The Bt-DUX: development of a subjective measure of health-related quality of life in patients who underwent surgery for lower extremity malignant bone tumor.
BACKGROUND
To examine the practical applicability, internal consistency, and validity of the Bt-DUX, a disease-specific Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instrument. The Bt-Dux was developed to examine patients' individual values of their life after a malignant bone tumor of the lower extremity at four domains (cosmetic, social, emotional, and functional).


METHODS
Patients were eligible for this cross-sectional, multicenter study if they underwent surgery for a malignant tumor of the leg in a period ranging between 12 and 60 months before the recruitment. Assessments included: Bt-DUX, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) Short Form (SF)-36, TNO-AZL Questionnaire for Adult's Quality of Life (TAAQOL), and TNO-AZL Children's Quality of Life Questionnaire (TACQOL).


RESULTS
Seventy-two patients (35 male, 37 female), mean age 17 (SD 4) years were included. Limb sparing surgery took place in 32 patients and ablative surgery in 40 patients. The Bt-DUX was completed in less than 5 min and easy to comprehend. The mean Bt-DUX score was 69.8 (SD 15.5), with Cronbach's alpha being 0.92. Domain-total correlations ranged between 0.84 and 0.88 (P < 0.01). Correlations between Bt-DUX Total score and TESS, SF-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary scales and selected TACQOL and TAAQOL scores were statistically significant (P < 0.05), except for the social scale of the TACQOL. The Bt-DUX was able to discriminate between patients with higher and lower TESS scores (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Bt-DUX was found to be a practical and valid instrument. Its added value compared with existing HRQoL measures needs to be further established.
Bekkering
W Peter
WP
Department of Physical Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.p.bekkering@lumc.nl
Vlieland
Theodora P M Vliet
TP
Koopman
Hendrik M
HM
Schaap
Gerard R
GR
Schreuder
H W Bart
HW
Beishuizen
Auke
A
Tissing
Wim J E
WJ
Hoogerbrugge
Peter M
PM
Anninga
Jacob K
JK
Taminiau
Antonie H M
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult