OBJECTIVE: To (i) investigate the characteristics of health-related quality of life and satisfaction with
case management and (ii) to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life in cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND: The level of health-related quality of life can reflect treatment efficacy and satisfaction with cancer care.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adopted.
METHODS: Subjects from the outpatient setting of a cancer centre in northern Taiwan were recruited by consecutive sampling. A set of questionnaires were employed, including a background information form,
case management service satisfaction survey (CMSS) and The European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D). Descriptive statistics were used to examine levels of health-related quality of life and satisfaction with
case management. Pearson\'s correlation was used to identify relationships between treatment characteristics, satisfaction with
case management and health-related quality of life. Multiple stepwise regression was used to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life.
RESULTS: A total of 252 cancer patients were recruited. The three lowest scores for items of health-related quality of life were mobility, self-care and usual activities. Cancer survivors with higher mobility, less pain and discomfort, and lower anxiety and depression were more likely to have better health-related quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Mobility, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression are important predictive factors of high health-related quality of life in cancer survivors.
CONCLUSIONS: In clinical care, patients\' physical mobility, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression are important indicators of health-related quality of life.
Case managers should include self-care and symptom management into survivorship care plans to improve health-related quality of life during survival after treatment concludes.