title: Assessment of quality of life in a multicultural cancer patient population.
abstract: Quality of life (QOL) is increasingly assessed in cancer patients. In this article, the authors examined the psychometric performance of a commonly used QOL questionnaire, the Quality of Life Questionnaire--Cancer 30 (QLQ-C30; N. K. Aaronson et al., 1993), in multiethnic cancer patients. Content validation studies in patients and clinicians identified possible new items. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis supported equivalent structure across ethnic groups (Caucasians and Asian/Pacific Islanders [APIs]). A higher order QOL factor appeared to directly affect functioning scales and symptom count. Exploratory factor analysis examined effects of new items. Ten factors were extracted, 6 consistent with the original instrument and 4 reflecting potentially new aspects of QOL: Positive Social Support, Coping, Existential Well-Being, and Sexuality/Intimacy. The QLQ-C30 appears appropriate for use in API cancer patients. Further work needs to ensure that it includes all important domains.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, University of Hawai'i at Mãnoa, 1236 Lauhala Street, Suite 406, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813, USA. cgotay@crch.hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Carolyn Cook
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gotay
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blaine
authors.forename: Stephen N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holup
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires