Illness perceptions and quality of life in Japanese and Dutch patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
This study examined quality of life (QOL) and illness perceptions in Dutch and Japanese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, thereby extending the body of knowledge on cultural differences and psychosocial aspects of this illness. 24 Dutch and 22 Japanese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer filled out questionnaires on three occasions: immediately before chemotherapy, 1 week later, and 8 weeks after the initial chemotherapy. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) assessed QOL, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) illness perceptions. Scores on several QOL measures indicated (a) major impact of first chemotherapy sessions, and (b) some tendency to returning to baseline measures at 8 weeks. Differences between Japanese and Dutch samples were found on five EORTC QLQ-C30 dimensions: global health status, emotional functioning, social functioning, constipation, and financial difficulties, with the Dutch patients reporting more favorable scores. Regarding illness perceptions, Japanese patients had higher means on perceived treatment control and personal control, expressing a higher sense of belief in the success of medical treatment than Dutch patients. In both Japanese and Dutch patients, impact of chemotherapy on QOL was evident. Some differences in illness perceptions and QOL between the two samples were observed, with implications for integral medical management. Both samples reported illness perceptions that reflect the major consequences of non-small-cell lung cancer. Incorporating symptom reports, illness perceptions, and QOL into medical management may have positive consequences for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
Unit of Psychology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. a.a.kaptein@lumc.nl
Ad A
AA
Kaptein
Kazue
K
Yamaoka
Lucia
L
Snoei
Kunihiko
K
Kobayashi
Yuka
Y
Uchida
Willem A
WA
van der Kloot
Toshio
T
Tabei
Wim Chr
WC
Kleijn
Mariska
M
Koster
Giel
G
Wijnands
Hans
H
Kaajan
Tommy
T
Tran
Kenichi
K
Inoue
Rik
R
van Klink
Eva
E
van Dooren-Coppens
Hans
H
Dik
Fumi
F
Hayashi
Luuk
L
Willems
Dunja
D
Annema-Schmidt
Jouke
J
Annema
Bas
B
van der Maat
Klaas
K
van Kralingen
Corrie
C
Meirink
Kyoji
K
Ogoshi
Neil
N
Aaronson
Hans
H
Nortier
Klaus
K
Rabe
D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors