An investigation of the validity of the Quality of Well-Being scale with pediatric oncology patients.

Abstract

The usefulness of the Quality of Well-Being scale (QWB) in a sample of pediatric cancer patients was investigated. The parents of 30 children who were 4 to 18 years old and who were being treated for cancer, were administered the QWB. Performance status ratings from the parents and physician, toxicity ratings, treatment information, and routine laboratory values were also collected. Correlational analyses indicated that QWB scores were significantly related to ratings of performance status and that children who had experienced more surgeries and hospitalizations were assessed as more impaired on the QWB. The child's age, toxicity of treatment experience to date, and laboratory values were not significantly related to QWB findings. The potential utility of the QWB as a component of quality-of-life assessment is discussed.