Clinical validity of the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia Scale.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to reveal the clinical validity of the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia scale (FACT-An) in relation to hemoglobin level. We also analyzed patients' scores for the related FACT-General scale (FACT-G), the FACT Anemia subscale, and the FACT Trial Outcome Index-Anemia scale (FACT TOI-An) to determine which was the most sensitive to anemia measurements.


METHODS
Throughout Japan, we recruited 227 patients (mean+/-SD, 59+/-12.1 years old) diagnosed with a variety of cancers. We correlated the severity of anemia, as measured by hemoglobin levels, to scores on the FACT-An and on the other scales at baseline and at 3 months.


RESULTS
The questionnaire completion rate was more than 98% at both time points. The FACT-An had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient >0.8). FACT-An scores were significantly and positively correlated with hemoglobin levels both at baseline (r=0.24; 95% CI=0.12 to 0.36; n=225) and at 3 months (r=0.24; 95% CI=0.10 to 0.36; n=204). FACT-G, FACT Anemia subscale, and FACT TOI-An scores also successfully discriminated between patients with lower (Hb <11.0 g/dl) and higher (Hb > or =11.0 g/dl) hemoglobin levels. Moreover, the changes of these FACT scores over 3-months could discriminate changes in hemoglobin level.


CONCLUSIONS
The Japanese version of the FACT-An has higher clinical validity and can be used to appropriately assess health-related quality of life among Japanese cancer patients with anemia.
Kurita
Maya
M
Division of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan.
Shimozuma
Kojiro
K
Morita
Satoshi
S
Fujiki
Yuki
Y
Ishizawa
Kenichi
K
Eguchi
Hisae
H
Saito
Yuko
Y
Ushirozawa
Nobuko
N
Wasada
Izumi
I
Ohashi
Yasuo
Y
Eguchi
Kenji
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006454:Hemoglobins