Objective: The Japanese version of Edmonton Functional Assessment Tool 2 (EFAT2-J) is a physical function assessment specifically for patients with advanced cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the responsiveness of the EFAT2-J total score and to determine the clinical usefulness of the EFAT2-J. Methods: Participants were cancer patients who were being treated by a palliative care team and were not receiving curative treatment. Responsiveness was determined by comparing and correlating changes in the EFAT2-J and existing assessment scales up to approximately 2 weeks after the start of rehabilitation and calculating the standardized response means (SRM). Results: The participants were 31 patients with advanced cancer. The SRM of the EFAT2-J was large, and those of the existing assessment scales were moderate and small. Discussion: The EFAT2-J is an excellent physical function assessment that accurately captures changes in physical function in patients with advanced cancer.

Along with clinical practice and education, research is among the most important activities for medical doctors. The same is true in cardiovascular surgery: Young cardiovascular surgeons are expected to improve their surgical techniques and prioritize their clinical practice. However, their perspective on the role of research in their field of expertise is unknown. Therefore, we conducted a survey of and discussion with young cardiovascular surgeons to clarify their thoughts and concerns about performing research. Here we review and report the survey and discussion results.