Table 3 Categorized reasons why some items were rated as little or not relevant by the participants

Pain

9

1

1

19

3

1

2

1

7

Physical functioning

1

5

5

3

3

1

17

2

4

6

1

1

1

1

1

1

16

3

4

6

1

2

1

1

1

1

17

4

3

2

1

1

1

8

5

–

Emotional functioning

21

1

5

1

2

1

1

1

1

13

22

1

5

2

1

1

1

1

12

23

1

4

5

1

1

12

24

2

3

1

6

Fatigue

10

5

1

1

1

1

1

10

12

3

2

3

1

2

1

12

18

1

4

1

1

2

1

10

Nausea and vomiting

14

1

2

2

5

15

2

1

3

Sleeping difficulties

11

1

1

Social functioning

26

1

1

1

1

1

5

27

1

2

2

1

2

8

Dyspnea

8

3

5

14

13

1

1

1

1

39

Role functioning

6

2

1

3

1

7

7

4

11

1

1

2

1

20

Constipation

16

1

10

7

18

Lack of appetite

13

1

1

Financial difficulties

28

1

2

1

2

1

1

8

Global health status/

29

2

1

1

4

Quality of life

30

1

2

3

1

1

1

1

10

Cognitive functioning

20

4

11

1

1

4

21

25

1

8

1

1

11

Diarrhea

17

3

1

1

5

Total

36

96

39

56

15

17

18

3

5

14

4

4

307