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Effect of method of administration on longitudinal assessment of quality of life in gynecologic cancer: an exploratory study.
- Source :
-
Health and quality of life outcomes [Health Qual Life Outcomes] 2005 Jan 17; Vol. 3, pp. 6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Jan 17. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- Background: Longitudinal assessments of quality of life are needed to measure changes over the course of a disease and treatment. Computer versions of quality of life instruments have increased the feasibility of obtaining longitudinal measurements. However, there remain occasions when patients are not able to complete these questionnaires. This study examined whether changes measured using a computer version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) on two occasions would be obtained if patients completed a paper version on one of the two occasions.<br />Methods: Gynecologic oncology patients completed a computer version of the FACT-G pre-operatively and at six months. Patients were given the option of using the paper version instead of the computer at either time point. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used.<br />Results: One hundred nineteen patients completed the FACT-G at both time points. Seventy-one (60%) patients used the computer at both visits, 26 (21.8%) used the computer followed by the paper version, 17 (14.3%) used the paper version followed by the computer version, and five patients (4.2%) used the paper version at both visits. Significant effects over time were obtained in the physical, functional, and emotional well-being domains, and in total scores, but there were no effects of method of administration of the questionnaires and no interaction between method of administration and changes over time.<br />Conclusions: These data indicate that women are responding to the content of the questionnaire and not method of data collection. Although using the same method of administration of instruments over time is desirable, using alternate methods is preferable to forgoing data collection entirely. Large scale studies should be conducted to determine if the multiple methods of data collection that are becoming increasingly available are producing interchangeable information.
- Subjects :
- Adnexa Uteri
Adult
Computers
Endometrial Neoplasms
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Genital Neoplasms, Female surgery
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
Ohio
Ovarian Neoplasms
Paper
Genital Neoplasms, Female physiopathology
Genital Neoplasms, Female psychology
Process Assessment, Health Care methods
Quality of Life
Sickness Impact Profile
Surveys and Questionnaires
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1477-7525
- Volume :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Health and quality of life outcomes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15655074
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-3-6