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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-10-2007 | Original Article

What symptom and functional dimensions can be predictors for global ratings of overall quality of life in lung cancer patients?

Authors: Ulrika Östlund, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Petter Gustavsson, Yvonne Wengström

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 10/2007

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores what dimensions of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire predict global ratings of overall quality of life (QOL) in lung cancer patients in assessments by patients and significant others, respectively.

Material and methods

The analyses were based on dyadic assessments from lung cancer patients and their significant others. A subset of scales and items from the Swedish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30 and the lung-cancer-specific module, LC-13, was selected. Using multiple regression procedures, the relative importance of different symptoms and of functional impairments in predicting overall QOL was examined.

Results

The multiple regressions revealed that emotional functioning and fatigue were the only significant predictors of overall QOL for both the patients and the significant others’ assessments. In addition, physical functioning was found to be another predictor in the significant others’ assessments.

Conclusion

The results emphasize that it is essential to consider both emotional functioning and fatigue as important areas for overall QOL in lung cancer patients.

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Title: What symptom and functional dimensions can be predictors for global ratings of overall quality of life in lung cancer patients?
Authors: Ulrika Östlund
Agneta Wennman-Larsen
Petter Gustavsson
Yvonne Wengström
Publication date: 01-10-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 10/2007
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0239-6

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Abstract

Purpose

Material and methods

Results

Conclusion

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