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Quality of life and physical limitations in primary brain tumor patients

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Abstract

Objective

To correlate quality of life (QoL) and physical limitations in histological proven primary brain tumor patients using a battery of generic, disease-specific and symptom questionnaires.

Methods

Thirty patients with primary brain tumors were selected from a neuro-oncology outpatient clinic. The FACT-Br Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with brain tumors), SF-36 (generic quality of life questionnaire), HADS (anxiety and depression), and Barthel Index (functionality scale) were answered by the patients at the same interview.

Results

The Barthel index did not demonstrate correlation with any subscale of the FACT-Br questionnaire. The HADS had a negative correlation with all FACT-Br subscales and its total score. The SF-36 had a significant weak to moderate correlation with the FACT-Br questionnaire.

Conclusion

Considering that the FACT-Br is a quick specific questionnaire, it can be a valuable and simple option in evaluating QoL in brain tumor patients with good functional capacity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery/Respiratory Physiotherapy Group of the Respiratory Division, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil

    Mariana R. Gazzotti

  2. Neurosurgery Division of Unifesp, São Paulo, Brazil

    Suzana M. F. Malheiros

  3. Neurosurgery/Respiratory Physiotherapy Group of the Respiratory Division, Unifesp, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcela Batan Alith

  4. Respiratory Division of Unifesp, Rua Botucatu, 740-3 andar, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil

    Oliver Nascimento, Ilka Lopes Santoro & José R. Jardim

  5. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, Unifesp/Lar Escola São Francisco (LESF), São Paulo, Brazil

    José R. Jardim

  6. Department of Physiotherapy, Unifesp, São Paulo, Brazil

    Milena Vidotto

Authors
  1. Mariana R. Gazzotti
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  2. Suzana M. F. Malheiros
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  3. Marcela Batan Alith
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  4. Oliver Nascimento
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  5. Ilka Lopes Santoro
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  6. José R. Jardim
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  7. Milena Vidotto
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Correspondence to José R. Jardim.

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Gazzotti, M.R., Malheiros, S.M.F., Batan Alith, M. et al. Quality of life and physical limitations in primary brain tumor patients. Qual Life Res 20, 1639–1643 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9908-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9908-5

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