Open AccessQuality of Life and Its Associated Factors in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving One Course of Transarterial Chemoembolization Treatment: A Longitudinal Study
Author(s) -
Shun ShiowChing,
Chen ChienHung,
Sheu JinChuan,
Liang JaDer,
Yang JyhChin,
Lai YeurHur
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0368
Subject(s) - medicine , depression (economics) , anxiety , quality of life (healthcare) , longitudinal study , distress , hepatocellular carcinoma , prospective cohort study , physical therapy , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, the reader will be able to: List the top 10 ranked symptoms after discharge suffered by patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. Identify the significant factors in the associations between quality of life (QOL) and demographic factors and clinical factors over a period of 2 months in patients with HCC receiving TACE. Design individualized education programs for newly diagnosed and recurrent HCC patients in order to maintain better QOL after treatment.This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.comObjective. To (a) explore changes in physical and psychological distress and quality of life (QOL) and (b) identify the significant pre‐ and postdischarge factors related to changes in physical and mental domains of QOL over a period of 2 months in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving one course of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. Methods. A longitudinal prospective design was used, with participants recruited from a teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan. Data were collected three times: within 3 days prior to discharge (T0) and at the fourth (T1) and eighth (T2) weeks after discharge. A set of structured questionnaires was used to assess participants' QOL, symptom distress, anxiety, and depression. Changes in QOL and associated factors were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results. Eighty‐nine patients were included in this study. Fatigue was reported to be the most distressful symptom after treatment. Overall QOL improved monthly after discharge. Change in physical QOL 2 months after TACE treatment was associated with age, diagnosis status, level of symptom distress, and depression after discharge. Change in mental QOL was significantly associated with gender, diagnosis status, and anxiety and depression after discharge. Conclusions. Health care providers should pay special attention to patients of older age, those who are male, and those who have higher levels of depression and anxiety after discharge. Designing personalized education programs before discharge for patients with newly diagnosed cancer versus those who have recurrent disease is suggested to help patients maintain a better QOL after discharge.