scholarly journals Assessing the Quality of Life of Filipino Cancer Patients: A Survey of Filipino Oncologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (01) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Frederic Ivan Ting ◽  
Jose Miguel Callueng ◽  
Jeremiah Vallente ◽  
Reya Andrea Hurtado ◽  
Arjel Ramirez ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Recent trials of new drugs have placed much emphasis on survival. However, several guidelines have emphasized the need for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as part of the holistic approach in the management of cancer patients. There are currently no national governing guidelines and no existing data on the status of HRQoL assessments by Filipino oncologists, thus this study. Study Design This was a cross-sectional study that utilized a validated questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 312 oncologists participated in this study. Majority were medical oncologists (41%), followed by radiation oncologists (25%), hematologists (14%), gynecologic oncologists (12%), and surgical oncologists (8%). About 96% reported that HRQoL assessment was important for clinical work; however, 58% perceived HRQoL to be a vague term and 55% felt they were insufficiently trained to assess HRQoL. About 89% reported that they will be more confident if local HRQoL assessment guidelines will be present, and 93% agreed to the use of a unified HRQoL assessment tool for Filipino cancer patients. About 85% thought that the optimal number of questions for a HRQoL assessment tool should be between 5 and 15 questions. The significant predictors of HRQoL assessment among oncologists were field of oncology and years in practice/training (p < 0.05). Conclusion Filipino oncologists perceived HRQoL patient assessments to be important in clinical practice. However, majority did not know which tool to use and did not feel sufficiently trained to assess HRQoL. The creation of a practice guideline that would facilitate the use of a unified HRQoL assessment tool for Filipino cancer patients is highly recommended.

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joselany Afio Caetano ◽  
Julianna Freitas Siqueira ◽  
Andrea Bezerra Rodrigues ◽  
Maria Dalva Santos Alves ◽  
Ana Virgínia Melo Fialho ◽  
...  

Aim:  To  evaluate  the  quality  of  life  of  cancer  patients  using the device  for  antineoplastic  continuous  infusion.  Method:  This  is  a  cross-sectional  study conducted  with  28  patients in  a  health  insurance  company  of Fortaleza/CE in  2013,  by applying  the  life  quality  assessment  tool  of  the  World  Health  Organization  (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: The domain most affected was health satisfaction, which was negative in both  antineoplastic  administration  cycles,  while  the  perception  regarding  quality  of  life was  considered  regular.  The  highest  average  domain  was  social  relations;  the  lowest average  was  the  psychological  domain  for  both  cycles.  Conclusion:  It  is  important  to know the determinants that influence the quality of life of cancer patients, allowing the improvement of multidisciplinary interventions to increase adaptation to the experience of the disease.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 264-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Trine Flensborg-Madsen ◽  
Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽  
Mohammed Morad ◽  
Joav Merrick

This study was undertaken to examine the association between the immunological impact of HIV (measured by CD4 count) and global self-assessed quality of life (QOL) (measured with QOL1) for people suffering from HIV, to see if the connection was large and statistically strong enough to support our hypothesis of a strong QOL-immunological connection through the nonspecific, nonreceptor-mediated immune system, and thus to give a rationale for a holistic cure for HIV. This cross-sectional population study in Uganda included 20 HIV infected persons with no symptoms of AIDS and a CD4 count above 200 mill./liter. The main outcome measures were CD4 count, global QOL measured with the validated questionnaire QOL1, translated to Luganda and translated back to English. We found a large, clinically significant correlation between the number of T-helper cells (CD4) and global self-assessed quality of life (QOL1) (r = 0.57, p = 0.021), when controlled for age, gender, and years of infection. Together with other studies and holistic medicine theory, the results have given rationale for a holistic cure for HIV. We suggest, based on our findings and theoretical considerations, that HIV patients who improve their global QOL, also will improve their CD4 counts. Using the technique of holistic medicine based on the life mission theory and the holistic process theory of healing, we hypothesize that the improvement of QOL can have sufficient biological effect on the CD4, which could avoid or postpone the development of AIDS. A holistic HIV/AIDS cure improving the QOL draws on hidden resources in the person and is thus affordable for everybody. Improving global QOL also means a higher consciousness and a more ethical attitude, making it more difficult for the HIV-infected person to pass on the infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-71
Author(s):  
Grażyna Bączek ◽  
Monika Szyszka ◽  
Sylwia Rychlewicz

Introduction: The definition of motherhood is manifold. The responsibilities of motherhood should be considered biologically, psychologically and socially. Conscious motherhood is characterized amongst others by the responsibility of parents for procreative decisions, care for the health, development and safety of the child. In Poland, the model of a woman as mother, who dedicates her life to birthing and raising her offspring, dominates. This has a huge impact on the future functioning of the offspring as citizens of Poland. Materials and method: Study was conducted through a diagnostic survey in a group of 365 women (284 of which are mothers of three or more children, the remaining 81 being mothers of one child). A self-developed survey containing 29 multiple choice questions with a single correct response as well as a standardized assessment tool SWLS- Life Satisfaction Scale E. Diener, R.A. Emmons, R.J. Larson, S. Griffin (adaptation: Z. Juczyński) were used as a research tool. Results: The vast majority of respondents are satisfied with their role as mother (97.1%). Many of the women do not plan to have more children (44.1%). In the respondents' opinion, childbirth is a social privilege of a woman (p<0.05). Mothers of more than one child have definitively declared that having multiple children does not decrease the quality of life of women, is a source of life satisfaction, aids in the fulfillment of societal roles and does not impede professional development (p<0.05). A constant partner, religious beliefs and relations with other women having more than two children are important factors for respondents when deciding to expand their family (p<0.05). Women who have given birth to three or more children have greater life satisfaction as compared to mothers of a single child (p<0.05). Conclusion: Women are happy to be mothers. Motherhood is not a factor hindering their social and private functioning. Women's procreative decisions are influenced by fixed income, formal relationships and religious beliefs. Mothers of large families have greater life satisfaction in comparison to mothers of one child who do not desire more children.


Author(s):  
Soe AK ◽  
Aizat AF ◽  
Bellahcene MA ◽  
Atiqah N ◽  
Husna N

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA) are common inflammatory chronic respiratory diseases, and they are significant public health challenges on a global scale. The prevalence of these diseases are on the rise in all regions of the world, affecting all ages but more commonly among children and adolescences. Both AR and BA affect patients to a different extent with variable restrictions in the physical, emotional, and social aspects of the patient's life. They may be seen as two presentations of the same disease by sharing common epidemiologic, histologic, physiologic, and immunopathologic linkages. To determine the prevalence and impact of allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis with asthma on quality of life among secondary school students in Kinta District, Perak. A cross-sectional study was done among secondary school students from randomly selected three schools in Kinta District, Ipoh, Perak. A well-vetted and validated questionnaire was used to collect the data, and statistical analysis was done to determine the prevalence and impact of AR, BA, or both. A total of 250 secondary school students were involved in this study. Malays were the majority among the participants. The prevalence of AR alone, BA alone, and disease co-occurance were 27.2%, 9.2%, and 8%, respectively. Nearly 20% of the participants were troublesome but low scale in terms of quality of life followed by disturbed sleep, restricted participation in school, and daily activities. Only 6% of the participants experienced sleep disturbance due to asthma, but daily anti-asthmatic medication was essential in only 1.2%. This study showed that although a relatively high prevalence of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. There was no significant low quality of life among sufferers.  


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERNA KURT ◽  
ZEYNEP SİPAHİ KARSLI ◽  
BERNA ÖMÜR ÇAKMAK ÖKSÜZOĞLU ◽  
EMİNE ÖZTÜRK ◽  
NESLİHAN DEMİRÖRS ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of peripheral neuropathy on the quality of life of breast cancer patients throughout with monthly follow-up during 4 months of paclitaxel treatment.Material and methods The research was conducted with a prospective cross sectional with four follow-ups descriptive design. The study population consisted of female patients with breast cancer at Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital between August 2018 and January 2019. Data were collected the ‘’Patient Information Form’’,‘’EORTC C30 Cancer Quality Of Life Questionnaire’’ and ‘’Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool’’. The study was undertaken in accordance with the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies. Results Of 79 patients included in the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool except for the general activity subdimension were statistically significant in the ratings of 2nd, compared to 1st; 3rd compared to 1st and 2nd; 4th compared to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd follow-up periods. The overall mean of EORTC C30 Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, functional subdimension, symptom severity, and general well-being in the evaluations of 2nd, compared with 1st; 3rd compared with 1st and 2nd; 4th compared with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd follow-up periods it was found that the mean values of symptom that decreased gradually were statistically significant.Conclusion The neuropathy scale was found to be higher in 2nd, 3rd, 4th follow-up periods than in 1st follow-up. Also, EORTC C30 Cancer QLQ subdimensions were high initially but gradually decreased after the fourth cycle. Thus, it was found that the increase in neuropathy symptoms negatively affects the quality of life.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M. Govers ◽  
W.H. Schreuder ◽  
W.M.C. Klop ◽  
J.P.C. Grutters ◽  
M.M. Rovers ◽  
...  

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