Symptoms and quality of life assessment in ambulatory oncology: the evaluation of a clinical assessment tool

• Author / Creator

  Horsman, Susan

• This study addressed gaps in the literature regarding the lack of information about the degree and extent of the relationships among symptom burden, specific symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The sample included 89 adults receiving care for colorectal cancer in an outpatient setting. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected over a four month period using the Modified Ambulatory Care Flow Sheet (MACFS), the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist- Modified, numerical rating scales for pain and coping, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30. Results showed that the MACFS was reasonably valid and internally consistent and that symptom burden and number of symptoms were significantly abut weakly correlated with HRQL. Specific symptoms most significantly correlated with HRQL were insomnia, fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting. Findings support the use of the MACFS to assess symptoms and HRQL in the study population.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Quality of life
  • Symptoms
  • Oncology
  • Evaluation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2009

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Nursing

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R32X5P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.