title: Gender Differences in Predictors of Quality of Life at the Initiation of Radiation Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate gender differences in quality of life (QOL), demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two radiation oncology departments in northern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  185 patients before initiation of radiation therapy (RT).
  
  
  METHODS
  At their RT simulation visit, patients completed a demographic questionnaire, a measure of QOL, and symptom-specific scales. Backward elimination regression analyses were conducted to determine the significant predictors of QOL .
  
  
  METHODS
  QOL, gender, and 20 potential predictors .
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women, depressive symptoms, functional status, age, and having children at home explained 64% of the variance in QOL. In men, depressive symptoms, state anxiety, number of comorbidities, being a member of a racial or ethnic minority, and age explained 70% of the variance in QOL .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predictors of QOL differed by gender. Depressive symptom score was the greatest contributor to QOL in both genders. .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses need to assess for QOL and depression at the initiation of RT. Knowledge of the different predictors of QOL may be useful in the design of gender-specific interventions to improve QOL.
authors: University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: West
authors: School of Nursing, UCSF.
authors: Steven M
authors: SM
authors: Paul
authors: University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Dunn
authors: University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Anand
authors: A
authors: Dhruva
authors: University of Pittsburgh.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Merriman
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Miaskowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anxiety; depression; gender differences; quality of life; radiation therapy