Skip to main content
. 2014 Mar 8;12:32. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-12-32

Table 6.

Trend τ of item easiness parameter estimated by linear logistic model with relaxed assumptions for each quality of life dimension

Dimension Items T1 → T2_R a
T1 → T3_R b
T3 → T4_R c
N τ p N τ p N τ p
QLQ-C30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Physical functioning
 1 – 4d
 100
 -0.02
 0.858
 139
 0.27
 0.004
 201
 -0.84
 <0.001
Role functioning
 6, 7
 84
 0.36e
 0.011
 118
 0.71
 <0.001
 164
 -0.60
 <0.001
Emotional functioning
 21 - 24
 180
 -0.62
 <0.001
 208
 -0.65
 <0.001
 196
 0.22
 <0.001
Cognitive functioning
 20, 25
 103
 -1.15
 <0.001
 129
 -0.29
 0.020
 130
 -0.53
 <0.001
Social functioning
 26, 27
 75
 0.07
 0.791
 101
 0.66
 <0.001
 142
 -0.51
 <0.001
Fatigue
 10, 12, 18
 141
 -0.19
 0.280
 160
 0.23
 0.019
 183
 -0.99
 <0.001
Nausea and vomiting
 14, 15
 37
 -0.60
 0.022
 65
 0.50
 0.029
 98
 -0.36
 0.003
Pain
 9, 19
 96
 0.11
 0.410
 124
 0.37
 0.001
 148
 -0.54
 <0.001
Dyspnea
 8
 50
 -0.60
 0.025
 55
 -0.30
 0.248
 94
 -0.42
 0.014
Insomnia
 11
 115
 -0.49
 0.001
 135
 -0.49
 <0.001
 147
 -0.36
 0.005
Appetite loss
 13
 61
 -0.59
 0.004
 85
 -0.14
 0.401
 90
 -0.51
 0.003
Constipation
 16
 71
 -0.16
 0.392
 89
 0.17
 0.295
 93
 -0.41
 0.009
Diarrhea
 17
 39
 -1.34
 <0.001
 64
 -0.67
 0.005
 61
 -0.09
 0.641
Financial difficulties
 28
 22
 0.16
 0.630
 33
 0.25
 0.322
 47
 -0.45
 0.053
QLQ-BR23
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Body image
 9 - 12
 68
 0.10
 0.489
 119
 0.83
 <0.001
 153
 -0.66
 <0.001
Sexual functioning
 14, 15
 55
 0.06
 0.950
 71
 0.33
 0.078
 78
 0.77
 0.010
Sexual enjoyment
 16
 13
 -1.20
 0.04
 39
 -0.43
 0.14
 33
 0.19
 0.49
Future perspective
 13
 122
 -0.56
 <0.01
 135
 -0.46
 <0.01
 144
 0.01
 0.95
STSE
 1 - 4; 6 - 8
 55
 -0.40
 <0.01
 61
 0.21
 0.013
 77
 -0.74
 <0.001
Breast symptoms
 20 - 23
 114
 -0.11
 0.07
 135
 0.36
 0.01
 190
 -0.76
 <0.001
Arm symptoms
 17 - 19
 97
 0.64
 <0.001
 167
 0.86
 <0.001
 156
 -0.37
 0.001
Hair loss Q5 6 0.22 0.738 16 0.12 0.808 24 -0.33 0.149

aT1 → T2_R: comparison of baseline quality of life assessment and retrospective measure performed after surgery.

bT1 → T3_R: comparison of baseline quality of life assessment and retrospective measure performed three months later.

cT3 → T4_R: comparison of quality of life assessment at three months and retrospective measure performed three months later.

dQ5 was excluded because of the patients’ responses to this item at baseline: all patients chose either category 1 or 2 for this item at baseline, whereas all four categories were represented on retrospective measures.

eτ =0.364: patients significantly chose higher response categories at the retrospective measure of baseline HRQoL performed after surgery.