Predictors of Change in Quality of Life in Patients With End-Stage Disease During Hospitalization

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Radka Bužgová ◽  
Lucie Sikorová ◽  
Radka Kozáková ◽  
Darja Jarošová

Background: Currently, there are no studies aimed at evaluating the quality of life (QoL) of patients with end-stage disease during hospitalization and the factors that influence it. Aim: The aim of the research was to identify predictors of change in the QoL of patients hospitalized due to advanced stage of disease. Methods: The sample consisted of 140 patients with end-stage disease who were hospitalized on this account. For evaluation of QoL, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Karnofsky Performance Status questionnaires were used for the assessment of mental and functional status. For the evaluation of predictors of negative change in QoL, a logistic regression analysis was used. Results: During hospitalization, there was a significant deterioration in the scores given for all domains of the functional QLQ-C30 scale, but not the symptomatic scale. Predictors of change in overall QoL detected were marital status, improved functional status, and depression detected on admission to hospital. Gender and age were found to be protective factors against deterioration in overall QoL. Conclusion: Sociodemographic characteristics and mental and functional status may be associated with change in QoL of patients with end-stage disease during hospitalization.

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 5469-5478
Author(s):  
Yemataw Wondie ◽  
Andreas Hinz

Abstract Purpose Cancer is of increasing prevalence in less-developed countries. However, research on the patients’ quality of life (QoL) in these countries is very limited. The aim of this study was to examine QoL of cancer patients in Africa. Method A sample of 256 cancer patients treated in an Ethiopian hospital was examined with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A group of 1664 German cancer patients served as a comparison group. Results Most of the scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 showed acceptable reliability in the Ethiopian sample. Compared with the German cancer patients, the Ethiopian patients showed lower QoL in most dimensions, especially in financial difficulties, physical functioning, pain, and appetite loss (effect sizes between 0.52 and 0.75). Illiteracy, tumor stage, and treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) were associated with QoL in the Ethiopian sample. QoL was strongly correlated with fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a suitable instrument for measuring QoL in Ethiopia. The detriments in QoL in the Ethiopian patients indicate specific cancer care needs for the patients in a developing country.


Author(s):  
Kristina Holmegaard Nørskov ◽  
Dorthe Overgaard ◽  
Jannie Boesen ◽  
Anne Struer ◽  
Sarah Elke Weber Due El-Azem ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose This study investigated the feasibility of patient ambassador support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia during treatment. Methods A multicenter single-arm feasibility study that included patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia (n = 36) and patient ambassadors previously treated for acute leukemia (n = 25). Prior to the intervention, all patient ambassadors attended a 6-h group training program. In the intervention, patient ambassadors provided 12 weeks of support for patients within 2 weeks of being diagnosed. Outcome measures included feasibility (primary outcome), safety, anxiety, and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Leukemia and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and symptom burden by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Patient Activation Measure, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results Patient ambassador support was feasible and safe in this population. Patients and patient ambassadors reported high satisfaction with the individually adjusted support, and patients improved in psychosocial outcomes over time. Patient ambassadors maintained their psychosocial baseline level, with no adverse events, and used the available support to exchange experiences with other patient ambassadors and to manage challenges. Conclusion The patient ambassador support program is feasible and has the potential to be a new model of care incorporated in the hematology clinical care setting, creating an active partnership between patients and former patients. This may strengthen the existing supportive care services for patients with acute leukemia. Trial registration NCT03493906


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Sousa ◽  
Leonor Lencastre ◽  
Marina Guerra

ResumoObjetivos: Caracterizar as variáveis alexitimia, espiritualidade (dimensão crenças espirituais/religiosas e dimensão esperança/otimismo), assertividade e qualidade de vida de mulheres com cancro de mama.Método: A amostra é composta por 85 mulheres com cancro de mama de um Hospital do Grande Porto, com uma média de 47 anos e maioritariamente casadas. As doentes foram avaliadas através de 6 instrumentos de autopreenchimento: Questionário Sociodemográfico e Clínico; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20); Escala de Avaliação da Espiritualidade; Escala de Assertividade de Rathus e The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQC-30, v.3.0). Resultados: Os resultados indicam que a alexitimia se correlaciona de forma negativa com a dimensão esperança/otimismo e com a assertividade e que estas três variáveis têm influência na qualidade de vida. Mostram ainda a existência de uma correlação positiva entre a idade e a qualidade de vida global, bem como uma correlação negativa do número de anos de escolaridade com a alexitimia e com a dimensão crenças. O modelo preditor da qualidade de vida obtido exclui a influência da assertividade e mostra o impacto negativo da alexitimia e a influência positiva da dimensão esperança/otimismo na qualidade de vida de mulheres com cancro de mama, mesmo depois de controladas as variáveis ansiedade e depressão.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20657-e20657
Author(s):  
Daniela Gercovich ◽  
Pablo Lopez ◽  
Diego Bortolato ◽  
Patricia Margiolakis ◽  
Mirta Morgenfeld ◽  
...  

e20657 Background: In a previous study (Gercovich et al., 2011) we found that several dimensions of Illness Perception predicted some aspects of Quality of Life. The present study introduces Psychological Distress as a variable to assess the modulatory role it plays in the association between Illness Perception dimensions and Quality of Life in patients with breast cancer, identifying which of these two variables explain further variability in the different aspects of Quality of Life. Methods: A cohort of seventy-five patients was evaluated with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-30). We calculated bivariate and partial correlations to evaluate the associations between the illness perception dimensions and different aspects of quality of life, controlling these associations by the psychological distress measure. Subsequently, we performed linear regression analysis to evaluate which of these two variables better explains the variability in the quality of life scores. Results: Although significant associations between subscales of perception of illness and quality of life were found, most of them lost their significance when controlled by distress. In the regression models, variables that predicted the variability in the quality of life best were psychopathological diagnostic and distress. Conclusions: According to the study results, psychological distress and psychopathological diagnostic were the two variables that better explained the variability in the quality of life. For this reason it is essential to learn more about the role these variables play on the quality of life and on the morbidity and mortality associated to them.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 518-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeliz Erol ◽  
Alpaslan Çakan ◽  
Ayşe Gül Ergönül ◽  
Özen Sertöz ◽  
Ali Özdil ◽  
...  

Background This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between preoperative and postoperative psychiatric status and postoperative complications in patients operated on due to lung cancer. Methods We prospectively enrolled 25 patients undergoing surgery with a diagnosis of lung cancer. There were 17 (68%) males, 8 (32%) females, and the mean age was 61 ± 8.9 years (range 38–81 years). Their psychiatric status was assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale II, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30, Perceived Family Support Scale, the combined Stress Thermometer and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, in the preoperative period, and the Perceived Family Support, Stress Thermometer, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30 at 1 month postoperatively. Results We found that 44% of patients had depression and 28% had anxiety. There was no difference between sexes in terms of anxiety ( p = 0.088), but more women had depression ( p = 0.03). Postoperative complications occurred in 5 of 18 patients with negligible anxiety scores (27.8%) and 3 (42.9%) of 7 patients with high scores, as well as 3 (21.4%) patients with negligible depression scores and 5 (45.5%) of 11 patients with high scores. Conclusions Patients selected for lung cancer surgery should be assessed preoperatively using the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale and Stress Thermometer. Psychosocial support is recommended to improve their quality of life and reduce postoperative complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-685
Author(s):  
Piera Cote Robson ◽  
Mithat Gonen ◽  
Ai Ni ◽  
Lynn Brody ◽  
Karen T. Brown ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivePercutaneous tunneled drainage catheter (PTDC) placement is a palliative alternative to serial paracenteses in patients with end-stage cancer and refractory ascites. The impact of PTDC on quality of life (QoL) and long-term outcomes has not been prospectively described. The objective was to evaluate changes in QoL after PTDC.MethodEligible adult patients with end-stage cancer undergoing PTDC placement for refractory ascites completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and McGill Quality of Life instruments before PTDC placement and at 2 to 7 days and 2 to 4 weeks after PTDC. Catheter function, complications, and laboratory values were assessed. Analysis of QoL data was evaluated with a stratified Wilcoxon signed-rank test.ResultFifty patients enrolled. Survey completion ranged from 65% to 100% (median 88%) across timepoints. All patients had a Tenckhoff catheter, with 98% technical success. Median survival after PTDC was 38 days (95% confidence interval = 32, 57 days). European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scores showed improvement in global QoL (p = 0.03) at 1 week postprocedure (PP). Significant symptom improvement was reported for fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, and appetite at 1 week PP and was sustained at 3 weeks PP for dyspnea (p < 0.01), insomnia (p < 0.01), and appetite loss (p = 0.03). McGill Quality of Life demonstrated overall QoL improvement at 1 (p = 0.03) and 3 weeks (p = 0.04) PP. Decline in sodium and albumin values pre- and post-PTDC slowed significantly (albumin slope –0.43 to –0.26, p = 0.055; sodium slope –2.50 to 1.31, p = 0.04). Creatinine values increased at an accelerated pace post-PTDC (0.040 to 0.21, p < 0.01). Thirty-eight catheter-related complications occurred in 24 of 45 patients (53%).Significance of resultsQoL and symptoms improved after PTDC placement for refractory ascites in patients with end-stage malignancy. Decline in sodium and albumin values slowed postplacement. This study supports the use of a PTDC for palliation of refractory ascites in cancer patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Cátia Andreia Clara ◽  
Sara Otília Marques Monteiro ◽  
Ana Cláudia Pereira Bártolo

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common types of cancer disease worldwide. Studies in the field show that the appearance of a pathology of this form causes changes not only in the patient’s life, namely psychological problems, functional limitations and poorer health due to the clinical consequences of treatments, but also in their family, where caregivers often face the challenge of providing long-term daily care that induces a physical, psychosocial and financial burden (Borges et al., 2017; Hewitt et al., 2003; Tan et al., 2018). The main objective of the present study is to compare and relate the two groups (patients and caregivers) considering the quality of life (QoL) and symptoms of psychological distress (anxiety and depression). The total sample consisted of 30 patient/caregiver dyads. The instruments used were: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30) and its specific module for lung cancer (LC13); Caregiver Oncology Quality of Life Questionnaire (CarGOQoL) and Zarit Burden Interview Scale (ZBI). The results suggest the influence of depressive symptomatology on patients’ QoL [F(1)=6.390; p<0.05] and depressive and anxious symptomatology and burden on caregivers’ QoL [F(3)=7.815; p<0.001]. A positive association was found between depressive symptomatology of patients and caregivers (r=0.458; p=0.011) and differences in anxious symptomatology were also observed, with a higher result in the patient’s group.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ignacio Arraras ◽  
Gemma Asin ◽  
José Juan Illarramendi ◽  
Ana Manterola ◽  
Esteban Salgado ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 030006052097987
Author(s):  
Umesh Jayarajah ◽  
Thisaru Widyarathne ◽  
Metthananda Nawarathne ◽  
Sivananthan Raguvaran ◽  
Nishanthan Subramaniam ◽  
...  

Objective We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and patient quality of life (QOL) in a resource-limited setting. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study including patients with clinical and radiological features of CP. We collected clinical data and assessed QOL using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results We included 103 patients (median age 44 years, 84 men). Median age at symptom onset was 36 (4–78) years. Around 70% of patients had diabetes mellitus and 62.1% had consumed alcohol; 36 (35%) were current smokers. The mean overall global QOL score was 68.7. Most patients (91.3%) sought treatment from multiple centers. Nineteen (18.5%) had pancreatic stone disease, 38 (36.9%) had persistent abdominal pain (median severity 7.8/10, 59 (57.3%) had steatorrhea, and 56 (54.4%) had jaundice. Poor QOL was significantly associated with weight loss, loss of appetite, and intractable pain. No correlation with age, sex, or alcohol consumption was noted. Conclusion A considerable proportion of patients with CP had troublesome symptoms. Intractable pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss were significantly associated with poor QOL. Further assessment is needed of patients’ psychosocial well-being and its association with QOL.


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