World J Oncol

World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.wjon.org

Original Article

Volume 3, Number 5, October 2012, pages 210-216

Patients’ and Health Care Providers’ Evaluation of Quality of Life Issues in Advanced Cancer Using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care Module (FACIT-Pal) Scale

**Table 1.** Items Included in the FACIT-Pal and Their Item Codes
Physical Well-being	GP1	I have a lack of energy
	GP2	I have nausea
	GP3	Because of my physical condition, I have trouble meeting the needs of my family
	GP4	I have pain
	GP5	I am bothered by side effects of treatment
	GP6	I feel ill
	GP7	I am forced to spend time in bed
Social/Family Well-being	GS1	I feel close to my friends
	GS2	I get emotional support from my family
	GS3	I get support from my friends
	GS4	My family has accepted my illness
	GS5	I am satisfied with family communication about my illness
	GS6	I feel close to my partner (or the person who is my main support)
	GS7	I am satisfied with my sex life
Emotional Well-being	GE1	I feel sad
	GE2	I am satisfied with how I am coping with my illness
	GE3	I am losing hope in the fight against my illness
	GE4	I feel nervous
	GE5	I worry about dying
	GE6	I worry that my condition will get worse
Functional Well-being	GF1	I am able to work (include work at home)
	GF2	My work (include work at home) is fulfilling
	GF3	I am able to enjoy life
	GF4	I have accepted my illness
	GF5	I am sleeping well
	GF6	I am enjoying the things I usually do for fun
	GF7	I am content with the quality of my life right now
Additional Concerns (19-item palliative subscale)	PAL1	I maintain contact with my friends
	PAL2	I have family members who will take on my responsibilities
	PAL3	I feel that my family appreciates me
	PAL4	I feel like a burden to my family
	B1	I have been short of breath
	PAL5	I am constipated
	C2	I am losing weight
	O2	I have been vomiting
	PAL6	I have swelling in parts of my body
	PAL7	My mouth and throat are dry
	Br7	I feel independent
	PAL8	I feel useful
	PAL9	I make each day count
	PAL10	I have peace of mind
	Sp21	I feel hopeful
	PAL12	I am able to make decisions
	L1	My thinking is clear
	PAL13	I have been able to reconcile (make peace) with other people
	PAL14	I am able to openly discuss my concerns with the people closest to me

Table 1. Items Included in the FACIT-Pal and Their Item Codes

Physical Well-being

GP1

I have a lack of energy

GP2

I have nausea

GP3

Because of my physical condition, I have trouble meeting the needs of my family

GP4

I have pain

GP5

I am bothered by side effects of treatment

GP6

I feel ill

GP7

I am forced to spend time in bed

Social/Family Well-being

GS1

I feel close to my friends

GS2

I get emotional support from my family

GS3

I get support from my friends

GS4

My family has accepted my illness

GS5

I am satisfied with family communication about my illness

GS6

I feel close to my partner (or the person who is my main support)

GS7

I am satisfied with my sex life

Emotional Well-being

GE1

I feel sad

GE2

I am satisfied with how I am coping with my illness

GE3

I am losing hope in the fight against my illness

GE4

I feel nervous

GE5

I worry about dying

GE6

I worry that my condition will get worse

Functional Well-being

GF1

I am able to work (include work at home)

GF2

My work (include work at home) is fulfilling

GF3

I am able to enjoy life

GF4

I have accepted my illness

GF5

I am sleeping well

GF6

I am enjoying the things I usually do for fun

GF7

I am content with the quality of my life right now

Additional Concerns (19-item palliative subscale)

PAL1

I maintain contact with my friends

PAL2

I have family members who will take on my responsibilities

PAL3

I feel that my family appreciates me

PAL4

I feel like a burden to my family

I have been short of breath

PAL5

I am constipated

I am losing weight

I have been vomiting

PAL6

I have swelling in parts of my body

PAL7

My mouth and throat are dry

Br7

I feel independent

PAL8

I feel useful

PAL9

I make each day count

PAL10

I have peace of mind

Sp21

I feel hopeful

PAL12

I am able to make decisions

My thinking is clear

PAL13

I have been able to reconcile (make peace) with other people

PAL14

I am able to openly discuss my concerns with the people closest to me

**Table 2.** Patient (n = 60) Demographics
Age (years)
n	60
Mean ± SD	65.6 ± 13.0
Inter-quartiles	56 - 76
Median (range)	68 (38 - 88)
KPS
n	58
Mean ± SD	67.6 ± 17.8
Inter-quartiles	50 - 80
Median (range)	70 (30 - 100)
Gender
Male	37	(61.7%)
Female	23	(38.3%)
Primary cancer site
Prostate	20	(33.3%)
Breast	11	(18.3%)
Lung	7	(11.7%)
Renal Cell	5	(8.3%)
Oesophagus	3	(5.0%)
Colorectal	2	(3.3%)
Unknown	2	(3.3%)
Others	10	(16.7%)
Clinic
Radiation Oncology	36	(60.0%)
Medical Oncology	3	(5.0%)
Palliative Care Unit	9	(15.0%)
Others	12	(20.0%)
Patient status
Outpatient	46	(76.7%)
Inpatient	14	(23.3%)

Table 2. Patient (n = 60) Demographics

Age (years)

Mean ± SD

65.6 ± 13.0

Inter-quartiles

56 - 76

Median (range)

68 (38 - 88)

KPS

Mean ± SD

67.6 ± 17.8

Inter-quartiles

50 - 80

Median (range)

70 (30 - 100)

Gender

Male

(61.7%)

Female

(38.3%)

Primary cancer site

Prostate

(33.3%)

Breast

(18.3%)

Lung

(11.7%)

Renal Cell

(8.3%)

Oesophagus

(5.0%)

Colorectal

(3.3%)

Unknown

(3.3%)

Others

(16.7%)

Clinic

Radiation Oncology

(60.0%)

Medical Oncology

(5.0%)

Palliative Care Unit

(15.0%)

Others

(20.0%)

Patient status

Outpatient

(76.7%)

Inpatient

(23.3%)

**Table 3.** Health-Care Professional (n = 56) Demographics
Years of professional experience
n	56
Mean ± SD	7.0 ± 6.0
Inter-quartiles	2 - 10
Median (range)	6 (1 - 25)
Gender
Male	31	(55.4%)
Female	25	(44.6%)
Profession
Radiation Oncologist	24	(42.9%)
Radiation Therapist	10	(17.9%)
Nurse	6	(10.7%)
General Practitioner in Oncology	2	(3.6%)
Palliative Care Physician	2	(3.6%)
Medical Oncologist/Haematologist	1	(1.8%)
Others	11	(19.6%)

Table 3. Health-Care Professional (n = 56) Demographics

Years of professional experience

Mean ± SD

7.0 ± 6.0

Inter-quartiles

2 - 10

Median (range)

6 (1 - 25)

Gender

Male

(55.4%)

Female

(44.6%)

Profession

Radiation Oncologist

(42.9%)

Radiation Therapist

(17.9%)

Nurse

(10.7%)

General Practitioner in Oncology

(3.6%)

Palliative Care Physician

(3.6%)

Medical Oncologist/Haematologist

(1.8%)

Others

(19.6%)

**Table 4.** Percentage of Patients and HCPs Rating as a Top 10 Item
Order	Item	% from Patients Responses	% from HCPs Responses
NA: not available
1	GP4	38.64%	73.17%
2	GP1	31.82%	63.41%
3	GP2	18.18%	51.22%
4	GE5	22.73%	46.34%
5	GE1	25.00%	43.90%
6	GS2	40.91%	26.83%
7	GF7	25.00%	39.02%
8	PAL4	25.00%	39.02%
9	B1	9.09%	51.22%
10	GE2	20.45%	39.02%
11	GP5	20.45%	34.15%
12	PAL5	25.00%	29.27%
13	GE6	27.27%	21.95%
14	GF3	29.55%	19.51%
15	O2	11.36%	36.59%
16	GF5	13.64%	34.15%
17	PAL14	25.00%	21.95%
18	BR7	15.91%	29.27%
19	GP7	20.45%	24.39%
20	GF4	22.73%	19.51%
21	PAL10	22.73%	19.51%
22	PAL12	15.91%	24.39%
23	L1	NA	19.51%
24	C2	20.45%	17.07%
25	GP3	15.91%	17.07%
26	GS6	18.18%	12.20%
27	PAL2	22.73%	7.32%
28	SP21	27.27%	2.44%
29	GS3	13.64%	14.63%
30	GS4	13.64%	14.63%
31	GP6	13.64%	9.76%
32	PAL7	13.64%	9.76%
33	PAL8	15.91%	7.32%
34	PAL1	11.36%	NA
35	PAL3	11.36%	NA
36	GE4	13.64%	7.32%
37	GF6	13.64%	7.32%
38	GS5	9.09%	7.32%
39	PAL13	9.09%	7.32%
40	GE3	11.36%	4.88%
41	GS7	NA	7.32%
42	PAL9	9.09%	4.88%
43	GS1	11.36%	2.44%
44	GF1	6.82%	4.88%
45	PAL6	6.82%	4.88%
46	GF2	2.27%	4.88%

Table 4. Percentage of Patients and HCPs Rating as a Top 10 Item

Order

Item

% from Patients Responses

% from HCPs Responses

NA: not available

GP4

38.64%

73.17%

GP1

31.82%

63.41%

GP2

18.18%

51.22%

GE5

22.73%

46.34%

GE1

25.00%

43.90%

GS2

40.91%

26.83%

GF7

25.00%

39.02%

PAL4

25.00%

39.02%

9.09%

51.22%

GE2

20.45%

39.02%

GP5

20.45%

34.15%

PAL5

25.00%

29.27%

GE6

27.27%

21.95%

GF3

29.55%

19.51%

11.36%

36.59%

GF5

13.64%

34.15%

PAL14

25.00%

21.95%

BR7

15.91%

29.27%

GP7

20.45%

24.39%

GF4

22.73%

19.51%

PAL10

22.73%

19.51%

PAL12

15.91%

24.39%

19.51%

20.45%

17.07%

GP3

15.91%

17.07%

GS6

18.18%

12.20%

PAL2

22.73%

7.32%

SP21

27.27%

2.44%

GS3

13.64%

14.63%

GS4

13.64%

14.63%

GP6

13.64%

9.76%

PAL7

13.64%

9.76%

PAL8

15.91%

7.32%

PAL1

11.36%

PAL3

11.36%

GE4

13.64%

7.32%

GF6

13.64%

7.32%

GS5

9.09%

7.32%

PAL13

9.09%

7.32%

GE3

11.36%

4.88%

GS7

7.32%

PAL9

9.09%

4.88%

GS1

11.36%

2.44%

GF1

6.82%

4.88%

PAL6

6.82%

4.88%

GF2

2.27%

4.88%