Measurement Properties of Instruments for Measuring of Lymphedema: Systematic Review.

Background: Lymphedema is a common complication of cancer treatment, resulting in swelling and subjective symptoms. Reliable and valid measurement of this side effect of medical treatment is important.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide best evidence regarding which measurement instruments are most appropriate in measuring lymphedema in its different stages.

Functioning in lymphoedema from the health professionals' perspective using the international classification of functioning, disability and health as a reference.

Purpose: To capture the views of different health care providers involved in the treatment of patients with lymphoedema from various countries around the world on the functioning of lymphoedema patients and the factors influencing functioning of these patients using the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF).

Method: A worldwide e-mail survey with questions based on components of the ICF.

Results: In total, 142 health professionals from seven different health professions and 20 different countries answered the questions.

Development of consensus International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for lymphedema.

To understand the challenges of patients with lymphedema it is important to describe functioning and to measure the effectiveness of treatment in changing functioning. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) offers an international framework to classify functioning of persons in their personal environment. ICF Core Sets are lists of selected ICF categories concerning those important aspects of functioning that are most likely to be affected by a specific health problem or disease.

Validation of the Lymphoedema Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL) in Dutch Patients Diagnosed with Lymphoedema of the Lower Limbs.

Background: The Lymphoedema Quality-of-Life Questionnaire is a validated disease-specific instrument to measure the impact of lymphoedema on patients' lives. In this study, we tested its psychometric properties and validated the use of the questionnaire in its Dutch translation.

Methods: We obtained the answers to a standardised questionnaire, including Lymphoedema Quality-of-Life Questionnaire and Short-Form (36) Health Survey, twice at an interval of 2 weeks in 60 patients with lower limb lymphoedema.

Identification of relevant ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) categories in lymphedema patients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: To describe functioning and health of lymphedema patients and to identify their most common problems using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as part of the preparatory studies for the development of ICF Core Sets for lymphedema.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in a population of lymphedema patients (n = 200), undergoing treatment in a Dutch lymphedema-specialized hospital. The second-level categories of the ICF were used to collect information on patients' problems in daily functioning.