Epidemiologic perspectives on life-style modification and health promotion in cancer research

Article Abstract:

It is well established that many behaviors bear a direct relation to the risk of cancer, as well as to other serious illnesses. In general, the approach to studying such behaviors is clinical. That is to say, the approach is oriented towards studying correlations between behaviors and consequences in individuals. Furthermore, the clinical approach attempts to alter, presumably for the better, behaviors on a patient-by-patient basis. The author argues, however, that an epidemiological approach contributes more to the study of behavior, health, and life-style modifications, and is complementary to the clinical approach. He suggests that it is inadequate to ask questions such as "How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?" While such data have been important in the past for establishing the link between smoking and chronic disease, such data are no longer satisfactory for the behavioral epidemiologist, who is more inclined to ask, "What psychosocial factors are associated with smoking and drinking?" For this researcher, epidemiological factors, such as occupation, age, and education, contribute towards understanding the behavioral issues of interest. New research must begin to evaluate in an organized fashion the myriad aspects of people that contribute to high-risk behaviors. This sort of evaluation will require a great deal of learning on the part of the researchers themselves, and an integration of the methodologies from the medical and the social sciences. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Life style, Lifestyles, Behavioral assessment

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CAncer Rehabilitation Evaluation System - Short Form (CARES-SF): a cancer specific rehabilitation and quality of life instrument

Article Abstract:

Today, greater emphasis is being placed on the quality of life of cancer patients, not merely on the length of survival. However, while length of life is an objective criterion that can be accurately measured, quality of life is more subjective and more difficult to approach in a scientific manner. The CAncer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES) is a method for scoring the many aspects of life that contribute to perceived overall quality. Researchers have now undertaken to shorten the CARES system to make it easier to use in cancer treatment and rehabilitation centers around the country. The original CARES instrument had 139 items. However, not all items applied to all patients. Nevertheless, a patient had to complete from 93 to 132 items on the CARES survey. The newer form, the CARES short form, or CARES-SF, has only 59 items, of which the patient completes 38 to 57. Of course, shortening the survey is of little value if the original validity of the questionnaire and the items it purports to measure are lost. In a comparison of the two tests, researchers demonstrated a correlation of 0.98 between the original form and the newer short form, an excellent correlation by any standard. The authors suggest that the CARES-SF is a reliable and useful measuring instrument for quality of life and that it should be integrated into clinical studies of cancer care and treatment. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Behavior, Surveys, Quality of life, Cancer patients, Health surveys

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