Quality of life in patients with lung cancer: an epidemiological study

Montazeri Moghaddam, Ali (1996) Quality of life in patients with lung cancer: an epidemiological study. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A population-based study of quality of life in patients with lung cancer cases and chronic respiratory disease controls was carried out at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow between January 1995 and April 1996. The main results may be summarised as follows:

There were no significant differences between quality of life in cases and controls except for pain and loss of appetite.

Patients with different socio-economic status had different quality of life. The poorer reported a lower level of quality of life.

Social support systems, social networks, and socio-demographic status of the patients were found to predict baseline quality of life prior to diagnosis.

Non-medical factors (Deprivation Category and marital status) were found to be significant predictors of patients' global quality of life at follow-up, whereas medical factors (cell type and treatment modalities) were not.

Global quality of life prior to diagnosis was a clear predictor of survival.

Treatment regimens were found to be ineffective regardless of cell types and stage of disease when comparing baseline and follow-up assessments of quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

Patients' reactions to the study indicated that they did not find the study intrusive.

Patients' perceptions of quality of life were found to differ from those of health professionals.

In the light of study findings it is concluded that conducting a robust epidemiological study of quality of life in patients with lung cancer is feasible. It is essential that such an assessment be carried out in the context of their socio-economic status. The results suggest that quality of life is a real and useful prognostic factor. It predicts survival and it is important to include quality of life measures in future studies of outcomes in lung cancer care.

The above forms the basis of recommendations to improve lung cancer care and to provide guidelines for further work.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing
• Supervisor's Name: Gilles, Dr. Charles and McEwen, Prof. James
• Date of Award: 1996
• Depositing User: Elaine Ballantyne
• Unique ID: glathesis:1996-1828
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 18 May 2010
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:47
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1828