Search

Purpose: Understanding the activities of daily living (ADL) of cancer patients at the end-of-life stage may help healthcare providers develop interventions for preserving physical function and enhance patient's dignity in an everyday care context. This study aims to develop and test a causal effect model of physical function in terminal cancer patients. Methods: A total of 238 participants were recruited from two hospitals in South Korea. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire including demographics, visual analogue scale for pain, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, and Katz index of independence in ADL. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 programs for structural equation modeling procedures. Results: Most participants were aged 65 years or older (65.5%), male (53.8%), and inpatients (74.4%). The most common primary cancer site was gastrointestinal tract (44.1%). Physical function of the participants was positively influenced by regular exercise and negatively influenced by hospitalization, fatigue, and pain, explaining 35.1% of the variance. In this study, regular exercise improved participants' ADL level directly and indirectly either by reducing fatigue or decreasing fatigue through controlling pain. Pain did not affect ADL directly but decreased ADL level indirectly through fatigue as a mediator. Conclusion: ADL was positively influenced by regular exercise and was negatively influenced by hospitalization, fatigue, and pain. Based on these results, in order to minimizing the problems of physical function in terminal cancer patients, interventions that reduce pain and fatigue and provide regular exercise are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity affects health-related quality of life (QoL); however, their relationship among elderly Asians is not well known. Aims: Relationship of domain-specific QoL with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and the sex differences were investigated using a nationally representative sample of elderly Korean population. Methods: In the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey phase VII (2016–2018), 3659 adults aged ≥ 65 years (1551 men and 2108 women) participated. BMI and waist circumference were classified according to Asian- and Korean-specific criteria. QoL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Scale-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship of QoL with BMI and waist circumference. Results: Men with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 and ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 had a significant association with poor QoL in mobility and self-care, but no relationship was found with the other domains. Women with BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 had poor QoL in mobility and self-care, and those with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 had poor QoL in usual activities and pain/discomfort. There was no significant association with anxiety/depression. Both elderly men and women with abdominal obesity had a significant association with poor QoL in mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort; however, there was no significant relationship with waist circumference and anxiety/depression. Conclusions: The association between QoL and BMI was different according to sex and the domains of QoL. Domain-specific QoL should be considered in the management of body weight of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]