Gunilla Björling of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Tanzania and Jönköping University in Sweden.Credit: Gunilla Björling
Researchers from Tanzania and Europe have translated a cancer survey tool into Swahili for the first time. The Tanzanian study paves the way for the assessment and care of breast cancer patients in Swahili, a language spoken in 14 African countries.
EORTC QLQ-BR45, a questionnaire developed under the auspices of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), measures the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients.
The research team from Tanzania, Sweden and France assessed the validity, reliability and psychometric properties of the Swahili version, by testing the EORTC QLQ-BR45 with more than 400 women treated at two hospitals and one national cancer institute in Tanzania. As is standard protocol, they used the QLQ-BR45 in conjunction with EORTC QLQ-30, a questionnaire that provides a broader overview of the QoL of cancer patients.
“This combined approach is akin to using different lenses on a camera,” explains corresponding author Gunilla Björling of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Tanzania and Jönköping University in Sweden.
“Together, they ensure that we capture all necessary details and provide a clearer view of the quality of life experienced by these patients.”
The QLQ-BR45 seeks to provide an accurate assessment of the impact of new treatments on patients’ wellbeing. It looks at parameters like body image, sexual wellbeing, and the unique side effects associated with breast cancer treatments.
The study reveals that overall quality of life among breast cancer patients in Tanzania is low, which the authors attribute to late-stage diagnoses, and the low socio-economic status of the patients surveyed.
