title: Predictors of distress and poorer quality of life in High Grade Glioma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine High Grade Glioma (HGG) patients' levels of distress and QOL during combined chemoradiotherapy, explore predictors of distress and QOL and prioritize patients' supportive care needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with HGG who were referred for combined chemoradiotherapy were recruited. Participants completed demographics and questionnaires assessing distress, function, and supportive care needs. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, t-tests and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  116 participants completed the questionnaire. Participants scored lower for QOL in physical, functional and emotional domains than the general Australian population. Poor physical function, lower education levels, loss of employment and financial impact associated with diagnosis were consistently linked with multiple domains of distress, poor QOL and high unmet needs. Having a carer who was their partner predicted lower emotional well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with HGG experience a poor QOL, increased levels of distress and high unmet needs when commencing chemoradiotherapy. Patients who experience a financial impact and those with lower education levels may report higher levels of distress and increased unmet needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor function, lower education and limited financial resources may help identify those who require additional screening and may benefit from additional information and psychological support at this time.
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: g.halkett@curtin.edu.au.
authors: Georgia K B
authors: GK
authors: Halkett
authors: Calvary Health Care Kogarah and Cunningham Centre for Palliative Care, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Lobb
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Rogers
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Thérèse
authors: T
authors: Shaw
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Anne P
authors: AP
authors: Long
authors: Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Helen R
authors: HR
authors: Wheeler
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Anna K
authors: AK
authors: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Distress; High Grade Glioma; Quality of life; Questionnaire; Supportive care needs