The impact of cancer type, treatment, and distress on health-related quality of life: cross-sectional findings from a study of Australian cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the mediating effects of cancer type, treatment, and distress on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for early diagnosis cancer patients. Results were interpreted with respect to established thresholds for clinical meaningfulness. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Patients completed surveys collecting demographics, cancer type, treatment, comorbid conditions, distress (HADS), and HRQoL (FACT-G). Hierarchical multivariate regressions examined associations between cancer type, treatment, and distress on HRQoL. Established minimum differences were used to identify clinically meaningful changes in HRQoL. Results: Of the 1183 patients surveyed, 21% were c..