Health-Related Quality of Life in Brain Tumor Patients Treated with Surgery: Preliminary Result of a Single Institution

Abstract

BackgroundAlongside the extent of removal and patients’ survival in the management of brain tumors, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important consideration. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change of HRQOL in brain tumor patients before and after surgery and to assess the associated factors that contribute to the change of HRQOL.MethodsA total of 258 patients who underwent surgical treatment were enrolled in this study. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the 20-item EORTC QLQ-Brain Neoplasm (QLQ-BN20) were used to assess HRQOL. Patients were asked to fill out the questionnaires before and 3-6 months after surgery.ResultsGlobal QOL (p<0.001) and emotional function (p<0.018) were significantly improved after surgery. Physical function (p=0.015) was significantly aggravated. Among the symptoms, headache, pain and nausea and vomiting were significantly decreased (p<0.01, p=0.041, p<0.001, respectively), while dyspnea, communication deficit and weakness of the legs were increased (p=0.005, p=0.040, and p=0.014, respectively). Preoperative neurologic deficit (p=0.019) and tumor diameter (p=0.016) were significantly related to the patients who showed aggravation of global QOL after brain tumor surgery. In the aggravated global QOL group, common complaints and concerns included role function, appetite loss, financial difficulty and future uncertainty.ConclusionIn brain tumor patients, HRQOL has improved after surgery. Role function, appetite loss, financial difficulty and future uncertainty were important factors for HRQOL in brain tumor patients treated with surgery. Although there is National Health Insurance and Medical Aid program in Korea, financial difficulty and future uncertainty are much more important in influencing QOL than previously thought. The results of this short-term follow up preliminary study suggest that several factors were related to HRQOL, Further research is needed to evaluate the long term change of HRQOL and enhance the global QOL by analyze related factors.

Resilience and quality of life (QoL) of head and neck cancer and brain tumour survivors in Pakistan: an analytical cross-sectional study protocol

“…It has been calculated using one population mean formula, based on a SD range of 12.7–34.1, 5% level of significance with precision of 2.5, and by adjusting the sample size for 10% non-response rate. The minimum sample size has been estimated to be 250 32–35…”

Profile of Daily Life in Children with Brain Tumors: An Assessment of PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales before and after Treatment

“…A study by Kim et al showed that global quality of life and emotional function were significantly improved, but physical function was aggravated, especially for dyspnea, communication deficit, and leg weakness. Quality of life was mostly influenced by financial difficulty and future uncertainty [7]. A study by Kuhlthau et al from 142 children (aged 2-18 years) with brain tumor and completed treatment protocol also showed similar result.…”

Penilaian Kualitas Hidup Eortc QLQ-C30 Dan Eortc QLQ-Bn20 Pada Pasien Tumor Primer Intrakranial Pascaterapi

“…Interpretasi nilai kualitas hidup mengikuti Lee dkk dan Kim dkk yang mendapatkan hasil bahwa nilai >50 untuk masing-masing skala fungsional dan kualitas hidup pada EORTC QLQ-C30 menunjukkan kualitas hidup yang baik, sedangkan nilai >50 untuk masing-masing skala keluhan pada EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-BN20 menunjukkan kualitas hidup yang buruk. 12,16 Selanjutnya dilakukan penilaian hubungan antara masing-masing karakteristik demografi dan tumor primer intrakranial dengan nilai skala kualitas hidup yang didapat pada EORTC QLQ-C30, untuk mengetahui peran tiap karakteristik terhadap kualitas hidup. 16 Analisis data yang dilakukan secara umum bersifat deskriptif yang diolah dengan program SPSS versi 24.0 for Windows.…”

“…12,16 Selanjutnya dilakukan penilaian hubungan antara masing-masing karakteristik demografi dan tumor primer intrakranial dengan nilai skala kualitas hidup yang didapat pada EORTC QLQ-C30, untuk mengetahui peran tiap karakteristik terhadap kualitas hidup. 16 Analisis data yang dilakukan secara umum bersifat deskriptif yang diolah dengan program SPSS versi 24.0 for Windows. Adanya hubungan antara karakteristik demografi dan tumor intrakranial dengan kualitas hidup dianalisis dengan menggunakan tabulasi silang menggunakan uji Chi-square.…”

“…12 Begitu juga dengan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Yong Soon Shin pada fungsi sosial 71,7+30,7, dan Chang-Wook Kim pada fungsi fisik 76,1+21,9. 16,23 Perbedaan skala fungsional yang tertinggi dari masing-masing penelitian kemungkinan disebabkan perbedaan ras, daerah/lokasi tempat tinggal, usia, dan tingkat pendidikan. 12,16 Tingginya skala fungsional memiliki makna tingginya kualitas hidup.…”