Validation of the Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) to assess symptom and quality of life in brain metastases

Quality of reporting and assessment of patient-reported health-related quality of life in patients with brain metastases: a systematic review

Brain metastases (BMs) have become increasingly prevalent and present unique considerations for patients, including neurocognitive sequelae and advanced disease burden. Therefore, assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is an important element of managing these patients. A systematic review of the literature was conducted with the aims of (1) assessing how PROMS used in BM patients were validated, (2) assessing PROM content, and (3) evaluating quality of PROM-results reporting. PROM validation and quality of reporting were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) grading criteria and International Society of Quality of Life (ISOQOL)-recommended PROM-reporting standards, respectively. Forty-seven studies reporting on 5178 patients with a range of primacy cancer types were included. Eight different PROMs were applied, ranging from general to brain-specific questionnaires. Weaknesses in the validation of these PROMs were assessed by the COSMIN criteria. Many of these PROMs were not developed for BM patients and contained little information on cognitive symptoms. The overall quality of PROM reporting was insufficient based on the ISOQOL scale. Given the unique clinical considerations in BM patients, our results indicate the need for a standardized, validated questionnaire to assess HRQoL in this population. Additionally, there is room for quality improvement with regard to reporting of PROM-related results.

Effect of Brain Metastasis on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Advanced NSCLC Treated in Real-World Community Oncology Settings

INTRODUCTION

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might be affected by the presence of brain metastasis (BM). We report findings from a prospective observational study that examined HRQOL in patients newly diagnosed with advanced NSCLC, with or without baseline BM, through 1 year of follow-up.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients starting first-line treatment of stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were prospectively enrolled and consented at 34 US-based community oncology practices. Data on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected once per cycle during treatment, and at each visit after discontinuation. PROs included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Lung Cancer Module (QLQ-LC13), the Lung Cancer Module of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-LC), and the Rotterdam Activity Level Scale (RALS). Linear mixed models were used to examine the effect of baseline BM, including differences in change over time.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-five patients provided follow-up PRO data, comprising 1100 individual surveys and 32 PRO end points. The patient group was 58.6% (n = 85) male, and 86.2% (n = 125) Caucasian. Patients with baseline BM were younger (61.3 vs. 65.8 years; P = .040) with more concurrent radiotherapy (59.4% [n = 19] vs. 15.9% [n = 18]; P < .0001). Results showed minimal differences in baseline HRQOL. Of the 20 measures that showed significant group differences in HRQOL over time, 18 showed greater deterioration for patients with baseline BM. These 18 measures included all QLQ-C30 composite measures except Global Health Status, all MDASI-LC measures, and the RALS (all P < .05). For these measures, the average 1-year deterioration in patients with baseline BM was 19.4%.

CONCLUSION

Newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC patients with baseline BM experienced a significantly faster and clinically meaningful deterioration in PRO-based HRQOL compared with those without baseline BM.

The Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire in brain metastases patients: a prospective long-term follow-up study

AIMS

To assess the ability of the Brain Metastases Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) in evaluating symptoms and impact on daily life.

PATIENTS & METHODS

Patients with brain metastases completed BASIQ, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, FACT-Brain at baseline and at 1, 2 and 3 months follow-ups.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients completed all follow-ups. BASIQ correlated well (r ≥ 0.40) with FACT subscales, except for social/family and emotional wellbeing. Linear regression analysis found no significant changes in quality of life (QOL) over time in both the BASIQ and FACT scales. Therefore, the two questionnaires coincide as both detected nonchanges.

CONCLUSION

The ability of the BASIQ in evaluating symptoms and impact on over longer assessment periods was supported by the FACT questionnaires.