title: Symptom burden and quality of life in patients with malignant fungating wounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the relationship between symptoms and quality of life in patients with malignant fungating wounds.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Malignant fungating wounds are complex wounds that can bleed, become malodorous due to infection and are painful causing physical and psychological distress. However, there is a lack of literature on the impact that such wounds can have on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive, cross-sectional multi-centre study of patients with malignant fungating wounds. Participants were recruited from the palliative care, hospice, outpatient clinic and oncology units of three medical centres in Taiwan. Data were collected from February 2008 to August 2009. A structured questionnaire obtained socio-demographic information, medical details, wound assessment information and the Taiwanese version of the McGill quality of life questionnaire was administered by interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  McGill quality of life scores indicated that the participants had the lowest quality of life. The participant's age, dressing change frequency, pain, wound dressing comfort, wound symptom, bleeding and malodour had statistically significant negative correlations with quality of life. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, malodour, pain issues and psychological issues explained 87% of the total variance in quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of malignant fungating wounds and how correct assessment and management is necessary to improve quality of life. Educational intervention research is needed for patients and caregivers in countries where this has not yet been performed. Further research should also identify whether nursing competence has a direct impact on quality of life.
authors: Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi College of Technology, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors: Shu-Fen
authors: SF
authors: Lo
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Hayter
authors: Wen-Yu
authors: WY
authors: Hu
authors: Chiao-Yun
authors: CY
authors: Tai
authors: Mei-Yu
authors: MY
authors: Hsu
authors: Yu-Fen
authors: YF
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D009812:Odorants; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D013624:Taiwan; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing