Quality of life measurement in the palliative management of advanced cancer.

A 4-week quality of life (QOL) study was conducted in 157 consecutive advanced cancer patients to compare five QOL measures and to assess changes in QOL during the course of the study. The study patients were representative of the advanced cancer population in the USA, and were similar to the advanced cancer population with respect to age and gender. Global QOL measures appear to be as effective as multidimensional measures in assessing QOL in patients with advanced cancer. Generally, QOL was rated as satisfactory and did not change markedly during the study period.