Open AccessThe quality of life in patients with cancer evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire QLQ-C30
Author(s) -
Grzegorz Kuręda
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
medical science pulse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2544-1620
pISSN - 2544-1558
DOI - 10.5604/01.3001.0003.4096
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , feeling , palliative care , family medicine , anxiety , cancer , nursing , psychiatry , psychology , social psychology
Background:The subject of cancer is still the cause of fear and anxiety in the public opinion. The order of daily life of the patient and their family is disturbed by numerous medical consultations, treatment and the side effects of the therapy. In the situation, when the development of cancer goes beyond the possibilities of the support and care from the loved ones in household conditions and this care is no longer sufficient, there is an opportunity to provide care and therapy for the patient in the palliative medicine departments. In the studies of the life quality we take into account not only the clinical state of the patient, but also their subjective feelings. The quality of life is assessed in the dimension of the current health status. Aim of the study:The paper aims to show the physical, mental and spiritual state of the patients before admission to the department, and in the first week of the stay in the palliative medicine department. Material and Methods:The research was performed with the use of a questionnaire (EORTC) QLQ-C30. The study was conducted among the patients of the Palliative Medicine Department of the Medical Centre ‘Samaritan’ in Opole, in the period from November 2013 to January 2014. 35 patients participated in the study. The average age was 69±31. Results:On the day of admission to the department and while filling in the questionnaire, all the respondents felt pain ailments and had some sleeping problems. 89% (31) experienced shortness of breath. 94% (33) of the respondents assessed their level of life in the palliative medicine department as high. Conclusions:The patients have assessed their level of life in the palliative medicine department as high. The low assessment of the quality of life in household conditions during the week preceding the admittance to the palliative medicine department encourages the continuation of the research in household conditions, in order to improve the life quality of people with the diagnosed cancer remaining in home environment.