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Indian Journal of Cancer, Vol. 48, No. 4, October-December, 2011, pp. 519-520 Letter to Editor Psychological disorders in women undergoing postoperative radiation and chemotherapy for breast cancer in India DK Muduly, NM Manjunath, AK Ashwin Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr. BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Code Number: cn11140 PMID: 22293275 Sir, We reviewed the article with great interest titled; "Psychological disorders in women undergoing postoperative radiation and chemotherapy for breast cancer in India" published in July-Sep 2010 issue of this journal. [1] Eventhough the authors have studied a practical and less studied topic, there are some aspects of this article which needs further explanation. Firstly, the design of the study is confusing. The primary and secondary objectives of the study are not clear. At some places primary objective seems secondary and in some other places the vice-versa. Secondly, the authors have not mentioned about the type of epidemiological study it is. They have mentioned in the abstract that the patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment they received (Those who received postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy were enrolled into group A and those received postoperative chemotherapy alone into group B). The authors again mentioned in the main article under materials and methods that the patients were randomized and recruited into two groups. We understand that in randomization every element has equal chance of being recruited into either group. [2] This study is not a randomized study. This is a prospective nonrandomized before-and-after study. [3] Thirdly, out of 97 patients, the authors have mentioned that the sample was divided in to two groups (group A=66 and group B= 31 patients) matched for age and economic status. The authors have not made it clear about the reasons to take unequal number of elements in each group. [4] Fourthly, matching of the patients with respect to age and socioeconomic status is not equivalent in both the groups. Finally, a conclusion or summary of the study at the end of the study would have given a clear idea of what the authors want to convey to the readers. References
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