Abstract 4165
Background
Family caregivers (FCs) play important roles in the care provided to patients with incurable cancer. These patients experience a wide range of distressing symptoms. This symptom burden may add to the burden of FCs and consequently may have a negative impact on their quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the symptom burden in a cohort of patients with incurable cancer and the QoL of their FCs.
Methods
The study included 94 dyads of hospitalized incurable cancer patients and one of their FCs. The symptom burden among patients was assessed using the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) and the QoL of their FCs was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form (MOS SF-36) questionnaire.
Results
Nausea was the most common symptom to associate with poorer QoL scores. There was a significant negative correlation between nausea and the following MOS SF-36 scales: physical functioning (r=-0.219, p = 0.034), role limitations due to physical health (r =-0.0228, p = 0.027), pain (r=-0.404, p < 0.001), general health (r =-0.222, p = 0.031) and health change (r=-0.317, p = 0.002). Other symptoms that correlated significantly with at least one of the MOS SF-36 scales were weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression and wellbeing. The total ESAS-r score correlated significantly with poorer scores on the pain (r=-0.248, p = 0.016) and health change (r=-0.311, p = 0.002) scales of MOS SF-36. In addition; older FCs age, hours of care per day, total period of care, FCs employment and inadequate income correlated significantly with poorer scores of at least one of the MOS SF-36 scales.
Conclusions
The high symptom burden experienced by patients with incurable cancer may have a negative impact on the QoL of their FCs, especially the physical aspect.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Clinical Oncology Department, Menofia University.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1269 - One-year follow-up results of eribulin for soft-tissue sarcoma including rare subtypes in a real-world observational study in Japan
Presenter: Shunji Takahashi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2868 - Prevalence of chemotherapy use and its impact on overall survival in patients with bone- and soft tissue sarcomas -A population-based analysis of 3746 patients
Presenter: Herbert Loong
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3042 - Clinical course and therapeutic management of classical and endemic Kaposi’s Sarcoma (C/E KS)
Presenter: Lina Benajiba
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3141 - The final outcomes of study on combined therapy of adult patients with localized synovial sarcoma
Presenter: Katarzyna Kozak
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5449 - Real-world Outcomes of Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Epithelioid Sarcoma
Presenter: Mrinal Gounder
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4465 - SAKK 57/16 Nab-Paclitaxel And Gemcitabine in soft tissue sarcoma (NAPAGE): results from the phase I part of a phase I/II trial
Presenter: Antonia Digklia
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5013 - Outcome of 98 patients with epithelioid sarcoma treated in curative intent: a retrospective study from the French Sarcoma Group (GSF-GETO)
Presenter: Maud Pedrono
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5614 - Comparison of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim prophylaxis in sarcoma patients receiving highly myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Presenter: Paolo Tarantino
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1033 - Access to clinical trials for soft tissue sarcoma patients in Western and Eastern Europe
Presenter: Vasilii Ostafiichuk
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4094 - Treatment outcomes for adult patients with localized osteosarcoma treated with chemotherapy without methotrexate
Presenter: Marília Silva
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract