Quality of life and ability to work in ovarian cancer patients in Slovakia

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to find out the association of relevant factors on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among ovarian cancer patients and their ability to work. Analyzed data were prospectively collected on 123 ovarian cancer patients enrolled across multiple oncology practices in Slovakia. We examined knowledge about the disease, negative perceptions related to health care, ability to work and social and economic ranking. HRQOL measurements included quality of life based on a numeric scale (1-worst, 10-best) and selected aspects from QoL-Ov28 questionnaire. We have used non-parametric Friedman and Dunne pairwise comparison tests to detect differences in HRQOL and the ability to work. Spearman correlation was used to measure the strength of association between variables. With hindsight, patients identified first signs of disease 3.6 months prior to diagnosis, with median duration of disease being 3.1 years. HRQOL was significantly different at various points during cancer journey; between current state and at diagnosis (4.19), between current state and at time without cancer or at time in full health (8.94, 9.52 respectively). Similarly, significant differences were noted in patients' current work ability (WA) compared to WA at diagnosis, or at time without cancer or in full health (4.2, 9.07, 9.58). The highest correlation of HRQOL was found in relation to current ability to work (r = 0.87) and in impact of cancer treatment (r = 0.66). Medium correlation was noted with visits to oncology clinics, knowledge about cancer, salary, future expectations or perceived quality of life of relatives (r < 0.51). Low correlation (r < 0.3) was found with other aspects related to healthcare (nursing care, general practitioner appointments) or demographics (age, number of children) and others. Patients were willing to pay monthly for curative treatment €191.84 from an average monthly salary €470.84 (41%). Ovarian cancer diagnosis has a significant impact on HRQOL and WA and both are positively highly correlated. Ovarian cancer patients are willing to give significant share of their monthly salary for treatment leading to cure.

The associations between late effects of cancer treatment, work ability and job resources: a systematic review

“…Cross-sectional studies that used data reported by the respondents retrospectively with regard to different time points after cancer diagnosis, also reported that work ability was lowered after cancer diagnosis and experienced as increasing again (Kiserud et al 2016;Cheung et al 2017;Musti et al 2018;Bielik et al 2020). Some studies only focused on the association of different types of treatment and work ability (Ortega et al 2018;Dahl et al 2020).…”

“…Only partial use of the WAI (one or more items) was made by 22 (61%) studies, with the first WAI item being used in 21 studies (see Table 1). Of the eight (22%) studies not using the complete or partial WAI, different ways to assess work ability were used, namely (1) the Functional Well-Being subscale of the FACT/GOG-Ntx (version 4) (Zanville et al 2016), (2) a multiple-choice question regarding lessened work-related ability (Lee et al 2008), (3) a self-reported reduction of work ability (Fosså and Dahl 2015;Musti et al 2018), (4) a multiple choice question regarding being unable to work full time, unable to work the same as before cancer or unable to work at all (Moskowitz et al 2014), (5) the Work Limitations Questionnaire (the percentage of time limited in performing work tasks in the last two weeks) (Ortega et al 2018), (6) a question on current work ability in combination with other information (Bielik et al 2020), and (7) a non-validated ad hoc questionnaire (Neudeck et al 2017). In brief, 22% of the studies did not use the complete or partial WAI but other ways to assess work ability.…”

“…The 18 cross-sectional studies showed some quality differences, but the quality of all studies was acceptable. The selection process in two pilot studies might have impaired representativeness (Neudeck et al 2017;Bielik et al 2020). In one cross-sectional study the time since…”