title: Development and Validation of the Quality-of-Life Assessment System for Lung Cancer Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
abstract: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has many unique features. Thequality-of-life (QoL) instrument for lung cancer based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (QLASTCM-Lu) was the first self-reported instrument specifically developed to assess the quality of life from the perspective of TCM. Structured group methods and theory in developmental rating scale were employed to establish a general and a specific module, respectively. Quantitative and qualitative data from 240 lung cancer patients were collected to assess the psychometric properties. The three identified scales of the QLASTCM-Lu (correspondence between man and universe, unity of the body and spirit, and lung cancer specific module) and the total score demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. Test-retest reliability of all domains ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, and internal consistency α ranged from 0.86 to 0.93. Correlation and factor analysis demonstrated good construct validity. Significant differences in the QLASTCM-Lu scales and total score were found among groups differing in TCM syndrome, supporting the clinical sensitivity of the QLASTCM-Lu. Statistically significant changes were found for each scale and the total score. Responsiveness of the QLASTCM-Lu was greater than that of QLQ-LC43. The QLASTCM-Lu is a psychometrically sound and clinically sensitive measure of quality of life for lung cancer patients, which can be applied to both TCM therapy and Western medicine therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Humanities and Management and Research Center on Quality of Life and Applied Psychology, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Chonghua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Shengfu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jingen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Peiyong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zheng