• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Malaysia. A diagnosis is very stressful for women, affecting all aspects of their being and quality of life. As such, there is little information on quality of life of women with breast cancer across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life in Malay and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study involved 58 Malays and 15 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to treatment. Quality of life was measured using the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (QLQ-BR23). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Most of the women were married with at least a secondary education and were in late stages of breast cancer. The Malay women had lower incomes (p=0.046) and more children (p=0.001) when compared to the Chinese women. Generally, both the Malay and Chinese women had good functioning quality-of-life scores [mean score range: 60.3-84.8 (Malays); 65.0-91.1 (Chinese)] and global quality of life [mean score 60.3, SD 22.2 (Malays); mean score 65.0, SD 26.6 (Chinese)]. The Malay women experienced more symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.002), dyspnoea (p=0.004), constipation (p<0.001) and breast-specific symptoms (p=0.041) when compared to the Chinese. Conclusions: Quality of life was satisfactory in both Malays and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. However, Malay women had a lower quality of life due to high general as well as breast-specific symptoms. This study finding underlined the importance of measuring quality of life in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, as it will provide a broader picture on how a cancer diagnosis impacts multi-ethnic patients. Once health care professionals understand this, they might then be able to determine how to best support and improve the quality of life of these women during the difficult times of their disease and on-going cancer treatments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6779-6782
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• 2015

Background: Chemoradiotherapy is an important treatment modality for lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in, as well as the interrelationship between, lung function and quality of life of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy due to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax. Materials and Methods: The study included patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy for lung carcinoma. The respiratory function of the patients was assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s per unit (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in 1s per unit of vital capacity (FEV1/VC) before, in the middle of and after treatment. During the study, EORTC QLQ C30 and LC13 questionnaires developed by the Committee of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were employed to evaluate the quality of life on the same day as respiratory function tests (RFT). Findings: The study included 23 patients in total: 19 (82.6%) diagnosed with NSCLC and 4 (17.4%) with SCLC. The average percentage FEV1 was $55.6{\pm}21.8%$ in the pre-treatment period, $56.2{\pm}19.2%$ in the middle of treatment and $60.4{\pm}22%$ at the end of treatment. The improvement in functional scores, symptom scores and general health scores during treatment was not statistically significant (P= 0.568, P= 0.734, P= 0.680, P=0.757 respectively). Conclusions: Although this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained. While evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for lung carcinoma, the effects of treatment on respiratory function and quality of life should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7653-7664
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal ranked first among cancers reported in males and ranked second amongst females in Jordan, accounting for 12.7% and 10.5% of cancers in males and females, respectively. Colorectal cancer patients can suffer several consequences after treatment that include pain and fatigue, constipation, stoma complications, sexual problems, appearance and body-image concerns as well as psychological dysfunction. There is no published quantitative data on the health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing of Jordanian colorectal cancer survivors. Method: This project was a cross-sectional study of colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed in 2009 and 2010. Assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the colorectal cancer specific module (EORTC QLQ-CR 29) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data on potential predictors of scores were also collected. Results: A total of 241 subjects completed the study with mean age of $56.7{\pm}13.6$. Males represented 52.3% of study participants. A majority of participants reported good to high overall health; the mean Global health score was $79.74{\pm}23.31$ with only 6.64% of study participants scoring less than 33.3%. The striking result in this study was that none of the study participants participated in a psychosocial support group; only 4 of them (1.7%) were even offered such support. The mean scores for HADS, depression score, and anxiety score were $8.25{\pm}9$, $4.35{\pm}4.9$ and $3.9{\pm}4.6$, respectively. However, 77.1% of study participants were within the normal category for the depression score and 81.7% were within this category for anxiety score; 5.4% of participants had severe anxiety and 5.4% of them had severe depression. Discussion: Patients with colorectal cancer in Jordan have a good quality of life and psychological wellbeing scores when compared with patients from western countries. None of the colorectal cancer patients managed at the Ministry of Health received any formal counselling, or participated in psychological or social support programmes. This highlights the urgent need for a psychosocial support programme, psychological screening and consultations for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the Ministry of Health Hospitals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3017-3021
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• 2013

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important aspect in identifying cancer patients' perceptions of being diagnosed with cancer and the assessment of treatment outcomes. The present study aimedto assess the profile and predicators of HRQoL of Malaysian oncology patients. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study adopting the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was conducted. All cancer patients attending Penang General Hospital between August-November 2011 were approached. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 16.0. Results: Three hundred and ninety three cancer patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 53.9 ($SD{\pm}13$) years. The cohort was dominated by females (n=260, 66.2%). Nearly half (n=190, 48.3%) of the participants were of Malay ethnicity, practicing Islam as their religion (n=194, 494%). Two hundred and ninety six (n=296, 75.3%) had beene diagnosed with cancer within six months to 3 years previously. The most common primary cancer site was breast (n=143, 36.4%). The mean Global Health Status (GHS) score was 60.7 (SD=21.3). Females (mean GHS score of 62.3, p=0.035) with Malay ethnicity (mean GHS score of 63.8, p=0.047), practicing Islam as their religion (mean GHS score of 63.0, p=0.011) had better GHS scores. Patients having medical insurance had good scores (mean 65.6, p-0.021). Marital status was significantly associated with GHS scores (p=0.022). Bone cancer patientshad the lowest mean GHS score of 49.2 (p=0.044). Patients at very advanced stages of cancer featured a low GHS mean score of 52.2 (p<0.001). Conclusions: The present study identified many demographic and disease related factors which may contribute to the HRQoL of cancer patients, pointing to the necessity for improved management of disease symptoms and provision of psychological and financial support.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.652-666
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate systematic review and meta-analysisto identify exercise intervention effect applied to patients who underwent lung resection with lung cancer. A total of 1,322 publications were searched from 1990 to 2016 through domestic and foreign electronic databases, and the final 13 publications were selected through literature selection process. Finally, eight RCT (randomized controlled trial) and five NRCT (non-randomized controlled trial) were identified, including 925 participants. The results of the meta-analysis of the effect sizes of the intervention on the outcome variables showed that the health-related quality of life EORTC QOL-C13/30 (the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire) (MD-0.50 95 % CI -0.83-0.18) and SF-36 PCS (the Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short Form Health Survey PCS) (MD 0.75, 95 % CI 0.41-1.10) in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group. The results of this study suggest that exercise interventions can potentially improve the quality of life of patients who underwent lung resection with lung cancer.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of activity status, anxiety, depression, social support, symptom experience, and functional status in patients with lung cancer based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms. Methods: The participants for this study were 101 lung cancer patients who visited the out-patient department for treatment or follow-up at one hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from January 1 to February 8, 2013 using self-reported questionnaires and clinical records. To measure variables, the functional scale and symptom scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, EORTC QLQ-Lung Cancer 13, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used in this study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 software for Windows. Results: The symptom experience showed more severity in patients with lower activity status, higher anxiety and depression. With lower activity status and social support, functional status was lower. When anxiety, depression, and symptom experience were higher, functional status was also lower. The significant factors predicting symptom experience were depression, anxiety, activity status, and social support, which explained 57.8% of the variance. Conclusion: These results suggest that psychological factors such as anxiety and depression had a negative influence on the symptom experience of lung cancer patients. Therefore, providing emotional support based on the patients' needs prior to providing symptom management could be a useful strategy for improving symptom experience and functional status.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.555-560
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• 2006

Objectives : The objective of this study is to analyze what quality of life(QOL) scales are frequently used in cancer patients and lay a cornerstone to develop new QOL scales adequate for oriental medical anti-cancer treatment in the future. Methods : We searched 151 articles concerned with 'QOL and scale and cancer' from PubMed and classified them according to periods. nations. cancer types and symptoms. Results: 138 articles(91%) were published after 1996. 65 articles(43%) were published in USA. For breast. lung, prostate. esophageal cancer and melanoma. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-quiality of life questionaire(EORTC-QLQ) was used most frequently to evaluate quality of life. Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment(FACT) for bladder cancer. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS) for colorectal cancer and of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire(UW-QOL) for Head & Neck cancer were used repeatedly. And for the patients with the symptoms such as bone marrow depression. depression. pain. dyspnea. nausea & vomiting and voice change. the investigators used EORTC-QLQ mainly to evaluate QOL. FACT-An(anemia) for anemia. FACT-BMT(bone marrow transplant) for bone marrow depression were applicated generally. Conclusions It is anticipated that further investigations will be performed to develop adequate QOL scales for oriental medical anti-cancer therapy.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2021

Background/Objectives: Shoulder function is an important aspect of health related quality of life (QOL). Neck dissection impairment index (NDII) is a simple shoulder-specific questionnaire. This study aimed to evaluate the association between QOL and NDII in patients who underwent neck dissection to validate the Korean version of NDII. Materials & Methods: This study enrolled 74 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent neck dissection from December 2013 to April 2014. Patients completed questionnaires on QOL including the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item Core QOL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and NDII which was translated into Korean. Validity was evaluated by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between NDII and EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: We compared preoperative, postoperative within a week, 1st and 3rd months NDII scores. The total NDII scores were 14.7, 47.4, 33.7 and 34.3 each. Clinical variables including gender, site of primary tumor, performing revision neck dissection, radiotherapy and flap reconstruction were not significantly associated with NDII. However NDII mean score of patients who underwent unilateral neck dissection over 3 levels is most increased after operation. During all periods NDII scores were significantly associated with functioning score. Although other scores are lower correlation than function scores, global health status scores and symptom scores are also correlation with NDII. Conclusion: NDII was valid instrument and can be used not only in the clinical practice to assess shoulder dysfunction but also in the simple instrument to evaluate global QOL in Korea patients with having neck dissection.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.10-22
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of brain education-based exercise and KPEM manual therapy integrated program on the sleep and quality of life of cancer patients. Design: Seventy subjects who were diagnosed with cancer and were undergoing treatment volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design for either the experimental group or the control group. In the final analysis, there were 25 subjects in the experimental group and 18 subjects in the control group. Methods: For 12 weeks, the experimental group performed brain education-based exercise (20 minutes) and KPEM manual therapy (50 minutes), and the control group performed basic physical therapy and autonomous exercise. For evaluation, the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) and the quality of life index were measured after intervention using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-3.0Ver). Effect between groups, time effect over time, and group^*time interaction were analyzed through a pre-test before and after the 12-week intervention period, and repeated measure ANOVA after 12 weeks of the integrated program intervention. All statistical significance levels were set at α=.05. Results: The PSQI in the time effect (p=.001) and the group^*time interaction (p<.001) were statistically significant. In terms of EORTC, QL2 and PF2 were significant in time effect (p=.024; p=.021) and group^*time interaction (p=.007; p=.021), whereas in RF2, significance was only found in group^*time interaction (p=.028). In symptom indicators, time effect was the only significant factor in FA, SL, AP, and CO, respectively (p=.002; p=.028; p=.041; p =.005) and in DY, there were significant differences in the time effect (p=.016) and group^*time interaction (p=.002). Conclusion: The brain education-based exercise and KPEM manual therapy integrated program effectively improves the sleep and quality of life of cancer patients. It is considered that this exercise and therapy can be actively used as a psychological, emotional, and physically complementary physical therapy intervention to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing depression in breast cancer patients. Method: A descriptive correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 155 subjects was recruited from the outpatient for breast cancer patients at one hospital in Gyeonggi, South Korea. Body image was measured with the category of "Body image" from the EORTC QLQ-BR23(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast cancer version) and sexual function was measured with category of "sexual function" from it. Depression was measured with Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Results: The mean score of body image was relatively low(M = 54.44, SD = 30.92), of sexual function was low (M = 24.82, SD = 22.50), and of depression was relatively low(M =14.90, SD = 8.00). Depression had a significant relationship with body image(r = -.363, p = <.001), however, there was no significant relationship between depression and sexual function(r = -.137, p = .103). In the regression analysis, depression was found to be influenced significantly by monthly income and body image, these variables explained 28.8% of the variance in depression(F = 4.662. p = <.001). Conclusion: It suggests that nurses need to take into consideration body image and economic status in management depression in breast cancer survivors.