title: Which quality of life instruments are preferred by cancer patients in Japan? Comparison of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared two health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments used for cancer patients [the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G)] to identify which instrument cancer patients most preferred.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult cancer patients who had received cancer treatments within the previous 2 years (n = 395) completed both surveys; participants assessed the importance, necessity, and appropriateness of each as an indicator of their quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients significantly preferred the FACT-G over the EORTC QLQ-C30 as a more important (effect size (ES) = 0.37, P < 0.001), necessary (ES = 0.18, P < 0.001), and appropriate questionnaire (ES = 0.14, P = 0.005). The subgroups of patients with good performance status, and those who reported low levels of work disruption, significantly preferred the FACT-G more than the other. The corresponding correlation coefficients were the following: physical functioning and well-being subscale, r = 0.65; emotional functioning and well-being subscale, r = 0.60; social functioning and social/family well-being subscale, r = 0.00; and role functioning and functional well-being subscale, r = 0.41.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend using the FACT-G if the performance status of the subject is good, e.g., in outpatient or cancer survivor surveys, based on the observed patient preferences. When performance status is not good, an instrument should be chosen after considering the differences between their scale structures and social domains and based on the availability of disease-specific modules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan, kazukisato@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D024221:Antineoplastic Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires