Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

8-25-2016

Abstract

Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed with locally advanced or advance disease, which makes improving quality of life a critical component of treatment. Empirical research on daily quality of life in lung cancer is lacking, despite a growing focus on patient-reported outcomes in oncology. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of daily assessment of quality of life and to identify predictors of daily quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing treatment. It was hypothesized that clinical characteristics such as treatment type would predict feasibility. It was hypothesized that patients with higher hope would report better quality of life and that daily hope would predict daily quality of life. Fifty-six of 62 patients who were approached enrolled, of which 50 (89%) completed a baseline questionnaire and sufficient daily assessments to be included in analysis. Diary patients (58% female, 78% non-small cell, 66% metastatic disease, average age = 68.66, SD = 8.78) completed an average of 20.45 (SD = 1.62, range = 15-26) days. Clinical characteristics and daily survey administration method did not predict the number of days completed. Patients with higher levels of hope reported higher social and role functioning (estimate = 3.37, SE = 0.90, 95% CI = 1.60, 5.14) and higher palliative wellbeing (estimate = 0.88, SE = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.40, 1.35). On days where patients reported higher hope, they reported higher social and role functioning (estimate = 2.36, SE = 0.70, 95% CI = 1.00, 3.73), better physical functioning (estimate = 2.27, SE = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68, 3.87), and higher palliative wellbeing (estimate = 0.91, SE = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.66, 1.16). Daily hope appeared to attenuate the impact of treatment days on social and role functioning (estimate = 3.33, SE = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.88, 5.77). Daily hope did not predict quality of life in next-day models. Daily hope was not predicted by lung cancer symptoms. Results suggest that daily assessment of quality of life in lung cancer patients is feasible and that hope-based interventions may improve their quality of life.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Smith, Bruce

Second Committee Member

Witkiewitz, Katie

Third Committee Member

Berwick, Marianne

Fourth Committee Member

Edelman, Martin

Fifth Committee Member

Vowles, Kevin

Sponsors

Dr. Bruce Smith, University of New Mexico Graduate Professional Student Association, University of New Mexico Department of Psychology

Language

English

Keywords

Lung cancer, quality of life, daily diary, hope, stigma

Document Type

Dissertation

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