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 6, December 2012, pages 257-263

Health Care Professionals’ Evaluation of Quality of Life Issues in Patients With Brain Metastases

**Table 1.** Demographics of HCPs
Years of professional experience
n	46
Mean ± SD	7.2 ± 6.5
Inter-quartiles	3 - 10
Median (range)	5.5 (1 - 25)
Gender
Female	26	(57.78%)
Male	19	(42.22%)
Profession
Radiation Oncologist	19	(41.30%)
Radiation Therapist	8	(17.39%)
Nurse	7	(15.22%)
Medical Oncologist/Haematologist	3	(6.52%)
Palliative Care Physician	2	(4.35%)
General Practitioner in Oncology	1	(2.17%)
Neurosurgeon	1	(2.17%)
Others	5	(10.87%)

Table 1. Demographics of HCPs

Years of professional experience

Mean ± SD

7.2 ± 6.5

Inter-quartiles

3 - 10

Median (range)

5.5 (1 - 25)

Gender

Female

(57.78%)

Male

(42.22%)

Profession

Radiation Oncologist

(41.30%)

Radiation Therapist

(17.39%)

Nurse

(15.22%)

Medical Oncologist/Haematologist

(6.52%)

Palliative Care Physician

(4.35%)

General Practitioner in Oncology

(2.17%)

Neurosurgeon

(2.17%)

Others

(10.87%)

**Table 2.** Demographics of HCPs Who Completed Relevancy of Each Item
Among the total 46 HCPs, there were 37 HCPs with available responses on Relevant of QOL.
Years of professional experience
n	37
Mean ± SD	6.8 ± 6.6
Inter-quartiles	2 - 10
Median (range)	5.0 (1 - 25)
Gender
Female	19	(52.78%)
Male	17	(47.22%)
Profession
Radiation Oncologist	19	(51.35%)
Nurse	6	(16.22%)
Radiation Therapist	3	(8.11%)
Medical Oncologist/Haematologist	2	(5.41%)
General Practitioner in Oncology	1	(2.70%)
Neurosurgeon	1	(2.70%)
Palliative Care Physician	1	(2.70%)
Others	4	(10.81%)

Table 2. Demographics of HCPs Who Completed Relevancy of Each Item

Among the total 46 HCPs, there were 37 HCPs with available responses on Relevant of QOL.

Years of professional experience

Mean ± SD

6.8 ± 6.6

Inter-quartiles

2 - 10

Median (range)

5.0 (1 - 25)

Gender

Female

(52.78%)

Male

(47.22%)

Profession

Radiation Oncologist

(51.35%)

Nurse

(16.22%)

Radiation Therapist

(8.11%)

Medical Oncologist/Haematologist

(5.41%)

General Practitioner in Oncology

(2.70%)

Neurosurgeon

(2.70%)

Palliative Care Physician

(2.70%)

Others

(10.81%)

**Table 3.** HCPs’ Responses
	Relevant to Patients	Total
39 of 46 available for Use.
Additional Concerns
Br1	11 (28.21%)	28 (71.79%)	39
Br2	5 (12.82%)	34 (87.18%)	39
Br3	19 (48.72%)	20 (51.28%)	39
Br4	19 (48.72%)	20 (51.28%)	39
Br5	23 (58.97%)	16 (41.03%)	39
Br6	11 (28.21%)	28 (71.79%)	39
Br7	14 (35.90%)	25 (64.10%)	39
NTX6	17 (43.59%)	22 (56.41%)	39
Br8	17 (43.59%)	22 (56.41%)	39
Br9	7 (17.95%)	32 (82.05%)	39
Br10	20 (51.28%)	19 (48.72%)	39
Br11	13 (33.33%)	26 (66.67%)	39
Br12	21 (53.85%)	18 (46.15%)	39
Br13	23 (58.97%)	16 (41.03%)	39
Br14	2 (5.13%)	37 (94.87%)	39
Br15	22 (56.41%)	17 (43.59%)	39
Br16	19 (48.72%)	20 (51.28%)	39
Br17	22 (56.41%)	17 (43.59%)	39
Br18	14 (35.90%)	25 (64.10%)	39
Br19	11 (28.21%)	28 (71.79%)	39
Br20	6 (15.38%)	33 (84.62%)	39
Br21	8 (20.51%)	31 (79.49%)	39
An10	6 (15.38%)	33 (84.62%)	39

Table 3. HCPs’ Responses

Relevant to Patients

Total

No
n (%)

Yes
n (%)

39 of 46 available for Use.

Additional Concerns

Br1

11 (28.21%)

28 (71.79%)

Br2

5 (12.82%)

34 (87.18%)

Br3

19 (48.72%)

20 (51.28%)

Br4

19 (48.72%)

20 (51.28%)

Br5

23 (58.97%)

16 (41.03%)

Br6

11 (28.21%)

28 (71.79%)

Br7

14 (35.90%)

25 (64.10%)

NTX6

17 (43.59%)

22 (56.41%)

Br8

17 (43.59%)

22 (56.41%)

Br9

7 (17.95%)

32 (82.05%)

Br10

20 (51.28%)

19 (48.72%)

Br11

13 (33.33%)

26 (66.67%)

Br12

21 (53.85%)

18 (46.15%)

Br13

23 (58.97%)

16 (41.03%)

Br14

2 (5.13%)

37 (94.87%)

Br15

22 (56.41%)

17 (43.59%)

Br16

19 (48.72%)

20 (51.28%)

Br17

22 (56.41%)

17 (43.59%)

Br18

14 (35.90%)

25 (64.10%)

Br19

11 (28.21%)

28 (71.79%)

Br20

6 (15.38%)

33 (84.62%)

Br21

8 (20.51%)

31 (79.49%)

An10

6 (15.38%)

33 (84.62%)

**Table 4.** Percentage of Participants Selecting Each Item as One of Their 10 Most Relevant Items
Item	n	%
Br14	32	88.89%
An10	29	80.56%
Br20	28	77.78%
Br2	24	66.67%
Br21	24	66.67%
Br9	24	66.67%
Br19	20	55.56%
Br1	19	52.78%
Br6	19	52.78%
Br11	18	50.00%
Br7	18	50.00%
Br4	15	41.67%
Br8	14	38.89%
Br18	13	36.11%
Br10	11	30.56%
Br12	10	27.78%
Br3	10	27.78%
NTX6	8	22.22%
Br5	7	19.44%
Br15	6	16.67%
Br16	5	13.89%
Br17	4	11.11%
Br13	3	8.33%

Table 4. Percentage of Participants Selecting Each Item as One of Their 10 Most Relevant Items

Item

Br14

88.89%

An10

80.56%

Br20

77.78%

Br2

66.67%

Br21

66.67%

Br9

66.67%

Br19

55.56%

Br1

52.78%

Br6

52.78%

Br11

50.00%

Br7

50.00%

Br4

41.67%

Br8

38.89%

Br18

36.11%

Br10

30.56%

Br12

27.78%

Br3

27.78%

NTX6

22.22%

Br5

19.44%

Br15

16.67%

Br16

13.89%

Br17

11.11%

Br13

8.33%

**Table 5.** FACT-Br Subscale
	Additional Concerns	A little bit	Some-what	Quite a bit	Very much
Br1	I am able to concentrate	1	2	3	4
Br2	I have had seizures (convulsions)	1	2	3	4
Br3	I can remember new things	1	2	3	4
Br4	I get frustrated that I cannot do things I used to	1	2	3	4
Br5	I am afraid of having a seizure (convulsion)	1	2	3	4
Br6	I have trouble with my eyesight	1	2	3	4
Br7	I feel independent	1	2	3	4
NTX6	I have trouble hearing	1	2	3	4
Br8	I am able to find the right word(s) to say what I mean	1	2	3	4
Br9	I have difficulty expressing my thoughts	1	2	3	4
Br10	I am bothered by the change in my personality	1	2	3	4
Br11	I am able to make decisions and take responsibility	1	2	3	4
Br12	I am bothered by the drop in my contribution to the family	1	2	3	4
Br13	I am able to put my thoughts together	1	2	3	4
Br14	I need help in caring for myself (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.)	1	2	3	4
Br15	I am able to put my thoughts into action	1	2	3	4
Br16	I am able to read like I used to	1	2	3	4
Br17	I am able to write like I used to	1	2	3	4
Br18	I am able to drive a vehicle (my car, truck, etc.)	1	2	3	4
Br19	I have trouble feeling sensations in my arms, hands, or legs	1	2	3	4
Br20	I have weakness in my arms or legs	1	2	3	4
Br21	I have trouble with coordination	1	2	3	4
An10	I get headaches	1	2	3	4

Table 5. FACT-Br Subscale

Additional Concerns

Not at all

A little bit

Some-what

Quite a bit

Very much

Br1

I am able to concentrate

Br2

I have had seizures (convulsions)

Br3

I can remember new things

Br4

I get frustrated that I cannot do things I used to

Br5

I am afraid of having a seizure (convulsion)

Br6

I have trouble with my eyesight

Br7

I feel independent

NTX6

I have trouble hearing

Br8

I am able to find the right word(s) to say what I mean

Br9

I have difficulty expressing my thoughts

Br10

I am bothered by the change in my personality

Br11

I am able to make decisions and take responsibility

Br12

I am bothered by the drop in my contribution to the family

Br13

I am able to put my thoughts together

Br14

I need help in caring for myself (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.)

Br15

I am able to put my thoughts into action

Br16

I am able to read like I used to

Br17

I am able to write like I used to

Br18

I am able to drive a vehicle (my car, truck, etc.)

Br19

I have trouble feeling sensations in my arms, hands, or legs

Br20

I have weakness in my arms or legs

Br21

I have trouble with coordination

An10

I get headaches