Objective To compare the application effects of three psychometric instruments including SF-36, FLIC and QOL-LC in measuring the quality of life of patients with liver cancer.
Methods A total of 105 in-patients with liver cancer selected from 2010 to 2011 were included. The quality of life was measured by FLIC, SF-36 and QOL-LC, respectively, and the reliability, validity and responsiveness were calculated and analyzed.
Results The reliability and validity of QOL-LC were better than those of SF-36 and FLIC. Both QOL-LC and FLIC showed significant differences in responsiveness based on the changes of physical function and overall quality of life (QOL-LC: t=5.08, P=0.000, t=3.16, P=0.002; FLIC: t=4.02, P=0.000, t=2.21, P=0.030). Except for general health and mental health, the other domains of SF-36 showed significant differences in changes after treatment (physical function: t=5.94, P=0.000; physical role: t=3.07, P=0.003; body pain: t=3.21, P=0.002; vitality: t=3.22, P=0.002; social role: t=2.60, P=0.012; emotional role: t=3.28, P=0.002).
Conclusion QOL-LC is a specific scale for liver cancer, and it should be used preferentially. SF-36 and FLIC can measure the general state of quality of life and can be used in patients with liver cancer when specific scale is not available.
Citation： ZHU Baohua,WAN Chonghua,WANG Kun,YUAN Jinkai,XU Chuanzhi,MENG Qiong. Comparisons among FLIC, SF-36 and QOL-LC in Measuring Quality of Life of Patients with Liver Cancer. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2012, 12(10): 1175-1179. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20120184 Copy