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Table 4 Mean scores before the radiotherapy, change of scores between before and the last week of radiotherapy and responsiveness statistics in patients who perceived improved health (n = 22)

From: Responsiveness of EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-CR38 and FACT-C quality of life questionnaires in patients with colorectal cancer

Ā 

n

Score before radiotherapy Mean (SDa)

Difference Mean (SDa)

Pb

SRMc (CI 95%)

ESd (CI 95%)

EORTC QLQ-C30:

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

ā€ƒā€ƒā€ƒ Functional scalese :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Physical function

22

83.9 (18.4)

-6.5 (16.4)

0.08

- 0.39 (-0.78;0.02)

- 0.35 (-0.85;0.21)

Role function

21

74.6 (27.2)

-6.3 (28.1)

0.07

- 0.22 (-0.74;0.22)

-0.23 (-0.78;0.21)

Emotional function

22

79.2 (17.8)

+3.8 (14.2)

0.23

0.26 (-0.19;0.67)

0.21 (-0.15;0.57)

Cognitive function

22

94.7 (7.9)

-4.5 (15.6)

0.19

- 0.29 (-0.67;0.17)

- 0.57 (-0.55;0.21)

Social function

22

78.8 (24.2)

-5.3 (22.0)

0.27

- 0.24 (-0.69;0.21)

- 0.21 (-0.78;0.16)

Global QoL/GHS

22

54.9 (22.7)

+5.7 (26.4)

0.32

0.21 (-0.32;0.53)

0.25 (-0.24;0.75)

ā€ƒā€ƒā€ƒ Symptom scalesf :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Fatigue

22

38.9 (25.1)

+2.0 (28.4)

0.74

0.07 (-0.37;0.56)

0.08 (-0.37;0.70)

Pain

22

23.5 (23.9)

+8.3 (27.6)

0.17

0.30 (-0.16;0.84)

0.34 (-0.16;1.04)

Nausea and vomiting

22

2.3 (7.8)

+3.0 (12.2)

0.26

0.24 (-0.21;0.70)

0.38 (-0.75;1.33)

ā€ƒā€ƒā€ƒ Single itemsf :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Dyspnoea

21

11.1 (16.1)

0.0 (14.9)

1.00

0.0 (-0.52;0.44)

0.0 (-0.41;0.38)

Sleep disturbance

22

28.8 (34.6)

-7.6 (35.5)

0.33

- 0.21 (-0.62;0.30)

- 0.21 (-0.64;0.30)

Appetite loss

21

20.6 (28.8)

+4.8 (35.4)

0.54

0.13 (-0.31;0.66)

0.16 (-0.32;0.91)

Diarrhoea

22

28.8 (31.4)

-1.5 (33.3)

0.83

- 0.04 (-0.56;0.39)

- 0.04 (-0.48;0.56)

Constipation

22

15.2 (24.6)

+12.1 (24.2)

0.03

0.50 (0.06;0.97)

0.49 (0.06;1.20)

Financial impact

21

10.6 (26.0)

+5.7 (26.4)

0.33

0.22 (0.17;0.31)

0.06 (-0.15;0.24)

EORTC QLQ-CR38:

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

ā€ƒā€ƒā€ƒ Functional scalese :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Body image

20

90.9 (16.3)

-3.3 (14.5)

0.32

- 0.23 (-0.7;0.27)

- 0.20 (-0.81;0.50)

Future perspective

21

56.1 (26.0)

+4.8 (21.8)

0.33

0.21 (-0.23;0.72)

0.18 (-0.21;0.57)

Sexual functioning

20

16.7 (27.9)

-5.8 (21.8)

0.24

- 0.26 (-0.76;0.19)

- 0.20 (-0.54;0.17)

Sexual enjoyment

10

33.3 (49.4)

-26.7 (30.6)

0.02

- 0.87 (-1.79;-0.45)

- 0.53 (-1.03;-0.15)

ā€ƒā€ƒā€ƒ Symptom scalesf :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Radiation-induced effects micturition

21

21.7 (22.6)

+19.3 (21.9)

0.0006

0.88 (0.42;1.44)

0.85 (0.36;1.50)

Chemotherapy side effects

21

15.2 (23.6)

+5.3 (13.0)

0.08

0.40 (-0.11;0.89)

0.22 (-0.15;0.55)

General Gastrointestinal symptoms

21

26.7 (14.9)

-0.4 (11.9)

0.88

- 0.03 (-0.50;0.46)

0.02 (-0.38;0.36)

Defecation problems

19

37.6 (21.6)

-1.5 (14.8)

0.66

- 0.10 (-0.59;0.41)

- 0.07 (-0.42;0.27)

Stoma-related problems

1

9.5 (00.0)

+23.8 (-)

-

-

-

Sexual dysfunction of men

9

35.9 (44.5)

+7.4 (20.6)

0.31

0.35 (-0.28;1.09)

0.16 (-0.09;0.65)

Sexual dysfunction of women

2

16.7 (23.6)

+16.7 (0.0)

1.00

0

0.70 (0.65;1.10)

Weight loss

21

28.8 (34.6)

+1.6 (38.7)

0.85

0.04 (-0.40;0.55)

0.04 (-0.43;0.67)

FACT-Ce :

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Physical Well-Being

19

81.4 (16.4)

-5.0 (14.3)

0.15

- 0.34 (-0.77;0.17)

- 0.30 (-0.94;0.10)

Social/Family Well-Being

19

71.3 (25.7)

-7.4 (16.2)

0.06

- 0.45 (-0.96;0.09)

- 0.28 (-0.63;0.03)

Emotional Well-Being

19

77.5 (17.6)

0 (12.7)

1.00

0.0 (-0.78;0.31)

0.0 (-0.34;0.37)

Functional Well-Being

18

50.1 (20.0)

-2.5 (17.1)

0.55

- 0.14 (-0.71;0.40)

- 0.12 (-0.56;0.35)

Colorectal Cancer Specific

19

67.7 (11.5)

-3.2 (12.3)

0.27

- 0.26 (-0.64;0.24)

- 0.28 (-0.80;0.18)

FACT-C total score

19

69.1 (11.4)

-3.0 (8.5)

0.14

- 0.35 (-0.96;0.19)

- 0.26 (-0.64;0.15)

Trial Outcome Index-Colorectal

19

65.7 (13.7)

-2.6 (10.2)

0.29

- 0.25 (-0.78;0.31)

- 0.18 (-0.60;0.20)

  1. a Standard Deviation. b Wilcoxon test of the change. c Standardized Response Mean. d Effect Size.
  2. e Higher score indicates a higher level of functioning or better quality of life. f Higher score indicates more symptoms/problems. Bold indicate p values < 0.05.