Iris Morphological and Biomechanical Factors Influencing Angle Closure During Pupil Dilation.

Purpose: To use finite element (FE) analysis to assess what morphologic and biomechanical factors of the iris and anterior chamber are more likely to influence angle narrowing during pupil dilation.

Methods: The study consisted of 1344 FE models comprising the cornea, sclera, lens, and iris to simulate pupil dilation. For each model, we varied the following parameters: anterior chamber depth (ACD = 2-4 mm) and anterior chamber width (ACW = 10-12 mm), iris convexity (IC = 0-0.

Mapping the English and Chinese versions of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General to the EQ-5D utility index.

Objective: This study aims to develop a function for mapping the English and Chinese versions of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scores to the EuroQoL Group's EQ-5D utility index and to test whether a single function is sufficient for the two language versions.

Methods: A baseline survey of 558 cancer patients in Singapore using the FACT-G and EQ-5D was conducted (308 English and 250 Chinese questionnaires). Regression models were used to predict the EQ-5D utility index values based on the FACT-G scores and thus derive a mapping equation.

The Singaporean English and Chinese versions of the EQ-5D achieved measurement equivalence in cancer patients.

Objective: To assess measurement equivalence of the Singaporean English and Chinese versions of the EuroQol Group's 5-domain questionnaire (EQ-5D) in cancer patients.

Study Design And Setting: Seven hundred and seventy-one ethnic Chinese patients in Singapore were recruited, and they answered either an English or a Chinese version of the EQ-5D. Seven days later, a similar questionnaire in the same language was mailed to the patients.

Response and non-response to a quality-of-life question on sexual life: a case study of the simple mean imputation method.

We investigated the non-response rates to the question "I am satisfied with my sex life" in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General questionnaire in Chinese (n = 769), Malay (n = 41) and Indian (n = 33) patients in Singapore, a multi-ethnic society whose residents are said to have a conservative sexual attitude. Non-response rates to the question were 44%, 22% and 24% in the three groups respectively. The rates were much higher than that reported previously in a US study (7%) and used in the associated simulation study of the simple mean imputation method.

Cancer patients' preferences for communication of unfavourable news: an Asian perspective.

It is important to understand cancer patients' preferences for communication as it impacts on how unfavourable news should be delivered in such a way as not to demoralize the patients while at the same time maintain good doctor-patient relationships. However, few studies have been undertaken in the Asian countries. This study aims to determine the preferences of cancer patients regarding the disclosure of unfavourable news in an Asian population in Singapore.

Quick-FLIC--a short questionnaire for assessing quality of life of cancer patients.

Health-related quality of life instruments tend to include a great many items. This imposes a burden on the respondents as well as undermining response rate and data quality. In this study we developed a shortened version of the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC), now called Quick-FLIC, and examined its measurement properties.