Preliminary Testing of the Long-Term Quality of Life (LTQL) Instrument for Female Cancer Survivors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a quality of life instrument for longterm female cancer survivors. A factor analysis (n = 188) of 34 items resulted in the Long-Term Quality of Life (LTQL) instrument. Internal consistency was high for the four subscales: somatic concerns (alpha = .86), spiritual/philosophical views of life (alpha = .87), fitness (alpha = .92), and social support (alpha = .88). These four factors are congruent with Ferrell’s four theoretical domains of quality of life developed for women with breast cancer. Content validity was supported through interrater agreement of subscale items. Significant correlations between the LTQL and the CaRES, an established measure of quality of life, support the concurrent validity of the LTQL. Construct validity was supported by differential subscale scores according to demographic and health status data. Although the LTQL retained all of Ferrell’s four domains of quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual) within one instrument, individual items reconfigured to suggest an overlapping of domains for the long-term female cancer survivor. This research suggests that the LTQL warrants further testing and may be a useful measure of quality of life in long-term female cancer survivors.

Assessing Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS)

“…This instrument, the QLACS, covers five cancerspecific areas that were suggested by long-term survivors themselves as relevant to their lives, along with seven additional areas that are relevant to cancer but are not limited to cancer. The QLACS therefore covers more areas relevant to the cancer survivorship experience than do other instruments such as the QOL-CS [18] and the LTQL [51,52]. It was developed in two phases, using nearly equal numbers of men and women, who were survivors of several different types of cancers, and whose survivorship ranged from recent (5 years) to prolonged (18 years).…”

“…Researchers and clinicians are increasingly aware of the importance of quality of life issues among long-term cancer survivors [16,17,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Quality of life assessments can be an important indicator of success of treatment, can help identify longterm sequelae clinicians should monitor, and can identify areas where services or interventions are needed [21].…”

“…Wyatt and colleagues [51,52] developed the Long-term Quality of Life (LTQL) questionnaire based on the same conceptual model. Wyatt and colleagues developed an item set from focus groups of female survivors.…”

Intervention Fidelity

“…In the parent study, the principal sources of data are three telephone interviews obtained at baseline prior to the intervention (Wave 1), immediately after the intervention which is week seven of the trial (Wave 2), and again 6 weeks later which is week 13 of the trial (Wave 3) and based on the recommendation of the certified reflexologist’s experience with cancer patients. Primary endpoint outcome indicators are assessed at each data collection point by use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) Scale- Version 4,23 and the Long-Term QOL (LTQL) Spirituality Subscale 24. Intermediate physical indicators are assessed at each data collection point by use of the SF-36; 25 the Physical Symptom Experience; 26 the Brief Fatigue Inventory; 27 and the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form 28.…”

P02.53. Examination of the association of diet on persistent cancer related fatigue

“…Long Term Quality of Life Instrument: The LTQL is a 34 items questionnaire that is self-administered for evaluating functional impairment and the perceived effect of that impairment on quality of life in breast cancer survivors [18]. …”