A new study in the journal Quality of Life Research explores how cancer patients interpret and respond to questions about their physical function over different periods of time.
The research, which included faculty from Duke's Department of Population Health Sciences (DPHS), Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Medicine, Department of Surgery, and the Duke Cancer Institute, analyzed interviews with 72 adults diagnosed with cancer.
The study found that when no specific time period was given, patients typically recalled their physical function over periods longer than one month. However, when given a 7-day recall period, patients were more consistent in their responses, though nearly 30% still considered longer timeframes.
"This study provides important evidence for choosing recall periods or the window of time we ask patients to think back about their physical function in clinical trials for people diagnosed with cancer," said Theresa Coles, PhD, lead author and DPHS associate professor.
The findings suggest that specifying a 7-day recall period improves consistency in patient responses compared to questions without a specified timeframe and has important implications for measuring treatment outcomes while understanding changes in patients' physical function over time.
To read the article, please visit the Springer Nature Link website here.