Adaptation and cultural validation of palliative care quality of life instrument in Chilean patients with terminal cancer

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Antonia Vollrath

Andres Bello University School of Nursing, USA

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

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Introduction: The Pain Relief and Palliative Care program treats patients whose quality of life is greatly affected by the advanced stage of the disease which they suffer. There are instruments to measure the construct of quality of life, but generally, they are contextualized in languages and cultures different from the Spanish speaking Latin American population. Objective: To adapt and validate the Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument (PQLI) in advanced cancer patients. Methodology: The instrument validation methodology was used, which included a series of combined systematic steps in a quantitative phase and qualitative phase. The study began with: a) Translation and counter translation of the PQLI from English to Chilean Spanish, with two native independent translators, from the original language; b) an analysis of structure and content was carried out by a group of experts of different institutions (government, academic, clinics and patients), linked to the field of palliative care; c) A pre-test was carried out, applying final adapted version of the instrument to a group of 20 oncological patients with the objective to qualitatively test the comprehension of the quations in the questionnaire, as well as difficulties and requirements that the fieldwork could bring when collecting the data. According to these results, changes were made. Subsequently the PQLI was applied to a total of 155 patients. Results: The main findings relate to the perception of the patients in each of the items of the dimensions studied. Conclusions: The use of the validated instrument will help to use it as a screening system for the quality of life of people, which will strengthen deficient dimensions. This will facilitate clinical support and family support for better well-being, quality of life and patient care.

Biography

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Introduction: The Pain Relief and Palliative Care program treats patients whose quality of life is greatly affected by the advanced stage of the disease which they suffer. There are instruments to measure the construct of quality of life, but generally, they are contextualized in languages and cultures different from the Spanish speaking Latin American population. Objective: To adapt and validate the Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument (PQLI) in advanced cancer patients. Methodology: The instrument validation methodology was used, which included a series of combined systematic steps in a quantitative phase and qualitative phase. The study began with: a) Translation and counter translation of the PQLI from English to Chilean Spanish, with two native independent translators, from the original language; b) an analysis of structure and content was carried out by a group of experts of different institutions (government, academic, clinics and patients), linked to the field of palliative care; c) A pre-test was carried out, applying final adapted version of the instrument to a group of 20 oncological patients with the objective to qualitatively test the comprehension of the quations in the questionnaire, as well as difficulties and requirements that the fieldwork could bring when collecting the data. According to these results, changes were made. Subsequently the PQLI was applied to a total of 155 patients. Results: The main findings relate to the perception of the patients in each of the items of the dimensions studied. Conclusions: The use of the validated instrument will help to use it as a screening system for the quality of life of people, which will strengthen deficient dimensions. This will facilitate clinical support and family support for better well-being, quality of life and patient care.