The what matters most survey: A measurement evaluation of a self-reported patient values elicitation tool among cancer survivors.

The sample was mostly male veteran cancer survivors from a VA cancer registry, so results may not apply to women, non-veterans, or people with different cancer histories. The study tested measurement properties, not whether using the survey improves shared decision making, care planning, or patient outcomes. The Managing Health domain had poor test-retest reliability and only two items, so it should not be treated as a stable score. Phone and mail responses were treated equally, but the study could not distinguish their effects because of sample size. Hurricane Harvey displacement during the study period may have affected stability of responses. Telephone screening may have under-recognized cognitive impairment. Many participants rated items at the high end of the scale, which can make the scale less useful for telling people apart.

The authors declared no financial or personal conflicts of interest.

Do not read this as evidence that using the survey improves patient care or decision making. The study tested measurement properties in older veteran cancer survivors, and the Managing Health domain was unstable over 14 days.