Association of treatment type with patient-reported quality of life in cancer distress screening.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
Mohana Roy ◽  
Sarah Rosenthal ◽  
Manan P Shah ◽  
Ali Raza Khaki ◽  
Selen Bozkurt ◽  
...  

178 Background: Routine distress screening is recommended for all patients with cancer. In 2015, Stanford Cancer Center implemented such screening using a modified PROMIS-GH questionnaire. With the recent growth of oncology drugs, novel medications have been perceived as better tolerated than chemotherapy. We analyzed patient reported quality of life with global mental health (GMH) and global physical health (GPH) scores for different medication classes. Methods: Patients who completed a questionnaire at our center between 6/1/2015 and 12/31/2020 were included. Medications were classified as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, or immunotherapy using guidance from SEER.Rx ontology. Baseline (B) and treatment (Tx) questionnaires were completed before any treatment initiation of each medication type and within 3 months of each treatment, respectively. GPH and GMH scores were calculated using PROMIS T-scores stratified by medication type for B and Tx questionnaires. We analyzed for differences based on demographics and diagnoses. Clinically significant differences were defined as a 3-point difference in T-scores, which then prompted statistical comparison with t-tests to compare the B and Tx scores to each other and to the US population mean of 50. Results: We analyzed 28,180 questionnaires from 11,644 patients (59% women, median age 64; 23% stage I and II, 12% stage III, 23% stage IV, 51% missing). B and Tx mean GMH scores did not differ clinically compared to the US mean or to each other (baseline: 49.03 +/- 9.16, post: 48.5 +/- 9.1). However, both mean GPH scores were statistically and clinically lower (baseline: 44.2+/- 10.38, post: 42.4 +/- 10.1,) compared to the US mean (p < 0.001). Changes in scores by treatment category are shown in the table below. There was a statistically significant difference in post-treatment GPH scores for chemo-immunotherapy patients when compared to both corresponding baseline scores (p < 0.001) and post treatment chemotherapy alone scores (p < 0.001). There was no clinically significant difference in scores when stratified by age, sex, primary language, insurance, disease stage or type. Conclusions: In this large retrospective study, we found that patients being treated for cancer did not report worse GMH scores compared to the US mean population, but do report lower GPH scores. While most scores varied little relative to other treatment types, those receiving chemo-immunotherapy had lower GPH scores when comparing baseline to treatment and to the US mean, warranting further investigation, given increasing use.[Table: see text]

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Kettis ◽  
Hanna Fagerlind ◽  
Jan-Erik Frödin ◽  
Bengt Glimelius ◽  
Lena Ring

Abstract Background Effective patient-physician communication can improve patient understanding, agreement on treatment and adherence. This may, in turn, impact on clinical outcomes and patient quality of life (QoL). One way to improve communication is by using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Heretofore, studies of the impact of using PROMs in clinical practice have mostly evaluated the use of standardized PROMs. However, there is reason to believe that individualized instruments may be more appropriate for this purpose. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the standardized QoL-instrument, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C-30 (EORTC-QOL-C30) and the individualized QoL instrument, the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW), in clinical practice. Methods In a prospective, open-label, controlled intervention study at two hospital out-patient clinics, 390 patients with gastrointestinal cancer were randomly assigned either to complete the EORTC-QOL-C30 or the SEIQoL-DW immediately before the consultation, with their responses being shared with their physician. This was repeated in 3–5 consultations over a period of 4–6 months. The primary outcome measure was patients’ health-related QoL, as measured by FACIT-G. Patients’ satisfaction with the consultation and survival were secondary outcomes. Results There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to study outcomes. Neither intervention instrument resulted in any significant changes in health-related QoL, or in any of the secondary outcomes, over time. This may reflect either a genuine lack of effect or sub-optimization of the intervention. Since there was no comparison to standard care an effect in terms of lack of deterioration over time cannot be excluded. Conclusions Future studies should focus on the implementation process, including the training of physicians to use the instruments and their motivation for doing so. The effects of situational use of standardized or individualized instruments should also be explored. The effectiveness of the different approaches may depend on contextual factors including physician and patient preferences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Jezerskyte ◽  
H Laarhoven ◽  
M Sprangers ◽  
W Eshuis ◽  
M Hulshof ◽  
...  

Abstract   Despite the attempts to reduce postoperative complication incidence after esophageal cancer surgery, up to 60% of patients endure postoperative complications. These patients often have a reduced health related quality of life (HR-QoL) and it may also have a negative effect on long-term survival. The aim of this study is to investigate the difference in short- and long-term HR-QoL in patients with and without a complicated postoperative course. Methods A retrospective comparative cohort study was performed with data from the Dutch Cancer Registry (IKNL) and QoL questionnaires from POCOP, a longitudinal patient reported outcomes study. All patients with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer after an esophagectomy with or without neoadjuvant chemo(radio) therapy in the period of 2015–2018 were included. Exclusion criteria were palliative surgery, patients with a recurrence, reconstruction with a colonic or jejunal interposition, no reconstruction and emergency surgery. HR-QoL was investigated at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months postoperatively between patients with and without complications following an esophagectomy. Results A total of 486 patients were included: 270 with and 216 without postoperative complications. The majority of patients were male (79.8%) with a median age of 66 years (IQR 60–70.25). Significantly more patients had comorbidities in the group with postoperative complications (69.6% vs 57.3%, p = 0.001). A significant difference in HR-QoL over time was found between the two groups in “choked when swallowing” score (p = 0.028). Patients that endured postoperative complications reported more problems with choking when swallowing at 9 months follow-up (mean score 12.9 vs 8.4, p = 0.047). This difference was not clinically relevant with a mean score difference of 4.6 points. Conclusion Postoperative complications do not significantly influence the short- and long-term HR-QoL in patients following an esophagectomy. Only one HR-QoL domain showed difference over time, however, this was not clinically relevant.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 220-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Lee ◽  
Bradford S. Hoppe ◽  
Tamara L. Smith ◽  
Christopher G. Morris ◽  
Romaine Charles Nichols ◽  
...  

220 Background: We report on quality of life (QOL) and early toxicity following proton therapy (PT) among men with prostate cancer who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) prior to treatment. Methods: Between 2006 and 2010, 1,540 patients were treated definitively with PT for prostate cancer at UFPTI and enrolled on a prospective IRB-approved outcomes protocol. One hundred of the men had received a TURP before PT. Baseline comorbidities, medications, expanded prostate index composite (EPIC) score, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), and CTCAE vs.3 toxicity assessment were collected prospectively. The Kaplan-Meier product limit method was used to estimate freedom from toxicity. Results: Men who had TURP prior to PT had lower EPIC scores at baseline and at all followup points for urinary function, urinary incontinence, and urinary summary (Table). The TURP group also had lower EPIC bowel bother, bowel function, and bowel summary at baseline, 6-month, and 1-year followup. EPIC urinary bother, urinary irritation/obstruction, and subscales did not show a statistically significant difference at baseline, but they did show lower scores for the TURP group at variable follow-up time points. The IPSS scores among the TURP group did not show a statistical difference from the non-TURP group, except at the 6-month follow-up time point. Toxicity assessment showed that the 2-year and 3-year cumulative incidence of grade 3 GU toxicity rate in the pretreatment TURP group were 14% and 18%, respectively. Conclusions: Pretreatment TURP was associated with both a high incidence of physician-assessed toxicity and inferior patient-reported QOL scores both before and after PT treatment. Studies investigating QOL and toxicity after specific prostate cancer therapies should stratify patients by pretreatment TURP. Longer follow-up and further evaluation of risk factors for grade 3 GU toxicity among this cohort are needed. [Table: see text]


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 239-239
Author(s):  
Jonathan David O'Donnell ◽  
Amy Pickar Abernethy ◽  
Greg Samsa ◽  
Tina Staley ◽  
Kristin MacDermott ◽  
...  

239 Background: Psychosocial distress is common for those with cancer; new interventions are needed. Pillars4Life is an online educational program that teaches coping skills in a group format. What is the relationship between participation in the LiveStrong-funded Pillars4Life program and personal psychosocial outcomes? Methods: This was a longitudinal observational cohort study. Cancer patients participating in the Pillars4Life program were recruited from the 17 hospitals that received the LiveStrong Community Impact Award. Consenting participants participated in 10 weekly sessions and completed electronic surveys at baseline and 3 months. Patient reported measures included: distress [Distress Thermometer (DT), Patient Care Monitor (PCM)], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9)], anxiety [Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD7)], posttraumatic stress [PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCLC)], despair (PCM), fatigue [Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)], and cancer-related wellbeing [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACTG)] outcomes. Results: Patient participants (n=130) were: mean age 56±11 years; 87% female; 89% white; 61% married; 48% employed; 51% had breast cancer; and 63% were receiving treatment. Mean scores significantly improved from baseline to month 3 on all patient-reported outcome measures: DT (-0.9), PCM Distress (-3.0), PHQ9 (-2.3), GAD7 (-2.3), PCLC (-4.3), PCM Despair (-2.9), FACT-G (4.7), all p<.001; and FACIT-Fatigue (3.3, p=.001). Patients who reported distress at baseline (DT≥4; n=70) had clinically significant improvements (moderate to strong effect sizes ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 standard deviation units) in DT; PCM Distress, Quality of Life, and Despair; PHQ9; GAD7; PCLC; FACTG, among others. Conclusions: Participation in Pillars4Life was associated with statistically and clinically significant improvements on key psychosocial and quality of life patient-reported outcomes measures. Importantly, distressed patients experienced meaningful improvement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (30) ◽  
pp. 2266-2270
Author(s):  
Rachana Ramachandran ◽  
Santhi Thankappan Pillai

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to test as to whether daily saline nasal irrigation improved sinus symptoms in adult subjects with chronic rhino sinusitis, and also study the safety of saline irrigation, incidence of any complication and improvement in quality of life in these patients. METHODS This was a prospective observational study conducted between two groups of patients at Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha. Patients who satisfied the criteria for diagnosing chronic rhino sinusitis were included in the study. The first group was given saline nasal irrigation with oral drug therapy while the second group was put on oral drugs alone. Each subject was given a pretested, structured questionnaire. Along with socio-demographic information, the questionnaire also contained queries of quality of life measure, compliance of nasal irrigation and adverse effects following its use. RESULTS The pre-treatment scores and post treatment scores were analysed and the results were statistically significant with P values of < 0.001 in all. 77 % of the patients in the saline irrigation group were strictly using saline nasal irrigation which meant a satisfactory compliance and the improvement in post treatment scores was statistically highly significant with a P value of < 0.001. Also there was a statistically significant difference between the mean pre-test and post test scores of the two groups with P value of < 0.001 and t value of 51.942 using the paired t test. CONCLUSIONS Chronic rhinosinusitis has a major negative impact on the healthcare and economy of not only the patients but also of the society. Saline nasal irrigation is an effective yet easy method of therapy in alleviating the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and improving the quality of life in these chronic sufferers. KEY WORDS Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Saline Nasal Irrigation, Quality of Life, Economic Burden


Author(s):  
Manal K. Youssef

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus is an inflammatory condition that causes significant tissue damage and inflammation, and is more common in women. Despite the fact that medical treatment seeks to prevent flare-ups and organ damage, up to 50% of patients believe their wellbeing is suboptimal due to unmet needs like exhaustion and pain. The aim of the new systemic lupus erythematosus treatment guidelines is to improve people's quality of life. In people with systemic lupus erythematosus, fatigue is associated with reduced health, exercise capacity, muscle strength, and impairment. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of strengthening exercise on fatigue, depression, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared to the control sedentary group. This study included 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from the department of internal medicine, compared to 25 control patients. Both groups had been treated with strengthening exercises for three months. Self-rating depression scale, quality of life questioner, fatigue severity scale, 6 min’ walk test, 2 min step test and body mass index (BMI). All parameters were measured before and after 3 months of treatment. Results Analysis of data showed that systemic lupus erythematosus has more depression and fatigue than sedentary control. After exercises, both groups have a significant difference between pre and post treatment, but still have a difference between both groups. Both groups have a significant difference between pre and post treatment in 6-min walk test, 2-min step test, and quality of life measured by SF-36. No significant difference was found between both groups pre and post treatment in BMI, although each group has a significant difference between pre and post treatment BMI. Conclusions Exercises are very important in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. They help to decrease fatigue, depression, and improve quality of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596711881846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph N. Liu ◽  
Anirudh K. Gowd ◽  
Michael L. Redondo ◽  
David R. Christian ◽  
Brandon C. Cabarcas ◽  
...  

Background: Traditionally, the primary outcome in meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has been long-term survivorship; however, short-term clinically significant outcomes are necessary to fully evaluate patient improvement after surgery. Purpose: To (1) establish the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) with respect to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and (2) evaluate preoperative and intraoperative variables correlated with achieving these threshold values. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospectively maintained institutional registry was queried for all MATs performed between 1999 and 2017. The following PROM scores were collected: International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Patients who completed preoperative and postoperative PROMs within a 1-month window were included to calculate the distribution-based MCID at this interval. An anchor question regarding satisfaction with surgery was asked at the same time point and was employed to determine the PASS using nonparametric receiver operating characteristic curve/area under the curve analysis. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to correlate patient demographics, medical history, and concomitant procedures to propensity in achieving the MCID and PASS. Results: A total of 98 patients who underwent MAT met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, of whom 10 underwent concomitant ligamentous procedures, 65 underwent concomitant cartilage procedures, and 7 underwent concomitant realignment procedures. The mean patient age was 29.4 ± 9.0 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.8 ± 5.2 kg/m2. The distribution-based MCID and PASS were determined for the Lysholm score (12.3 and 66.5) and IKDC (9.9 and 36.0) as well as the KOOS Pain (9.9 and N/A ), Symptoms (9.7 and 73.0), Activities of Daily Living (9.5 and N/A), Sport (13.3 and N/A), and Quality of Life (14.6 and 53.0) subscales, respectively. A preoperative Short Form Physical Component Summary (SF PCS) score greater than 32.0 was predictive of postoperative satisfaction. Patients with work-related claims had a reduced likelihood of achieving the MCID for the IKDC and the PASS for the KOOS Symptoms. An increased BMI was also associated with failing to achieve the PASS for the KOOS Quality of Life (QOL). Conclusion: This study established the MCID and PASS for the Lysholm score, IKDC, and KOOS in patients undergoing MAT. Workers’ compensation and higher BMI were associated with failing to achieve clinically significant values. Lower preoperative Lysholm, IKDC, and KOOS scores were predictive of achieving the MCID, while higher preoperative SF PCS scores were associated with achieving satisfaction after MAT.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Dea ◽  
Anne L Versteeg ◽  
Arjun Sahgal ◽  
Jorrit-Jan Verlaan ◽  
Raphaële Charest-Morin ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Despite our inability to accurately predict survival in many cancer patients, a life expectancy of at least 3 mo is historically necessary to be considered for surgical treatment of spinal metastases. OBJECTIVE To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients surviving &lt;3 mo after surgical treatment to patients surviving &gt;3 mo to assess the validity of this inclusion criteria. METHODS Patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases between August 2013 and May 2017 were retrospectively identified from an international cohort study. HRQOL was evaluated using generic and disease-specific outcome tools at baseline and at 6 and 12 wk postsurgery. The primary outcome was the HRQOL at 6 wk post-treatment measured by the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ). RESULTS A total of 253 patients were included: 40 patients died within the first 3 mo after surgery and 213 patients survived more than 3 mo. Patients surviving &lt;3 mo after surgery presented with lower baseline performance status. Adjusted analyses for baseline performance status did not reveal a significant difference in HRQOL between both groups at 6 wk post-treatment. No significant difference in patient satisfaction at 6 wk with regard to their treatment could be detected between both groups. CONCLUSION When controlled for baseline performance status, quality of life 6 wk after surgery for spinal metastasis is independent of survival. To optimize improvement in HRQOL for this patient population, baseline performance status should take priority over expected survival in the surgical decision-making process.


Author(s):  
Samuel Slone ◽  
Ambuj Kumar ◽  
John Jacobs ◽  
Vic Velanovich ◽  
Joel E Richter

Abstract Achalasia Quality of Life (ASQ) and Eckardt scores are two patient-reported instruments widely used to assess symptom severity in achalasia patients. ASQ is validated and reliable. Although Eckardt is commonly used, it has not been rigorously assessed for validity or reliability. This study aims to evaluate (i) the accuracy of Eckardt and ASQ for assessing improvement post-treatment (predictive validity), (ii) accuracy of Eckardt and ASQ for assessing improvement post-treatment with pneumatic dilatation (PD) versus surgical myotomy (predictive validity), and (iii) convergent validity of Eckardt and ASQ tools. Patients with achalasia treated between 2011 and 2018 were eligible. Both instruments were administered by telephone. Treatment failure was determined by the review of medical records by two clinicians. The predictive ability of ASQ and Eckardt instruments in identifying treatment successes and failures was determined using receiver operating characteristics analysis and summarized as area under the curve (AUC). A total of 106 patients met inclusion criteria with 39 PD, 51 Heller myotomy, and 16 per-oral endoscopic myotomy. A review of medical records and esophageal testing revealed 13 failures (12%). AUC for Eckardt was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–0.99] and ASQ 0.97 (95% CI 0.92–0.99). The Eckardt cutoff 4, and ASQ, cutoff 15, were 94% and 87% accurate in identifying treatment successes versus failures, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the two tools was 0.85. In conclusions, (i) ASQ and Eckardt scores are valid and reliable tools to assess symptom severity in achalasia patients, (ii) both instruments accurately classify treatment successes versus failures, and (iii) the choice of tool should be informed by the physicians and patients’ values and preferences and repeat physiologic testing may be reserved for treatment failures with either instrument and patients classified, as treatment successes may be spared routine physiologic testing in the long term.


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