[Physical, psychological and social conditions of patients with cancer as parameters in clinical examinations].
Measurement of the quality of life should be employed as a parameter of equal value to the response rate, duration of response and survival in clinically controlled investigations in cancer patients. The quality of life must be considered to be composed of a series of various key factors including functional status, physical symptoms, psychological problems, social interaction and the economical situation. Questionnaires which are completed by the patient are the best solution in clinically controlled investigations. These should be made specially for cancer patients and the questions should be made specially for cancer patients and the questions should have a limited number of well defined possible answers. Measurement of the quality of life is a technology under development and should, therefore, be assessed as regards validity and reliability. Investigations of the quality of life in cancer patients should be undertaken as longitudinal investigations among patients with the same diagnoses. Examples of measuring of the quality of life are Karnofsky & Burchenal's performance status which assesses the level of functional status, the Sickness Impact Profile which is a superior assessment of the general health and the "EORTC core questionnaire" which is an assessment of key factors of the quality of life adjusted specially for cancer patients.
M C
MC
Klee
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JB
Sørensen
D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Fysiske, psykiske og sociale forhold hos kraeftpatienter som parametre ved kliniske undersøgelser.