title: [Follow-up analysis of health-related quality of life research after radical surgery for rectal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how to improve follow-up rate and follow-up quality in studies related to quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed in patients with rectal cancer who underwent primary surgery at the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from August 2002 to February 2011 using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and CR-38 questionnaires. The influence factors of follow-up rate and reasons for missing sex-related items were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 438 questionnaires were issued. Two hundred and eighty-five responses were received and the follow-up rate was 65.1%. Two hundred and sixty-two patients returned the questionnaires by mail. Responders and non-responders did not differ by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics including sex, age, postoperative time, complication, clinical stage and stoma. Significant differences were found when comparing the missing sex-related items grouped by sex, age, education and working status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follow-up mode of mail supplemented by interview is suitable for current reality in China in studies on quality of life. Targeted methods should be adopted when investigating the different patient groups to improve follow-up rate of studies on quality of life and sexual function survey.
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. songxm2010@163.com.
authors: Xin-xin
authors: XX
authors: Li
authors: Xin-ming
authors: XM
authors: Song
authors: Zhi-hui
authors: ZH
authors: Chen
authors: Ming-zhe
authors: MZ
authors: Li
authors: Li-feng
authors: LF
authors: Lu
authors: Dong-lian
authors: DL
authors: Chen
authors: Wen-hua
authors: WH
authors: Zhan
authors: Yu-long
authors: YL
authors: He
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires