The effect of horticultural therapy on the quality of life of palliative care patients

Palliative care patients experience a variety of needs and perceive their quality of life as being only fair. This study adopted a single-group repeated-measure design to investigate the effect of horticultural therapy on the quality of life of palliative care patients using the Quality of Life Concern in End of Life Questionnaire. Significant differences in the domains of “existential distress” and “health care concern” were observed immediately postintervention and at 4 weeks postintervention, respectively. No other significant differences were seen in the other domains or in the total mean score of the outcome measure.     

Early integration of palliative care services with standard oncology care for patients with advanced cancer

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Scientific advances in novel cancer therapeutics have led to remarkable changes in oncology practice and longer lives for patients diagnosed with incurable malignancies. However, the myriad options for treatment have established a culture of cancer care that has not been matched with a similar availability of efficacious supportive care interventions aimed at relieving debilitating symptoms due to progressive disease and treatment side effects. Accumulating data show that the introduction of palliative care services at the time of diagnosis of advanced cancer leads to meaningful improvement in the experiences of patients and family caregivers by emphasizing symptom management, quality of life, and treatment planning. In this review article, the rationale and evidence base for this model of early palliative care services integrated into standard oncology care are presented. In addition, the implications and limitations of the existing data to 1) elucidate the mechanisms by which early palliative care benefits patients and families; 2) guide the dissemination and application of this model in outpatient settings; and 3) inform health care policy regarding the delivery of high‐quality, cost‐effective, and comprehensive cancer care are discussed. CA Cancer J Clin 2013;63:349‐363. ^© 2013 American Cancer Society, Inc.     

The EORTC core quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30, version 3.0) in terminally ill cancer patients under palliative care: validity and reliability in a Hellenic sample.

In 1986, the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) initiated a research program to develop an integrated, modular approach for evaluating the quality of life of patients participating in international clinical trials. The questionnaire was designed to measure cancer patients' physical, psychological and social functions. The questionnaire is composed of 5 multiitem scales (physical, role, social, emotional and cognitive functioning) and 9 single items (pain, fatigue, financial impact, appetite loss, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sleep disturbance and quality of life). It was administered to the patients before the initiation of palliative treatment and then once again during the treatment. The validation of the questionnaire took place at Areteion Hospital, while the translation was conducted by the EORTC bureau. The final validation sample consisted of 120 cancer patients. The clinical variable assessed was the performance status. The aim of our study was to assess the applicability of this quality of life measurement on a Hellenic sample of cancer patients receiving palliative care. The results showed that the questionnaire was well accepted in the present patient population. In addition, the questionnaire was found to be useful in detecting the effectiveness of palliative treatment over time. The scale reliability was very good (pretreatment from 0.57-0.79, ontreatment from 0.56-0.75), especially for the functioning scale. In addition, very good validity was found in all the approaches used. Moreover, the factor analysis results in a 6-factor solution that satisfies the criteria of reproducibility, interpretability and confirmatory setting. Performance status showed an improvement (p < 0.0025) during the studied period. These results support that the QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of the quality of life in Greek cancer patients receiving palliative care treatment.     

Sustaining hope and life courage in patients undergoing ovarian cancer surgery – the impact of care

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from a gynaecological malignancy in the Western World. To explore if experiences of physical comfort influenced hope and life courage during final diagnosis and early treatment, qualitative research interviews were performed with women undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer. By applying a phenomenological‐hermeneutic methodology, the findings were systematically identified, put into meaning‐structures, interpreted and critically discussed. The empirical material constituted a main theme concerning “Hope and life courage are created in the interplay between body and mind,” where findings dealt with personal reflections and experiences in relation to the subthemes: “Experiencing discomfort,” “The impact of care” and “Comfort and hope.” The women's general health condition became impacted not only by their ovarian cancer disease but also by the treatment, and it was a main finding that sufficient symptom management combined with sensitive attention of the patient sustained her hope, life courage and action competences. Surgery constitutes an essential part of sufficient cancer treatment. However, the diagnostic and pre‐operative phase represents an insufficiently investigated area in cancer care. Improvements are therefore vital to reduce the disease burden, and improve patients' general health and quality of life, during and after treatment.     

Association between unmet needs and quality of life in hospitalised cancer patients no longer receiving anti‐cancer treatment

Assessing the quality of life and unmet needs of cancer patients is an integral part of palliative care. This cross‐sectional study sought to determine whether there is an association between quality of life and unmet needs, anxiety and depression in cancer patients who are no longer receiving anti‐cancer treatment. The sample consisted of 93 patients from the oncology department at the University Hospital in Ostrava for whom further cancer treatment had been terminated as ineffective in halting the progression of their cancer. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30), the Patient Needs Assessment in Palliative Care (PNAP) questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to collect data. The overall quality of life score was quite low at 46. Most unmet needs were defined in terms of physical, psychological or spiritual needs. Correlations were found between impaired quality of life and lower Karnofsky scores (r = 0.50); increased physical (r = 0.52), psychological (r = 0.44) and spiritual (r = 0.36) needs; and higher levels of anxiety (r = ?0.30) and depression (r = ?0.68). Effective management of patients' physical (pain, fatigue and depression), psychological and spiritual needs may improve their quality of life.     

Anxiety,depression and quality of life in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients during home care and after the patient's death

We examined psychological parameters in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients before and after the death of the patients. Caregivers’ data about depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), quality‐of‐life (Short Form‐8 Health Survey), and social support (Oslo Social Support Scale) were collected at the beginning of home care (t1) and 2 months after the patient had died (t2). Regression models were employed to examine factors related to depression and anxiety in the bereaved caregivers. We interviewed 72 relatives, who were the primary caregiver of a patient. One‐third (31.9%) of caregivers had high anxiety levels and 29.2% had high depression levels (t1, cut‐off = 10). At t2, anxiety and depression had decreased significantly. There were no changes in quality‐of‐life over time. At both points of assessments, quality‐of‐life was lower than in the general population. Relevant factors for higher anxiety and depression in the bereaved caregivers were high levels of distress at t1, insufficient social support and low physical function. Bereaved caregivers were particularly depressed when they had been the spouse of the patient. Healthcare professionals should consider social isolation of caring relatives both during homecare and afterwards. Thus, it seems to be important to routinely offer support to spouses.     

Open access follow‐up care for early breast cancer: a randomised controlled quality of life analysis

This study evaluated the acceptability of a supportive model of follow‐up. One hundred and twelve women recovering from breast cancer were randomised to receive standard breast clinic aftercare (Control n = 56) or on demand by open access aftercare by breast care nurses (Intervention n = 56). Participants attended a support‐based psycho‐educational programme delivered in four half‐day group sessions. Three quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ‐C30, QLQ‐BR23, HADS) were administered at baseline and 6‐monthly intervals for 2 years. Multilevel linear regression modelling methods were used for evaluation. Age was found to be a statistically significant predictor of quality of life in several sub‐scales. Increasing age was negatively associated with sexual functioning, systematic therapy side effects and physical functioning, and positively associated with future perspective. Aftercare assignment was not found to be a statistically significant predictor. Women treated for early breast cancer were not disadvantaged by allocation to the open access supportive care model in terms of quality of life experienced. The model for follow‐up was demonstrated to be a feasible alternative to routinised hospital‐based follow‐up and adds to the evidence for stratified follow‐up for low‐risk cancer patients, incorporating self‐management education. Stratified follow‐up pathways are viewed as a preferable approach.     

Spiritual well‐being of Italian advanced cancer patients in the home palliative care setting

This study evaluates the spiritual well‐being (SpWB) in very advanced cancer patients assisted by the home palliative care program of ANT Foundation, a no‐profit Italian organisation. SpWB was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well‐Being Scale (FACIT‐Sp12), including Meaning, Peace, and Faith subscales. The quality‐of‐life (QoL) was evaluated by using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General scale. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,055 patients and 683 were compiled and evaluable for analysis. The mean scores of FACIT‐Sp12 as well as of QoL were notably lower than reference values for cancer survivors. The FACIT‐Sp12 score was higher in patients with less impaired Karnofsky Performance Status, fully participating in religious rituals and living in central Italy. A high Pearson's correlation was found between QoL and FACIT‐Sp12 (r = .60), Peace (r = .71) and Meaning (r = .52), while it was marginal for Faith (r = .27). The hierarchical regression analysis showed that FACIT‐Sp12 is a significant predictor of QoL. The study suggests that Italian patients with advanced cancer assisted by expert multi‐professional teams in the home palliative care setting have a low level of SpWB thereby highlighting the need for the integration of spiritual support as part of comprehensive cancer care.     

Quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients under chemotherapy or supportive care: a single-institution comparative study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) parameters in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and assess the potential differences between patients receiving chemotherapy and those undergoing supportive care interventions. In total, 210 women with MBC were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single-institution study. The primary outcome of the trial was QoL assessment, using the self-administered European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30, version 3) and Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast 23 (QLQ-BR23) questionnaires. Quality of life was found to be statistically better (P = 0.008) in MBC patients receiving chemotherapy than those under only supportive care. Statistically significant differences in favour of chemotherapy were also found in functioning subscales, symptom single-item questions and sexual functioning. Our findings suggest that chemotherapy in MBC patients with good performance status is the more rational therapeutic approach in terms of QoL improvement.     

Spirituality,quality of life,psychological adjustment in terminal cancer patients in hospice

The purpose of this study was to show the different components of spirituality in the last few weeks of life for advanced cancer patients admitted to hospice and to evaluate quality of life (QoL), pain, anxiety, depression and psychological adjustment to cancer. One hundred and fifteen patients were interviewed with a series of rating scales: the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Spiritual Well‐Being Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale – General Measure. Workers and single patients with higher education level showed a worse QoL. Moreover, anxiety and pain were negatively associated with QoL, while spirituality and ‘Instrumental Support’ coping style were positively associated with QoL. In the Italian sample, it was observed that when patients are close to death, faith is a more important component of spirituality than meaning/peace. This study confirms that QoL could be related to physical and psychological symptoms, and this reiterates the importance of faith in end‐of‐life care.     

恶性肿瘤住院患者营养状况与生活质量分析

目的:分析恶性肿瘤住院患者营养状况、生活质量现状及其相关性。方法:选取2018年2月至2018年11月我院入院的1 057例恶性肿瘤患者,采用NRS2002实施营养风险筛查、PG-SGA评估其营养状况、EORTC QLQ-C30调查其生活质量,在患者出院后收集住院期间营养支持情况。结果:1 057例患者中,34.3%存在营养风险,51.8%存在营养不良;营养良好组的白蛋白、血红蛋白、红细胞计数、体重、体质量指数、三头肌皮褶厚度、握力均高于营养不良组（P＜0.05）。营养良好组在总体健康状况及5个功能领域的分数高于营养不良组（P＜0.05）;在9个症状领域的得分低于营养不良组（P＜0.05）;营养状况与总体健康状况及5个功能领域呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与9个症状领域呈正相关（P＜0.05）。肿瘤患者营养支持率低,仅17.69%的患者得到营养支持。结论:恶性肿瘤住院患者营养状况普遍较差,营养不良影响患者生活质量。