Abstract
Background: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is a broad multidimensional concept that usually includes subjective evaluations of both positive and negative aspects of life and has been extensively studied in the breast cancer population. The purpose of this review was to identify evidence-based HRQOL assessment tools found in breast cancer research using the methodology of the Oncology Section Cancer EDGE Task Force. Methods: The authors systematically reviewed the literature for outcome measures used to assess HRQOL in published research involving women diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal was to examine the psychometric properties of commonly used HRQOL measures in order to determine their clinical utility. Results: European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) - Breast 23, BREAST-Q, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) - Breast, FACT-B+4, EORTC QLQ - Cancer 30, FACTGeneral, Functional Living Index-Cancer, Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version, Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life, and SF-Health Surveys, were highly recommended by the Task Force. Conclusions: A variety of outcome measures have been reported in the literature to assess HRQOL in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Eleven measures were found to have satisfactory psychometric properties and are recommended for clinical use by the researchers on this Task Force.