Placing quality of life assessments on oncologists’ agenda

Excerpt

The last two decades have witnessed a dramatic growth in interest in the assessment of quality of life (QoL) in both oncology research and practice [1‐3]. The availability of reliable, cancer-specific instruments for use with cancer patients (e.g., EORTC QLQ-C30, FACT), the changing attitude towards a more biopsychosocial oriented model of clinical practice, as well as the demand by patients themselves and consumer advocacy organizations to address their psychosocial needs as part of quality cancer care have served to bring QoL assessment into the oncologists’ agenda. Side effects of treatments have long been a concern for cancer clinicians and were traditionally assessed as a way to understand the impact of therapy and monitor (and when necessary manage) its efficacy. But the QoL concept has evolved from a largely unidimensional biological construct, focused basically on physical symptoms and functional ability, to a multidimensional construct that includes in its definition assessment of other dimensions such as psychological well-being, social functioning, spirituality, etc. [4‐6]. Patient’s subjective perceptions of their QoL have come to play an important role as medicine has become more patient-centered and patients have become more educated and informed about their illness and treatment options. Increasingly partners in the clinical decision-making process, patients and clinicians strive to balance the various demands of a given therapy with the personal preferences of the patient in choosing a specific treatment. It is no longer acceptable to pursue “blind survival at all costs” (at the expense of QoL). The European Cancer Patient Coalition (http://​www.​ecpc-online.​org) motto of Nothing About Us Without Us illustrates how much advocacy organizations emphasize the importance of bringing patients’ views into the decision arena, whether it be the singular patient perspective and participating–partnering with clinicians in all decisions affecting their well-being or as Patients’ Organizations (Associations or Coalitions) demanding the opportunity to participate in policy-making. …