Acute leukaemia or highly malignant lymphoma patients’ quality of life over two years: a pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this study was, first, to investigate the quality of life and sense of coherence for acute leukaemia and malignant lymphoma patients at the start of treatment and over 2 years. A second aim was to compare questionnaire responses with patients' statements in open-ended interviews. A consecutive sample of 16 patients responded to the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30), Lund Gerontological Centre questionnaire and the Sense of Coherence Scale at the start of treatment and after 12 and 24 months. The QLQ-C30 questionnaire was administered also after 4, 8, 16 and 20 months. Tape-recorded open-ended interviews were conducted every 4 months before the patients responded to the questionnaires. Quality of life (QoL) and sense of coherence were scored more highly at the beginning of treatment for patients who did not relapse, than for those who relapsed. This difference remained throughout the study period. There was no correspondence in responses between questionnaire and personal interviews, although the results from the interviews, in some aspects, validated the result from the QLQ-C30. Those patients who relapsed may have had different prerequisites or been in a worse position at the onset of the disease and, reasonably, they needed more compensatory nursing care. More knowledge about the correspondence between a person's perceived QoL when discussed in personal interviews compared with responses given in standardised QoL questionnaires is needed before any assumption about clinical relevance can be made.

Evaluation of Health Related Quality of Life in 6–18 Years Old Patients with Acute Leukemia during Chemotherapy

“…In addition, financial difficulties burden are due to inadequate insurance support in the present patients. The best function was cognitive function and the worst was emotional functioning which was similar to Persson study [18]. Calaminus showed that in children with leukemia/lymphoma impairment of QOL was more apparent than in children with solid tumors (domains autonomy, emotional functioning, cognition and familial interactions [23].…”

“…Regarding the physical functioning, the present patients had less constipation, diarrhea and dyspnea but more fatigue and financial difficulties. In Persson study there was less complain from anorexia and constipation and more complain from pain and insomnia [18]. Zebrack showed that pain and fatigue are less important in childhood cancer survivors [19].…”

Qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer hematológico em tratamento quimioterápico

“…With respect to physical, cognitive, and social functioning and role performance, the averages ranged from 54.81 to 41. 18, showing an unsatisfactory level. For emotional functioning, the average was low (41.18%), indicating that such patients are nervous, depressed, worried and angry: 25 (78.12%) reported worrying with their family and friends, 22 (68.75%) feared the side effects of the treatment and 21 (65.62%) reported worrying about their health status and decisions to be made regarding their treatment.…”

“…The results of a pilot study (18) indicated that the quality of life of patients with acute leukemia and highly malignant lymphoma at the start of the treatment was severely reduced, principally by changes in role performance (44.7), social functioning (51.0) and global quality of life (54.2) and by the presence of symptoms such as fatigue (47.9), dyspnea (25.0) and sleep disturbance (25.0). In our study, the presence of pain (18.59) correlated with role performance (51.4), cognitive functioning (47.15) and social functioning (53.0).…”

Changes in Sexuality, Body Image and Health Related Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Hematologic Malignancies: A Longitudinal Study

“…Therefore, there is an increasing need to focus on health related quality of life (HRQoL) issues both during and after treatment. Research in patients treated for various hematologic malignancies shows that HRQoL is most negatively affected at diagnosis, during treatment [3–5] and at the initial period after treatment. Thereafter, physical, psychological and emotional well-being gradually improves [3, 5].…”