Assessing Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS)
Abstract
This article describes development of a quality of life measure designed to assess issues relevant to long-term cancer survivors. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 long-term cancer survivors to identify domains most relevant to long-term survivors (> or = 5 years post-diagnosis). Self-report items were developed from these interviews and administered to a second sample of 242 long-term survivors. Domains and items were selected from the item pool by a combination of factor analysis and criterion-based item selection. Five cancer-specific domains were identified (appearance concerns, financial problems, distress over recurrence, family-related distress, and benefits of cancer) along with seven generic QOL domains (negative feelings, positive feelings, cognitive problems, sexual problems, physical pain, fatigue, and social avoidance). Cronbach's alpha was 0.72 or greater for each domain. Correlations between domain scores and criterion measures were 0.72 or higher in all but one generic domain (social avoidance), but somewhat lower on cancer-specific domains. The new multidimensional measure has good internal consistency and validity and is appropriate for comparisons between cancer and non-cancer populations, as well as long-term follow-up of cancer patients.
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Avis et al. (2005) reported that, in the years after treatment, regardless of physical health improvements, levels of psychological distress do not necessarily improve.
“Our results replicated Avis et al. (2005) who reported that, in the years after treatment, regardless of physical health improvements, levels of psychological distress do not necessarily improve (Avis et al., 2005).”
From Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility (2023) · cites this paper as Avis et al., 2005
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“Our results replicated Avis et al. (2005) who reported that, in the years after treatment, regardless of physical health improvements, levels of psychological distress do not necessarily improve (Avis et al., 2005).”
BackgroundResult
- Authors
- Avis, N. E., Smith, K. W., McGraw, S., Smith, R. G., Petronis, V. M., & Carver, C. S.
- Affiliations
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences (US)
- New England Research Institutes (US)
- University of Miami (US)
- Corresponding author
- Avis, Nancy E.
- Venue
- Quality of Life Research
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1007-1023
- ISSN
- 0962-9343 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2649
- OpenAlex
- W2020340122
- Cited by
- 223
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Quality of Life Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA078995, R01 CA78995)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Keywords
- quality of life, long-term cancer survivors, appearance concerns, financial problems, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, bodily pain, social avoidance, cognitive complaints
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Florida, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Survivors, Sickness Impact Profile
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