Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy at Alexandria Main University Hospital

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-420
Author(s):  
Nabila Bedier
2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnese Dzērvīte ◽  
Maruta Pranka ◽  
Tana Lace ◽  
Ritma Rungule ◽  
Edvins Miklasevics ◽  
...  

Summary Introduction. Health related quality of life is a much debated topic in medicine with much quantitative and qualitative research contributing to the understanding of how to improve the lives of patients, yet little has been published in relation to the quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients. Aim of the Study. To gather base measurements of subjective and objective quality of life factors for breast cancer patients in Latvia and discover which key factors contribute most to quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients at the start of treatment. Materials and Methods. This paper presents data collected from April 2010 to June 2011 at the Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital on key factors influencing quality of life for breast cancer patients: health and physical well-being; state of surroundings and environment; social support and functionality; financial state, employment and leisure. Quantitative survey material has been supplemented with insight from qualitative in-depth interviews to better explain the objective and subjective implications for breast cancer patients’ quality of life. Results. Interviewed breast cancer patients rated their quality of life as being average or good at the beginning of treatment. Negative factors contributing to lowered quality of life were mainly linked to patient financial, social and emotional state at the first weeks of treatment and correspond to previous research done in Latvia on quality of life issues. Conclusions. Further follow-up surveys will contribute to the evaluation of breast cancer patients’ needs while undergoing treatment to further improve treatment strategies, especially if validated quality of life measurement surveys were to be implemented in Latvian hospitals.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarurin Pitanupong ◽  
Sahawit Janmanee

Abstract Background: End-of-life care preferences may be highly individual, heterogenic, and variable according to culture and belief. This study aimed to explore preferences and factors associated with end-of-life care among Thai cancer patients with the goal of helping optimize their quality of life.Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed cancer outpatients at Songklanagarind Hospital from August to November 2020. The questionnaires inquired about: 1) personal and demographic information, 2) experiences with end-of-life care received by relatives, and 3) end-of-life care preferences. To determine end-of life preferences, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data concerning patient demographics and end-of-life care preferences were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: The majority of the 96 cancer outpatients were female (65.6%), and the overall mean age was 55.8 ±11.6 years. More than half of them had an experience of observing someone die (68.8%), and they were predominantly satisfied with the care received by their relatives in passing away at home surrounded by family (47.0%) and being conscious until the time of death (68.2%). Most participants preferred receiving the full truth regarding their illness (99.0%), being free of uncomfortable symptoms (96.9%), having their loved ones around (93.8%), being mentally aware at the last hour (93.8%), and having the sense of being meaningful in life (92.7%). Their 3 most important end-of-life care wishes were receiving the full truth regarding their illness, disclosing the full truth regarding their illness to family members, and passing away at home. Conclusion: In order to optimize the quality of life of terminal patients, end-of-life care should ensure they receive the full truth regarding their illness, experience no distress symptoms, remain mentally aware at the last hour of life, feel meaningful in life, and pass away comfortably with loved ones around.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarurin Pitanupong ◽  
Sahawit Janmanee

Abstract Background End-of-life care preferences may be highly individual, heterogenic, and variable according to culture and belief. This study aimed to explore preferences and factors associated with end-of-life care among Thai cancer patients. Its findings could help optimize the quality of life of palliative cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional study surveyed palliative cancer outpatients at Songklanagarind Hospital from August to November 2020. The questionnaires inquired about: (1) personal and demographic information, (2) experiences with end-of-life care for their relatives, and (3) end-of-life care preferences. To determine end-of life preferences, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data concerning patient demographics and end-of-life care preferences were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results The majority of the 96 palliative cancer outpatients were female (65.6 %), and the overall mean age was 55.8 ± 11.6 years. More than half of them had an experience of observing someone die (68.8 %), and they were predominantly being conscious until the time of death (68.2 %). Most participants preferred receiving the full truth satisfied with the care their relatives had received in passing away at home surrounded by family (47.0 %) and regarding their illness (99.0 %), being free of uncomfortable symptoms (96.9 %), having their loved ones around (93.8 %), being mentally aware at the last hour (93.8 %), and having the sense of being meaningful in life (92.7 %). Their 3 most important end-of-life care wishes were receiving the full truth regarding their illness, disclosing the full truth regarding their illness to family members, and passing away at home. Conclusions In order to optimize the quality of life of palliative cancer patients, end-of-life care should ensure they receive the full truth regarding their illness, experience no distressing symptoms, remain mentally aware at the last hour of life, feel meaningful in life, and pass away comfortably with loved ones around.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 498-502
Author(s):  
Antonio Filipe Pereira Caetano ◽  
Diego Augusto Santos Silva ◽  
Priscila Custódio Martins ◽  
José Jean de Oliveira Toscano

ABSTRACT Introduction: Physical exercise has been considered an important non-pharmacological treatment for reducing tiredness, pain, low self-esteem and increases in body mass in individuals diagnosed with cancer. Objective: To verify the relationship between fatigue, quality of life and levels of physical activity in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 85 adult patients undergoing cancer treatment at a university hospital. Physical activity was assessed by the IPAQ, and fatigue and quality of life by the PFS and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires, respectively. Student's t and the Fisher's Exact tests were used to identify differences between active and physically inactive patients for the variables fatigue and quality. Additionally, covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was used, in which simple (outcome and exposure) and adjusted models (age, time of diagnosis and type of cancer) were tested. Results: The study included 85 cancer patients, with a mean of 51.78 years of age (±11.72). Most were female and not physically active. Patients classified as physically inactive had higher scores for “total fatigue” (p=0.01), “behavioral” (p=0.01), “affective” (p=0.02) and psychological/sensory fatigue (p=0.04), compared to the physically active patients (p=0.01). Patients classified as physically not very active presented poorer quality of life in the dimensions: “overall” quality of life (p=0.05) and “functional” (p=0.04), “appetite” (p=0.02), “insomnia” (p=0.0 2), “diarrhea” (p=0.04), “fatigue” (p=0.01), “pain” (p=0.01) and “nausea” (p=0.03), when compared to the physically active patients in both analyses; simple and adjusted. Conclusion: The practice of physical activity during treatment can be a determining factor for increasing quality of life and reducing fatigue in cancer patients, minimizing the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Level of evidence II; retrospective study.


2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lúcia Rota Borges ◽  
Silvana Iturriet Paiva ◽  
Denise Halpern Silveira ◽  
Maria Cecília Formoso Assunção ◽  
Maria Cristina Gonzalez

Objective This study aimedto evaluate the influence of nutritional status on the quality of life of a cohort of cancer patients submitted to chemotherapy. Methods Patients receiving chemotherapy for the first time in a University Hospital in Pelotas (RS), Brazil, were evaluated prospectively. Their nutritional risk was determined by the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment scores and their quality of life by the World Health Organization's quality of life questionnaire, administered at the beginning and end of the study. Results One hundred and forty-three patients were studied, 76.2% being females. The prevalence of malnutrition at baseline was 14.0%. The present study found that malnourished patients had a poor quality of life. The nutritional risk of 41.6% of the patients increased after chemotherapy. A significant association was found between the presence of symptoms and increased nutritional risk (p<0.001). Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between physical domain and nutritional risk scores, showing that quality of life increases as nutritional risk decreases. Conclusion Nutritional risk is inversely associated with quality of life in cancer patients after chemotherapy. Early nutritional interventions could minimize the side effects of treatment with a positive impact on quality of life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 111s-111s
Author(s):  
N. Elkateb ◽  
W. Monir ◽  
M. Abdelhady

Background: The concept of quality of life (QOL) refers to the ability to enjoy normal life activities; it is a complex combination of satisfactory functioning in essential four core domains — physical, psychological/emotional, social and quality of life is an important aspect of care in the clinical setting; nurses can improve patients´ quality of life by ensuring they are competent in daily practice, and by giving patients a high quality holistic care based on safe, effective intervention and providing required information. Aim: To evaluate the quality of life of cancer patients in relation to different treatment modalities and evaluate the impact of the information given on the quality of life. Methods: A convenient sample of adult cancer patients recruited from a university hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire or patient structured interview. Tools used: EORTC QLQ-C30 (Version 3) and QLQ-INFO25. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics and exploration of relationships between key variables; physical, emotional, social well-being, type of treatment, information given and quality of life. Results: Preliminary results revealed significant correlation between fatigue, emotional disturbance and quality of life. Lack of information is also correlated with low quality of life. Patients expressed their needs for more clarification about treatment, coping with disease and future consideration. Conclusion: Quality of life should be assessed frequently by nurses throughout treatment phases to identify patients at risk. Nurses also should emphasize on proper patients teaching and counseling to promote physical psychosocial balance and improve quality of life.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fransisca M. Sidabutar ◽  
Anggie Regia Anandari ◽  
Ingrid Karli ◽  
Yusnita Katagori ◽  
Henny E. Wirawan

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