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Does gender influence outcomes from a multidisciplinary intervention for quality of life designed for patients with advanced cancer?

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer treatment can profoundly impact the patient’s quality of life (QOL). It has been well documented that there are gender differences in the symptoms associated with cancer treatment. This study explores the impact of gender on QOL for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer.

Methods

A randomized, controlled clinical trial in patients receiving radiotherapy for advanced cancer demonstrated maintenance of QOL with a six session multidisciplinary structured intervention compared to controls. This current study reports the gender differences in that trial. Outcome measures included the functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G), linear analog self-assessment (LASA), and profile of mood states (POMS) at baseline and weeks 4, 27, and 52. Kruskal–Wallis was used to compare QOL scores.

Results

One hundred thirty-one patients (45 women and 86 men, mean age 58.7) participated in the clinical trial. At week 4 postintervention, women in the intervention group had statistically significant improvement in their FACT-G score, FACT-G physical well-being subscale, LASA fatigue, POMS total score, POMS fatigue–inertia subscale, and POMS confusion–bewilderment subscale (p < 0.05). Men receiving the intervention had a smaller decrease in FACT-G score compared to controls (p = 0.048) and also worsened on the LASA financial (p = 0.02). At week 27, the only gender difference was that intervention group men had more POMS anger–hostility (p = 0.009). By week 52, there were no statistically significant gender differences in any of the QOL measures.

Conclusions

Gender-based differences appear to play a role in the early, but not late, response to a multidisciplinary intervention to improve QOL for patients with advanced cancer, suggesting that early interventions can be tailored for each gender.

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Funding source

Linse Bock Foundation and the Saint Mary’s Hospital Sponsorship Board

Role of funding source

Not involved in the development or conduct of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Maria I. Lapid, Simon Kung, Matthew M. Clark & Teresa A. Rummans

  2. Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Pamela J. Atherton & Jeff A. Sloan

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Andrea L. Cheville

  4. Graduate School Student Interim Program, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Molly McNiven

Authors
  1. Maria I. Lapid
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  2. Pamela J. Atherton
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  3. Simon Kung
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  4. Andrea L. Cheville
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  5. Molly McNiven
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  6. Jeff A. Sloan
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  7. Matthew M. Clark
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  8. Teresa A. Rummans
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria I. Lapid.

Additional information

This paper was presented as a poster at the MASCC/ISOO 2012 International Symposium on supportive care in cancer in New York City on June 28–30, 2012

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Lapid, M.I., Atherton, P.J., Kung, S. et al. Does gender influence outcomes from a multidisciplinary intervention for quality of life designed for patients with advanced cancer?. Support Care Cancer 21, 2485–2490 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1825-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1825-4

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