ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of physical quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with advanced cancer undergoing home-visit rehabilitation. Method: In this prospective study, we included 35 patients with advanced cancer undergoing home-visit rehabilitation. Physical QOL was assessed using the Physical Functioning (PF) score on the QLQ-C15, and ADL was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) and Functional Independence Measure (Motor FIM) scores. Changes in physical QOL and each ADL scores from the start of rehabilitation to 4 weeks later were investigated. Also, patients were divided into two groups according to the PF score and characteristics of physical QOL and ADL between the two groups were explored. Result: PF score was significantly improved after 4 weeks compared to baseline. In the PF score maintenance/improvement group, motor FIM score was significantly improved after 4 weeks compared to baseline. Conclusion: The physical QOL of patients with advanced cancer undergoing home-visit rehabilitation was maintained and improved 4 weeks after the start of rehabilitation. It was suggested that maintaining ADL may lead to maintenance and improvement of physical QOL.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the motor development and quality of life in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) stratified by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), and to investigate various factors that affect quality of life in these subjects. METHOD: Ninety eight children with severe cerebral palsy, mean age 5.8y, were included. The assessment consisted of a clinical evaluation of gross motor function measure (GMFM), a semi-structured interview for child health questionnaire (CHQ), and a review of medical records. RESULTS: CP in GMFCS level V showed lower mean score of GMFM and CHQ than level IV (p<0.05). Scores that present physical quality of life were lower than scores of psychosocial quality of life (p<0.05). Motor distribution and sex were found to be significant factors that affect quality of life in children with severe CP (p<0.05). In particular, as the father's education level is higher, the physical quality of life in CP is better (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we report general life quality status of children with severe CP in Korea. Some factors such as severity and distribution of paralysis of the CP, sex, parental factor were found to affect their quality of life. We suggest that it is necessary to consider not only motor function, but also quality of life for children with severe CP.