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Quality of life of Chinese patients with ovarian malignancies during chemotherapy under condition of no recurrence.

Ding Y, Zhu YL, Zhang MF

Nursing Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

The purpose of this study was to describe the quality of life of patients with ovarian malignancies during chemotherapy under condition of no recurrence and to explore changes in quality of life during chemotherapy and factors associated with quality of life.It was a cohort study during treatment. Quality of life of 75 patients with ovarian malignancies at baseline, reduced to 63 and 61 patients at later points, was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian scale in the gynecologic wards of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Fu Dan University within 1 to 2 days after the second, fourth, and sixth cycles of chemotherapy.During chemotherapy, under condition of no recurrence, the overall quality of life was at the middle or upper level and improved significantly over time (P = .044). There were significant improvements in physical well-being and additional concerns, whereas there was significant deterioration in social well-being. Emotional and functional well-being showed a trend toward improvement (not statistically significant). The relationship with doctors showed a significant difference between the first time point and each of the other two. Economic condition and intrafamily support were key factors for predicting the quality of life of these patients in all assessments.These findings give insights into the quality of life of women with ovarian cancer during chemotherapy and imply that nurses and other medical professionals should provide continuing support to them in accordance with their needs. Furthermore, nurses should help prevent them from social isolation as a consequence of their illness and treatment and acknowledge family members as a major support resource.

Published 18 May 2007 in Cancer Nurs, 30(3): 243-51.
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