Quality of life of patients with advanced cancer treated in a regional hospital in Greece

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QoL) assessment contributes to the better care of cancer patients. The aim of the study was to determine QoL among treated patients with advanced cancer (ACPs) in the island of Crete, Greece, their satisfaction with the given care and to evaluate possible differences in QoL between in- and day care clinic patients.

Methods: The QoL of 95 Greek ACPs with breast, lung, and colon cancer were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30, version 3), and its Breast (QLQ-BR23) and Lung (QLQ-LC13) Cancer modules, while their satisfaction with the given care was evaluated with a 10-point questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess associations of QoL with patients' demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: Patients reported moderate global health status/QoL (62.6) and higher cognitive, physical, and emotional scores (75.4, 66.8, and 66.6 respectively). In symptoms scales/items, all patients had mean scores <50 while higher mean scores were observed for fatigue (41.8) and dyspnea (36.2). No significant differences in functioning and symptoms scales were found between different cancer types. Sexual functioning in QLQ-BR23 and alopecia in QLQ-LC13 severely affected QoL. Hospitalized patients reported worse mean global QoL than those visiting the day care clinic (55.6 versus 67.6, p =0.017), as well as in all parameters described by QLQ-C30. Most patients were satisfied with the given care (≥8/10, 74.2% of patients).

Conclusions: ACPs in the present study were found to have an overall good QoL, functioning, and symptoms scores and were satisfied with the given care. Fatigue, dyspnea, alopecia, and sexual dysfunction were found to be among the most frequently reported distressing symptoms. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 139-145.

Keywords: Advanced cancer; EORTC QLQ-C30; quality of life; sexual dysfunction; symptoms.

Figure 1. Relationship between functioning scales of quality of life and site of care for the 95 Greek patients with advanced cancer, included in this study. Mann-Whitney test analysis. Higher score shows a better quality of life. QLQ-C30: Quality of life Questionnaire, QoL: Quality of Life

Figure 2. Relationship between symptom scales of quality of life and site of care for the 95 Greek patients with advanced cancer, included in this study. Mann-Whitney test analysis. Lower score shows a better quality of life. QLQ-C30: Quality of life Questionnaire