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The impact of individual quality of life assessment on psychosocial attention in patients with chest malignancies: a randomized study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of individual health-related quality of life (HRQL) evaluation on the attention towards symptom control and psychosocial function in advanced cancer patients.

Methods

Patients with advanced lung cancer or mesothelioma who attended a pulmonary oncology outpatient clinic were randomized to either of two strategies for HRQL assessment. The experimental group (EG) answered the EORTC QLQ-C30 + LC13 questionnaire using a digital table interface, with outprint of aggregated scale scores presented to the consulting physician as a support for evaluation. The control group (CG) answered a paper version of the same questionnaire, which was stored for later analysis. Consultations were audio-recorded. Outcome measures were a quantitative content analysis of audio-recorded consultations and medical and psychosocial interventions abstracted from clinical records.

Results

One hundred seventy-one patients were randomized and participated in the study. Issues regarding emotional function were more frequently discussed during consultations in the EG (p < 0.05). Similarly, interventions directed to emotional and social concerns were more frequent in the EG (p = 0.013 and p = 0.0036, respectively). HRQL measures over time were similar across the groups.

Conclusion

Individual HRQL assessment increased the attention to psychosocial functioning in patients with chest malignancies.

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Acknowledgments

Statistician Nils-Gunnar Pehrsson is acknowledged for his guidance and performance of the statistical analyses. Helena Michelson, Ph.D., is acknowledged for her help with the validation of the consultation content categorization. The study was made possible by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society and from the University of Gothenburg.

Conflicts of interest

There exist no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institution of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Mercedes Nicklasson, Jan Olofson & Bengt Bergman

  2. School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, Department of Psychology, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden

    Magnus L. Elfström

  3. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Bruna Stråket 11B, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Mercedes Nicklasson

Authors
  1. Mercedes Nicklasson
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  2. Magnus L. Elfström
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  3. Jan Olofson
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  4. Bengt Bergman
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Correspondence to Mercedes Nicklasson.

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Nicklasson, M., Elfström, M.L., Olofson, J. et al. The impact of individual quality of life assessment on psychosocial attention in patients with chest malignancies: a randomized study. Support Care Cancer 21, 87–95 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1496-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1496-6

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