Abstract
Goals of work
The purpose of this study was to reveal the clinical validity of the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia scale (FACT-An) in relation to hemoglobin level. We also analyzed patients’ scores for the related FACT-General scale (FACT-G), the FACT Anemia subscale, and the FACT Trial Outcome Index-Anemia scale (FACT TOI-An) to determine which was the most sensitive to anemia measurements.
Materials and methods
Throughout Japan, we recruited 227 patients (mean±SD, 59±12.1 years old) diagnosed with a variety of cancers. We correlated the severity of anemia, as measured by hemoglobin levels, to scores on the FACT-An and on the other scales at baseline and at 3 months.
Main results
The questionnaire completion rate was more than 98% at both time points. The FACT-An had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient >0.8). FACT-An scores were significantly and positively correlated with hemoglobin levels both at baseline (r=0.24; 95% CI=0.12 to 0.36; n=225) and at 3 months (r=0.24; 95% CI=0.10 to 0.36; n=204). FACT-G, FACT Anemia subscale, and FACT TOI-An scores also successfully discriminated between patients with lower (Hb <11.0 g/dl) and higher (Hb ≥11.0 g/dl) hemoglobin levels. Moreover, the changes of these FACT scores over 3-months could discriminate changes in hemoglobin level.
Conclusion
The Japanese version of the FACT-An has higher clinical validity and can be used to appropriately assess health-related quality of life among Japanese cancer patients with anemia.
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Acknowledgments
This study was part of the Health Outcomes Research (HOR) project (HOR 04) established in 2003 by the Comprehensive Support Project for Oncology Research of Breast Cancer (CSPOR-BC) and was supported by a grant from the CSPOR-BC. We thank Tomoko Shishida, Shitomi Kudo, Narikazu Boku, Shozo Ohsumi, Morihiko Kimura, Takashi Seto, Yoshiaki Ogawa, Masaru Kuranami, Hiroshi Isobe, Masato Koseki, and others who helped us in patient recruitment. We also thank Ann C. Tang and Tom Lang for their assistance in preparing the manuscript. Finally, we are grateful to all patients who participated in the study.
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Kurita, M., Shimozuma, K., Morita, S. et al. Clinical validity of the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia Scale. Support Care Cancer 15, 1–6 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0138-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0138-2