TY - JOUR
T1 - Significant improvement in quality of life of patients with incurable cancer after designation to a palliative homecare team
AU - Melin-Johansson, C.
AU - Axelsson, B.
AU - Gaston-Johansson, F.
AU - Danielson, E.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - The aims of this study were to describe and compare quality of life before and after designation to a palliative homecare team in patients with different cancer diagnoses and to identify pre-designation predictors of post-designation global quality of life. We measured patients' quality of life 1 week before designation and 11 days (median time) after with the Assessment of Quality of life at the End of Life (Axelsson & Sjödén 1999). Of 163 eligible patients 63 participated without attrition. Patients' quality of life improved in the physical, psychological, medical and global areas. Six items significantly improved: hours recumbent during the day (P = 0.009), nausea (P = 0.008), anxiety (P = 0.007), getting hold of staff (P = 0.000), received care (P = 0.003) and global quality of life (P = 0.023). Depression/low in mood (r = 0.55) and meaningfulness (r = 0.70) associated to global quality of life. Furthermore, pain (P = 0.028) and meaningfulness (P = 0.028) predicted global quality of life. In the existential area, it is important to further explore how meaningfulness is associated to and predicts global quality of life.
AB - The aims of this study were to describe and compare quality of life before and after designation to a palliative homecare team in patients with different cancer diagnoses and to identify pre-designation predictors of post-designation global quality of life. We measured patients' quality of life 1 week before designation and 11 days (median time) after with the Assessment of Quality of life at the End of Life (Axelsson & Sjödén 1999). Of 163 eligible patients 63 participated without attrition. Patients' quality of life improved in the physical, psychological, medical and global areas. Six items significantly improved: hours recumbent during the day (P = 0.009), nausea (P = 0.008), anxiety (P = 0.007), getting hold of staff (P = 0.000), received care (P = 0.003) and global quality of life (P = 0.023). Depression/low in mood (r = 0.55) and meaningfulness (r = 0.70) associated to global quality of life. Furthermore, pain (P = 0.028) and meaningfulness (P = 0.028) predicted global quality of life. In the existential area, it is important to further explore how meaningfulness is associated to and predicts global quality of life.
KW - Cancer
KW - Nursing
KW - Palliative care
KW - Questionnaires
KW - Terminal care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76949095650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=76949095650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2008.01017.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2008.01017.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19686275
AN - SCOPUS:76949095650
SN - 0961-5423
VL - 19
SP - 243
EP - 250
JO - European Journal of Cancer Care
JF - European Journal of Cancer Care
IS - 2
ER -