Date:
Fri, 04/12/2013 - 3:00pm to Mon, 06/05/2023 - 8:44am
Background: FACT-B is one of the commonly used and well-validated instruments for the assessment of quality of life of women with breast cancer, among English speaking populations. To date, no formal translation/adaptation of FACT-B exists in Arabic. This study aims to translate as well as face-validate FACT-B into Arabic, among Lebanese women with breast cancer.
Methods: This is a pilot-study that consisted of: forward and backward translation in Arabic, face validity, pre-testing of the final Arabic adopted translated instrument and a qualitative assessment using focus groups. The pre-testing phase was conducted using: face-to-face interviews with women suffering from breast cancer (n=33). This was followed by two focus groups (4women/group), in order to qualitatively validate the obtained pre-test results as well as to double-check for any needed insertions or deletions of items.
Results: For most of its sub-categories, FACT-B adequately tackled the different aspects of quality of life of women with breast cancer. Women perceived the instrument to be easy to follow, short, simple, culturally appropriate and pertinent to their experience with the disease. FACT-B, when delivered in Arabic, was also able to depict differences between: women undertaking versus those who have finished treatment, women’s disease stage at initial diagnosis, disease management (surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy), socio-economic status and educational attainments. Six additional items’ were perceived missing and suggested to be included, these are: a spiritualty sub-component, the way others look at them/or deal with them expressed by “Pity", maintaining a positive attitude, the doctor-patient interaction and the financial constraints.
Conclusion: Our study results have reinforced the value of the Arabic translated version of FACT-B in capturing the quality of life of women with breast cancer in Lebanon.
Loulou Kobeissi, DrPH MPH, is an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the Epidemiology & Biostatistics Division of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the School of Middle East and North African Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Kobeissi has extensive research experience in Global Public Health-emphasis non-infectious disease. Her main research area is Women’s Health (including Reproductive Health), with primary focus on gynecological morbidity, infertility, breast cancer, urinary bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, maternal and child health, mental health as well as sexual health. As a teacher and mentor, she hopes to combine both knowledge-based background and applied public health in her students to become agents of public health change, in the hope that they primarily impact disadvantaged populations.LOULOU KOBEISSIAssistant Professor,
College of Public Health and School of Middle Eastern & North African Studies,
University of Arizona
MENAS Colloquium Series, Spring 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
3pm in Marshall 490
