title: Quality of life after brachytherapy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: As quality of life (QoL) is perhaps the most important outcome for patients treated for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we measured QoL in GBM patients after brachytherapy. QoL was assessed by questionnaires for both patients and partners before brachytherapy and at various times during follow-up in 21 GBM patients by an extension of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (e-RSCL), consisting of four subscales. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) was also measured. Analysis of variance was done to evaluate the direct effect of brachytherapy (visit 1-2, short-term) and during follow up (visit 1-4, longer-term). Significant short-term effects were found for two subscales of the e-RSCL. Longer-term effects were found for all four subscales and for the KPS. A high correlation between partner and patient's QoL assessment was found. QoL in GBM patients after brachytherapy can therefore be carefully monitored with a subjective instrument such as the e-RSCL. Patients and partners experience QoL equally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.w.koot@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Koot
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Heer
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Oort
authors.forename: M C C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hulshof
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: J C J M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Haes
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology