The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of Chinese home-based advanced-stage cancer patients and to evaluate the association between the disclosure of cancer diagnosis and QOL. An interview-based survey was conducted from December 2009 to June 2010 in the home-based hospice of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. The principal finding of this study demonstrated that patients who did not have knowledge of their diagnosis exhibited better physical and emotional QOL compared with those who had knowledge of their diagnosis.
ZimmermannC, BurmanD, SwamiNet al.Determinants of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer, 2010; 19:621–629.
3.
TseCY, ChongA, FokSY. Breaking bad news: A Chinese perspective. Palliat Med, 2003; 17:339–343.
4.
MullerJH, DesmondB. Ethical dilemmas in a cross-cultural context. A Chinese example. West J Med, 1992; 157:323–327.
5.
LeungKK, ChiuTY, ChenCY. The influence of awareness of terminal condition on spiritual well-being in terminal cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2006; 31:449–456.
6.
ChiuTY, HuWY, ChengSY, ChenCY. Ethical dilemmas in palliative care: A study in Taiwan. J Med Ethics, 2000; 26:353–357.
7.
TavoliA, MohagheghiMA, MontazeriA, RoshanR, TavoliZ, OmidvariS. Anxiety and depression in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: Does knowledge of cancer diagnosis matter?BMC Gastroenterol, 2007; 7:28.
8.
MontazeriA, TavoliA, MohagheghiMA, RoshanR, TavoliZ. Disclosure of cancer diagnosis and quality of life in cancer patients: Should it be the same everywhere?BMC Cancer, 2009; 9:39.
9.
LheureuxM, RaherisonC, VernejouxJM, NguyenL, NocentC, Tunon De LaraM, TaytardA. Quality of life in lung cancer: Does disclosure of the diagnosis have an impact?Lung Cancer, 2004; 43:175–182.
10.
BozcukH, ErdoganV, EkenC, CiplakE, SamurM, OzdoğanM, SavaşB. Does awareness of diagnosis make any difference to quality of life? Determinants of emotional functioning in a group of cancer patients in Turkey. Support Care Cancer, 2002; 10:51–57.
11.
MontazeriA, HoleDJ, MilroyR, McEwenJ, GillisCR. Does knowledge of cancer diagnosis affect quality of life? A methodological challenge. BMC Cancer, 2004; 4:21.
12.
Justo RollI, SimmsV, HardingR. Multidimensional problems among advanced cancer patients in Cuba: Awareness of diagnosis is associated with better patient status. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2009; 37:325–330.
13.
AokiY, NakagawaK, HasezawaK, TagoM, BabaN, ToyodaK, ToyodaT, KozukaT, KiryuS, IgakiH, SasakiY. Significance of informed consent and truth-telling for quality of life in terminal cancer patients. Radiat Med, 1997; 15:133–135.
14.
HintonJ. Can home care maintain an acceptable quality of life for patients with terminal cancer and their relatives?Palliat Med, 1994; 8:183–196.
15.
HigginsonIJ, Sen-GuptaGJ. Place of care in advanced cancer: A qualitative systematic literature review of patient preferences. J Palliat Med, 2000; 3:287–300.
16.
VinciguerraV, DegnanTJ, SciortinoA, O'ConnellM, MooreT, BrodyR, BudmanD, EngM, CarltonD. A comparative assessment of home versus hospital comprehensive treatment for advanced cancer patients. J Clin Oncol, 1986; 4:1521–1528.
17.
BrumleyRD, EnguidanosS, CherinDA. Effectiveness of a home-based palliative care program for end-of-life. J Palliat Med, 2003; 6:715–724.
18.
AaronsonNK, AhmedzaiS, BergmanB, BullingerM, CullA, DuezNJ, FilibertiA, FlechtnerH, FleishmanSB, de HaesJC, KaasaS, KleeM, OsobaD, RazaviD, RofePB, SchroubS, SneeuwK, SullivanM, TakedaF. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: A quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1993; 85:365–376.
19.
ZhaoH, KandaK. Translation and validation of the standard Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Qual Life Res, 2000; 9:129–137.
20.
GongalR, VaidyaP, JhaR, RajbhandaryO, WatsonM. Informing patients about cancer in Nepal: What do people prefer?Palliat Med, 2006; 20:471–476.
21.
ChandraPS, ChaturvediSK, KumarA, KumarS, SubbakrishnaDK, ChannabasavannaSM, AnanthaN. Awareness of diagnosis and psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients—a study from South India. J Psychosom Res, 1998; 45:257–261.
22.
MystakidouK, ParpaE, TsililaE, KatsoudaE, VlahosL. Cancer information disclosure in different cultural contexts. Support Care Cancer, 2004; 12:147–154.
23.
MitchellJL. Cross-cultural issues in the disclosure of cancer. Cancer Pract, 1998; 6:153–160.
24.
MakMH. Awareness of dying: An experience of Chinese patients with terminal cancer. Omega (Westport), 2001; 43:259–279.
25.
ChanCW, HonHC, ChienWT, LopezV. Social support and coping in Chinese patients undergoing cancer surgery. Cancer Nurs, 2004; 27:230–236.
26.
ScottNW, FayersPM, AaronsonNK, BottomleyA, de GraeffA, GroenvoldM, KollerM, PetersenMA, SprangersMA. EORTC Quality of Life Group; Quality of Life Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis Group: The relationship between overall quality of life and its subdimensions was influenced by culture: Analysis of an international database. J Clin Epidemiol, 2008; 61:788–795.
27.
ChungTK, FrenchP, ChanS. Patient-related barriers to cancer pain management in a palliative care setting in Hong Kong. Cancer Nurs, 1999; 22:196–203.
28.
HoRT, ChanCL, HoSM. Emotional control in Chinese female cancer survivors. Psychooncology, 2004; 13:808–817.
29.
JenkinsV, FallowfieldL, SaulJ. Information needs of patients with cancer: Results from a large study in UK cancer centres. Br J Cancer, 2001; 84:48–51.
30.
BlinovNN, KomiakovIP, ShipovnikovNB. [The attitude of cancer patients to their own diagnosis]Vopr Onkol, 1990; 36:966–969.
31.
RobertsCS, CoxCE, ReintgenDS, BaileWF, GibertiniM. Influence of physician communication on newly diagnosed breast patients' psychologic adjustment and decision-making. Cancer, 1994; 74:336–341.
32.
HodgesLJ, HumphrisGM, MacfarlaneG. A meta-analytic investigation of the relationship between the psychological distress of cancer patients and their carers. Soc Sci Med, 2005; 60:1–12.
33.
DumontS, TurgeonJ, AllardP, GagnonP, CharbonneauC, VezinaL. Caring for a loved one with advanced cancer: Determinants of psychological distress in family caregivers. J Palliat Med, 2006; 9:912–921.
34.
PapadopoulosA, VrettosI, KamposiorasK, AnagnostopoulosF, GiannopoulosG, PectasidesD, NiakasD, EconomopoulosT. Impact of cancer patients' disease awareness on their family members' health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional survey. Psychooncology., 2011; 20:291–301.
