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Journal ArticleDOI

Quality of life in cancer patients receiving palliative care

01 Jan 2010-Indian Journal of Palliative Care (Medknow Publications)-Vol. 16, Iss: 1, pp 36-43
TL;DR: This prospective study attempts to validate the Hindi version of a questionnaire designed by the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT) measurement system to measure the subjective QOL of cancer patients receiving home-based palliative care, determine ease of use of the questionnaire and correlate theQOL of these patients with the objective assessment of their Karnofsky’s performance status and their numerical pain score.
Abstract: Background: The main focus of palliative care services is to improve the patient's quality of life (QOL), which is defined as the subjective evaluation of life as a whole or the patient's appraisal and satisfaction with their current level of functioning compared with what they perceive to be possible or ideal. Aims: In this prospective study we attempt to validate the Hindi version of a questionnaire designed by the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT) measurement system; to measure the subjective QOL of cancer patients receiving home-based palliative care, determine ease of use of the questionnaire and correlate the QOL of these patients with the objective assessment of their Karnofsky's performance status and their numerical pain score. Settings and Design: One hundred cancer patients receiving free home-based palliative care in New Delhi, India. Materials and Methods: A multidisciplinary palliative home care team using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G© ) questionnaire in Hindi. Statistical Analysis Used: Microsoft Excel Correlation. Results: The FACT-G© questionnaire in Hindi is a useful tool in measuring QOL and can be used to monitor the patient's progress and symptom control during the course of the disease. It is simple to use and does not take too much time to complete. The results are tabulated in English and can be used for comparison purposes globally; the scoring process is very simple. Conclusions: Increasing QOL and KPS showed a positive correlation whereas increasing pain and better QOL show negative correlation, as do better performance status and increasing pain score.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Almost all the areas of PRO including-their importance, important concepts for understanding of PRO, significance, ideal properties, types, development and evaluation of PRO instruments are covered.
Abstract: Now-a-days there is significant discussion about patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in medical world. The following article covers almost all the areas of PRO including-their importance, important concepts for understanding of PRO, significance, ideal properties, types, development and evaluation of PRO instruments. It is useful for physicians, pharmacists and patients for the assessment and improvement of the therapy.

633 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Effective palliative physical therapy care using a mechanism-based classification model should be tailored to suit each patient's findings, using a biopsychosocial model of pain.
Abstract: Mechanism-based classification and physical therapy management of pain is essential to effectively manage painful symptoms in patients attending palliative care. The objective of this review is to provide a detailed review of mechanism-based classification and physical therapy management of patients with cancer pain. Cancer pain can be classified based upon pain symptoms, pain mechanisms and pain syndromes. Classification based upon mechanisms not only addresses the underlying pathophysiology but also provides us with an understanding behind patient's symptoms and treatment responses. Existing evidence suggests that the five mechanisms - central sensitization, peripheral sensitization, sympathetically maintained pain, nociceptive and cognitive-affective - operate in patients with cancer pain. Summary of studies showing evidence for physical therapy treatment methods for cancer pain follows with suggested therapeutic implications. Effective palliative physical therapy care using a mechanism-based classification model should be tailored to suit each patient's findings, using a biopsychosocial model of pain.

59 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The translated Lebanese Arabic version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess the quality of life of Lebanese cancer patients.
Abstract: The objective of this article was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the translated Lebanese Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 in a sample of adult cancer patients in Lebanon. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was translated into Lebanese Arabic and administered to a convenient sample of 200 adult patients diagnosed with cancer at a tertiary care center in Lebanon between 2009 and 2010. The psychometric indices assessed were reliability, multitrait scaling analysis, construct validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. Six out of nine subscales had Cronbach’s alpha coefficients above 0.70. Multitrait scaling analysis showed that all item-scale correlation coefficients met the set standards of convergent validity with the exception of item 5 only (95.8 %). In addition, 79.7 % of the item-scale correlation coefficients met the criterion for discriminant validity. In inter-scale correlations, all conceptually related scales had correlation coefficients of ≥0.40 with the exception of role functioning and fatigue scales having an undesirable correlation coefficient of −0.76. In known-groups comparison, the instrument differentiated significantly between some of the subscales with respect to education, employment, and age. CFA showed an almost good fit (GFI = 0.87) with respect to our current data set. The translated Lebanese Arabic version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess the quality of life of Lebanese cancer patients.

43 citations


Cites background from "Quality of life in cancer patients ..."

  • ...QoL is defined as a multidimensional construct composed of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functions; in addition to a cluster of adverse symptoms that is either the product of the disease or its treatments [5, 6]....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect and feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort.
Abstract: The main objective of palliative treatment for cancer patients has been to maintain, if not improve, the quality of life (QoL). There is a lack of local data on satisfaction and QoL among cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in Malaysia. This study covers patients with incurable, progressive cancer disease receiving palliative treatment in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, comparing the different components of QoL and correlations with patient satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey using Malay validated SF36 QoL and PSQ-18 (Short Form) tools was carried out between July 2012 -January 2013 with 120 cancer patients receiving palliative treatment, recruited into the study after informed consent using convenient sampling. Results showed that highest satisfaction were observed in Communication Aspect (50.6±9.07) and the least in General Satisfaction (26.4±5.90). The Mental Component Summary (44.9±6.84) scored higher when compared with the Physical Component Summary (42.2±7.91). In this study, we found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect (r=0.232). A poor significant negative correlation was found in Physical Component (technical quality, r=-0.312). The Mental Component showed there was a poor negative correlation between time spent with doctor (r=-0.192) and accessibility, (r=-0.279). We found that feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort. More studyis needed to investigate patients who score poorly on physical and mental component aspects to understand their needs in order to achieve better cancer care.

29 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: KPS is a reliable scale for Turkish cancer patients in palliative care settings and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient found to be 0.720.
Abstract: Background/aim Validated measures in palliative cancer patients are very important in the evaluation and management of the disease. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) has been used for many years to assess the performance status of cancer patients. The aim of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the KPS in cancer patients receiving palliative care in Turkey. Materials and methods Eighty patients with a cancer diagnosis who were admitted to Gaziosmanpasa University Medical Faculty Hospital Palliative Care Unit between 01.03.2016 and 01.03.2017 were included in the study. KPS, measurements from the Katz Activi-ties of Daily Living (ADL) scale, and Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) scale were recorded. The alpha coefficient (Cronbach) was calculated by using SPSS version 20.0. The P-value was accepted as P < 0.05 in the analysis of the data. Results There was a positive and strong correlation between Katz ADL scale total score and KPS score (r = 0.895; P < 0.001). In ad-dition, there was a strong negative correlation between the total score of BADL scale and KPS score (r = –0.894; P < 0.001). As for the reliability of the scale scores, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient found to be 0.720. Conclusion KPS is a reliable scale for Turkish cancer patients in palliative care settings.

28 citations


Cites background from "Quality of life in cancer patients ..."

  • ...The KPS is widely used throughout the world for performance assessment of cancer patients [4,6]....

    [...]

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