CONTEXT: Computerized assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain tumors can be an essential part of quality assurance with regard to evidence-based medicine in neuro-oncology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project was the implementation of a computer-based QOL monitoring tool in a neurooncology outpatient unit. A further aim was to derive reference values for QOL scores from the collected data to improve interpretability. METHODS: Since August 2005, patients with brain tumors treated at the neuro-oncology outpatient unit of the Innsbruck Medical University were consecutively included in the study. QOL assessment (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] Quality of Life Questionnaire [QLQ-C30] plus the EORTC QLQ-brain cancer module [BN20]) was computer-based, using a software tool called the Computer-based Health Evaluation System. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients with primary brain tumors (49% female; mean [standard deviation] age 47.9 [12.6] years; main diagnoses: 30.9% astrocytoma, 17.3% oligodendroglioma, 17.3% glioblastoma, 13.6% meningioma) was included in the study. On average, QOL was assessed 4.74 times per patient, 521 times in total. The user-friendly software was successfully implemented and tested. The routine QOL assessment was found to be feasible and was well accepted by both physicians and patients. CONCLUSION: The software-generated graphic QOL profiles were found to be an important tool for screening patients for clinically relevant problems. Thus, computer-based QOL monitoring can contribute to an optimization of treatment (e.g., symptom management, psychosocial interventions) and facilitate data collection for research purposes. Copyright 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
CONTEXT: Computerized assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain tumors can be an essential part of quality assurance with regard to evidence-based medicine in neuro-oncology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project was the implementation of a computer-based QOL monitoring tool in a neurooncology outpatient unit. A further aim was to derive reference values for QOL scores from the collected data to improve interpretability. METHODS: Since August 2005, patients with brain tumors treated at the neuro-oncology outpatient unit of the Innsbruck Medical University were consecutively included in the study. QOL assessment (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] Quality of Life Questionnaire [QLQ-C30] plus the EORTC QLQ-brain cancer module [BN20]) was computer-based, using a software tool called the Computer-based Health Evaluation System. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients with primary brain tumors (49% female; mean [standard deviation] age 47.9 [12.6] years; main diagnoses: 30.9% astrocytoma, 17.3% oligodendroglioma, 17.3% glioblastoma, 13.6% meningioma) was included in the study. On average, QOL was assessed 4.74 times per patient, 521 times in total. The user-friendly software was successfully implemented and tested. The routine QOL assessment was found to be feasible and was well accepted by both physicians and patients. CONCLUSION: The software-generated graphic QOL profiles were found to be an important tool for screening patients for clinically relevant problems. Thus, computer-based QOL monitoring can contribute to an optimization of treatment (e.g., symptom management, psychosocial interventions) and facilitate data collection for research purposes. Copyright 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Lisa M Wintner; Johannes M Giesinger; Georg Kemmler; Monika Sztankay; Anne Oberguggenberger; Eva-Maria Gamper; Barbara Sperner-Unterweger; Bernhard Holzner Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2012-04-27 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Benjamin Movsas; Daniel Hunt; Deborah Watkins-Bruner; W Robert Lee; Heather Tharpe; Desiree Goldstein; Joan Moore; Ian S Dayes; Sara Parise; Howard Sandler Journal: Pract Radiat Oncol Date: 2013-09-16
Authors: Claire F Snyder; Albert W Wu; Robert S Miller; Roxanne E Jensen; Elissa T Bantug; Antonio C Wolff Journal: Cancer J Date: 2011 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.360
Authors: Erin L O'Hea; Alexandra Cutillo; Laura Dietzen; Tina Harralson; Grant Grissom; Sharina Person; Edwin D Boudreaux Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2013-02-07 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Stephan Dützmann; Bawarjan Schatlo; Alexander Lobrinus; Michael Murek; Maria Wostrack; Carolin Weiss; Karl Schaller; Andreas Raabe; Bernhard Meyer; Roland Goldbrunner; Kea Franz; Volker Seifert; Christian Senft Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2013-06-29 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Johannes M Giesinger; Miriam Golser; Astrid Erharter; Georg Kemmler; Gabriele Schauer-Maurer; Guenter Stockhammer; Armin Muigg; Markus Hutterer; Gerhard Rumpold; Bernhard Holzner Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2009-10-09 Impact factor: 3.186