Significant improvement in quality of life of patients with incurable cancer after designation to a palliative homecare team

• The aims of this study were to describe and compare quality of life (QOL) before and after designation to a palliative homecare team (PHT) in patients with different cancer diagnoses and to identify pre-designation predictors of post-designation global QOL. We measured patients� QOL one week before designation and 11 days (median time) after with the Assessment of Quality of life at the End of Life (AQEL). Of 163 eligible patient 63 participated without attrition. Patients� QOL improved in the physical, psychological, medical and global areas. Six items significantly improved: hours recumbent during the day (p=.009), nausea (p=.008), anxiety (p=.007), getting hold of staff (p=.000), received care (p=.003) and global QOL (p=.023). Depression/low in mood (r=.55) and meaningfulness (r=.70) associated to global QOL. Furthermore, pain (p=.028) and meaningfulness (p=.028) predicted global QOL. In the existential area, it is important to further explore how meaningfulness is associated to and predicts global QOL.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Advanced cancer

end of life

palliative care

self-reports

terminal care

Nursing

Omvårdnad

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)