[A new assessment of quality of life (QOL) for cancer patients].

A new assessment of quality of life (QOL) was made for cancer patients. The QOL assessment consists of 12 items: pain; nausea; constipation; general fatigue; sleep; eating; activity; a daily life pattern; conversation; treatment acceptability; satisfaction at the present status and family exhaustion. Ranges of scores are one (best) to five (worst). For visual expression of QOL, the author made an original method called "QOL diagram", drawn with a circle which has 12 diverging lines marked five points indicating the score for each item. QOL changes after cancer pain control with either oral or intravenous morphine were examined in 22 adult cancer patients by the QOL assessment. Laxatives and anti-nausea drugs were mostly prescribed at the same time in order to avoid side effects of morphine. QOL was evaluated and recorded by the author through an individual interview with each patient. It was observed that the psychological factors were improved along with pain relief. Although items such as general fatigue, nausea, constipation, sleep and eating did not change considerably at first, they improved well with time in the oral morphine group. On the other hand, there was no marked time-dependent change in the intravenous morphine group. Items such as activity, a daily life pattern and conversation were rather negative than positive. These items seem to be more important to improve QOL of the cancer patients, in particular, whose general status is relatively good. In conclusion, the QOL diagram helped us to follow subtle changes of status and needs of cancer patients. And it enables us to easily assess risks and benefits of the treatment plans including palliative care and home supportive programs. It is designed for both patients and medical staffs to use easily and repeatedly. However, the further evaluation and refinement will be needed to verify validity and reliability of the QOL diagram before a routine clinical application.