Quality of life in patients with advanced cancer at the end of life as measured by the McGill quality of life questionnaire: a survey in China

Jing Cui; Fang Fang; Fengping Shen; Lijuan Song; Lingjun Zhou; Xiuqiang Ma; Jijun Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.02.016

Quality of life in patients with advanced cancer at the end of life as measured by the McGill quality of life questionnaire: a survey in China

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014 Nov;48(5):893-902. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.02.016. Epub 2014 May 2.

Authors

Jing Cui¹, Fang Fang², Fengping Shen³, Lijuan Song⁴, Lingjun Zhou⁵, Xiuqiang Ma⁶, Jijun Zhao⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
² Departments of Interventional Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
³ Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of Nursing, Shanghai Academy of Health Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Institute for Translational Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁶ Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁷ Nursing, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jcui83@163.com.

PMID: 24793079
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.02.016

Abstract

Context: Quality of life (QOL) is the main outcome measure for patients with advanced cancer at the end of life. The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is designed specifically for palliative care patients and has been translated and validated in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the QOL of patients with advanced cancer using the MQOL-Taiwan version after cultural adaptation to the Chinese mainland.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. QOL data from patients with advanced cancer were gathered from 13 hospitals including five tertiary hospitals, six secondary hospitals, and community health care service centers in Shanghai and analyzed. QOL was assessed using the MQOL-Chinese version. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and Spearman rank correlation analysis.

Results: A total of 531 cancer patients (297 male and 234 female) in 13 hospitals were recruited into the study and administered the MQOL-Chinese. The score of the support subscale was highest (6.82), and the score of the existential well-being subscale was the lowest (4.65). The five physical symptoms most frequently listed on the MQOL-Chinese were pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, powerless, and dyspnea. Participants' sex, educational level, number of children, disclosure of the disease, and hospital size were associated with their overall QOL. The Spearman rank correlation analysis found that Karnofsky Performance Status scores correlated with the MQOL-Chinese single-item score, physical well-being, psychological well-being, existential well-being, and support domains (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results revealed the aspects of QOL that need more attention for Chinese palliative care patients with advanced cancer. The association between the characteristics of patients, Karnofsky Performance Status, and their QOL also was identified.

Keywords: McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire; Quality of life; cancer.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
China
Community Health Centers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Neoplasms / psychology*
Palliative Care / methods*
Quality of Life*
Regression Analysis
Secondary Care Centers
Surveys and Questionnaires*
Tertiary Care Centers
Young Adult