Factors influencing quality of life in patients with benign primary brain tumors : prior to and following surgery

Abstract

Goals: Few studies have repeatedly evaluated quality of life
and potentially relevant factors in patients with benign
primary brain tumor. The purpose of this study was to
explore the relationship between the experience of the
symptom distress, functional status, depression, and quality
of life prior to surgery (T1) and 1 month post-discharge
(T2). ----------
Patients and methods: This was a prospective cohort study
including 58 patients with benign primary brain tumor in
one teaching hospital in the Taipei area of Taiwan. The
research instruments included the M.D. Anderson Symptom
Inventory, the Functional Independence Measure
scale, the Hospital Depression Scale, and the Functional
Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain.----------
Results: Symptom distress (T1: r=−0.90, p<0.01; T2:
r=−0.52, p<0.01), functional status (T1: r=0.56, p<0.01),
and depression (T1: r=−0.71, p<0.01) demonstrated a
significant relationship with patients' quality of life.
Multivariate analysis identified symptom distress
(explained 80.2%, Rinc 2=0.802, p=0.001) and depression
(explained 5.2%, Rinc 2=0.052, p<0.001) continued to have
a significant independent influence on quality of life prior
to surgery (T1) after controlling for key demographic and
medical variables. Furthermore, only symptom distress
(explained 27.1%, Rinc 2=0.271, p=0.001) continued to
have a significant independent influence on quality of life
at 1 month after discharge (T2).----------
Conclusions: The study highlights the potential importance
of a patient's symptom distress on quality of life prior to
and following surgery. Health professionals should inquire
about symptom distress over time. Specific interventions
for symptoms may improve the symptom impact on quality
of life. Additional studies should evaluate symptom distress
on longer-term quality of life of patients with benign brain
tumor.