Changes in palliative care needs in patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy
10.2512/jspm.8.293
- VernacularTitle:初回がん化学療法導入時の緩和ケアニーズの推移に関する検討
- Author:
Kazuhiko Shibata
;
Hiromi Urakami
;
Youko Maeda
;
Ikuko Akae
;
Misae Takase
;
Momoyo Douda
;
Minoru Takeshima
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
chemotherapy;
palliative care needs;
screening;
EuroQol
- From:Palliative Care Research
2013;8(2):293-298
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Purpose & Methods: With the aim of investigating how early palliative care intervention should be provided, we conducted questionnaire-based screening and QOL evaluations of patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy before and at 3 to 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment, using "a questionnaire on the ease of daily living" and the EuroQol (EQ5D), respectively. Results: Of the 66 patients who participated in this investigation, 56 completed the second survey. With respect to "Concerns and Worries", more than half of the respondents complained concernes/worries about "Conditions and/or Treatments" both before and after chemotherapy, but there were changes in content between the first and second surveys. "Physical Symptoms" were experienced by more than 80 percent of patients before treatment. After treatment, 13 patients saw improvement or disappearance of their symptoms and 22 patients experienced new symptoms. "Emotional Distress" decreased after treatment. This decrease was more pronounced among patients who expressed concerns about their conditions and/or treatments in the first survey. EQ5D health utility scores tended to decrease in patients who had presented with adverse reactions, but improved in those free of adverse reactions. Conclution: Changes were observed in patients' palliative care needs before and after the initiation of first-line chemotherapy, which indicates a need for sequential screening over the course of treatment.
