Comparison of Patient and Proxy EORTC QLQ-C30 Ratings in Assessing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Sneeuw, K.C.A.; Aaronson, Neil K.; Sprangers, Mirjam A. G.; Detmar, Symone; Wever, Lieke; Schornagel, J. H.

doi:10.1016/s0895-4356(98)00040-7

Cited by 164 publications

(181 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

160

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In general terms the published literature indicates doctors are poor at predicting QoL whereas partners are much better. [1][2][3][4][5] The only other published study to examine prostate cancer was a Dutch study in which the authors concluded that spouses of men with metastatic prostate cancer evaluate patient's physical and psychosocial functioning, symptoms and overall QoL with a fair degree of accuracy. 6 The most frequently cited patient and partner cues were family, wife, leisure, health and gardening.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[1][2][3] In general the literature supports the viability of employing individuals other than clinicians to assess patient QoL. [4][5][6][7][8] In addition, there is some evidence to suggest that proxy assessment is not only dependent on whether the assessor was a relative or health care professional but is influenced by the QoL dimension under consideration. 9 This study aims to assess the ability of clinicians and partners to make proxy judgements on behalf of patients with prostate cancer relating to selection of life priorities and QoL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Proxy assessment of quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: how accurate are partners and urologists?

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryObjectives To assess the ability of partners and clinicians to make proxy judgements on behalf of patients with prostate cancer relating to selection of life priorities and quality of life (QoL).Design 47 consecutive patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma, and their partners, were recruited.The partners were asked to assess, by proxy, the QoL of the patient by completion of a series of interview-led questionnaires assessing global QoL (SEIQoL-DW), health-related QoL (FACT-P) and overall QoL (visual analogue score [VAS]). The patients' clinicians were asked to complete the SEIQoL-DW and VAS by proxy as soon as possible after a consultation with the patient.Setting Patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma, their partners and their clinicians. Main outcome measuresProxy scores for SEIQoL-DW, FACT-P and VAS, as provided by partners and clinicians.Results 25 partners made a proxy assessment of the patients. The results showed that partners were able to select similar QoL cues to those of the patients (Spearman-Rank correlation 0.89). Comparison of the QoL scores obtained from patients and partners in proxy using the questionnaires showed no statistically significant difference (paired t-test). Urologists were poor predictors of areas of life (cues) that were important to their patients. The doctors overemphasized the importance of survival, postoperative complications, urinary symptoms, sexual ability, activities of daily living and finance, but underestimated the importance of wife, family, home and religion. Comparison of the QoL scores obtained from patients and urologists by proxy showed a significantly lower score when assessed by urologists using the SEIQoL-DW questionnaire.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proxy assessment of quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: how accurate are partners and urologists?

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The questions about dyspnoea, pain, constipation, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhoea originated from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). We considered this questionnaire a valid instrument for measuring the patients' symptom burden by other than patients themselves because the agreement between patients and observers has been shown to be moderate to good (intra class correlation=0.42 to 0.79) [17]. Questions about agitation, fear, confusion, incontinence, and troublesome mucus production were added because these symptoms are common in the last phase of life.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The last 3 days of life in three different care settings in The Netherlands

Veerbeek

Zuylen

Swart³

et al. 2007

Support Care Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Little is known about the characteristics of dying in different care settings, such as the hospital, the nursing home, or the home-care setting. Materials and methods We measured the burden of symptoms, medical and nursing interventions, and aspects of communication during the last 3 days of life within each of these settings. We included 239 of 321 patients (74%) who died in one of these settings in the southwest of The Netherlands, between November 2003 and February 2005. After the patient's death, a nurse filled in a questionnaire. Results Pain and shortness of breath were more severe in hospital patients as compared to nursing home and homecare patients, whereas incontinence was less severe in hospital patients. Several medical interventions, such as a syringe driver, vena punctures or lab tests, radiology or ECG, antibiotics, and drainage of body fluids were more often applied during the last 3 days of life to hospital patients than to nursing home and home-care patients. This also holds for the measurement of body temperature and blood pressure. In the hospital setting, the patient and the family were more often informed about the imminence of death of the patient than elsewhere. The general practitioner and other professional caregivers were less often informed about the imminence of death of hospital patients than of other patients. Discussion We conclude that pain and shortness of breath were more severe among hospital patients, whereas incontinence was more severe among nursing home and home-care patients. Hospital patients relatively often receive medical interventions and standard controls during the last 3 days of life. In hospital, communication about impending death seems to take place more often shortly before death.

show abstract

“…However, this trend has not been observed in other studies (6, 31 Á/33). Recent studies suggest a U-shaped relationship (17,29) between the patient's health condition and the level of patient Á/proxy agreement. That is, large discrepancies tend to occur most frequently for patients with a moderately impaired health condition, and less frequently for patients with either a very good or very poor health status.…”

Section: Patient and Proxy Ratings Of Patient Qlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proxy ratings of patient quality of life Factors related to patient–proxy agreement

Essén¹

2004

Acta Oncologica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is generally agreed that patients are the best raters of their quality of life (QL). Where it is not possible to obtain information from the patient the use of proxies can be an alternative. The proxy can be a significant other or a healthcare provider. The use of a proxy offers a solution to non-response. The accuracy of proxy reports is most typically determined by examining the extent to which patient and proxy ratings agree. A literature overview shows that agreement depends on several factors. Methodological limitations may have an impact on agreement. Agreement also varies according to the QL domains under study; the highest agreement is usually found for concrete domains. In addition, patient and proxy characteristics are related to agreement. When designing QL studies the threat of selection bias due to exclusion of patients has to be balanced against the threat of information bias due to proxy ratings.

show abstract

Comparison of Patient and Proxy EORTC QLQ-C30 Ratings in Assessing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Cited by 164 publications

References 39 publications

Proxy assessment of quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: how accurate are partners and urologists?

Proxy assessment of quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: how accurate are partners and urologists?

The last 3 days of life in three different care settings in The Netherlands

Proxy ratings of patient quality of life Factors related to patient–proxy agreement

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About