Impact of measuring quality of life in oncology practice: A prospective study.

Abstract

e21663 Background: To assess the impact of incorporating systematic quality of life measurements in oncology practice on the quality of care and well-being of patients; to assess physician's level of satisfaction with this instrument and detectable changes in clinical practice Methods: In a prospective study, 67 patients (pts) diagnosed with cancer, undergoing cancer-specific treatments, were randomized into a intervention and control group. In the intervention group , pts had regular completion of touch-screen health-related quality of life (HRQL) questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Core Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and feedback of results to physician and then were followed up with a phone call where HRQL was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General questionnaire (FACT-G). In the control group, pts were regular followed with a phone call to answer FACT-G questionnaire. Physicians completed a visit-specific questionnaire after each visit of pts from intervention group. Results: 58 pts were included, 36 in the intervention group and 22 in the control group. Median age was 59 years. The results of the patient-reported data were found to be very useful to quite useful by 87.5% of physicians (14/16), and 56.3% of them considered that there was no difference in the length of visits. Completing the HRQL questionnaires on a touch screen was easy to very easy for 97.1% of patients, and 97.1% found that important questions were asked and that they would be willing to complete the questionnaires. FACT-G scores and subscale scores were higher in the intervention group, but differences were not statistically significant (76.44 v 72.60; p 0.388). Conclusions: HRQL assessments had a positive impact on physician-patient communication. It made it possible to learn how cancer and its treatments affected pts not only physically, but also on functional and psychological states and social relationships. They helped us improve therapeutic interventions and specialist referrals, thus achieving positive changes in the well-being and satisfaction of pts.