title: Reporting health-related quality of life scores to physicians during routine follow-up visits of pediatric oncology patients: is it effective?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention that provides health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores of the patient (the QLIC-ON PROfile) to the pediatric oncologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with cancer participated in a sequential cohort intervention study: intervention N = 94, control N = 99. Primary outcomes of effectiveness were communication about HRQOL domains (t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test) and identification of HRQOL problems (chi-squared test). Secondary outcomes were satisfaction (multilevel analysis), referrals (chi-squared test), and HRQOL (multilevel analysis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The QLIC-ON PROfile increased discussion of emotional functioning (control M = 32.9 vs. intervention M = 47.4, P < 0.05) and psychosocial functioning (M = 56.9 vs. M = 63.8, P < 0.05). Additionally more emotional problems remained unidentified in the control compared to the intervention group, for example, anger (control 26% vs. intervention 3%, P < 0.01), fear (14% vs. 0%, P < 0.01), and sadness (26% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). The intervention had no effect on satisfaction and referrals, but did improve HRQOL of patients 5-7 years of age with respect to self-esteem (P < 0.05), family activities (P < 0.05), and psychosocial functioning (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a PRO is a helpful tool for systematic monitoring HRQOL of children with cancer, without lengthening the duration of the consultation. It is recommended to be implemented in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial Department, Academic Medical Centre/Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Engelen
authors.forename: Symone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Detmar
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurice-Stam
authors.forename: Huib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caron
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoogerbrugge
authors.forename: R Maarten
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Egeler
authors.forename: Gertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaspers
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grootenhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation