European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30: factorial models to Brazilian cancer patients

The Use of Diets to Improve the Quality of Life of Women With Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

There has been an increase in the incidence of breast cancer cases in the last decade, and despite the treatment increasing the chances of survival, it reduces the quality of life. In this context, diets could decrease the adverse effects of treatment and improve quality of life.

METHODOLOGY

A form with the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, which contains specific scores for physical, cognitive, emotional, symptomatic, and functional performance, was made available in a Facebook support group. Afterward, the data were analyzed using linear regression and a t-test of independent samples using Jamovi version 2.3.24 (retrieved from https://www.jamovi.org).

RESULTS

There was a low number of participants who followed the ketogenic diet or intermittent fasting. In general, adherence to the diets was good. In the t-test, diets showed improvement in physical performance. Linear regression correlated treatment with chemotherapy, metastases, and bad diet adherence with worse symptomatic scores.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence that diets can improve the symptoms of these patients; however, there is no consensus about which diet produces the best effect, requiring further studies on this subject.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to analyze the internal structure of the EORTC QLQ-C30, to examine the validity and normative data for cancer patients.

METHOD

Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong measurement invariance across sex and tumor site. All the analyses were based on a multicenter cohort of 931 patients who completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and the EORTC QLQ-C30.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that the EORTC QLQ-C30 has acceptable psychometric properties and an internal structure that is well accounted for a bifactor model: a general factor that evaluates quality of life and a group factor that would analyze physical health that would be defined by physical function, role function, and fatigue. The result of the multi-group CFA revealed a strong invariance according to sex, tumor, and over time. Reliability of the EORTC exceeding 0.86 and the simple sum of the items of the scale was a good indicator of oncology patients' quality of life. Both factors correlate closely with depression, anxiety, and psychological distress and are sensitive to change, especially the quality of life, with a significant decrease in the post-test.

CONCLUSION

The Spanish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 proved to be a valid, reliable instrument to appraise quality of life in cancer patients. The normative data collected from this study may be useful for the early detection of initial symptoms of deterioration of quality of life in oncology patients.

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI - Br)

OBJECTIVE

to perform the psychometric validation of the Brazilian version of the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI - Br) in patients with advanced diseases in palliative care.

METHOD

a methodological study to verify the psychometric properties of the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI - Br) instrument, through validity and reliability tests.

RESULTS

the exploratory factor analysis showed a factorial solution with three factors, responsible for 40.9% of the explained variance, with adequate internal consistency for the Presence of Symptoms (α=0.859), Dependence (α=0.871), and Existential Suffering (α=0.759) domains. The test-retest was performed and indicated moderate to strong correlations. Convergent validity demonstrated a positive correlation between the Presence of Symptoms and the sadness (r=0.443) and anxiety (r=0.464) variables. Weak negative correlations were observed between the PDI - Br domains and functionality, spiritual well-being and quality of life.

CONCLUSION

composed of three domains and 25 items, the PDI - Br instrument presented satisfactory psychometric properties for its use in our environment, through the evidence of validity and reliability.

Clinical, dietary and demographic characteristics interfering on quality of life of cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the dietary intake of cancer patients and its relation with clinical and demographic characteristics, and to assess the contribution of dietary intake, appetite/symptoms and clinical and demographic characteristics to their quality of life.

METHODS

The consumption of energy and macronutrients of patients was estimated. The relation between dietary intake and clinical and demographic characteristics was evaluated by analysis of variance. The intake of energy and macronutrient of the patients was compared to the nutritional recommendations using 95% confidence interval. The Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ C-30) were used to assess appetite/symptoms and quality of life, respectively. The psychometric properties of the instruments were estimated. A structural equation model was prepared.

RESULTS

In this study, 772 cancer patients (63.1% women) participated. There was a significant relation between dietary intake and work activity, economic class, specialty field of cancer, type of treatment and nutritional status. Patients' energy and macronutrients intake was below recommended values. Both CASQ and EORTC QLQ C-30 were refined to fit the data. In the structural model, impaired appetite, more symptoms, presence of metastasis, being female and of higher economic classes were characteristics that significantly contributed to interfering in patients' quality of life.

CONCLUSION

The dietary intake of oncology patients did not reach the recommended values. Different characteristics impacted on quality of life of patients and should be considered in clinical and epidemiological protocols.