Development, validation and clinical use of the FLQA-l, a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with lymphedema

Augustin, Matthias; Bross, Felix; Földi, E.; Vanscheidt, Wolfgang; Zschocke, I.

doi:10.1024/0301-1526.34.1.31

Cited by 57 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…It is intended that each FLQA questionnaire will consist of the common core module (the FLQA-c) [63], which is relevant to all skin diseases, plus an additional module of questions specific to the distinct dermatological disease being studied. So far, there have been FLQA publications in the fields of chronic venous insufficiency (FLQA), chronic dermatoses (FLQA-d) and lymphedema (FLQA-I) [64].…”

Section: Freiburg Life Quality Assessment Core Modulementioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the effects of psoriasis on quality of life

Thomas¹,

Finlay²

2006

Expert Review of Dermatology

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There is no doubt that psoriasis can have adverse physical, social and psychological effects on an individual's quality of life (QoL). This has been demonstrated in a variety of studies that have employed an array of different qualitative and quantitative measures. The most effective method of measuring the impact of psoriasis on QoL will depend on the circumstances of the patient or study being considered. In most cases, it is best to use validated health-related QoL questionnaires. This has the potential to allow for more accurate comparisons to be made between patients, studies or populations, or comparisons in the same patient before and after interventions or over a period of time. This article reviews the studies and instruments that have examined the effects of psoriasis on QoL in the hope that this will improve our understanding of what is still a relatively new field in dermatology.Expert Rev. Dermatol.

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Section: Freiburg Life Quality Assessment Core Modulementioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the effects of psoriasis on quality of life

Thomas¹,

Finlay²

2006

Expert Review of Dermatology

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“…Lymphedema does not necessarily occur immediately after treatment; therefore, the risk of developing lymphedema can last a lifetime. Arm lymphedema creates both physical and psychosocial sequelae [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] and reduced Quality of life (QOL) [12][13][14]. These problems can be unrelated to the measured volume of the affected limb [5,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A randomized clinical trial comparing advanced pneumatic truncal, chest, and arm treatment to arm treatment only in self-care of arm lymphedema

Ridner

Murphy

Deng

et al. 2011

Breast Cancer Res Treat

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Treatment of the truncal lymphatics prior to treatment of the lymphedematous arm is an accepted, although not empirically tested, therapeutic intervention delivered during decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT). Breast cancer survivors with arm lymphedema are encouraged to use these techniques when performing simple lymphatic drainage as part of their life-long lymphedema self-care. Self-massage is at times difficult and pneumatic compression devices are used by many patients to assist with self-care. One such device, the Flexitouch(®) System, replicates the techniques used during DLT; however, the need for application of pneumatic compression in unaffected truncal areas to improve self-care outcomes in arm only lymphedema is not established. The objective of this study was to compare the therapeutic benefit of truncal/chest/arm advanced pneumatic compression therapy (experimental group) verses arm only pneumatic compression (control group) in self-care for arm lymphedema without truncal involvement using the Flexitouch(®) System. Outcomes of interest were self-reported symptoms, function, arm impedance ratios, circumference, volume, and trunk circumference. Forty-two breast cancer survivors, (21 per group), with Stage II lymphedema completed 30 days of home self-care using the Flexitouch(®) System. Findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in both the number of symptoms and overall symptom burden within each group; however, there were no statistically significant differences in these outcomes between the groups. There was no statistically significant overall change or differential pattern of change between the groups in function. A statistically significant reduction in bioelectrical impedance and arm circumference within both of the groups was achieved; however, there was no statistically significant difference in reduction between groups. These findings indicate that both configurations are effective, but that there may be no added benefit to advanced pneumatic treatment of the truncal lymphatics prior to arm massage when the trunk is not also affected. Further research is indicated in a larger sample.

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“…The patient questionnaires included items on medical history of the disease, patient satisfaction with care and with treatment and patient-relevant benefit. The following outcomes parameters were measured: (a) sociodemographic data; (b) medical history; (c) lymphoedema therapy; (d) clinical status (case report form with photo documentation); (e) quality of life (disease-specific: FLQA-l (lymphoedema short version) [2], generic: EQ-5D including visual analogue scale); (f) health care pathways and quality of care (use of resources, attending physicians, access to specialists; self-treatment and effort; pathways of care; indicators of quality of care); (g) satisfaction with care (from the patient's perspective); (h) patient benefit (questionnaire assessing patient-defined benefit from lymphoedema treatment, Patient Benefit Index (PBI) [19]); (i) cost of illness (questionnaire on illness-related costs of lymphoedema [20]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chronic lymphoedema is associated with major impairments in patients' quality of life [1,2] and an increased rate of complications [3,4,5]. Management of lymphoedema is complex and time-consuming and requires consequent and steady treatment [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality of Care of Patients with Chronic Lymphoedema in Germany

Herberger

Blome²,

Sandner³

et al. 2013

Dermatology

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Background: The management of lymphoedema is complex and should be based on guidelines. To date, no data assessing quality of care in lymphoedema in Germany are available. Objective: We aimed at evaluating the quality of care of lymphoedema in the metropolitan area of Hamburg using guideline-based indicators. Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based study including patients with lymphoedema. Assessment included a structured interview, clinical examination and patient-reported outcomes. Quality indicators derived from guidelines by a Delphi consensus were applied. Results: 348 patients (median age 60.5 years) with lymphoedema (66.4%), lipoedema (9.5%) or combined oedema (24.1%) were included. 86.4% performed compression therapy, 85.6% received lymphatic drainage. On average 55.0% of the quality of care criteria were met; 64.8% were satisfied with care. The distribution curve of the health care index was almost normal. Treatment by specialists led to a higher quality of care index. Conclusion: Although overall quality of care in lymphoedema is fair, many patients are not treated properly according to guidelines.

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Development, validation and clinical use of the FLQA-l, a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with lymphedema

Cited by 57 publications

References 9 publications

Measuring the effects of psoriasis on quality of life

Measuring the effects of psoriasis on quality of life

A randomized clinical trial comparing advanced pneumatic truncal, chest, and arm treatment to arm treatment only in self-care of arm lymphedema

Quality of Care of Patients with Chronic Lymphoedema in Germany

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