Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Background:

This study aimed to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Lymphedema Quality of Life (LYMQOL) questionnaire.

Methods and Results:

This study was a multicentered cross-sectional survey of patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema. The LYMQOL-arm questionnaire was translated from English to Korean. This 28-item instrument contains the overall quality of life (QOL) and is categorized into four domains: function, appearance, symptoms, and mood. In addition, the demographics and characteristics of lymphedema were assessed by reviewing the medical records. The LYMQOL-arm, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and Breast Cancer Module 23 (EORTC QLQ-BR23) were administered. The internal consistency of the LYMQOL-arm was analyzed using Cronbach's α, and test–retest reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Concurrent validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation test between the LYMQOL-arm and the EORTC QLQ instruments. A total of 62 participants were enrolled in the study. All domains of the LYMQOL-arm showed high internal consistency, and the ICC of each domain and overall QOL ranged from 0.836 to 0.956 (p < 0.001). All domains and overall QOL scores of the LYMQOL-arm significantly correlated with most of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 scales. Furthermore, it revealed a significant association with the degree of perceived edema.

Conclusions:

The Korean version of the LYMQOL-arm questionnaire has proven its reliability and validity in assessing QOL in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Morgan

, Franks

, Moffatt

. Health-related quality of life with lymphoedema: A review of the literature. Int Wound J, 2005; 2:47–62.

Ahmed

, Prizment

, Lazovich

, Schmitz

, Folsom

. Lymphedema and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: The Iowa Women's Health Study. J Clin Oncol, 2008; 26:5689–5696.

Paramanandam

, Lee

, Kilbreath

, Dylke

. Self-reported questionnaires for lymphoedema: A systematic review of measurement properties using COSMIN framework. Acta Oncol, 2021; 60:379–391.

Coriddi

, Dayan

, Sobti

, et al. Systematic review of patient-reported outcomes following surgical treatment of lymphedema. Cancers (Basel), 2020; 12:565.

Grünherz

, Hulla

, Uyulmaz

, Giovanoli

, Lindenblatt

. Patient-reported outcomes following lymph reconstructive surgery in lower limb lymphedema: A systematic review of literature. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord, 2021; 9:811–819.

Cornelissen

AJM

, Kool

, Keuter

XHA

, et al. Quality of life questionnaires in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: Review of the literature. Lymphat Res Biol, 2018; 16:134–139.

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. EORTC QOL Questionnaires. https://qol.eortc.org/questionnaires/ Accessed January 19, 2022.

Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Group. FACT-B. https://www.facit.org/measures/FACT-B/ Accessed January 19, 2022.

Devoogdt

, Van Kampen

, Geraerts

, Coremans

, Christiaens

. Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health questionnaire (Lymph-ICF): Reliability and validity. Phys Ther, 2011; 91:944–957.

10.

Devoogdt

, De Groef

, Hendrickx

, et al. Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL): Reliability and validity. Phys Ther, 2014; 94:705–721.

11.

Keeley

, Crooks

, Locke

, Veigas

, Riches

, Hilliam

. A quality of life measure for limb lymphoedema (LYMQOL). J Lymphoedema, 2010; 5:26–37.

12.

Ridner

, Dietrich

. Development and validation of the Lymphedema Symptom and Intensity Survey-Arm. Support Care, 2015; 23:3103–3112.

13.

Ridner

, Doersam

, Stolldorf

, Dietrich

. Development and validation of the Lymphedema Symptom Intensity and Distress Survey-Lower Limb. Lymphat Res Biol, 2018; 16:538–546.

14.

Launois

, Megnigbeto

, Lay

, Alliot

. A apecific quality of life scale in upper limb lymphoedema: The ULL-27 questionnaire. Lymphology, 2001; 35:181–187.

15.

Weiss

, Daniel

. Validation of the Lymphedema Life Impact Scale (LLIS): A condition-specific measurement tool for persons with lymphedema. Lymphology, 2015; 48:128–138.

16.

Klernäs

, Johnsson

, Horstmann

, Kristjanson

, Johansson

. Lymphedema Quality of Life Inventory (LyQLI)-Development and investigation of validity and reliability. Qual Life Res, 2015; 24:427–439.

17.

Bakar

, Tuğral

, Özdemir Ö, Duygu

, Üyetürk Ü. Translation and validation of the Turkish version of Lymphedema Quality of Life Tool (LYMQOL) in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema. Eur J Breast Health, 2017; 13:123–128.

18.

Borman

, Yaman

, Denizli

, Karahan

. The reliability and validity of Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire-Leg in Turkish patients with lower limb lymphedema. Lymphat Res Biol, 2020; 18:42–48.

19.

Wedin

, Fredrikson

, Ahlner

, et al. Validation of the Lymphoedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL) in Swedish cancer patients. Acta Oncol, 2020; 59:365–371.

20.

van de Pas

, Biemans

, Boonen

, Viehoff

, Neumann

. Validation of the Lymphoedema Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL) in Dutch patients diagnosed with lymphoedema of the lower limbs. Phlebology, 2016; 31:257–263.

21.

Monticone

, Ferriero

, Keeley

, et al. Lymphedema quality of life questionnaire (LYMQOL): Cross-cultural adaptation and validation in Italian women with upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer. Disabil Rehabil, 2021; 2:1–6.

22.

Executive Committee of the International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2020 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology, 2020; 53:3–19.

23.

Adriaenssens

, Buyl

, Lievens

, Fontaine

, Lamote

. Comparative study between mobile infrared optoelectronic volumetry with a perometer and two commonly used methods for the evaluation of arm volume in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema of the arm. Lymphology, 2013; 46:132–143.

24.

Forner-Cordero

, Muñoz-Langa

, Forner-Cordero

, DeMiguel-Jimeno

. Predictive factors of response to decongestive therapy in patients with breast-cancer-related lymphedema. Ann Surg Oncol, 2010; 17:744–751.

25.

Karafa

, Karafova

, Szuba

. The effect of different compression pressure in therapy of secondary upper extremity lymphedema in women after breast cancer surgery. Lymphology, 2018; 51:28–37.

26.

Taber

. The use of Cronbach's alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Res Sci Educ, 2018; 48:1273–1296.

27.

Liljequist

, Elfving

, Skavberg Roaldsen

. Intraclass correlation—A discussion and demonstration of basic features. PLoS One, 2019; 14:e0219854.

28.

Marcano Belisario

, Jamsek

, Huckvale

, O'Donoghue

, Morrison

, Car

. Comparison of self-administered survey questionnaire responses collected using mobile apps versus other methods. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015; 2015:Mr000042.

29.

Weiss

, Spray

. The effect of complete decongestive therapy on the quality of life of patients with peripheral lymphedema. Lymphology, 2002; 35:46–58.

30.

Sitzia

, Sobrido

. Measurement of health-related quality of life of patients receiving conservative treatment for limb lymphoedema using the Nottingham Health Profile. Qual Life Res, 1997; 6:373–384.

31.

Viehoff

, van Genderen

, Wittink

. Upper limb lymphedema 27 (ULL27): Dutch translation and validation of an illness-specific health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with upper limb lymphedema. Lymphology, 2008; 41:131–138.

32.

De Vrieze

, Vos

, Gebruers

, et al. Revision of the Lymphedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Upper Limb Lymphedema (Lymph-ICF-UL): Reliability and validity. Lymphat Res Biol, 2019; 17:347–355.

33.

Hasson

, Arnetz

. Validation and findings comparing VAS vs. Likert scales for psychosocial measurements. Int Electron J Health Educ, 2005; 8:178–192.

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.12 MB