Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Dec;14(4):271-82.
doi: 10.5114/pm.2015.56539. Epub 2015 Dec 22.

Clinical practice recommendations for quality of life assessment in patients with gynecological cancer

Wojciech Leppert  1 , Leszek Gottwald  2 , Maria Forycka  3
Affiliations
Review

Clinical practice recommendations for quality of life assessment in patients with gynecological cancer

Wojciech Leppert et al. Prz Menopauzalny. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept regarding self-assessment of patients' situation. Quality of life has not been clearly defined up to date, although it is clear that it is a subjective self-assessment that to a significant extent is determined by individual needs, beliefs, values, attitudes, which are changing with time. Health-related QoL comprises basic dimensions such as patients' performance status, physical, emotional, and social functioning, symptoms of the disease and adverse effects of treatment, spiritual (God and existential) and other dimensions. In women, the ovary, cervical, corpus uterus, vagina and vulva cancers deteriorate QoL by disease progression and consequences of treatment, also in cancer survivors. Common symptoms include the genito-urinary system, the lower gastrointestinal tract and peripheral neuropathies induced by chemotherapy. In young women, QoL is impaired by infertility, sexual problems and menopause symptoms. An overview of QoL questionnaires used in oncology with special regard to patients with gynecological tumors was conducted. A screening tool for psychological state assessment of oncology patients (distress thermometer), the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and modular approach of QoL assessment recommended by the EORTC (European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer) were presented. Practical guidelines were proposed to assess appropriately QoL in patients with gynecological cancers who stay at in-patient gynecology units and those treated at home and in an ambulatory care setting.

Keywords: gynecological cancer; oncology; quality of life; supportive care; symptoms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The distress thermometer
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Questions for patients with a score of 5 or more on the distress thermometer
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The Modified Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The EORTC QLQ–C30 (version 3)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The EORTC QLQ–C15–PAL (version 1)
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The EORTC QLQ-CX24 questionnaire
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The EORTC QLQ-OV28 questionnaire
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
The EORTC QLQ-EN24 questionnaire
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL)
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
The Modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (revised version) (ESAS-r)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Shipper H. Quality of life. Principles of the clinical paradigm. J Psychol Oncol. 1990;8:171–185.
    1. Aaronson NK, Cull A, Kaasa S, et al. Modułowe postępowanie Europejskiej Organizacji do Badań i Leczenia Raka (EORTC) do oceny jakości życia chorych na nowotwory. Modyfikacja. In: Meyza J, editor. Jakość życia w chorobie nowotworowej. Warszawa: Centrum Onkologii; 1997. pp. 13–36.
    1. Brzeziński J. Metodologiczny i etyczny kontekst badań nad jakością życia. In: Bańka A, Derbis R, editors. Psychologiczne i pedagogiczne wymiary jakości życia. Częstochowa: UAM Poznań i WSP; 1994. pp. 11–18.
    1. Calman KC. Quality of life in cancer patients – an hypothesis. J Med Ethics. 1984;10:124–127. - PMC - PubMed
    1. De Walden Gałuszko K. Jakość życia – rozważania ogólne. In: De Walden Gałuszko K, Majkowicz M, editors. Jakość życia w chorobie nowotworowej. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego; 1994. pp. 13–40.

LinkOut - more resources