQ-C30 dan skor EORTC QLQ-H&N35. Menganalisis hubungan antar parameter menurut stadium.Metode: Penelitian adalah observasional analitik dengan pedekatan cross sectional. Populasinya semua kasus KNF yang berobat ke Bagian THT-KL, Rumah Sakit Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Makassar. Sampel sebanyak 48 orang dipilih secara purposive. Penilaian kualitas hidup menggunakan parameter Karnofsky PS, EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-H&N35. Hasil: Didapati kesesuaian hasil skor dari ketiga parameter, ditandai adanya korelasi bermakna antara skor Karnofsky PS, skor EORTC QLQ-C30 dan skor EORTC QLQ-H&N35. Semakin tinggi skor Karnofsky PS, akan semakin rendah skor EORTC QLQ-C30 dan skor EORTC QLQ-H&N35 maka kualitas hidup penderita KNF semakin baik. Skor EORTC QLQ-C30 dan skor EORTC QLQ-H&N35 dapat mengestimasi skor Karnofsky PS. Terdapat hubungan bermakna antara Karnofsky PS, EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-H&N35 menurut stadium (p<0,05). Kesimpulan: DEORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-H&N35 dapat melengkapi Karnofsky PS dalam penilaian kualitas hidup penderita kanker kepala leher terutama KNF. Kata kunci: Kualitas hidup, KNF, Karnofsky PS, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N3.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
Won Sub Lim ◽  
Chang Wook Lee ◽  
Yoon Se Lee ◽  
Min-Woo Jo ◽  
Young Ho Jung ◽  
...  

Background/Objectives: Shoulder function is an important aspect of health related quality of life (QOL). Neck dissection impairment index (NDII) is a simple shoulder-specific questionnaire. This study aimed to evaluate the association between QOL and NDII in patients who underwent neck dissection to validate the Korean version of NDII.Materials & Methods: This study enrolled 74 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent neck dissection from December 2013 to April 2014. Patients completed questionnaires on QOL including the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item Core QOL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and NDII which was translated into Korean. Validity was evaluated by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between NDII and EORTC QLQ-C30.Results: We compared preoperative, postoperative within a week, 1st and 3rd months NDII scores. The total NDII scores were 14.7, 47.4, 33.7 and 34.3 each. Clinical variables including gender, site of primary tumor, performing revision neck dissection, radiotherapy and flap reconstruction were not significantly associated with NDII. However NDII mean score of patients who underwent unilateral neck dissection over 3 levels is most increased after operation. During all periods NDII scores were significantly associated with functioning score. Although other scores are lower correlation than function scores, global health status scores and symptom scores are also correlation with NDII.Conclusion: NDII was valid instrument and can be used not only in the clinical practice to assess shoulder dysfunction but also in the simple instrument to evaluate global QOL in Korea patients with having neck dissection.


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