Abstract
In spite of the prevalence of neoplastic disorders as a cause of chronic illness, very few of the currently available generic measures of health-related quality of life or health status have been utilized with cancer patients. In this paper we reviewed our studies with the Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES), a cancer-specific measure of rehabilitation needs and quality of life. We present data to demonstrate that the CARES is a generic measure of health-related quality of life, suitable for use in the many different diseases called cancer. The data that form the basis for this paper were collected during a decade of research on the CARES. This paper represents the first discussion of the performance of the CARES across separate cancer sites and phases of the disease. In addition, we demonstrated that the CARES is responsive to changes in health-related quality of life over time. Finally, we will discuss the application of the CARES in clinical and research settings.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
StewartAL, GreenfieldS, HaysRD, et al. Functional status and well-being of patients with chronic conditions. JAMA 1989; 262: 907–913.
SchagCC, HeinrichRL, AadlandR, et al. Assessing problems of cancer patients: Psychometric properties of the Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations. Health Psychol 1990; 9: 83–102.
GanzPA, SchagCC, ChengH. Assessing the quality of life — A study in newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients. J Clin Epidemiol 1990; 43: 75–86.
SchagCAC, HeinrichRL. Development of a comprehensive Quality of Life Measurement Tool; CARES. Oncology 1990; 4: 135–138.
SchagCC, HeinrichRL, GanzPA. Cancer Inventory of problem situations: an instrument for assessing cancer patients' rehabilitation needs. J Psychosoc Oncol 1983; 1: 11–24.
Schag CAC, Heinrich RL. Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES) Manual. CARES Consultants, 1988.
GanzPA, RofessartJ, PolinskyML, et al. A comprehensive approach to the assessment of cancer patients' rehabilitation needs: The Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations and a companion interview. J Psychosoc Oncol 1986; 4: 27–42.
Ganz PA, Schag CAC, Lee JJ, et al. Breast Conservation versus Mastectomy: Is there a difference in psychological adjustment or quality of life in the year after surgery? Cancer 1992; (in press).
ConoverWJ, ImanRL. Rank transformations as a bridge between parametric and nonparametric statistics. Am Stat 1981; 35: 124–133.
AkritasMG. Limitations of the rank transform procedure: A study of repeated measures designs, Part I. J Am Stat Assoc 1991; 86: 457–460.
BlairRC, SawilowskySS, HiggensJJ. Limitations of the rank transform statistic in test for interactions. Communications in Statisitics, Part B — Simulations and Computation 1987; 16: 1133–1145.
GanzPA. Patient education as a moderator of psychological distress. J Psychosoc Oncol 1988; 6: 181–197.
PolinskyML, FredC, GanzPA. Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of a Case Management Program for Cancer Patients. Health Soc Work 1991; 16: 176–183.
SchagCAC, GanzPA, HeinrichRL. Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluations System-Short Form (CARES-SF): A Cancer Specific Rehabilitation and Quality of Life Instrument. Cancer 1991; 68: 1406–1413.
BoringCC, SquiresTS, TongT. Cancer Statistics, 1991. CA-A Cancer J Clinicans 1991; 41: 19–36.
CassilethBR, LuskEJ, StrouseTB, et al. Psychosocial status in chronic illness. N Engl J Med 1984; 311: 506–511.
HallA, FallowfieldL. Psychological outcome of treatment for early breast cancer: a review. Stress Med 1989; 5: 167–175.
WolbergWH, RomsaasEP, TannerMA, et al. Psychosexual adaptation to breast cancer surgery. Cancer 1989; 63: 1645–1655.
MaunsellE, BrissonJ, DeschennesL. Psychological distress after initial treatment for breast cancer: A comparison of partial and full mastectomy. J Clin Epidemiol 1989; 42: 765–771.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant No. CA 43461 from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, USA.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ganz, P.A., Schag, C.A.C., Lee, J.J. et al. The CARES: a generic measure of health-related quality of life for patients with cancer. Qual Life Res 1, 19–29 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435432
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435432