Keita Tagami1,2, Takashi Kawaguchi3, Tomofumi Miura4,5, Takuhiro Yamaguchi6, Yoshihisa Matsumoto4, Yuki Sumazaki Watanabe4, Yuko Uehara4, Ayumi Okizaki4, Akira Inoue7, Tatsuya Morita8, Hiroya Kinoshita4,9. 1. Department of Palliative Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. keita.tagami.d7@tohoku.ac.jp. 2. Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan. keita.tagami.d7@tohoku.ac.jp. 3. Department of Practical Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan. 4. Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan. 5. Division of Biomarker Discovery, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiwa, Japan. 6. Division of Biostatistics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. 7. Department of Palliative Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. 8. Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan. 9. Department of Palliative Care, Tokatsu Hospital, Nagareyama, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of study was to explore the potential association between patient's self-reported physical symptom management goals as personalized symptom goal (PSGs) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients. The secondary outcome was to investigate the relationship between number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs and HRQOL in cancer patients. METHODS: This single-center prospective observational study comprised 140 consecutive outpatients. We evaluated the PSGs and HRQOL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Patients were administered a self-report questionnaire, including reports on their physical symptom intensity and PSGs using Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS-r) scores. We investigated the correlation between PSGs achievement (ESAS-r score ≤ PSG score) and FACT-G total scores, and relationship between and number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs (ESAS-r score > PSG score) and FACT-G total scores. RESULTS: The patients who did not achieve PSGs of pain, tiredness, lack of appetite, and shortness of breath had a lower FACT-G total score (p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression showed that higher number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs correlated with lower FACT-G scores (decreasing by 1.826 points for each such symptom, p < 0.01). Predictors of increased number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs were younger age and a higher symptom intensity of anxiety. CONCLUSION: PSGs achievement was associated with HRQOL in cancer patients. Additionally, the number of unachieved PSGs were independent determinant of poor HRQOL, particularly in younger cancer patients and those with higher symptom intensity of anxiety.
PURPOSE: The aim of study was to explore the potential association between patient's self-reported physical symptom management goals as personalized symptom goal (PSGs) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancerpatients. The secondary outcome was to investigate the relationship between number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs and HRQOL in cancerpatients. METHODS: This single-center prospective observational study comprised 140 consecutive outpatients. We evaluated the PSGs and HRQOL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Patients were administered a self-report questionnaire, including reports on their physical symptom intensity and PSGs using Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS-r) scores. We investigated the correlation between PSGs achievement (ESAS-r score ≤ PSG score) and FACT-G total scores, and relationship between and number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs (ESAS-r score > PSG score) and FACT-G total scores. RESULTS: The patients who did not achieve PSGs of pain, tiredness, lack of appetite, and shortness of breath had a lower FACT-G total score (p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression showed that higher number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs correlated with lower FACT-G scores (decreasing by 1.826 points for each such symptom, p < 0.01). Predictors of increased number of physical symptoms not achieving the PSGs were younger age and a higher symptom intensity of anxiety. CONCLUSION: PSGs achievement was associated with HRQOL in cancerpatients. Additionally, the number of unachieved PSGs were independent determinant of poor HRQOL, particularly in younger cancerpatients and those with higher symptom intensity of anxiety.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer patients; Personalized symptom goal; Physical symptom; Quality of life; Symptom management