Faculty Collaboration Database

Validation of a quality-of-life instrument for patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006;8(5):314-8

Date

09/20/2006

Pubmed ID

16982987

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2556600

DOI

10.1001/archfaci.8.5.314

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33749319238 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   92 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To validate a disease-specific quality-of-life instrument--the Skin Cancer Index--intended to measure quality-of-life issues relevant to patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer.

METHODS: Internal reliability, convergent and divergent validity with existing scales, and factor analyses were performed in a cross-sectional study of 211 patients presenting with cervicofacial nonmelanoma skin cancer to a dermatologic surgery clinic.

RESULTS: Factor analyses of the Skin Cancer Index confirmed a multidimensional scale with 3 distinct subscales-emotional, social, and appearance. Excellent internal validity of the 3 subscales was demonstrated. Substantial evidence was observed for convergent validity with the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Lerman's Cancer Worry Scale, and Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 12 domains for vitality, emotion, social function, and mental health.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings validate a new disease-specific quality-of-life instrument for patients with cervicofacial nonmelanoma skin cancer. Studies on the responsiveness of the Skin Cancer Index to clinical intervention are currently under way.

Author List

Rhee JS, Matthews BA, Neuburg M, Logan BR, Burzynski M, Nattinger AB

Authors

Brent R. Logan PhD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Ann 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

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Principal Component Analysis
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results
Skin Neoplasms
Surveys and Questionnaires