AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VALIDITY OF THE QUALITY OF WELL-BEING SCALE WITH PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS

The usefulness of the Quality of Well-Being scale (QWB) in a sample of pediatric cancer patients was investigated. The parents of 30 childre n who were 4 to 18 years old and who were being treated for cancer, we re administered the QWB. Performance status ratings from the parents a nd physician, toxicity ratings, treatment information. and routine lab oratory values were also collected. Correlational analyses indicated t hat QWB scores were significantly related to ratings of performance st atus and that children who had experienced more surgeries and hospital izations were assessed as more impaired on the QWB. The child's age, t oxicity of treatment experience to date, and laboratory values were no t significantly related to QWB findings. The potential utility of the QWB as a component of quality-of life assessment is discussed.