Subscribe to RSS
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.76194
Quality of life as an outcome variable in the management of advanced cancer
Source of Support Nil.![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00050348/201004/lookinside/thumbnails/10_4103_0971-5851_76194_121-1.jpg)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Though well recognized in the West, palliative care and quality of life are relatively newer concepts in a developing country like India. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of palliative care on pain and quality of life and to identify the association between the two. Study Design: Observational prospective study. Materials and Methods: Patients with advanced cancer, receiving palliative drug therapy, were recruited from a tertiary care hospital. City of Hope Medical Center Quality of Life Survey and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess the quality of life and cancer pain severity, respectively. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study. Palliative drug therapy produced a significant reduction in pain scores expressed as mean±SD in VAS [7.13±2.2 vs. 2.62±2.1 (P<0.001) after 1 month in 93 patients; 7.06±2.1 vs. 2.47±2.1 (P<0.001) after 1 month and 2.02±1.9 (P<0.001) after 2 months in 51 patients]. Also, significant improvement in the quality of life scores [919.78±271.3 vs. 1280.65±306.8 (P<0.01) after 1 month in 93 patients; 950.39±238.2 vs. 1336.67±291 (P<0.01) after 1 month and 1405.49±368.3 (P<0.01) after 2 months in 51 patients] was obtained. There was a high correlation between the average change of pain intensity and quality of life scores (r=−0.53, P<0.02). Overall, a reduction in pain resulted in significant improvement in the quality of life (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study emphasizes the role of palliative care and, more importantly, pain management in improving the quality of life of advanced cancer patients.
Publication History
Article published online:
16 August 2021
© 2010. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India
-
References
- 1 Addington Hall J, McCarthy M. Dying from cancer: Results of a national population based investigation. Palliat Med 1995;9:295-305.
- 2 Jordhoy MS, Fayers P, Loge JH, Ahlner-Elmqvist M, Kaasa S. Quality of life in palliative cancer care: Results from a cluster randomized trials. J Clin Oncol 2001;19:3884-94.
- 3 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Outcomes of cancer treatment for technology assessment and cancer treatment guidelines. J Clin Oncol 1996;14:671-9.
- 4 Ferrell BR, Wisdom C, Wenzl C. Quality of life as an outcome variable in the management of cancer pain. Cancer1989;63:2321-7.
- 5 Padella G, Grant M. Quality of life as a cancer nursing outcome variable. Adv Nurs Sci1985;7:45-60.
- 6 Di Maio M, Perrone F, Gallo C, Iaffaioli RV, Manzione L, Piantedosi FV, et al. Supportive care in patients with advanced non cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 2003;89:1013-21.
- 7 Hearn J, Higginson IJ. Outcome measures in palliative care for advanced cancer patients. A review. J Publ Health Med 1997;19:193-9.
- 8 Bookbinder M, Coyle N, Kiss M, Goldstein ML, Holritz K, Thaler H, et al. Implementing national standards for cancer pain management program model and evaluation. J Pain Symptom Manage 1996;12:334-47.
- 9 Morrison RS, Magaziner J, McLaughlin MA, Orosz G, Silberzweig SB, Koval KJ, et al. The impact of post operative pain an outcomes following hip fracture. Pain 2003;103:303-11.
- 10 Kumar SR, Rajgopal MR. Palliative care in kerala. Problems in presentations in 440 patients with advanced cancer in a south Indian state. Palliate Med 1996;10:293-8.
- 11 Foley KM. Pain relief into practise: Rheoteric without reform. J Clin Oncol 1995;13:2149-51.
- 12 Morris JN, Suissa S, Sherwood S, Wright SM, Greer D. Last days: A study of the quality of life of terminally ill cancer patient. J Chronic Dis 1986;39:47-62.
- 13 Moinpour CM, Chapman CR. Pain management and quality of life in cancer patients. In: Lehmann RK, Zech D, editors. Transdermal Fentanyl: A New Approach to Prolonged Pain Control. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1991. p. 42-63.
- 14 Thienthong S, Pratheepawanit N, Limwattananon C, Maoleekoonpairoj S, Lertsanguansinchai P, Chanvej L. Pain and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients: A Multi-Center Study in Thailand. Med Assoc Thai 2006;89:1120-6.
- 15 Kane RL, Bernstein L, Wales J, Leibowitz A, Kaplan S. A randomized controlled trial of the hospice care. Lancet 1984;8382:890-4.