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Indian Journal of Cancer
Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Cancer Society
ISSN: 0019-509X EISSN: 1998-4774
Vol. 48, Num. 4, 2011, pp. 519-520

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

Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr. BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Correspondence Address: D K Muduly, Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr. BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, dillipmuduly@gmail.com

Code Number: cn11140

PMID: 22293275
DOI: 10.4103/0019-509X.92253

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

1.Khan MA, Bahadur AK, Agarwal PN, Sehgal A, Das BC. Psychosocial disorders in women undergoing postoperative radiation and chemotherapy for breast cancer in India. Indian J Cancer 2010;47:296-303.   Back to cited text no. 1  [PUBMED]  Medknow Journal
2.Walliman NS. Social research methods. London: SAGE Publications Ltd; 2006. p. 77.  Back to cited text no. 2    
3.Grimshaw G, Wilson B, Campbel M, Eccles M, Ramsay C. Epidemiological Methods. In: Fulop N, Allen P, Clarke A, Black N, editors. Studying the organisation and delivery of health services: Research methods. New York: Routledge; 2001. p. 63-4.  Back to cited text no. 3    
4.Van Belle G. Statistical Rules of Thumb. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Wiley Interscience; 2008. p. 45-6.  Back to cited text no. 4    

Copyright 2011 - Indian Journal of Cancer

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