Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare use of the PFSS-11(Pulmonary Functional Status Scale-11 item) and QOL for 24 patients with lung cancer in a telemonitoring RCT. Psychometric analysis supported the validity and reliability of the PFSS-11(Chen, Narsavage, et al., Res Nurs Health, 2010;33:477-85). It includes items measuring difficulty with daily life, important to Quality of Life(QOL). Sample:Age 62.8±11.3 yrs; 62% married; 29% living alone; 16.7% Medicaid-welfare; 45% low income; 45.8% stage IV lung cancer; 79% with previous hospitalizations; 46.7% had COPD comorbidity. Methodology and Findings: Measures were completed in hospital (T1), 48 hours after discharge (T2) and 2 weeks after discharge (T3). Relationships between functional status and QOL measures were examined at T3. As shown in Figure 1-Table, there was a significant correlation (rho=0.728,p<.01) with the PFSS-11 score and the World Health Organization 5-item QOL scale (WHO-5), but not with the EuroQOL Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS).
However, the EQ VAS attained significance (rho=0.883, p<.01) when the analysis was limited to the telemonitoring intervention group. Discussion/Conclusions: It is feasible to use condition specific (PFSS-11) and generic (WHO-5/EQ VAS) questionnaires with lungCA patients; both generic measures correlated with a tested measure of functional status in telemonitored but not control group. Further study will identify best outcome predictors.
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