ARE THE EXITING QUALITY OF LIFE MEASURES APPROPRIATE FOR MUSLIM PATIENTS WITH CANCER?
ABSTRACT: This article aims to
review the appropriateness of five general quality of life (QoL) measures for
the Muslim patients with cancer.
Method: The literatures related to QoL in patients with cancer, published
between 1981 and 2011 were critically reviewed. Several database databases
including CINAHL, MEDLINE as well as PUBMED, ProQuest, Elsevier, Google scholar
and reference list were included. There were 25 articles best fit the inclusion
criteria. Books and journal articles addressing Islamic principles were also
reviewed.
Result: QoL is a complex, multidimensional, and subjective phenomenon. It
has been defined differently but overlapping by many scholars in the field. The
patient’s QoL is important since it is one of the indicators of quality cancer
care. The EORTC QLQ C30, FLIC, McGill QoL are the examples of widely used QoL
measures which are appropriate to be applied in Muslim cancer population, while
the FACT-G and CARES SF need to be revised in some of their items. Issues
related to Islamic principles are discussed to support needs of further
revision of these QoL measures.
Conclusion: Most of the QoL measures’ items are not conflicting with the
Islamic principles, except some items. Psychometric properties of the revised
measures appropriate for Muslim cancer population should be further examined so
that applying these measures can provide valid findings. Furthermore future
cross cultural study may be possible.
Author: Susana Widyaningsih,
Wongchan Petpichechian, Luppana Kitrungrote
Journal Code: jpkeperawatangg130011