Objective To summarize the advances in the clinical application of the quality of life(QOL) assessment after surgery of rectal cancer.MethodsThe recent literatures on the advances in the studies on the QOL assessment following the treatment of rectal cancer were reviewed. Results After surgery of rectal cancer, the patients might suffer from short and/or long term of various complications affecting the physical, social and psychological aspects of their well-being. The QOL assessment included many aspects of the studies. Global QOL scores as measured by the specific questionnaires improved significantly after surgery. It had provided clinical evidences of therapeutic methods, operative treatment of choices and bowel reconstructed procedures for the patients with rectal cancer.Conclusion The QOL studies after surgery for rectal cancer are of increasing importance. Apart from the improvements of the survival rates and the recurrencefree period, it is essential to provide an acceptable QOL postoperatively. The QOL assessment for the guidance of clinical treatment should be discussed routinely for a patient with potentially curable rectal carcinoma so that the excellent outcome could be achieved.
Objective We searched the Cochrane Library（Issue 3, 2005 ）to identity evidence related to palliative treatment. We found that Opioids are effective for the palliation of breathlessness in terminal illness. Oral Morphine and hydromorphone is effective for cancer pain. Radiotherapy and Bisphosphonates can relief pain secondary to bone metastases. Corticosteroids can resolve malignant bowel obstruction in advanced gynaecological and gastrointestinal cancer.
Objective To determine the safety and efficacy of surgical biliary bypass on the elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic head cancer. Methods The clinical data of 55 cases with unresectable pancreatic head cancer treated with palliation methods from July 2002 to June 2009 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to different age and therapeutic program: Nineteen patients, 65 years of age or older, were managed with surgical biliary bypass (group A), 19 patients under 65 years of age were treated by surgical biliary bypass (group B) and 17 patients with the age of 65 years or older received percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (group C). Then the therapeutic results were compared.Results With respect to the postoperative level of serum bilirubin, the incidence of early complications, postoperative hospitalization and mean survival time, no statistically significant difference was found between group A and B (Pgt;0.05). There was one case of recurrent jaundice and one case of gastric output obstruction in group B, while no one suffered postoperative complication in group A, and the difference was statistically significant (Plt;0.01). Compared with group A, the postoperative level of serum bilirubin, the number of patient readmitted, the rate of recurrent jaundice and gastric output obstruction were higher in group C (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). The mean postoperative hospitalization and overall survival time were significantly shorter in group C than group A (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01, respectively). Conclusion Surgical palliation does not increase the morbidity rate, but it does improve the quality of life in elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic head cancer.
Objective To determine if supervised hospital-based exercise can maintain the benefits of functional exercise ability and quality of life gained from a pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD.Methods A prospective and randomized study was carried out. Following completion of an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program in hospital, 43 COPD patients were recruited and randomized into either a supervised group ( supervised, every 10 days, hospital-based exercise, 22 cases ) or a control group ( unsupervised home exercise,21 cases) and followed for 12 months. Measurements were taken at baseline and 12 months later. Exercise measurements include six-minute walk test( 6MWT) and pulmonary function test. Quality of life was measured using the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire ( CRQ) . Results After 12 months of different exercise program,6MWT in the supervised group was significantly longer than that in the unsupervised group[ ( 532. 0 ±168. 4) m vs ( 485. 0 ±151. 6) m, P lt; 0. 05] . There was no significant difference in pulmonary function between the two groups. The quality of life of the supervised group was higher than that of the unsupervised group( 114. 6 ±20. 8 vs 105. 6 ±21. 7, P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions After the completion of pulmonary rehabilitation program, a supervised, every 10 days, hospital-based following exercise program can maintain better functional exercise capacity and quality of life compared to home exercise in COPD patients.
Objective To evaluate the impact of total thyroidectomy on health-related quality of life （HRQOL） in patients with nodular goiter. Methods The patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed with regard to the quality of life （total thyroidectomy group）. The patients with similar demographic features who underwent hemithyroidectomy during the same period were matched as control （hemi-thyroidectomy group）. The validated HRQOL instrument， which was the Euro quality of life-5D （EQ-5D）， was applied to measure the HRQOL. Comparison of HRQOL in patients of 2 groups was performed， meanwhile， the data of total thyroidectomy group was compared with data of normal population who were obtained from The Forth National Health Survey. Results There were 26 and 28 valid questionnaires returned for the total thyroidectomy group and hemithyroi-dectomy group respectively. The demographic features of patients in 2 groups were comparable. No significant variancecould be found between the 2 groups that there were no significant differences on the mobility， self-care， usual activities，pain/discomfort， anxiety/depression， and visual analogous scales （P＞0.05）. Furthermore， no significant differences in HRQOL were found in EQ-5D questionnaire compared with normal population derived from The Forth National Health Survey （P＞0.05）， except that there were more patients complained of moderate and severe pain/discomfort in the total thyroidectomy group 〔30.8% （8/26） vs.9.2% （16 330/177 501）， P＜0.01〕. Conclusion Total thyroidectomy appears to have little impact on the quality of life in the patients with nodular goiter.
Objective To prospectively evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) with anal sphincter preservation (ASP) for low rectal cancers. Methods From June 2001 to March 2004, 125 patients undergoing LTME and 103 patients undergoing OTME were included in this study. The international standard questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38) were used to evaluate the conditions of patients at 3 periods after surgery respetively: 3-6 months, 12-18 months, gt;24 months. Results In contrast to OTME patients, the LTME ones showed significantly better physical function during 3-6 months after surgery, less micturition problems within 12-18 months, less male sexual problems and better sexual function during 12-18 months after surgery, with better sexual enjoyment after postoperative 24 months. Both groups showed significant improvement in most subscales from the first to the second assessment, and improvement in sexual enjoyment from the second to the third assessment. The sexual function, micturition problems and male sexual problems in LTME group significantly improved from the first to the second assessment, whereas the sexual function in OTME group improved from the second to the third assessment.Conclusion Patients undergoing LTME for low rectal cancers have bette postoperative HRQOL than patients undergoing OTME, with better physical function, micturition function, overall sexual and male sexual functions in short term, and better sexual enjoyment in the long term. The HRQOL of both LTME and OTME patients may be expected to improve over time, particularly in the first postoperative year.
ObjectiveTo compare anal function and quality of life between partial longitudinal resection of the anorectum and sphincter (PLRAS) and intersphincteric resection (ISR) for rectal cancer. MethodsNinety-nine cases of very low rectal cancer were classified as PLRAS group (n=23) and ISR group (n=76) according to different surgical method. Anal function was assessed by Saito function questionnaire and the Wexner scale in 6, 12, and 24 months after operation. At the same time, quality of life was assessed by European Organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire CR29 (EORTC-QLQ-CR29). Results①Anastomosis stenosis:compared with ISR group, the situation on anastomosis stenosis was worse in 6 months (P < 0.001) and 12 months (P=0.003) after operation, but didn't significantly differed in 24 months after operation (P=0.230).②Results of the Saito function questionnaire:compared with ISR group, there were higher incidence on stool fragmentation (P=0.016), dyschesia (P=0.008), and feces-flatus discrimination (P < 0.001) in PLRAS group in 6 months after operation, and the incidence of feces-flatus discrimination was still higher in 12 months (P=0.017), but there was no any significant difference in 24 months after operation (P > 0.05).③Results of Wexner scale:there were no statistical difference between the 2 groups at all recorded times (P > 0.05).④Results of EORTC-QLQ-CR29 questionnaire:in 6 months after operation, the scores of flatulence (P=0.003), faecal incontinence (P=0.043), and sexual interest in women (P=0.023) of PLARS group were lower than ISR group but higher in buttock pain (P=0.031) and dyspareunia (P=0.006). In 12 months after operation, the scores of flatulence (P=0.012) and sexual interest in women (P=0.017) were both lower than ISR group, but score of dyspareunia was higher (P=0.012). In 24 months after operation, there was no any significant difference (P > 0.05). ConclusionsPLRAS surgery have worse situation of anastomosis stenosis and sexual function in women than ISR surgery before 12 months after operation, but have analogous effect in 24 months after operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of Orem's self-care model in school-age children with asthma. MethodsSeventy-four children with asthma treated between March 2012 and June 2014 were divided into observation group (n=37) and control group (n=37) randomly. Orem's self-care model was applied in the observation group, while routine nursing was carried out in the control group. We observed the pulmonary function, therapeutic compliance and quality of life in children of both the two groups before and one year after treatment. ResultsOne year after treatment, forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow increased significantly (P<0.05), and increase in the observation group was significantly more than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant increased treatment compliance rate (P<0.05). Pediatric asthma quality of life questionare scale results showed that one year after treatment, the two groups got significantly increased scores in the dimensions of emotion, symptom and activity (P<0.05), and the scores were significantly higher in the observation group (P<0.05). ConclusionOrem's self-care model has a significant curative effect for the improvement of lung function in school-age children with asthma, which can promot the treatment compliance and quality of life of the patients.
Objective To identify the perception of pain among breast cancer patients and their quality of life, and to assess the influence of pain on their quality of life. Methods We did a cross-sectional study. A face-to-face survey was administered to 200 breast cancer patients, using two scales: Chinese Cancer Pain Assessment Tool (CCPAT) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (Version 3) [EORTIC QLQ-C30]. Results Among the 200 breast cancer patients, 84 suffered from pain, while 116 did not. In regard to quality of life, the scores of physical function, role function and social function were higher among women without pain than among those in the pain group (Plt;0.05). There were no significant differences in scores of emotional function, cognitive function and global quality of life between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between pain and quality of life in the pain group, the non-pain group and the whole sample (r=–0.731, Plt;0.001). Conclusion Pain has negative effects on physical function, role function and social function of breast cancer patients. The exacerbation of pain is associated with a decreased global quality of life for breast cancer patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of evidence-based nursing intervention on the treatment effect and quality of life in patients with peritoneal dialysis. MethodSixty-four patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis between January 2013 and December 2014 in our hospital were randomly divided into control group (n=32) and intervention group (n=32) . The control group received routine nursing and the intervention group received evidencebased nursing intervention. Urea clearance index (KT/V), serum albumin and hemoglobin levels were detected for both groups of patients before and after nursing intervention. Generic Quality of Life Inventory (GQOLI)-74 scale was used to assess patients' quality of life. ResultsAfter nursing intervention, KT/V, serum albumin and hemoglobin levels in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) . The scores of such items as physical function, psychological function, social function and overall evaluation in the GQOLI-74 scale in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) . ConclusionsEvidence-based nursing intervention can effectively improve the treatment effect and quality of life in patients with peritoneal dialysis, which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.