title: Quality of life assessment in International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) trials: practical issues and factors associated with missing data.
abstract: We report on our experience of quality of life (QL) assessment in adjuvant clinical trials of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), with special emphasis on cultural and logistical aspects of international organization that are unique to this group. Data are presented regarding submission rates of assessments before and after treatment failure, and timing of assessments relative to chemotherapy administration. To identify areas where rates might be improved, we investigated the association between missing data and sociodemographic and biomedical factors, treatment assignment, institution, chemotherapy compliance and toxicity in a trial of adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy for post-menopausal patients with breast cancer (IBCSG VII). The factors most highly associated with missing data were institution and chemotherapy compliance.
authors.affiliation: IBCSG Coordinating Center, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gusset
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hinkle
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglione-Gertsch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hürny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors