Comparison between a general and a disease-specific health-related quality-of-life questionnaire in patients after pancreatic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the short-form (SF-) 36 as a general instrument and the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) as a disease-specific instrument in patients after pancreatic surgery.


METHODS
The questionnaires were sent to patients receiving pancreatic surgery over a time period of three years. Patients were compared with a normal population completing the SF-36 or reported normal-population values for the GIQLI. Agreement between the instruments was analyzed using Bland Altman plots.


RESULTS
A total of 98 patients were included, most of them undergoing a Whipple procedure (86%). The most frequent complaints were meteorism, obstipation, stool urgency, and stress incontinence in 9% of the patients. Whereas in almost every domain of the SF-36 the HRQL was impaired in comparison to the normal population, the GIQLI showed differences in only the domain emotions. Neither the SF-36 nor the GIQLI was different between patients with early and advanced cancer stages. The SF-36 had no agreement with the GIQLI.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of HRQL studies depend on the instruments which were used. Whereas a general instrument may detect factors such as comorbidity more accurately, disease-specific instruments have the advantage of better clinical interpretability.
Scheingraber
Stefan
S
Department of General-, Visceral-, Vascular-, and Pediatric Surgery, University of the Saarland, D-66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Scheingraber
Tanja
T
Brauckhoff
Michael
M
Dralle
Henning
H
D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery*; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires