Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy - Association between satisfaction with information provided and quality of life

Background. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is highly prevalent in southern China. Prominent acute side effects of radiotherapy create problems in dail y living and working that can generate considerable financial difficulties. A better adjustment to a diagnosis of NPC appears to be associated with an improved rate of recovery, a better quality of life (QoL), a quicker retur n to work, and normal functioning. Patient satisfaction with physician cons ultation and the way information is provided in particular may have signifi cant bearing on QoL. The current study reports on short-term QoL after radi otherapy in NPC patients as a function of satisfaction with the information provided. Methods. Newly referred Hong Kong Chinese NPC patients (n=211) completed in terview measures at baseline before the initiation of radiotherapy, at 4 mo nths after baseline (immediate posttreatment consultation) (FU 1), and agai n at 8 months (short-term postradiation period) after baseline (FU 2). Sati sfaction with the information provided was measured by five items selected from the cognitive subscale of the Medical Inter-view Satisfaction Scale (M ISS). QoL was measured by the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G (Ch)). Results. After adjustment for overall patient satisfaction (the PSQ-9), opt imism, worry about family, anger, eating ability, subjective health, family income, and occupation at FU 1, treatment between baseline and FU 1, and d isease recurrence after baseline, the 5-item MISS at FU 1 (beta =0.21, P<0. 01) was found to significantly predict patient QoL at FU 2. Adjustment for baseline QoL and disease stage did not appear to alter this relation (<beta >=0.20, P<0.01). Conclusions. To the authors' knowledge, there is very little research conce rning NPC. The results of the current study reinforced the need to improve physicians' information provision during consultations with Chinese NPC pat ients shortly after the end of treatment. Cancer 2001;92:2126-35. (C) 2001 American Cancer Society.