Laura Curr Beamer1, Marcia Grant2. 1. School of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA; College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address: LABeamer@gmail.com. 2. Nursing Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. Electronic address: marciagrant113@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between skin-related quality of life (SR-QOL) and global quality of life (G-QOL) among women experiencing breast radiodermatitis, measure change in SR-QOL and G-QOL between the start and fifth week on radiotherapy, and examine the trend in SR-QOL and severity of radiodermatitis over time on treatment. METHODS: A descriptive longitudinal study using repeated measurements was implemented. Forty women undergoing whole breast 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy at a comprehensive community cancer center completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) weekly and Quality of Life-Breast Cancer Patient Version at baseline before and at five weeks on radiotherapy. Skin toxicity was measured weekly using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria-Skin scale. A Kendall's tau correlation explored the relationship between measures of SR-QOL and G-QOL. Paired t-tests measured the change in SR-QOL and G-QOL from baseline to fifth week on radiotherapy. The mean of the baseline and weekly total DLQI and RTOG scores was calculated and plotted on a graph. RESULTS: In general, SR-QOL and G-QOL were highly correlated. SR-QOL changed profoundly (p < .001) while G-QOL did not change (p = .55) between baseline and five weeks on radiotherapy. SR-QOL and radiodermatitis steadily worsened over time. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation-induced skin toxicity has a major impact on SR-QOL but not G-QOL. This study provides much-needed scientific evidence to inform a larger future study in a community setting. Recommendations for future studies include inclusion of a skin-sensitive survey of radiodermatitis; larger, more diverse community-dwelling sample.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between skin-related quality of life (SR-QOL) and global quality of life (G-QOL) among women experiencing breast radiodermatitis, measure change in SR-QOL and G-QOL between the start and fifth week on radiotherapy, and examine the trend in SR-QOL and severity of radiodermatitis over time on treatment. METHODS: A descriptive longitudinal study using repeated measurements was implemented. Forty women undergoing whole breast 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy at a comprehensive community cancer center completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) weekly and Quality of Life-Breast CancerPatient Version at baseline before and at five weeks on radiotherapy. Skin toxicity was measured weekly using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria-Skin scale. A Kendall's tau correlation explored the relationship between measures of SR-QOL and G-QOL. Paired t-tests measured the change in SR-QOL and G-QOL from baseline to fifth week on radiotherapy. The mean of the baseline and weekly total DLQI and RTOG scores was calculated and plotted on a graph. RESULTS: In general, SR-QOL and G-QOL were highly correlated. SR-QOL changed profoundly (p < .001) while G-QOL did not change (p = .55) between baseline and five weeks on radiotherapy. SR-QOL and radiodermatitis steadily worsened over time. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation-induced skin toxicity has a major impact on SR-QOL but not G-QOL. This study provides much-needed scientific evidence to inform a larger future study in a community setting. Recommendations for future studies include inclusion of a skin-sensitive survey of radiodermatitis; larger, more diverse community-dwelling sample.