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Assessment of quality of life after radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Caffo O.,
Fellin G.,
Graffer U.,
Luciani L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1996.14812.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , cronbach's alpha , prostate cancer , radiation therapy , physical therapy , cancer , psychometrics , clinical psychology , nursing
Objective To assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with localized prostate cancer (LPC) after treatment by radical radiotherapy (RR). Patients and methods An ‘ad hoc’ self‐administered questionnaire was developed, which comprised a series of 41 items grouped into seven subscales reflecting the main QoL domains, and the questionnaire's psychometric properties were assessed. A consecutive series of 118 patients treated with RR for LPC from 1981 to 1994 were then selected for a retrospective study and asked to complete the questionnaire. Results Ninety patients (76%) completed the questionnaire; because 20 of them were also treated with hormonal therapy, QoL was assessed only in the remaining 70 patients, to avoid confusion. The assessment of the psychometric properties showed that the questionnaire was valid and reliable (Cronbach's &agr; coefficient >0.8 for each subscale). The main side‐effects of RR were urinary symptoms and sexual impairment, while physical, psychological and relational well‐being were good. The degree of information available about the therapy and the disease seemed to play a major role in the patients' QoL adjustment after RR. Conclusion The study assessed a sample of patients with LPC treated with RR and showed that QoL was acceptable after RR. Prospective studies are needed to improve knowledge of the factors involved in the restoration of the QoL after therapy for LPC.