Table 1. Earlier research on the QoL in gynaecological cancer patients.
| Author | Study design | Cancer | Number | QoL instrument | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bye et al (2000) | Cross-sectional | Endometrial and cervical | 79 | EORTC QLQ-C36 | Lower QoL in the areas of diarrhoea and role functioning than in normal population 3–4 years after radiotherapy. Pain and diarrhoea associated with decrease in QoL |
| Klee et al (2000a) | Prospective cohort | Cervical and vaginal | 118 | EORTC QLQ-C30 | Overall QoL reduced compared with a control group, even at 24 months after treatment |
| Klee et al (2000b) | Prospective cohort | Cervical | 118 | EORTC QLQ-C30 | Acute physical symptoms up to 3 months after treatment. Frequent voiding and diarrhoea may become chronic symptoms |
| Klee and Machin (2001) | Prospective cohort | Endometrial | 49 | EORTC QLQ-C30 | Physical symptom scores were highest immediately after treatment. Global QoL lower than healthy controls |
| Leake et al (2001) | Cross-sectional | Gynaecological | 202 | FLI-C | Treatment with radiotherapy is associated with deterioration in QoL scores |
| Greimel et al (2002) | Prospective cohort | Gynaecological or breast | 248 | EORTC QLQ-C30 | Decrease in global QoL, emotional functioning and role functioning up to 1 year after treatment |
| Lutgendorf et al (2002) | Prospective cohort | Gynaecological | 98 | FACT-G, POMS | Decrements in physical, functional and total well-being reported at baseline. Improvements in QoL and mood by 1 year |
| Frumovitz et al (2005) | Cross-sectional | Cervical | 114 | SF-12, BSI-18, A-DAS, CARES, FSFI | Patients treated with radiotherapy had a worse sexual functioning than those treated with surgery alone |
| Wenzel et al (2005) | Cross-sectional | Cervical | 51 | SF-36, QOL-CS, IES, GPC, SAQ, ISEL, FACT-Sp, COPE | QoL and functioning in cervical cancer survivors comparable with age-matched controls. Cancer-specific distress, spiritual well-being, maladaptive coping and reproductive concerns are predicative of individual QoL |
| Bradley et al (2006) | Cross-sectional | Cervical and endometrial | 152 | SF-36, FACT-G, CES-D, POMS | No significant differences in QoL or depressive symptoms between cancer survivors or healthy controls. However, cervical cancer survivors report more negative mood |
| Vistad et al (2006) | Critical review | Cervical | 2041 | Self-report measures | QoL in cervical cancer survivors is reduced compared with the general population after radiotherapy |
| Vistad et al (2007) | Cross-sectional | Cervical | 79 | FQ, HADS, SF-36, SAQ, LENT- SOMA | Almost one-third of cervical cancer survivors report chronic fatigue (CF). Those with CF had significantly lower QoL and higher levels of depression, anxiety and physical impairment |
| Distefano et al (2008) | Prospective cohort | Cervical | 93 | SF-36, HADS | QoL scores comparable between locally advanced cervical cancer patients receiving pre-operative chemotherapy and those with early stage disease. Poor QoL scores associated with anxiety disorders, low educational level and unemployment status |
| Greimel et al (2008) | Cross-sectional | Cervical | 121 | EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-CX24, SAQ | Patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy are more likely to have impaired QoL than those treated with surgery or adjuvant chemotherapy |
A-DAS=Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale; BSI-18=Brief Symptom Inventory 18; CARES=Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System; CES-D=Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale; COPE=Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale; EORTC=European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer; FACT-G=Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (General); FACT-Sp=Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Spirituality Scale; FLI-C=Functional Living Index; FQ=Fatigue Questionnaire; FSFI=Female Sexual Function Index; GPC=Gynecologic Problems Checklist; HADS=Hospital and Depression Scale; IES=Impact of Event Scales; ISEL=Interpersonal Support Evaluation List; LENT SOMA=Late Effects of Normal Tissue, Subjective Objective Management Analysis; POMS=Profile of Mood States; QoL-CS=Quality of Life – Cancer Survivorship; SAQ=Sexual Activity Questionnaire; SF-12=Short Form 12; SF-36=Short Form 36.