Kenneth Mah1, Nadia Swami1, Lisa W Le2, Ronald Chow1, Breffni L Hannon1,3,4, Gary Rodin1,5,6, Camilla Zimmermann1,3,4,5,6. 1. Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Princess Margaret Research Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Assessing quality of life is essential for individuals with advanced cancer, but lengthy assessments can be burdensome. The authors investigated the psychometric characteristics of the FACT-G7, a 7-item quality-of-life measure derived from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale, in advanced cancer. METHODS: Data were obtained from outpatients with advanced cancer who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of early palliative care. At baseline, 228 intervention participants and 233 control participants (N = 461) completed the FACT-G and measures of symptom severity, quality of life near the end of life, problematic medical communication, and satisfaction with care. Follow-up measures were administered monthly for 4 months. RESULTS: The FACT-G7 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach α = .72-.80), and its single-factor structure was supported. It correlated strongly with the FACT-G total, physical, and functional indices and with symptom severity (absolute r = 0.73-0.92); more moderately with the FACT-G emotional index and with symptom impact and preparation for the end of life (r = .40-.71); and least with the FACT-G social/family index and with relationship with health care provider, life completion, problematic medical communication, and care satisfaction measures (absolute r = .26-.44). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status groups differed on FACT-G7 scores, as expected (all P < .001). Improvements in FACT-G7 scores in the intervention group compared with the control group at 3-month (P = .049) and 4-month (P = .034) follow-up supported responsiveness to change and somewhat greater sensitivity than the FACT-G scores. CONCLUSIONS: The FACT-G7 is a valid, brief measure particularly of the physical and functional facets of quality of life. It may enable rapid quality-of-life assessments in patients with advanced cancer.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Assessing quality of life is essential for individuals with advanced cancer, but lengthy assessments can be burdensome. The authors investigated the psychometric characteristics of the FACT-G7, a 7-item quality-of-life measure derived from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale, in advanced cancer. METHODS: Data were obtained from outpatients with advanced cancer who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of early palliative care. At baseline, 228 intervention participants and 233 control participants (N = 461) completed the FACT-G and measures of symptom severity, quality of life near the end of life, problematic medical communication, and satisfaction with care. Follow-up measures were administered monthly for 4 months. RESULTS: The FACT-G7 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach α = .72-.80), and its single-factor structure was supported. It correlated strongly with the FACT-G total, physical, and functional indices and with symptom severity (absolute r = 0.73-0.92); more moderately with the FACT-G emotional index and with symptom impact and preparation for the end of life (r = .40-.71); and least with the FACT-G social/family index and with relationship with health care provider, life completion, problematic medical communication, and care satisfaction measures (absolute r = .26-.44). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status groups differed on FACT-G7 scores, as expected (all P < .001). Improvements in FACT-G7 scores in the intervention group compared with the control group at 3-month (P = .049) and 4-month (P = .034) follow-up supported responsiveness to change and somewhat greater sensitivity than the FACT-G scores. CONCLUSIONS: The FACT-G7 is a valid, brief measure particularly of the physical and functional facets of quality of life. It may enable rapid quality-of-life assessments in patients with advanced cancer.
Authors: Grace J Kim; Hayejin Kim; Jason Fletcher; Gerald T Voelbel; Yael Goverover; Peii Chen; Michael W O'Dell; Helen M Genova Journal: Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl Date: 2021-12-17
Authors: Yael Goverover; Michelle H Chen; Amanda Botticello; Gerald T Voelbel; Grace Kim; John DeLuca; Helen M Genova Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2021-10-18 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Laura M Perry; Victoria Morken; John D Peipert; Betina Yanez; Sofia F Garcia; Cynthia Barnard; Lisa R Hirschhorn; Jeffrey A Linder; Neil Jordan; Ronald T Ackermann; Alexandra Harris; Sheetal Kircher; Nisha Mohindra; Vikram Aggarwal; Rebecca Frazier; Ava Coughlin; Katy Bedjeti; Melissa Weitzel; Eugene C Nelson; Glyn Elwyn; Aricca D Van Citters; Mary O'Connor; David Cella Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-09-21