title: A comparison of quality-of-life domains and clinical factors in ovarian cancer patients: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are at risk for reduced quality of life (QOL). It is imperative to further define these declines to interpret treatment outcomes and design appropriate clinical interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to compare data obtained from ovarian cancer patients with normative data to assess the degree to which QOL differs from the norm. Secondary objectives were to examine demographic variables and determine if there was a correlation between physical/functional and social/emotional scores during chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with Stage III/IV ovarian cancer on Gynecologic Oncology Group Protocols 152 and 172 who underwent surgery followed by intravenous paclitaxel and cisplatin completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale includes the four domains of physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being (PWB, FWB, SWB, and EWB, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ovarian cancer patients had a total QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) score similar to the U.S. female adult population. However, the reported subscale scores were 2.0 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.5, P<0.001, effect size=0.37) lower in PWB, 0.9 points (95% CI 0.3-1.5, P=0.005, effect size=0.13) lower in FWB, 5.0 points (95% CI 4.6-5.3, P<0.001, effect size=0.74) higher in SWB, and 0.8 points (95% CI 0.3-1.2, P<0.001, effect size=0.16) lower in EWB. Correlation between the sum of PWB and FWB and the sum of SWB and EWB was r=0.53 (P<0.001). Age was positively correlated with EWB (r=0.193; 95% CI 0.09-0.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ovarian cancer patients have decreased QOL in physical, functional, and emotional domains; however, they may compensate with increased social support. At the time of diagnosis and treatment, patients' QOL is affected by inherent characteristics. Assessment of treatment outcomes should take into account the effect of these independent variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. vongruev@summahealth.org
authors.forename: Vivian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: von Gruenigen
authors.forename: Helen Q
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Heidi E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Lari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
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