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Possible substantive improvements in the structure of the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS) scale? A study based on its Spanish version

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Abstract

Purpose

Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS) scale is one of the most commonly used and validated measures to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in this population. However, there are some aspects related to its structure that still deserve consideration. The aim of this study was to test the substantive improvement over the original QLACS structure resulting from several proposals reflected in the literature.

Method

Using a cross-sectional design and Confirmatory Factorial Analysis, we explored those proposals. Reliability, convergent validity, and factor invariance across three cancer survivorships phases (re-entry, early, and long term) were also analyzed. 1.862 post-treatment survivors of diverse cancer types completed the Spanish versions of QLACS, Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS).

Results

The original model with twelve domains, grouped (with the exception of benefits) into a single total score, versus two subtotal (Generic and Cancer-specific) obtained a good fit. The values of Cronbach’s alpha, Composite reliability, Average Variance Extracted indexes, and Pearson correlations supported the internal consistency and temporal stability (interval of 2–3 weeks) of the QLACS. Results also showed its adequate convergent validity and an invariant factor structure across survival periods (re-entry survivorship, early survivorship, long-term survivorship).

Conclusion

In its original structure, albeit the replacement of the scores on the two subscales by a total score, our results support QLACS as a valid and useful tool for the assessment of HRQoL in post-treatment cancer survivors throughout the different survival phases.

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Data transparency

The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the participants and staff of collaborative centers for their cooperation: F.I.V.O., Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia; Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset de Valencia, Asociación CARENA Valencia, Hospital General y Hospital Perpetuo Socorro de Albacete; Hospital Rio Ortega de Valladolid, A.E.C.C. Valencia y Albacete; Asociación “Vivir como antes” Valencia; Asociación Europacolon, A.M.A.C. Albacete; S.O.L.C. Alicante.

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study. This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Government of Spain [grant number PSI2013-45,905-R].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Yolanda Andreu Vaillo

  2. Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain

    Andrea Conchado Peiró

  3. Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain

    Paula Martinez Lopez

  4. Hospital Clínico Universitario, Madrid, Spain

    María Teresa Martinez Martinez

  5. Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, Madrid, Spain

    Pilar Moreno

  6. Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, Teruel, Spain

    Leoncio Arribas Alpuente

Authors
  1. Yolanda Andreu Vaillo
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  2. Andrea Conchado Peiró
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  3. Paula Martinez Lopez
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  4. María Teresa Martinez Martinez
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  5. Pilar Moreno
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  6. Leoncio Arribas Alpuente
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Contributions

All authors whose names appear on the submission made a substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work and/or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. Moreover, all authors have drafted the work and approved the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Andrea Conchado Peiró.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. The study was approved by the ethics committees of the main participating centers that had such a committee: F.I.V.O., Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset de Valencia.

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All participants gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Andreu Vaillo, Y., Conchado Peiró, A., Martinez Lopez, P. et al. Possible substantive improvements in the structure of the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS) scale? A study based on its Spanish version. Qual Life Res 31, 1871–1881 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-03036-4

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