Functional Status in Lung Cancer Patients

Oh, Eui Geum

Abstract

PURPOSE: To exam how functional status varied according to age, gender, stage, treatment protocols, and pathologic types of cancer in lung cancer patients. METHOD: A Cross-sectional and descriptive study was used. Functional status was measured with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36. A total of 106 lung cancer patients participated. Their mean age was 61 years. Majorities were male, in advanced stages, and receiving chemotherapy. RESULT: Functional status of the subjects were relatively low compared to the results of previous studies. Women had more severe functional limitations in Role-Emotion(t=2.17, p <.05). Generally, older patients(> 60 yrs.) had relatively more severe limitations in all subcategories, but the difference was not statistically significant. Subjects in late lung cancer stage(stage III and IV) had more severe functional limitation in all subcategories. But the statistical difference was found only in General Health(t=2.10, p<.05). In terms of treatment protocol, no-current treatment group had lower General Health than those of the chemotherapy group(F=3.42, p<.01). There were no statistical differences in functional status among pathological cancer cell types.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that effective management may be achieved when these factors are considered on individual basis in the clinical management of lung cancer patients.