Quality of life in patients attending a low-risk gynaecological oncology follow-up clinic

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients who had been treated for gynaecological malignancies and who were attending a low risk follow-up clinic. (2) To determine the accuracy of the clinic physicians' assessment of patients' QOL compared with the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLI-C) [Schipper et al., 1984. Measuring the quality of life of cancer patients: the Functional Living Index-Cancer: development and validation. J Clin Oncol 2(5): 472-483]. (3) To examine a single subjective question about change in QOL. (4) To assess patient fear of cancer recurrence.

Design: Self-administered patient questionnaire. The questionnaire contained the FLI-C, with four additional questions.

Setting: Low risk (good prognosis) follow-up clinics in the Department of Gynaecological Oncology at King Edward Memorial Hospital (the tertiary centre for obstetrics and gynaecology for the state of Western Australia).

Patients: 202 consecutive attendees of the clinic. Non-English speaking patients attending without an interpreter were excluded.

Results: Most patients reported a good QOL. The range of FLI-C scores was 59-154 (possible range 22-154), with a median score of 140 and a mean of 134. Younger patients were more fearful of cancer recurrence. Radiotherapy was associated with a worsening of QOL. Patients living with partners experienced deterioration in sexual functioning.

Conclusions: Patients attending the low risk follow-up clinic after gynaecological malignancy have a good overall QOL.