Feasibility of quality of life assessment in routine clinical oncology practice: a Tunisian study

Abstract

Faisabilité d'une évaluation de la qualité de vie dans la pratique clinique de routine en oncologie : une étude tunisienne RÉSUMÉ La recherche consacrée à la qualité de vie des patients cancéreux dans les pays en développement est limitée. Afin d'estimer la faisabilité d'une évaluation de la qualité de vie dans une cohorte de patients cancéreux tunisiens, nous avons présenté le questionnaire QLQ-C30 de l'EORTC à 23 femmes traitées par chimiothérapie adjuvante en ambulatoire pour un cancer du sein à un stade précoce, au début du traitement et pendant le troisième cycle de chimiothérapie. Nous avons observé une détérioration significative des performances physiques, cognitives et sociales pendant la chimiothérapie. Toutefois, cette étude a permis de recenser de nombreux obstacles méthodologiques et pratiques à l'évaluation de la qualité de vie dans les traitements de routine. Il est nécessaire d'améliorer encore l'infrastructure de soins et la sensibilisation du public en matière de cancer si l'on veut réaliser des études fiables sur la qualité de vie des cancéreux. ABSTRACT Limited research has been devoted to quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients in developing countries. To assess the feasibility of QOL assessment in a cohort of Tunisian cancer patients, the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire was administered to 23 women treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer on an outpatient basis at baseline and during the 3rd cycle of chemotherapy. We observed a significant deterioration in physical functioning, cognitive functioning and social functioning during chemotherapy. However, a wide range of methodological and practical obstacles to routine QOL evaluation were identified through this study. Further improvement of cancer care infrastructure and public education is still needed before reliable QOL studies can be performed.

Quality of Life among Moroccan Women Undergoing Treatment of Breast Cancer

“…The mean score of GHS-QOL in our study (Mean 53.4; SD 17.7) is close to those reported by studies conducted in Lebanon (Mean 59.6, SD 29.1) [23] and Nepal (Mean52.8, SD 24.6) [24]. Whereas it is lower than those recorded in other Arab countries such as United Arab Emirates (Mean 74.6) [25], Tunisia (Mean 68.5) [26], Bahrain (Mean 63.9) [27] and Jordan (Mean63.7) [28]. Although, our score is higher than that reported in Kuwait (mean=45.3) [29] and Pakistan (Mean48.3) [30].…”

Quality of life in Arab women with breast cancer: a review of the literature

“… Accepted as Type IV evidence? El Sharkawi et al [ 17 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Awad et al [ 18 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (just for breast cancer patients) Yes Alawadi and Ohaeri [ 19 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Masmoudi et al [ 20 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Mostafa et al [ 21 ] Yes Yes Yes No ND Yes Yes Yes Yes No (type II) Al-Naggar et al [ 22 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Huijer and Abboud [ 23 ] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Denewer et al [ 24 ] Yes Yes Yes No ND …”

“… - The biological and treatment side effect factors seemed to be more important than family and institutional supports A longitudinal study is needed to confirm this trend. Masmoudi et al [ 20 ] Tunisia Department of Medical Oncology in Sfax University Hospital Descriptive study 23 women with early breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy Assess the feasibility of QOL assessment in a cohort of Tunisian cancer patients The Arabic version of EORTC QLQ-C30 Participants had a mean score for global QOL of 72.5 pre chemo And 68.5 during chemo. A significant deterioration in physical, cognitive, and social functioning, between the pre-treatment and on-treatment assessments Group I:pre-treatment Group II:on-treatment improvement of cancer care infrastructure and public education is still needed before reliable QOL studies can be performed Mostafa et al [ 21 ] Egypt El- Minia oncology center Interventional hospital based study, 180 female breast cancer patients recei-ving treatment Assess QOL, its relation to different variables related to cancer Trial to improve the QOL of patients and their families through communication, counseling, restorative (rehabilitative) therapy, social and medical support.…”

“…The EORTC questionnaires were used in seven studies. Three of them used only the QLQ-C30 [ 20 , 23 , 26 ], four used both The EORTC QLQ – C30 and theEORTCbreast cancer- specific quality of life questionnaire (EORTCQLQ-BR23) [ 18 , 19 , 21 , 28 ] and one study used only the specific module for breast cancer the QLQ-BR23 [ 27 ]. The studies conducted in Yemen have used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire to assess the QOL [ 22 , 25 ].…”

“…Concerning studies using the QLQ-C30, good scores of global QOL were recorded for Arab women living in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and also for Tunisian, Bahraini and Jordanian women with mean score of 74.6,68.5, 63.9, 63.7 respectively [ 18 , 20 , 26 , 28 ]. The score obtained for Lebanese [ 23 ] was 59.64 while the Kuwaiti women [ 19 ] had lower score (45.30).…”