The aim of the QoLiRECT study is to increase the knowledge about symptoms, functional impairments, quality of life (QoL) and psychological and socioeconomic burden in an unselected population of rectal cancer patients.
- Rectal cancer and its treatment lead to decreased QoL.
- Some treatment strategies causes lower QoL than others.
- Rectal cancer-specific symptoms and treatment-specific effects influence QoL.
- Some effects and symptoms have greater impact on QoL than others.
- Functional impairments of rectal cancer patients influence QoL.
- Psychological symptoms including intrusive thoughts influence QoL.
- Stage of disease at diagnosis influences QoL during treatment and follow-up.
- Patient expectations/experiences at diagnosis influence QoL during treatment and follow-up.
- Patient expectation of cure of the rectal cancer influences QoL.
- Gender, age and education level influence QoL during treatment and follow up.
- High occurrence and intensity of intrusive thoughts about the rectal cancer diagnosis and its treatment is associated with lower QoL.
- Early closure of temporary loop ileostomy after anterior resection is associated with higher QoL than late closure.
- Pre-treatment QoL influences QoL during follow-up as well as survival.
- Significant changes in symptoms and function may not be detected with conventional QoL instruments.
- Our questionnaire may result in deeper understanding of the factors determining QoL than conventional QoL instruments and may lead to identification of areas for improvement in treatment and patient care.
All patients presenting at the participating hospitals with a newly diagnosed rectal cancer, regardless of stage at diagnosis and plans for treatment, will be eligible for inclusion.
Age below 18 years at diagnosis. No informed consent received or withdrawal of informed consent.
Aiming at including 1500 patients.
Sweden: Karlstad, Skövde, Borås, Norra Älvsborgssjukhus, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Västerås, Örebro, Helsingborg, Mora, Blekinge sjukhuset (Karlshamn och Karlskrona)
Denmark: Herlev, Roskilde, Hvidovre,
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Eva Angenete
Eva Haglind
Doctoral student Dan Asplund (Dan.asplund@vgregion.se), research nurse Elisabeth Gonzalez (Elisabeth.gonzales@vgregion.se) or research nurse Carina Rosander (carina.rosander@vgregion.se)