Quality of life, health state and needs during chemotheprapy of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The aim: to identify the quality of life, health status and needs of non-Hodgkin's diffuse major B-cell lymphoma (NH DLBCL) patients during chemotherapy. The objectives:1)to identify quality of life of NH DLBCL patients during chemotherapy; 2) to identify the health status of NH DLBCL patients during chemotherapy; 3) to identify the needs of NH DLBCL patients during chemotherapy. Methodology. The study was conducted from December 2nd, 2013 to December 31st, 2014 in the LUHS Hospital Kaunas Clinic Department of Hematology and Chemotherapy day unit. 119 subjects were interwied. Quality of life was assessed using a EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, state of health - EQ - 5D - 3L, questionnaire needs - Needs Assessment Questionnaire. Permission to use questionnaires was received from authors; permision from LUHS Bioethics Center was also received (No. BEC-KS (M) -86, 11th November, 2013). Results: general indicators of the quality of life and health status indicators were low, when compred with results other foreign authors had received, they were extremely low. The biggest negative impact on the quality of life had the symptom of fatigue. In the EQ - 5D - 3L questionnaire, the lowest evaluated dimensions were anxiety/depression. Older subjects statistically significantly lower rated both their quality of life and health status. The most important need expressed was not to feel pity from others. Conclusions: The quality of life during chemotherapy is poor. The biggest negative impact on the quality of life is made by bad social, emotional functioning, fatigue, anxiety, financial problems. Health status indicators were statistically significantly lower among older subjects and widows. Subjects’ needs during chemotherapy was associated with emotional aspects and highlighted the most important need – not to feel pity from others. Comfort, information from the medical staff were also very important needs