title: Psychometric evaluation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (Fact/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire for patients receiving systemic chemotherapy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to validate the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire. The FACT/GOG-Ntx is the FACT-G plus an eleven-item subscale (Ntx subscale) that evaluates symptoms and concerns associated specifically with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Two groups of women with ovarian cancer completed the FACT/GOG-Ntx: one group with known neurotoxicities and one group of chemotherapy-naive women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Levels of patient neuropathy, severity of toxicity, and patient quality of life from diagnosis of ovarian cancer to 12 months post-diagnosis were assessed. The Ntx subscale significantly differentiated the two groups at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups, demonstrating significantly fewer problems among chemotherapy-naive patients than among patients with known neuropathy. The FACT/GOG-Ntx is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the impact of neuropathy on health-related quality of life. The Ntx subscale demonstrated sensitivity to meaningful clinical distinctions and change over time.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology, Institute for Health Services and Health Policy Studies, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. e-calhoun@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Welshman
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lurain
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires