The skin cancer index: clinical responsiveness and predictors of quality of life. Laryngoscope 2007 Mar;117(3):399-405
Date
03/06/2007Pubmed ID
17334300Pubmed Central ID
PMC1847346DOI
10.1097/MLG.0b013e31802e2d88Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33947187783 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 108 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical responsiveness of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), a new disease-specific quality of life (QOL) instrument, and to assess demographic and clinical factors which impact QOL in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 183 patients with NMSC of the face and neck referred to a tertiary care Mohs surgery clinic.
METHODS: The SCI is a 15 item, validated, disease-specific QOL instrument with 3 distinct subscales, Emotion, Social, and Appearance. Higher scores reflect better QOL. The SCI and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a general dermatology instrument, was administered at initial consultation and 4 months after surgical treatment. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess demographic and clinical factors predictive of QOL for both instruments.
RESULTS: The SCI total score and all three subscale scores increased with treatment, demonstrating strong evidence of responsiveness over time (P < .001) in contrast with the DLQI (P = .46). Predictors of poorer QOL for the SCI included female sex and cancers located on the lip. Patients who demonstrated greatest improvement in QOL with treatment included those who were younger (<50 yr) and had lower reported household income. Also, first time NMSC patients and those patients who underwent less extensive reconstructions demonstrated greater improvements in QOL.
CONCLUSION: The SCI is a sensitive and responsive QOL instrument for patients with NMSC. Distinct demographic and clinical variables that impact QOL have been demonstrated using this multidimensional, disease-specific instrument.
Author List
Rhee JS, Matthews BA, Neuburg M, Logan BR, Burzynski M, Nattinger ABAuthors
Brent R. Logan PhD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinAnn B. Nattinger MD, MPH Associate Provost, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
John S. Rhee MD Chair, Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Age FactorsAged
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Sex Factors
Skin Neoplasms
