What determines the quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients from their own perspective?
BACKGROUND
Although several instruments have been developed to measure the quality of life (QOL) of palliative care patients, a rigorous research study has not specifically asked patients themselves what is important to their QOL. It is, therefore, not clear whether these instruments measure what is most important to these patients' QOL.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the primary determinants of the QOL of palliative care patients with cancer.


METHODS
The study used a qualitative paradigm. Participants were interviewed concerning what was important to their QOL. A systematic content analysis of the transcripts was carried out by all the investigators.


RESULTS
Five broad domains were found to be importnat determinants of patient QOL: (1) the patient's own state, including physical and cognitive functioning, psychological state, and physical condition; (2) quality of palliative care; (3) physical environment; (4) relationships; and (5) outlook.


CONCLUSIONS
Existing instruments cover many of these domains, but no single instrument includes all of the relevant content. The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, which we developed previously, has been revised based on these data.
Cohen
S Robin
SR
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Division of Palliative Care, Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Leis
Anne
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards