Quality of life and its associations with illness perceptions over a 3‑month follow‑up period in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer: A prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

In the present prospective longitudinal study with a 3‑month follow‑up period, the changes in global quality of life (QOL) were investigated over a 3‑month period in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The associations between changes in QOL and illness perceptions were examined. Illness perception groups were classified into two groups by the mean of items of illness perceptions at baseline as follows: ‘Strong perception’ (strong group) or ‘weak perception’ (weak group) of the illness. A linear mixed‑effects model was used to compare illness perception in the groups in relation to global QOL over a period of 3 months. During the follow‑up period, 34 patients were enrolled; 11 patients did not complete the questionnaire on global QOL. Patients in the weak group exhibited a tendency for a lower global QOL over the 3‑month period in all illness perception items. The analysis revealed no significant change in global QOL over time in the majority of illness perception dimensions, apart from that related to identity. In this item, the global QOL exhibited a significant difference between the groups over time. The strong group exhibited increased global QOL scores over the 3‑month period than the weak group. Patients who did not have a more sinister view of the illness prior to treatment exhibited a tendency for a decreased global QOL. In addition, patients in the strong perception group had several complaints prior to treatment in the identity item at baseline, and these patients had an increased global QOL over the follow‑up period. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the evaluation of QOL may be useful for providing long‑term supportive care and may help to address future interventions targeting illness perceptions for patients with NSCLC.