Association between unmet needs and quality of life in hospitalised cancer patients no longer receiving anti-cancer treatment

Abstract

Assessing the quality of life and unmet needs of cancer patients is an integral part of palliative care. This cross-sectional study sought to determine whether there is an association between quality of life and unmet needs, anxiety and depression in cancer patients who are no longer receiving anti-cancer treatment. The sample consisted of 93 patients from the oncology department at the University Hospital in Ostrava for whom further cancer treatment had been terminated as ineffective in halting the progression of their cancer. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Patient Needs Assessment in Palliative Care (PNAP) questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to collect data. The overall quality of life score was quite low at 46. Most unmet needs were defined in terms of physical, psychological or spiritual needs. Correlations were found between impaired quality of life and lower Karnofsky scores (r = 0.50); increased physical (r = 0.52), psychological (r = 0.44) and spiritual (r = 0.36) needs; and higher levels of anxiety (r = -0.30) and depression (r = -0.68). Effective management of patients' physical (pain, fatigue and depression), psychological and spiritual needs may improve their quality of life.

Association Between Quality of Life, Demographic Characteristics, Physical Symptoms, and Unmet Needs in Inpatients Receiving End-of-Life Care

“…Little attention has been paid to assessment of the impact of unmet needs on quality of life. 31 The present study showed lower quality of life in patients with more unmet needs in all domains with the exception of the domains chance to share emotions and religious needs. Bai and Lazenby 47 reported an association between quality of life and spiritual well-being of cancer patients.…”

“…[16][17][18][19] Health-related quality-of-life measures have been increasingly used to evaluate differences in quality of life based on the setting and type of care provided 20,21 and type of illness 22 as well as to determine factors that might influence the patients' quality of life. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Some studies showed associations between quality of life and sociodemographic characteristics of patients, 21 type of illness, 22 type of intervention, 23 physical symptom burden, [24][25][26][27] patients' functional status, 25 and unmet needs. [28][29][30][31] The Czech Ministry of Health funded a project supporting research into quality of life in palliative care.…”

“…A relationship was found between unmet physical, psychological, and spiritual needs and lower quality of care. 31 Moreover, a detailed analysis of the importance of needs and unmet needs in the final stages of illness was performed as part of the project. 32 The objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality of life of hospitalized patients in the final stage of their illness.…”

Assessing needs of family members of inpatients with advanced cancer

“…Few studies have examined the relationship between unmet needs and quality of life (Bužgová et al . ) and between unmet needs and patient′s condition (Turner et al . ).…”

Palliative Care as the Driving Force for Providing Psychological Comfort to Patients with Cancer: A Hermeneutic Study

“…Accordingly, the delivery of PPC makes it easier for patients to stay in oncology care ward and provides them with greater psychological comfort. Studies conducted in Czech Republic and Australia also showed that psychological needs are among the most essential needs of patients with cancer (22,23). Accordingly, healthcare providers should pay special attention to cancer patients' psychological needs and provide them with appropriate PPC in order to improve their quality of life.…”