Illness Perceptions and Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A 3-Month Follow-Up Pilot Study

Manja Vollmann; Ayako Matsuda; Judith R Kroep; Kunihiko Kobayashi; Kaoru Kubota; Kenichi Inoue; Kazue Yamaoka; Hein Putter; Rajen Ramai; Johannes W R Nortier; Maarten J Fischer; Ad A Kaptein

doi:10.2147/PROM.S238009

Illness Perceptions and Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A 3-Month Follow-Up Pilot Study

Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2020 Feb 27:11:67-71. doi: 10.2147/PROM.S238009. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Socio-Medical Sciences ESHPM, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
² Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
⁴ Saitama International Medical Center Saitama, Saitama, Japan.
⁵ Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.
⁷ Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
⁹ Respiratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
¹⁰ Medical Psychology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Purpose: Examine illness perceptions, functional health and quality of life of lung cancer patients throughout chemotherapy treatment.

Patients and methods: Longitudinal design with baseline measure 12 days after the first chemotherapy and follow-up measure 3 months later, where illness perceptions (BIPQ), functional health, and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C-30) were measured. A total of 21 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer took part. Non-parametric testing was performed given the pilot nature of the study and the associated relatively small sample size.

Results: Small to medium changes in illness perceptions and functional health between the two measurement points were detected, with both becoming more positive. More negative illness perceptions at the beginning of the treatment were associated with less functioning and lower quality of life at both beginning and end of treatment.

Conclusion: Addressing illness perceptions seems a clinically relevant approach in improving functioning and quality of life of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Keywords: illness perceptions; longitudinal design; lung cancer; patient reported outcomes; quality of life.