Assessment of Quality of Life of Patients with Brain Tumors
Suela Kalaja1, Anita Pilika2, Artan Simaku3*
Citation : Suela Kalaja, Anita Pilika, Artan Simaku, Assessment of Quality of Life of Patients with Brain Tumors International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education 2018, 5(8) : 92-98
Introduction: Cancer as a disease and therapies administered for its treatment indicate that patients undergo
major trauma, different from one person to another, and these individuals react differently. The aim of the
study was to analyze the quality of life (QoL) and the level of depression anxiety and stress patients with brain
tumours before and after psychotherapy.
Material and Methods: The instruments used in the study are: European Organization for Research and
Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the questionnaire on the level
of, Depression, Anxiety and Stress - the Albanian version for the patients with cancer. The study was
conducted in 60 patients over the period 2015-2016 at the Department of Neuro-Oncology of the University
Hospital Center "Mother Theresa" in Tirana. Comparative methodology has been used - individual
intervention with involvement in the group. Presentation on case, case recording by physician, meeting and
receiving information from family members were initial steps of the study.
Results: After the therapy, a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients was found in global
score (p< 0.01) and functional scales: physical (p=0.02), emotional (p=0.03) and Symptoms scales: fatigue
(p=0.01), and constipation (p< 0.01). After the therapy, a significant improvement was found regarding the
depression (p< 0.01), anxiety (p< 0.01) and stress levels (p< 0.01) of patients.
Conclusion: The implementation of such an intervention means the creation of a multi-disciplinary and
interdisciplinary approach in order to address the ill person in its entirety and thus to meet his / her needs.