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Updated: Sep 25, 2026
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
Measuring disease specific quality of life in localized prostate cancer: the Dutch experience
I J Korfage1, M L Essink-Bot, J B Madalinska
1Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. korfage@mqz.fgg.eur.nl
Objective:
We aimed at developing and testing a Dutch health-related quality of life measure for localized prostate cancer patients.
Methods:
Scales on urinary and bowel function and bother from the UCLA Prostate Cancer Index (PCI) underwent formal linguistic and cultural translation. PCI sexual scales were replaced by an existing Dutch sexual activities module (SAc). After qualitative pilot testing 389 patients with localized prostate cancer (mean age 67 +/- 7 years) completed the measure before and at 2 time points after primary treatment. Psychometric properties (feasibility, score distribution, reliability, construct validity and responsiveness to change) of the new instrument were analyzed.
Results:
Response rates ranged from 93% at baseline to 87% after treatment. Urinary and bowel function scales showed Cronbach's alphas >0.7. Urinary function and bother, and bowel function and bother were significantly correlated. Pre- vs. post-prostatectomy effect sizes were >0.9 only for urinary scales; while pre- vs. post-radiotherapy effect sizes were >0.75 only for bowel scales. Six months after baseline erectile dysfunction was reported by 64% of respondents, either as a problem in sexual activity or as a reason for not being sexually active.
Conclusion:
The Dutch PCI and SAc performed well in men treated for early stage prostate cancer.
