The impact of nausea and vomiting upon quality of life measures

The measurement of quality of life in cancer patients has achieved prominence in recent years. This results from recognition of the limitations of available therapies and a clearer view of the goals of treatment in patients whose diseases may not be curable. Many different approaches to the measurement of quality of life have been proposed and these will be reviewed. In a recent survey of available methods, the Medical Research Council's Working Party on Quality of Life Measurement systematically analysed available instruments for measuring quality of life specifically in cancer patients and commented on a number of instruments of general purpose that may be used in oncology. It was concluded that no instrument is entirely satisfactory for all purposes and that available instruments have to be selected carefully for a particular study or a particular aspect of clinical practice. However, among the existing instruments, the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist for a general assessment of many facets of quality of life and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, for detecting psychosocial morbidity quickly and easily, were useful. In our own studies we have used a multiple linear analogue scale system to measure aspects of quality of life in breast cancer patients and have recently addressed the determinants of overall quality of life. Our studies identify the importance of evaluating the psychometric properties of measurement instruments in quality of life. Reliability and validity and the ability to discriminate changes with time and between clinically distinct groups have to be carefully assessed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)