Understanding the impact of breast cancer on a person’s life certainly goes beyond physical health. An individual’s health and well-being are also included. A recent study conducted by lecturers from the Faculty of Psychology at Padjadjaran University (UNPAD), Fredrick Dermawan Purba and Hari Setyowibowo, together with co-authors from European universities, has successfully tested two new measurement tools. These instruments are designed to capture a picture of a person’s health and wellbeing, whether they are healthy or sick.

The two questionnaires that were validated are the EQ Health and Wellbeing (EQ-HWB), which contains 25 questions, and its shorter version, the EQ-HWB-S, which contains only 9 questions. The EQ-HWB measures broader aspects of life, including activities, feelings and emotions, cognition, relationships, personal autonomy, self-identity, and physical sensations. Meanwhile, the EQ-HWB-S measures more general aspects such as mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.

This longitudinal study was conducted from 2023 to 2024 at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung, involving 300 female patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The researchers asked the patients to fill out the new EQ-HWB and EQ-HWB-S questionnaires, as well as several other related instruments, to then compare the tools’ reliability and validity. Furthermore, the study aimed to accurately reflect the population of women fighting this disease within the Indonesian context.

The results were very encouraging. The study found that both measurement tools demonstrated strong psychometric performance. Both were also proven to have no ceiling or floor effects, which means they are neither too easy nor too difficult. This indicates that both instruments are sensitive in detecting changes and problems in patients with various health statuses. The new questionnaires proved to be highly relevant in capturing key issues experienced by patients, such as fatigue, pain, discomfort, and sleep problems.

These findings suggest that these new instruments can significantly improve the way patient well-being is measured, both in clinical practice and in research. By providing a more holistic view of a patient’s life, the EQ-HWB and EQ-HWB-S can help healthcare providers and policymakers make more informed decisions. The study concludes by recommending these measurement tools for use in health technology assessments, which can help direct the allocation of resources for breast cancer treatment to better suit patient needs.