Discrepancies in performance status scores as determined by cancer patients and oncologists: are they influenced by depression?
OBJECTIVE
In previous research studies, performance status as determined by cancer patients themselves frequently did not agree with that determined by their oncologists. However, only a few studies have evaluated the reasons for this discrepancy.


METHODS
One hundred eleven cancer patients attending the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Seoul National University Hospital were asked to complete a questionnaire that included questions on sociodemographic and medical status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Medical oncology records were reviewed to obtain information and oncologist-assessed ECOG performance status scores.


RESULTS
Patients and oncologists agreed in 59 cases (53.2%; weighted kappa=0.17). There were no statistically significant gender-, cancer-type- or cancer-stage-related differences in agreement rates. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that HADS depression subscale was the only variable that significantly contributed to patient-assessed performance status scores (beta=0.50, P=.0005), whereas cancer stage was the only variable that significantly contributed to oncologist-assessed performance status scores (beta=0.34, P=.0004). The mean of HADS depression subscale and the depression rates were highest in patients who rated themselves as most impaired on ECOG performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression was found to be significantly associated with patients who rated their performance status as more impaired than with the oncologist-assessed score.
Jeon
Hong Jin
HJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
Shim
Eun-Jung
EJ
Shin
Yong-Wook
YW
Oh
Do-Youn
DY
Im
Seock-Ah
SA
Heo
Dae Seog
DS
Hahm
Bong-Jin
BJ
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires