[Development of quality of life questionnaire for Chinese cancer patients receiving chemobiotherapy].
OBJECTIVE
To develop the quality of life questionnaire for Chinese cancer patients receiving chemobiotherapy (QLQ-CCC), and to study the methodology involved in the construction of scales measuring quality of life of cancer patients.


METHODS
From April, 1993 to April, 1995, QLQ-CCC had been developed mainly according to the Rolls-Royce model: 30 items were iuitially identified and tested in advance, from which the "best" items were selected to from the final format of QLQ-CCC (the fourth-generation questionnaire) including 35 questions.


RESULTS
QLQ-CCC had 35 items mainly concerning the five different aspects of cancer patients. Physical aspect included 16 items, of which 9 were disease/treatment-related (specific items), and 7 non-specific items. Psychological/spiritual, social and general health aspects had 5, 5 and 9 items, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life (QOL) research in cancer patients is conducted primarily through the development, implementation and assessment of QOL scales. QOL scales adopted in the developed countries, owing to difference in sociocultural background, have to be modified according to China's concrete condition. This study is an attempt to set up our own QOL scales for cancer patients.
Department of Medical Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
J
J
Luo
Y
Y
Sun
S
S
Zhou
D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires