title: Cancer patients' understanding of longitudinal EORTC QLQ-C30 scores presented as bar charts.
abstract: To investigate cancer patients' understanding of graphical presentations of longitudinal EORTC QLQ-C30 scores.
  
  
  
  We conducted semi-structured interviews with brain tumour patients participating in routine patient-reported outcome (PRO) monitoring. We assessed understanding of longitudinal quality of life (QOL) profiles, presented as bar charts objectively and with self-ratings. In addition, patients' opinions on congruency of the QOL scores with their self-perceived health status were evaluated.
  
  
  
  We recruited 40 brain tumour patients (57.5% female; mean age 52.7, SD 13.7). In total, 90% of patients rated the graphs as easy to understand. Accordingly, almost all questions on assessing understanding objectively were answered correctly by at least 80% of the patients. More than 95% indicated that the displayed QOL scores matched their personal perception of symptom burden and functional health in the observed period.
  
  
  
  Patients are able to understand their QOL results when presented graphically and are able to interpret important changes. Displayed QOL scores obtained with the EORTC QLQ-C30 are consistent with the patients' personal perception of physical and emotional functioning, pain and fatigue.
  
  
  
  Knowledge about patients' understanding of graphically displayed QOL results contributes to creation of optimal evidence-based feedback on the patients' present QOL and its trajectory.
authors: Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Innsbruck, Austria; Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck,Austria. Electronic address: fanny.loth@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors: F L
authors: FL
authors: Loth
authors: Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: bernhard.holzner@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Holzner
authors: Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Innsbruck, Austria; Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck,Austria. Electronic address: monika.sztankay@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sztankay
authors: Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck,Austria. Electronic address: harald.r.bliem@uibk.ac.at.
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: Bliem
authors: Institute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: Sonja.Raoufi@student.uibk.ac.at.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Raoufi
authors: Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Medical Psychology, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: gerhard.rumpold@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Rumpold
authors: Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: johannes.giesinger@i-med.ac.at.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Giesinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D003196:Computer Graphics; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer; EORTC QLQ-C30; Graphic display of data; Patient-centred care; Patient-reported outcomes; Quality of life