Abstract

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important indicator for determining the health outcomes of cancer treatment. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale, which was developed in the USA and validated in many countries, is widely used to measure the HRQOL in cancer patients. In Mongolia, there is no valid and reliable instrument to measure HRQOL for cancer patients. The purposes of this study was to empirically validate the FACT-G scale with Mongolian cancer patients.

Methods: This study was a methodological study. The English version of FACT-G was translated into the Mongolian language using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) translation and linguistic validation methodology. The translated Mongolian version of FACT-G was validated through content validity, item analysis, construct validity, convergent validity, and reliability using a convenience sample of 303 cancer patients recruited from four hospitals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation to determine the factor structure. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating the correlation between FACT-G and the Functional assessment instrument the COOP/WONCA charts. The reliability of the internal consistency for the total and its subscales was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha.

Results: A 4-factor, 20-item model demonstrated a satisfactory fit with significant factor loadings. The factor structure of the Mongolian version of the FACT-G scale was similar to that of the original version including the physical, social/family, emotional, and functional well-being subscales and these four factors explained 65.5% of the variance. The convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation between the FACT-G Mongolian version and the COOP/WONCA charts (r=.69, p< .001). Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was .93 and that of subscales ranged from .72 to 89.

Conclusion: The Mongolian version of the FACT-G scale demonstrated satisfied validity and reliability. It is an appropriate instrument to use in research and clinical settings to assess the health-related quality of life of Mongolian cancer patients. For further validation of the Mongolian version of the FACT-G, it is necessary to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and replication studies with diverse samples.

Author Details

Gelegjamts Delgersuren, PhD; Gaalan Khulan, PhD, Associate Professor; Kim Jin Sun, Professor

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Other

Keywords:

Long-term Care, Hospice, Palliative, End-of-Life, Instrument and Tool Development

Conference Name

36th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Seattle, Washington, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Click on the above link to access the slide deck.

Additional Files

References.pdf (87 kB)

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Validity and Reliability of the Mongolian Version of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy

Seattle, Washington, USA

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important indicator for determining the health outcomes of cancer treatment. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale, which was developed in the USA and validated in many countries, is widely used to measure the HRQOL in cancer patients. In Mongolia, there is no valid and reliable instrument to measure HRQOL for cancer patients. The purposes of this study was to empirically validate the FACT-G scale with Mongolian cancer patients.

Methods: This study was a methodological study. The English version of FACT-G was translated into the Mongolian language using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) translation and linguistic validation methodology. The translated Mongolian version of FACT-G was validated through content validity, item analysis, construct validity, convergent validity, and reliability using a convenience sample of 303 cancer patients recruited from four hospitals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation to determine the factor structure. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating the correlation between FACT-G and the Functional assessment instrument the COOP/WONCA charts. The reliability of the internal consistency for the total and its subscales was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha.

Results: A 4-factor, 20-item model demonstrated a satisfactory fit with significant factor loadings. The factor structure of the Mongolian version of the FACT-G scale was similar to that of the original version including the physical, social/family, emotional, and functional well-being subscales and these four factors explained 65.5% of the variance. The convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation between the FACT-G Mongolian version and the COOP/WONCA charts (r=.69, p< .001). Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was .93 and that of subscales ranged from .72 to 89.

Conclusion: The Mongolian version of the FACT-G scale demonstrated satisfied validity and reliability. It is an appropriate instrument to use in research and clinical settings to assess the health-related quality of life of Mongolian cancer patients. For further validation of the Mongolian version of the FACT-G, it is necessary to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and replication studies with diverse samples.