title: Patient acceptance and differential perceptions of quality of life measures in a French oncology setting.
abstract: A three-part study evaluated French cancer patients' acceptance of self-rated quality of life measures, the predictive value of these measures, and the agreement between patient and health provider ratings of patient quality of life. In part one, 93% of 137 patients indicated a willingness to complete the Qualite de la Vie-Questionnaire (QOL-Q) and Analogues Lineaires pour la Mesure de la Qualite de vie (LA), and 63.6% indicated a willingness to be interviewed by a psychologist. Willingness to complete the scales was related to hospitalization status and treatment modality. In parts two and three, 100 patients were asked to complete the QOL-Q, LA, the Karnofsky Index (KI) and a side-effects checklist, and to undergo a psychological interview. Following interview, a psychologist rated the patients using the QOL-Q, and classified patient level of emotional distress. Oncologists rated the patient using the KI and the side-effects checklist. The results indicate that the patients' ratings of their quality of life were higher than the psychologist's ratings, and that the QOL-Q has predictive value in identifying severe emotional distress. Low level of patient and physician agreement on the KI was partially explained by patient age and cancer site. A moderate level of agreement was found between patient and physician perceptions of side effects. The study suggests that the QOL-Q, not the LA, may be useful as a screening tool to identify patients with impaired quality of life, and that self-rated measures should be included in quality of life assessments.
authors.affiliation: University of Franche-Comte, College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schraub
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bransfield
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*