Quality-of-life assessment in a palliative care setting in Germany: An outcome evaluation

Abstract

Quality-of-life (QoL) assessment is crucial for the evaluation of a palliative care outcome. This article investigates the applicability of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) on a German sample of terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care in different settings. Patients were randomly selected in 10 palliative homecare services and one palliative care unit in a general hospital and 'evaluated' among the consecutively 'registered' patients. The random sample of patients (n-121) was representative of the general patient population cared for by the palliative care services in Germany. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was administered to the terminally ill cancer patients on their first day in hospital or upon their first contact with the specialized palliative homecare team. The clinical variable assessed was the Karnofsky performance status. The questionnaire was well accepted in the present patient population. In addition, the questionnaire was found to be useful in detecting the effectiveness of palliative treatment over a period of time. This study shows that QoL measures can be used to assess the outcome in palliative care.

Effectiveness of complex interventions focused on quality-of-life assessment to improve palliative care patients’ outcomes: A systematic review

“…One experimental study out of three 30 and six observational studies out of seven did not report how sample size or power was determined. 32,[34][35][36][37][38] The observational studies were mostly suffered from limited number of subjects and observations (dropouts); only one study was retrospective in design. 35 All of the observational studies used convenience samples 32,33,[35][36][37][38] except for Jocham et al 34 than randomly selected participants.…”

Quality Indicators for Care of Cancer Patients in Their Last Days of Life: Literature Update and Experts' Evaluation

“…6 It can be assumed that care of patients in their last days of life is a discrete phase of palliative care, for both patients and relatives, with its specific characteristics, and therefore the need for specific QIs. 24 The definition of this phase needs further refinement, to include a clear understanding of symptoms, problems, and objectives of care against which to measure quality of care. 24,25 The Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying (LCP) gives some guidance in this matter.…”

“…24 The definition of this phase needs further refinement, to include a clear understanding of symptoms, problems, and objectives of care against which to measure quality of care. 24,25 The Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying (LCP) gives some guidance in this matter. 26 Subsequently, QI development has to be related to the definition of this phase, including the aims of care in the last days of life.…”

Swallowing Problems at the End of the Palliative Phase: Incidence and Severity in 164 Unsedated Patients

“…Studies that include larger number of patients only tend to describe patients at the start of the palliative phase Jocham et al [2,5]. The period in which palliative care is provided to a patient however can last from a few months up to as much as 2 years Voogt et al [14].…”