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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2004

Open Access 01-12-2004 | Research

The "Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument (PQLI)" in terminal cancer patients

Authors: Kyriaki Mystakidou, Eleni Tsilika, Vassilios Kouloulias, Efi Parpa, Emmanuela Katsouda, John Kouvaris, Lambros Vlahos

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2004

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Abstract

Background

This paper describes the development of a new quality of life instrument in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care.

Methods

The Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument incorporates six multi-item and one single-item scale. The questionnaire was completed at baseline and one-week after. The final sample consisted of 120 patients.

Results

The average time required to complete the questionnaire, in both time points, was approximately 8 minutes. All multi-item scales met the minimal standards for reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient ≥.70) either before or during palliative treatment. Test-retest reliability in terms of Spearman-rho coefficient was also satisfactory (p < 0.05). Validity was demonstrated by inter-item correlations, comparisons with ECOG performance status, factor analysis, criterion-related validation, and correlations with the Assessment of Quality of Life in Palliative Care Instrument (AQEL), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30, version 3.0).

Conclusion

The PQLI is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of quality of life in patients with advanced stage cancer.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The "Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument (PQLI)" in terminal cancer patients
Authors
Kyriaki Mystakidou
Eleni Tsilika
Vassilios Kouloulias
Efi Parpa
Emmanuela Katsouda
John Kouvaris
Lambros Vlahos
Publication date
01-12-2004
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2004
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-2-8

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