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Underreporting by cancer patients: The case of response-shift

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  • Breetvelt, I.S.
  • Van Dam, F.S.A.M.

Abstract

There are a lot of studies in which self-report questionnaires are used, showing that cancer patients do not have a lower quality of life than the normal healthy population. This seems to be in contrast with the results of studies in which more extensive interviews have been used and to the everyday experience of physicians, nurses and other caretakers. This phenomenon of underreporting seems to hold true also for other patient groups. Judgment theories explain how the perception of quality of life arises. These theories indicate how the conceptualization of the dimension to be measured, changes under the influence of a (highly significant) life event, such as getting a life threatening disease. These theories hold that there will be a concurrent change in the internalized standard on whoch the patients base their perception. Thus a real effect, for example a decrease in quality of life as a result of cancer, can be obscured totally. Until an empirically proven solution to this problem has been found, we recommend that answers in questionnaires concerned with quality of life, psychological distress and the like should be approached with due caution.

Suggested Citation

  • Breetvelt, I.S. & Van Dam, F.S.A.M., 1991. "Underreporting by cancer patients: The case of response-shift," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 981-987, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:32:y:1991:i:9:p:981-987
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    Cited by:

    1. Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2004. "Testing for Utility Interdependence in Marriage: Evidence from Panel Data," Economic Research Papers 269599, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    2. Byela Tibesigwa & Martine Visser & Brennan Hodkinson, 2016. "Effects of Objective and Subjective Income Comparisons on Subjective Wellbeing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 361-389, August.
    3. Patricia Cubí‐Mollá & Mireia Jofre‐Bonet & Victoria Serra‐Sastre, 2017. "Adaptation to health states: Sick yet better off?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(12), pages 1826-1843, December.
    4. Stéphane Faury & Jérôme Foucaud, 2020. "Health-related quality of life in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review on reporting of methods in randomized controlled trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Paul Dolan & Henry Lee & Tessa Peasgood, 2012. "Losing Sight of the Wood for the Trees," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 30(11), pages 1035-1049, November.
    6. Sharpe, Louise & Curran, Leah, 2006. "Understanding the process of adjustment to illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(5), pages 1153-1166, March.

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