Development of health‐related quality of life and symptoms in patients with advanced cancer in Greenland |
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Authors: | M. Augustussen RN MHS PhD M.L. Pedersen MD GP PhD L. Hounsgaard RN PhD H. Timm MSc PhD P. Sjøgren DMSc |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Nursing and Health Science, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland;2. Greenland Center for Health Research, Institute of Nursing and Health Science, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland;3. Department of Clinical Research, OPEN, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark;4. REHPA, Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, Nyborg, Denmark;5. Palliative Research Group, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Abstract: | A prospective national cohort study assessed the development of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms in adult patients undergoing treatment and care for advanced cancer in Greenland. HRQol was examined by EORTC QLQ‐C30 version 3.0 questionnaire monthly for 4 months. Changes over time and between‐group comparisons were examined. Of 58 patients included in the study, 47% completed the questionnaire four times. Functioning was generally high, and improved social functioning was observed after 1 and 2 months. The highest symptom score was for fatigue followed by pain and nausea/vomiting. A high score for financial problems remained unchanged during the entire period. Patients with higher income had reduced pain intensity (p = .03) and diarrhoea (p = .05) than patients with income below the poverty line. After 1 month, reduction in pain intensity was observed for Nuuk citizens compared with non‐Nuuk citizens (p = .05). After 2 months, non‐Nuuk citizens reported improved social functioning compared with Nuuk citizens (p = .05). After 3 months, Global Health in Nuuk citizens was improved compared with non‐Nuuk citizens (p = .05). An important clinical finding was that patients’ needs for support are related to social status, and geographical factors should be taken into account when planning palliative care. |
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Keywords: | health‐related quality of life palliative care prospective study remote areas symptom management |
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