An Analysis of the Impact of Demographic, Clinical, and Social Factors on Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of demographic, social, and clinical factors on cancer patients' self-ratings of health-related quality of life (HRQL). The sample consisted of 1342 ethnically diverse individuals in treatment at four member institutions of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Multivariable regression analyses were employed to determine the relationship between demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, socio-economic status (SES), living arrangement), clinical factors (performance status rating (PSR), disease type, disease stage), and social characteristics (spiritual beliefs, religious affiliation, relationship with physician) and five outcome measures of HRQL. The dependent variables, four dimensions of HRQL and overall HRQL, were measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Quality of Life Measurement System. The results indicated that the full set of predictor variables accounted for 45% of the variance in patients' reporting of overall HRQL, 25% of the variance in physical well-being, 27% of the variance in social well-being, 30% of the variance in emotional well-being, and 41% of the variance in the area of functional well-being. The findings suggest that there are multiple factors that influence an individual's assessment of their HRQL and that these factors need to be considered in the management and treatment of culturally diverse cancer patients.

Determinants of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer

“…Limitations of our study include the generally high income, high level of education, and predominantly European ethnic origin of our sample, which has also been the case for other studies [54]. We also limited the study to those with relatively good performance status to ensure appropriate trial follow-up, which may restrict generalizability.…”

Baseline characteristics influencing quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncology surgery

“…Age was positively correlated with physical and emotional well-being in univariate and multivariate analyses. Wan et al examined the relationship between demographic variables (including age), clinical factors and social characteristics and measures on the four subscales of the FACT-G in cancer patients who had completed a minimum of two cycles of chemotherapy or 10 radiation therapy treatments [7]. They found lower QoL scores among those with poorer performance status, younger patients and lower SES.…”

“…QoL is an important component of assessing the effects of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy [5]. In addition to clinical variables, QoL in cancer patients undergoing treatment is affected by demographic variables, socio-economic status, social characteristics and personal expectations [6,7]. Pretreatment factors have been found to influence QoL in patients undergoing radiation therapy [8].…”

Symptoms and quality of life of advanced cancer patients at home: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China

“…As a result, the findings must be interpreted as relational rather than causeeffect relationships. Future studies would examine more determinants of QOL of advanced cancer patients, such as mode of questionnaire administration, coping strategies, and attitudes toward medicine that had been reported in other studies [7,49]. Moreover, studies on symptom burden and symptom clusters in the Chinese population with advanced cancer would be conducted in the future.…”