Quality of Life Assessment in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Blazeby J M, Nicklin J, Brookes S T, Winstone K, Alderson D
Primary Institution: University Division of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary
Hypothesis
Can a nurse-led service improve compliance with quality of life assessments in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer?
Conclusion
A nurse-led service can achieve high compliance in collecting quality of life data from patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients undergoing potentially curative treatment had better compliance with QOL assessments.
- Patients needing help to complete questionnaires were more likely to have advanced disease.
- High follow-up compliance was achieved, with 77% of patients completing assessments within 6 weeks of death.
Takeaway
This study shows that nurses can help cancer patients fill out questionnaires about their health, making it easier for them to share how they feel.
Methodology
Patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer were invited to participate in a longitudinal study assessing quality of life, with data collected through questionnaires and interviews.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to high attrition rates and non-participation of certain patients.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single center, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Patients included both men and women with oesophageal and gastric cancer, with a mean age of 67 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.007
Confidence Interval
1.41–8.55
Statistical Significance
p<0.007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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