Assessment of peri-operative quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the pre- and postoperative quality of life (QOL) of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and to investigate the relationship between QOL and various psychological and clinical factors. Eighty-five patients who underwent surgery for gastrointestinal cancer and 26 control patients undergoing surgery for digestive diseases other than cancer were interviewed. Two tests were administered to assess QOL and psychological status respectively: the Japanese-language version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the Japanese-language version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Each test was administered before surgery, before discharge, and 6 months after discharge. Gastrointestinal tumors were localized to the stomach, colon, or rectum in 88% of cases and classified as advanced stage or early stage according to staging protocols. Changes in EORTC QLQ-C30 subscale scores over time were compared among advanced stage, early stage, and control patients. All groups showed significant changes in subscale scores of QOL; the scores of the advanced-stage group indicated worse QOL than the early-stage and control groups in a lot of areas. The physical function (PF2) QOL subscore was influenced by diagnosis, postoperative complications, medical equipment at discharge, and the length of admission and negatively correlated with depression and anxiety. These results suggest that QOL in gastrointestinal cancer patients is variable over time and is influenced by various clinical factors. Therefore, consideration of these clinical factors is paramount to the optimal care of gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Quality of Life in Gynecological Inpatients Undergoing Surgery

“…We previously investigated QOL for patients with gastrointestinal disease, including cancer, who underwent surgery, using EORTC QLQ-C30 (Matsushita, Matsushima, & Maruyama, 2004). The results support the current study in that emotional function was lowest before surgery and recovered as treatment progressed (before discharge and 6 months after discharge).…”

The quality of life after a total gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy and omega type oesophagojejunostomy for gastric adenocarcinoma without distant metastases

“…In addition to our study, de Liano et al stated that QOL had no relation with postoperative complications. However, Matsushita et al concluded that it negatively influences the physical functioning of gastrectomized patients after 6 months [14,17]. We have to note that women had higher scores almost in all functional and symptom’s scales dimensions.…”

“…Although the scales of the earlier-stage cases were a little bit higher, this study as well as Huang et al study [18] had not shown any significant differences between early and advanced cancer stages when at least 6 month had passed after surgical treatment. On the other hand, Matsushita et al found that patients in the later stage of gastric cancer had a significantly worse quality of life [17]. Furthermore, there is no single opinion about the influence of postoperative complications following total gastrectomy on QOL.…”

“…There was no control group. In addition to this, as the QOL is a subjective feature, it is influenced by not only diagnosis or treatment, but by the character and psychological state of the patients as well [17]. …”

The quality of life of Chinese middle-aged male patients with gastric carcinoma after total gastrectomy and nursing intervention

“…Pathological staging is an important prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients and had a negative correlation to QOL [17] . This study showed that the QOL of patients was positively correlated with pathological staging.…”