Fowler et al developed an instrument for evaluating the quality of life for a patient with cancer. This includes 7 indices for different factors impacting life quality. The authors are from the University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts General Hospital.
NOTE: The instrument was developed to evaluate men with prostate cancer. However, the questions seem generic enough to apply to anyone with cancer.
Indices:
(1) impact of cancer and treatment: 4 items
(2) concern about body image: 3 items
(3) mental health: 5 items
(4) general health: 3 items
(5) activity index: 3 items
(6) worries about cancer and dying: 3 items
(7) energy: 3 items
Responses for Cancer Impact and Body Image:
|
Response |
Weight if Positive |
Weight if Negative |
|
very much, a lot |
3 |
0 |
|
some |
2 |
1 |
|
a little |
1 |
2 |
|
not at all |
0 |
3 |
Responses for Activity:
|
Response |
Weight if Positive |
Weight if Negative |
|
always |
4 |
0 |
|
usually |
3 |
1 |
|
fairly often |
2 |
2 |
|
a few times |
1 |
3 |
|
not at all |
0 |
4 |
Responses for Mental Health, General Health, Worries and Energy
|
Response |
Weight if Positive |
Weight if Negative |
|
all of the time |
5 |
0 |
|
most of the time |
4 |
1 |
|
a good bit of the time |
3 |
2 |
|
some of the time |
2 |
3 |
|
a little of the time |
1 |
4 |
|
none of the time |
0 |
5 |
Each index was adjusted to give a score from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating normal health.
