ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH-STATUS IN SURVIVORS OF CANCER

The health status of 48 survivors of cancer was assessed using a ratin g system for six attributes: senses, mobility, emotion, cognition, sel f care, and pain. Paired assessments were made by doctors and patients (or their parents, or both) at routine clinic attendances. Sixteen (3 3%) assessments by the patient/parent and 19 (40%) assessments by the doctor identified no deficits in health status. The doctors identified fewer deficits in all attributes than the patients/parents, the diffe rences being most marked for subjective attributes. Health status inde x scores on a scale of 0 (worst health state) to 1 (perfect health) we re derived from the rating system and showed good overall agreement be tween the doctors and the patients/parents. Survivors of neuroaxial tu mours tended to have lower scores than other diagnostic groups. This s imple, compact system could be used in clinical trials to compare trea tment strategies in terms of the health status of survivors. It could also be a valuable tool in the assessment of health status in other ar eas of paediatrics.