Measures of physical functioning in adults with brain tumor associated with functional outcomes: A scoping review

TL;DR

This scoping review explores physical functioning measures in brain tumor patients, highlighting the need for more objective and validated tools to assess outcomes.

Contribution

The study identifies gaps in physical functioning assessment tools for brain tumor patients and suggests complementary measures for better evaluation.

Findings

49 eligible studies were identified, using 39 physical functioning measures for brain tumor patients.

Three clinician-reported outcome measures (KPS, ECOG, FIM) are validated for brain tumor patients.

Performance and patient-reported outcome measures from other neurological diseases may be applicable but require validation for brain tumors.

Abstract

Neuro-oncology researchers and clinicians rely mostly on subjective measures to evaluate physical functioning (PF) and predict survival in primary brain tumor (PBT) patients. Exploring alternative clinical outcome assessment (COA) measures may identify more objective measures that better quantify PF in PBT patients. A scoping review was conducted to identify studies related to PF measures used in PBT patients. Using the PRISMA-SCRA guideline 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were searched on January 25, 2024. Reviewers performed an independent review of titles, abstracts, and full text using covidence systematic review software and a standardized Microsoft Excel form for extracting data. 1093 publications were identified; 49 studies met eligibility criteria. Studies used a variety of PF measures evaluated at different time points, ranging from preintervention to 3 years or more postintervention. 39 PF COA measures were identified. Of the 39, 3 clinician-reported measures (ClinRO) [KPS, ECOG, and FIM] are validated for PBT. Many measures found are standardized for other neurological diseases including performance (PerfO) and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Validation of additional COA types (PerfO and PRO) that are complementary to the ClinRO measures already validated for the PBT population should be established. Measures of interest should include the evaluation of walking due to its clinical relevance and indication for overall PF.

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