QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSESSMENT IN A HOME CARE PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED CANCER-PATIENTS - A STUDY USING THE SYMPTOM DISTRESS SCALE

Quality-of-life assessment in advanced cancer patients should include the study of physical function, psychological status, social interacti ons, and symptoms. ''Symptom distress '' relates to the degree of disc omfort caused by specific symptoms. A Symptom Distress Scale, which ha s been developed by McCorkle and Young, is a self-rating instrument th at evaluates 13 symptoms. In the present study, the Italian version of the Symptom Distress Scale (SDS) was used to assess the quality of li fe in advanced cancer patients. The internal consistency of this versi on was found to be good (Cronbach's coefficient alpha = 0. 78). A samp le group of 43 patients treated in a home care program was asked to fi ll out the SDS on a weekly basis. The scores showed a reduction in sym ptom distress, which was primarily due to improvement in pain, nausea, and bowel pattern. Home care was less effective in improving concentr ation and, more generally, psychological aspects. This study confirm t he validity of a quality-of-life monitoring system that uses a patient self-rating symptom assessment instrument.