Functional status and satisfaction with treatment among patients with advanced cancer

Introduction:
Introduction. With the diagnosis of cancer, there are limitations in functioning, problems with acceptance, as well as changes in the assessment of quality of life, which is an important determinant of the effect of treatment provided. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the health status and satisfaction with the ongoing treatment of patients with advanced cancer.

Material and methods:
The study was conducted in a group of 75 patients diagnosed with malignant disease hospitalized in the Department of Palliative Medicine at the University Hospital in Cracow. Standardized tools, i.e. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Treatment Satisfaction-Patient Satisfaction (FACIT-TS-PS) questionnaire, EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used to collect data.

Results:
Assessment of functional status showed that nurse communication (77%) and technical competence of medical staff (52%) were rated highly by the vast majority of respondents. Acceptance of own illness was rated at a medium level (52%). There was a correlation between acceptance of illness and functional status as well as satisfaction with treatment in terms of the physician communication (p<0.001) and in the area of confidence and trust (p=0.032).

Conclusions:
Increased acceptance of illness influenced the improvement of functional status and satisfaction with the treatment provided, in a group of people with advanced cancer. The duration of hospitalization and selected sociodemographic data of the respondents had no effect on health evaluation and satisfaction with treatment.