Self-assessed health-related quality of life in men who have completed radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Instrument validation and its relation to patient-assessed bother of symptoms

Citation
H. Wang et al., Self-assessed health-related quality of life in men who have completed radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Instrument validation and its relation to patient-assessed bother of symptoms, INT J CANC, 90(3), 2000, pp. 163-172
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
ISSN journal
00207136 → ACNP
Volume
90
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
163 - 172
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7136(20000620)90:3<163:SHQOLI>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically reliable and va lid questionnaire to assess the disease-specific dimensions of health-relat ed quality of life (HRQOL) in the urinary function (UF), bowel function (BF ), and sexual function (SF) domains of prostate cancer (PCa) patients treat ed with radiation therapy. Patients were given a six-page questionnaire usi ng Likert-type questions assessing three HRQOL dimensions during their foll ow-up visits after completing radiotherapy. Scales created from an earlier study were utilized and tested for reliability and validity. In addition, w e assessed the relationship between these dimensions and the degree to whic h a decreased HRQOL increases the degree to which patients feel bothered ab out their symptoms. There are two scales within each dimension: BF, Urgency and Daily Living; UF, Urgency and Weakness of Stream; SF, Interest/Satisfa ction and Impotence. Internal-consistency reliability coefficients (Cronbac h's alpha) for the proposed scales range from 0.48 to 0.92, and all item-sc ale correlations and divergence correlations validate the use of the scales , ranging from 0.49 to 0.89. The validity of these scales is also confirmed by the rising median scores with rising reported levels of patient-perceiv ed "bother." The different dimensions have differing quantitative influence s on patients. We have developed a prostate-specific HRQOL instrument that is an adequate and suitable tool for measuring HRQOL along three distinct d imensions for patients who have completed radiotherapy for PCa. Psychometri c standards for reliability and validity were met for the proposed scales. Moreover, positive correlations were found between these dimensions and how bothered patients were by their symptoms, suggesting important relationshi ps that should be followed in PCa patients after radiotherapy. Certain scal es have strong influences on patient-perceived "bothersomeness" of symptoms , such as loss of control of BF, urgency of BF, urgency of urination, and l evel of interest/satisfaction in sex. Compared to our earlier study on pati ents being treated with radiotherapy for PCa, this study produced very simi lar results. With some modification, the same questionnaire could be used f or both groups of patients, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.