In Fun Li1, Jen-Chien Huang2, Jyh-Jou Chen3, Tseng En Wang4, Sheng-Shiung Huang5, Shiow-Luan Tsay5. 1. Department of Nursing, MacKay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 2. Division of Gastroenterology, Cheng Ching Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Hospital, Liouying, Tainan City, Taiwan. 4. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan. 5. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the predictive value of demographic and clinical factors in changes in quality of life (QoL) in liver cancer (LC) patients over time. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study in 128 patients who had 4 time point data newly diagnosed with LC at two hospitals in Taiwan. Different functional QoL was measured by QLQ-C30. Specific characteristics were predictors for distinct functional QoL, estimated by a generalised estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS: Patients who received liver resection or radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) versus transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) or transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) experienced a decrease in physical function from baseline to 1 month. In addition, patients who underwent liver resection versus RFA experienced a significant recovery in cognitive functioning from baseline to 6 months. Patients with advanced stage compared to those in early stage had a reduction in physical functioning from baseline to 1 month. The alcohol intake, hepatitis C infection and the job also affected the changes in physical and cognitive functioning. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals should pay attention to changes after treatment in the short term; additionally, they need to provide health education to modifiable factors such as alcohol intake attributed to the deterioration in QoL.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the predictive value of demographic and clinical factors in changes in quality of life (QoL) in liver cancer (LC) patients over time. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study in 128 patients who had 4 time point data newly diagnosed with LC at two hospitals in Taiwan. Different functional QoL was measured by QLQ-C30. Specific characteristics were predictors for distinct functional QoL, estimated by a generalised estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS:Patients who received liver resection or radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) versus transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) or transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) experienced a decrease in physical function from baseline to 1 month. In addition, patients who underwent liver resection versus RFA experienced a significant recovery in cognitive functioning from baseline to 6 months. Patients with advanced stage compared to those in early stage had a reduction in physical functioning from baseline to 1 month. The alcohol intake, hepatitis C infection and the job also affected the changes in physical and cognitive functioning. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals should pay attention to changes after treatment in the short term; additionally, they need to provide health education to modifiable factors such as alcohol intake attributed to the deterioration in QoL.
Keywords:
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30); cognitive functioning; generalised estimating equation (GEE); liver cancer (LC); physical functioning; quality of life (QoL)