| Learning Objective #1: Discuss the health-related quality of life in patients prior to allogeneic transplant as compared to the general population | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify the level of symptom distress experienced by patients prior to allogeneic transplant |
Objective: This study examined health-related quality of life (HRQL) and symptom distress (SD) in patients preparing to undergo allogeneic stem-cell transplant (A-SCT) for the treatment of hematological diseases. Design: Prospective survey of patients enrolled in an A-SCT trial in the United States (US). Population, sample, setting: Patients (N=76) were mostly male (67%), ranging in age from 18 – 71 years (M=40; SD=13.5), Caucasian (46%) or Hispanic (30%), predominantly with hematological malignancies (71%). Most (97%) had ECOG (performance status) <2. Variables: HRQL was measured by the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health scores of the Short Form-36 (range 0-100) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G; range 0-100). SD was measured by the Symptom Distress Scale (SDS; range 13-65). Methods: Patients completed the questionnaires in English or Spanish via a touch-screen computer during the trial baseline period. Scores were compared to published references for the 1998 general US population (GP) and a cancer population (CP) using one sample t-tests. Findings: Baseline results demonstrate mean PCS and MCS scores of pre-A-SCT patients were significantly lower than the GP (norm=50 vs 42.7, p<0.001 and 46.9, p<0.15, respectively). The mean PCS score for men was significantly lower than GP males (norm=50.9 vs 42; p<0.001); for women, the mean MCS score was significantly lower than GP females (norm=49.5 vs 43; p=.017). FACT-G total score was significantly lower than patients with Hodgkins disease (58.9 vs 66; p<0.001). Seventy-six percent of SDS scores indicated low SD (<25); 24% indicated moderate distress (>25). Conclusion: Men and women preparing for A-SCT have significantly poorer HRQL compared to the US GP and another cancer population, with relatively low levels of SD. Implications: Outcomes measurement of HRQL and SD prior to A-SCT can assist clinicians in the management of patients following transplant.
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