CN84 - Health-related quality of life in Greek haematological malignancies patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies indicate that quality of life plays crucial role in cancer patients’ outcome. In order to obtain a more comprehensive view into this option, we applied three different questionnaires, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-general (FACT-G) and the generic Short –Form 36 (SF-36) for registering the haematological malignancies patients’ point of view. MethodsA cross- sectional study was established involving 67 patients, treated in a large hospital in a major Northern Greek city, with haematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy in cycle 3. Data was collected using the three aforementioned scales in addition with a questionnaire with demographic and clinical characteristics. ResultsThe vast majority of patients were men (n=42, 62.7%) and married ( 65.7 %, n=44). Ten out of sixty-seven were multiple myeloma patients (n=10, 14.9%). The mean scores of overall scales were: SF-36: 47.93±18.84, FACT-G: 73.68±18.25, EORTC-QLQ: 70,70±17.93. Cronbach’s a was >0.70 for all of the subscales of the questionnaires. There is an exception in emotional well being subscale of FACT-G and in physical functional subscale of EORTC QLQ-C30. Also, there was a strong correlation (>0.50) between physical functional subscale and emotional function subscale of the FACT-G, EORTC QLQ-C30 and SF-36 instruments (p<0.001) and generally between the overall scores of three questionnaires (r=0.771, p<0.001 between FACT-G, EORTC QLQ-C30; r=0.771, p<0.001 between SF-36 and FACT-G; r=0.842 p<0.001 between SF-36 and EORTC QLQ-C30). ConclusionsThe Greek versions of FACT-G, EORTC QLQ-C30 and SF-36 questionnaires are valuable tools that could be easily applied in a daily practical routine for assessing quality of life in patients with hematological malignancies. Additionally, the above procedure provides valid information to the nursing staff in order to help their patients to improve their quality of life having possible influence in the disease outcome. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe authors. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.