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Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors of Hodgkin's Lymphoma

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Abstract

In this study health-related quality of life (HRQL) in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) was evaluated and the findings were analyzed using a conceptual model developed by Wilson and Cleary. A better understanding of the relationships between the variables explaining HRQL may improve care and rehabilitation of HL patients. The populations were long-term survivors of HL (n=121) and a control group (n = 236). Participants were approached with one semi-structured interview, an extended version of the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life – Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) and three standardized questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, Short Form 12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12) and Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale. No differences regarding the mean scores were found between the HL survivors and the controls except for the SF-12, where the patients considered themselves to be in poorer physical health than the controls (p < 0.01). Even though physical health was diminished, patients did not evaluate overall QoL worse compared to the controls. The major determinants of perception of general QoL were self-rated physical and mental health as well as SOC. The HRQL of persons who have survived a median of 14years with HL is similar to that of controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nursing Research, Department of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden (E-mail:

    L. Wettergren & A. Langius-Eklöf

  2. Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    M. Björkholm & U. Axdorph

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  1. L. Wettergren
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  2. M. Björkholm
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  3. U. Axdorph
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  4. A. Langius-Eklöf
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Wettergren, L., Björkholm, M., Axdorph, U. et al. Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Qual Life Res 13, 1369–1379 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000040790.43372.69

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000040790.43372.69

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