title: Qualitative research on the Belgian Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES): An evaluation of the content validity and feasibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The systematic assessment of cancer patients well-being and care needs is internationally recommended to optimize comprehensive cancer care. The Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES) is a psychometrically robust quality of life and needs assessment tool of US origin, developed in the early 1990s. This article describes Belgian patients' view on the content validity and feasibility of the CARES for use in current cancer care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were cancer patients recruited through media. Data were gathered in 4 focus groups (n = 26). The focus group discussions were facilitated with key questions. A moderator and an observer conducted and followed up the discussion. The audio file was transcribed verbatim and afterwards analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants experience concerns and needs in a wide range of life domains such as physical, emotional, cognitive, social, relational, sexual, financial, and work-related and in the interaction with care professionals. According to participants, the items of the CARES are all relevant to capture the possible life disruption that cancer patients and survivors experience. One important theme is missing in the CARES, namely, the well-being of loved ones. The completion time of the CARES was judged to be feasible, and according to participants, only a few items need a reformulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, the results of this study support the content validity and feasibility of the CARES. However, little adjustments in formulation and a few extra items are needed. The instrument can be used to obtain a comprehensive assessment of a cancer patients' overall well-being and care needs to take dedicated action in care.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.|Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Elsene, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bojoura
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.|AZ Delta Hospital, 8800, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hellings
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Belgian Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBAM), Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vankrunkelsven
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.|Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mebis
authors.affiliation: Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulens
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buntinx
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|ICURO, Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vandijck
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Elsene, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Hoof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: assessment; cancer; care needs; patient-centeredness; quality of life