Longitudinal Evaluation of Areas Considered Important by Advanced Cancer Patients and the Subjective QOL Undergoing SEIQoL-DW

ABSTRACT

Introduction: SEIQoL-DW is a method of measuring the subjective QOL of each patient by focusing on five areas considered important by the patient in a semi-structured counseling session. The objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate the shift in areas considered important by advanced-cancer patients along with the shift in the subjective QOL. Methods: Patients who underwent SEIQoL-DW at the time of palliative care visit (first session) and after palliative care hospitalization (second session) within 1 year, in addition to also meeting the inclusion criteria such as a pain level of STAS 1 or lower, were included as the study subjects.Results: A total of 5 cases (mean age of 67.6 years among 1 male case and 4 female cases) were included. The P.S. was 1 for all cases at the first session, among which 3 cases were undergoing chemotherapy. At the second session, the P.S. was 3 or 4 for all cases. The mean time between the two sessions was 164 days. In all cases, 3 or more of the 5 important areas changed at the time of the second session. The SEIQoL-index, which is a comprehensive subjective QOL, improved in 3 cases but decreased in the other 2 cases. Conclusion: The areas considered important by terminal phase patients widely change. The shift in subjective QOL of each patient does not necessarily correspond to the decrease in the P.S. level.