Quick-FLIC: validation of a short questionnaire for assessing quality of life of cancer patients

Abstract

A practically useful measure of quality of life should be simple and quick to complete. A shortened Chinese version of the Functional Living Index -Cancer (FLIC) was recently proposed and was called Quick-FLIC. This study aims to assess the measurement properties of the Quick-FLIC. A total of 190 patients who received care from the National Cancer Centre of Singapore completed a questionnaire package at baseline. Patients filled in a retest questionnaire on average 2 weeks after baseline to assess test -retest reliability and responsiveness to change. The Quick-FLIC scores correlated well with the Functional Assessment of Chronic TherapyGeneral scores (r ¼ 0.78). Patients with different treatment status, performance status and self-rated health had significantly different Quick-FLIC scores in the expected directions (ANOVA; each Po0.001). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ¼ 0.87) and 2-week test -retest reliability (intraclass correlation ¼ 0.81) were also satisfactory. The measure was responsive to changes in health status (Po0.001). The Quick-FLIC is a valid and reliable measure of health-related quality of life of cancer patients. The shortening of established health-related quality of life instruments should be considered in order to reduce the burden of having patients to answer lengthy questionnaires.

Validation of the English and Chinese versions of the Quick-FLIC quality of life questionnaire

“…Furthermore, we also used the same 11 items in Chinese to re-evaluate the Chinese version of Quick-FLIC. The results of this Chinese Quick-FLIC as administered in the context of the 22-item FLIC were compared with those of the Chinese Quick-FLIC administered as an independent instrument (Cheung et al, 2004a). Obtaining similar results would testify to the lack of a context effect in the present study.…”

“…Recently, we reported the development and validation of an abbreviated Chinese version of the Functional Living IndexCancer (FLIC) and termed the resultant questionnaire the Quick-FLIC (Cheung et al, 2004a). Drawing on data from a sample of Chinese-speaking patients who filled out the Chinese version of FLIC, and guided by factor analysis results, we selected a limited subset of items to form the Quick-FLIC in Chinese (Cheung et al, 2003a).…”

“…Drawing on data from a sample of Chinese-speaking patients who filled out the Chinese version of FLIC, and guided by factor analysis results, we selected a limited subset of items to form the Quick-FLIC in Chinese (Cheung et al, 2003a). This was then validated using an independent sample (Cheung et al, 2004a).…”

“…Drawing on data from a sample of Chinese-speaking patients who filled out the Chinese version of FLIC, and guided by factor analysis results, we selected a limited subset of items to form the Quick-FLIC in Chinese (Cheung et al, 2003a). This was then validated using an independent sample (Cheung et al, 2004a). Although the FLIC was developed to assess the overall level of HRQoL, factor analysis showed that its 22 items reflected five domains of well-being: physical, psychological, social, family and symptoms (Ruckdeschel and Piantadosi, 1994;Cheung et al, 2003a).…”

“…This was then validated using an independent sample (Cheung et al, 2004a). Although the FLIC was developed to assess the overall level of HRQoL, factor analysis showed that its 22 items reflected five domains of well-being: physical, psychological, social, family and symptoms (Ruckdeschel and Piantadosi, 1994;Cheung et al, 2003a). The Quick-FLIC has kept this structure.…”