Skip to main content

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

  n Score before radiotherapy Mean (SDa) Difference Mean (SDa) Pb SRMc (CI 95%) ESd (CI 95%)
EORTC QLQ-C30:       
    Functional scalese :       
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)
    Symptom scalesf :       
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)
    Single itemsf :       
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:       
    Functional scalese :       
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)
    Symptom scalesf :       
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 :       
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.
Back to article page

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

ISSN: 1477-7525

Contact us