Perceptions of quality of life and quality of care for patients with cancer receiving biological therapy.

This retrospective, descriptive study was undertaken to identify patient and family perceptions about quality of life (QOL) and quality of care (QOC) after experimental biological therapy. A mail survey that included instruments designed to measure QOL (the Profile of Mood States [POMS] and the Linear Analogue Self-Assessment [Lasa]) and QOC was sent to patients (response rate, 60%) and to relatives of deceased patients (response rate, 70%). Bivariate and multivariate statistics were used to analyze the data. Patients reported a relatively good quality of life, as measured by POMS and LASA scores. The majority of living patients and of family members of deceased patients were positive about the QOC received; relatives were significantly less positive than patients. Four components were significant in respondents' assessment of QOC: adequate symptom control, availability of support services, communication with the medical team, and receiving information about response to treatment. The findings suggest that there is a need to supplement survival data and biomedical outcomes with information about patient and family perceptions about care and treatment.