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Health-related quality of life during the last three months of life in patients with advanced cancer

Ahlner-Elmqvist, Marianne LU ; Jordhoy, Marit S. ; Bjordal, Kristin ; Kaasa, Stein and Jannert, Magnus LU (2009) In Supportive Care in Cancer 17(2). p.191-198
Abstract
The aim of the study was to explore the development of functioning impairments and symptom occurrence during the last months of life of advanced cancer patients. Self-reported data from 116 patients who all completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 3, 2 and 1 month before death were analysed. All functioning aspects deteriorated. For physical, cognitive and social function, the most marked changes occurred between 2 and 1 month before death. The proportion reporting serious difficulties with self-care activities increased from 14% to 43%. The most seriously affected activity could not be distinguished from the EORTC QLQ-C30 scores. Levels of fatigue,... (More)
The aim of the study was to explore the development of functioning impairments and symptom occurrence during the last months of life of advanced cancer patients. Self-reported data from 116 patients who all completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 3, 2 and 1 month before death were analysed. All functioning aspects deteriorated. For physical, cognitive and social function, the most marked changes occurred between 2 and 1 month before death. The proportion reporting serious difficulties with self-care activities increased from 14% to 43%. The most seriously affected activity could not be distinguished from the EORTC QLQ-C30 scores. Levels of fatigue, dyspnoea and appetite loss increased significantly. More than 50% of the patients had severe pain at all assessments, and only a minor number (8%) reported any improvement. The findings have implications for the planning of care and indicate that further research is required to improve assessment, treatment and follow-up procedures. Adequate pain treatment seems still to be a challenge. Anorexia, fatigue as well as dyspnoea are all symptoms that need further focus. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Self-assessment questionnaires, Cancer, EORTC QLQ-C30, Palliative care, Health-related quality of life, End of life
in
Supportive Care in Cancer
volume
17
issue
2
pages
191 - 198
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000261954100011
  • scopus:58149084564
  • pmid:18581147
ISSN
0941-4355
DOI
10.1007/s00520-008-0477-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
85830dde-ed40-4802-8325-c6198a702e7b (old id 1313566)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18581147
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00520-008-0477-2
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:03:39
date last changed
2022-04-13 23:02:05
@article{85830dde-ed40-4802-8325-c6198a702e7b,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the study was to explore the development of functioning impairments and symptom occurrence during the last months of life of advanced cancer patients. Self-reported data from 116 patients who all completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 3, 2 and 1 month before death were analysed. All functioning aspects deteriorated. For physical, cognitive and social function, the most marked changes occurred between 2 and 1 month before death. The proportion reporting serious difficulties with self-care activities increased from 14% to 43%. The most seriously affected activity could not be distinguished from the EORTC QLQ-C30 scores. Levels of fatigue, dyspnoea and appetite loss increased significantly. More than 50% of the patients had severe pain at all assessments, and only a minor number (8%) reported any improvement. The findings have implications for the planning of care and indicate that further research is required to improve assessment, treatment and follow-up procedures. Adequate pain treatment seems still to be a challenge. Anorexia, fatigue as well as dyspnoea are all symptoms that need further focus.}},
  author       = {{Ahlner-Elmqvist, Marianne and Jordhoy, Marit S. and Bjordal, Kristin and Kaasa, Stein and Jannert, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{0941-4355}},
  keywords     = {{Self-assessment questionnaires; Cancer; EORTC QLQ-C30; Palliative care; Health-related quality of life; End of life}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{191--198}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Supportive Care in Cancer}},
  title        = {{Health-related quality of life during the last three months of life in patients with advanced cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0477-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00520-008-0477-2}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}