title: Quality-of-life assessment: arm TIVAD versus chest TIVAD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous access devices are essential for the provision of care for patients requiring chemotherapy. Totally implanted venous access devices (TIVADs), also known as ports, are an option for infusion care. Medical devices have an impact upon patient quality of life. We assessed the impact on quality of life and satisfaction with their venous device, for patients with a chest TIVAD versus an upper arm TIVAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sequential subjects were administered a questionnaire, "Quality of Life Assessment, Venous Device - Port (QLAVD-P)" at the time of their TIVAD removal. All subjects consented to complete the questionnaire and volunteered for this assessment. The TIVADs were all implanted and removed in the medical imaging department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between March 1, 2014 and August 30, 2015, 127 subjects completed the QLAVD-P. At the time of their port removal, 51 had chest ports while 76 had arm ports. There were some negative features of the chest ports that were statistically significant in comparison to the arm ports. Most of the subjects felt that their port had a positive impact upon their treatment and they would have another port inserted if required for future treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality of life for those requiring intravenous chemotherapy is very important. This should be considered when selecting an infusion device. Venous ports were positively received by the subjects in our study and there were fewer negative impacts upon subject satisfaction and quality of life for those with upper-arm devices.
authors:  Medical Imaging, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Canada.
authors: Brent
authors: B
authors: Burbridge
authors:  Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Regina General Hospital, Regina, Saskatchewan - Canada.
authors: Kunal
authors: K
authors: Goyal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020878:Device Removal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents