Manchester Centre for Health Psychology and International Hub for Quality of Life Research (IHQoLR), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, MP13 9PL, UK.
Qual Life Res. 2019 May;28(5):1327-1335. doi: 10.1007/s11136-018-2088-9. Epub 2019 Jan 22.
Although a cancer diagnosis is linked with decrements to quality of life (QoL), it is unknown exactly when QoL starts to deteriorate, and whether this occurs during the pre-diagnostic pathway. This study aimed to examine QoL during this phase, and in addition investigate whether QoL levels influence decisions about seeking professional help. This is important, because early diagnosis is linked to lower cancer mortality rates.
Working alongside a Cancer Research UK Roadshow in socially deprived communities, the recent QoL of adult visitors was assessed, before attending primary care. Using a cross-sectional design, we compared QoL in those presenting a potential cancer symptom/sign, with others seeking lifestyle advice to reduce cancer risk. Self-reported QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), and intention to seek help, were measured.
Of 107 recruited, 50% were men. The potential cancer symptom group reported significantly poorer general QoL and psychological QoL, than lifestyle controls. Prior poorer physical QoL predicted stronger intentions to consult a general practitioner (GP) in the next 2 weeks, when controlling for symptom presence.
QoL is poorer for those with potential cancer symptoms, before they first seek advice from primary care. Poorer physical QoL is associated with stronger intentions to make a GP appointment. An implication for longer term health is that if public awareness about the impact of symptoms on QoL was raised, this could provide an impetus to seek help.
尽管癌症诊断与生活质量（QoL）下降有关，但尚不清楚 QoL 何时开始恶化，以及这种情况是否发生在诊断前的阶段。本研究旨在检查这一阶段的 QoL，并探讨 QoL 水平是否会影响寻求专业帮助的决策。这一点很重要，因为早期诊断与较低的癌症死亡率有关。
在英国癌症研究中心（Cancer Research UK）路演在贫困社区进行的同时，在他们前往初级保健机构之前，评估了成年访客的近期生活质量。采用横断面设计，我们比较了有潜在癌症症状/体征的人与寻求生活方式建议以降低癌症风险的人之间的生活质量。测量了自我报告的生活质量（WHOQOL-BREF）和寻求帮助的意愿。
在招募的 107 人中，有 50%是男性。有潜在癌症症状的组报告的总体生活质量和心理生活质量明显较差，而生活方式对照组则较差。在控制症状存在的情况下，先前较差的身体生活质量预测了在接下来的 2 周内更强烈地咨询全科医生（GP）的意愿。
在首次向初级保健机构寻求咨询之前，有潜在癌症症状的人的生活质量较差。身体生活质量较差与更强的预约 GP 意愿相关。对长期健康的一个影响是，如果提高公众对症状对生活质量的影响的认识，这可能会促使人们寻求帮助。
