Mogens Groenvold

..It also provided controversial results concerning the prognostic value of HRQL data. The combination of a large empirical study and several methodological sub-studies thus proved useful and gave new results...

..In order to assure that all cancer patients receive optimal palliative care, earlier initiation and better integration of basic palliative care (at hospitals and in primary care) and specialist palliative care teams are needed...

..We examined the possibilities of shortening the physical functioning, cognitive functioning, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting scales...

..The EORTC Quality of Life Group is developing a CAT version of the widely used EORTC QLQ-C30. We present the development and psychometric validation of the item pool for the first of the scales, physical functioning (PF)...

..Because of these advantages the EORTC Quality of Life Group (QLG) has initiated a project to develop a CAT version of the widely used EORTC QLQ-C30...

..Priority was associated with change in symptom intensity for pain, reduced appetite, nausea/vomiting, and constipation. Symptom prioritization may be a useful guide to choice of treatment as well as to longitudinal symptom evaluation...

..The current article evaluated the course of patient-assessed symptomatology in specialized palliative care and tested for bias due to patient attrition in measures of initial symptomatology and treatment outcome...

..Pain scores decreased during the first week. No single parameter convincingly predicted a better or worse outcome of pain treatment...

..Such an instrument is needed to evaluate the efforts directed towards caregivers in the health care system...

..The resulting 15-item EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is a 'core questionnaire' for palliative care. Depending on the research questions, it may be supplemented by additional items, modules or questionnaires...

..We investigated whether item response theory (IRT)-based scoring improved the measurement abilities of the EORTC QLQ-C30 physical functioning, emotional functioning, and fatigue scales...

..This has highlighted the importance of providing adequate rehabilitation to prevent physical, psychological, and social sequelae of cancer. However, it is unclear whether those in need of rehabilitation are offered this...

..Using mixed methods, we developed and validated a short instrument assessing this communication...

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..However, many HRQOL domains are highly correlated. Multidimensional CAT may utilize these correlations to improve measurement efficiency. We investigated the possible advantages and difficulties of multidimensional CAT...

..The agreement between patients and physicians was poor. Using physician assessments may bias findings and cannot be recommended as a substitute for patient self-assessment in palliative care...

..Although the number of palliative home-care teams is increasing, knowledge of what patients and principal informal carers expect from a home-care team is sparse. We aimed to elucidate this as well as evaluate a home-care team...

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..The lack of significant correlation between some subscales indicates that they measure different aspects of fatigue. This is also supported by the differences in associations between fatigue subscales and depression and anxiety...

..Often the most impaired patients are unable to participate in studies. This may result in biased findings. We investigated whether observed patient reported outcomes should be adjusted for bias resulting from nonparticipation...

..Knowledge of health related quality of life of haematological patients is limited. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and predictors of symptoms and problems in a representative sample of haematological patients in Denmark...

..0074; risk ratio 0.81 (0.70-0.95)). Low psychological distress and a low level of fatigue may cause a greater cancer resistance or may reflect underlying mental and physical robustness...

..However, poor agreement between patients and physicians has been found. We investigated whether subgroups of patients with good agreement existed...

..The aims of this paper were to validate four items assessing how patients' needs regarding support to and from their relatives are met and to investigate patients' evaluation of this support...

..Often, the GP has an important role. Patients' experiences of continuity and support may be related to characteristics of health care, disease or patients...

..This randomized study compared quality of life outcomes of adjuvant ovarian ablation versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluoracil (CMF) chemotherapy...

..Palliative home-care teams often cooperate with general practitioners (GPs) and district nurses. Our aim was to evaluate a palliative home-care team from the viewpoint of GPs and district nurses...

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..The aims of this study were to assess how communication with health care staff is perceived by Danish cancer patients and to characterise those patients who report problems in communication...

..This might help some patients to stay in work. We therefore assessed demographic and clinical factors associated with returning to work after a cancer diagnosis...

..Research in palliative care is considered difficult due to the poor health of patients. However, patient-provided data are essential for a thorough description of patient symptomatology and for the evaluation of care...

..We conclude that testing for DIF is a useful way to validate questionnaire translations...