TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving Treatment Outcome for Cervical Cancer Using 2-Point Assessment of Quality of Life Among Nigerian Women
T2 - A Protocol for a Multi-Center Study
AU - Umemmuo, Maureen Uche
AU - Eleje, George Uchenna
AU - Oluwasola, Timothy A.
AU - Ezeanochie, Michael
AU - Usman, Hadiza Abdullahi
AU - Galadanci, Jawhara Shehu
AU - Agbanu, Chiemezie Mac Kingsley
AU - Rabiu, Ayyuba
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with quality of life (QOL) being a major concern for patients with cervical cancer, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is largely due to the advanced nature of the disease at presentation. Although there are a higher number of studies focusing on the QOL of high-income countries, the QOL of cervical cancer patients in LMICs is not available. The aim of this study is to evaluate QOL among women with cervical cancer in Nigeria using a 2-point assessment. Methods: A multi-center prospective cohort study will be conducted in 6 tertiary health facilities randomly selected from the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria and consisting of a 2-point assessment of the QOL of participants at the time of diagnosis of cervical cancer and after treatment. Women who were recently diagnosed with histologically confirmed cervical cancer (treatment naïve) will be included. QOL will be assessed using Quality of Life Questionnaire domains (EORTC QLQ30) as developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). In addition to the QOL assessment, relevant and clinicopathological variables will be obtained using a self-structured data extraction sheet designed for this study. All data will be anonymized and will be analyzed using SPSS version 25. Levels of QOL will be calculated using EORTC QLQ30. Ethical approval was obtained from National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC/01/01/2007-08/11/2021). Discussion: In view of the paucity of data on QOL in LMICs like Nigeria, where most women with cervical cancer present with advanced disease, this research was designed to help in formulating evidence-based interventions to improve the QOL and treatment outcomes provided to women with cervical cancer in Nigeria and other LMICs. The study is expected to fill these knowledge gaps.
AB - Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with quality of life (QOL) being a major concern for patients with cervical cancer, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is largely due to the advanced nature of the disease at presentation. Although there are a higher number of studies focusing on the QOL of high-income countries, the QOL of cervical cancer patients in LMICs is not available. The aim of this study is to evaluate QOL among women with cervical cancer in Nigeria using a 2-point assessment. Methods: A multi-center prospective cohort study will be conducted in 6 tertiary health facilities randomly selected from the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria and consisting of a 2-point assessment of the QOL of participants at the time of diagnosis of cervical cancer and after treatment. Women who were recently diagnosed with histologically confirmed cervical cancer (treatment naïve) will be included. QOL will be assessed using Quality of Life Questionnaire domains (EORTC QLQ30) as developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). In addition to the QOL assessment, relevant and clinicopathological variables will be obtained using a self-structured data extraction sheet designed for this study. All data will be anonymized and will be analyzed using SPSS version 25. Levels of QOL will be calculated using EORTC QLQ30. Ethical approval was obtained from National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC/01/01/2007-08/11/2021). Discussion: In view of the paucity of data on QOL in LMICs like Nigeria, where most women with cervical cancer present with advanced disease, this research was designed to help in formulating evidence-based interventions to improve the QOL and treatment outcomes provided to women with cervical cancer in Nigeria and other LMICs. The study is expected to fill these knowledge gaps.
KW - Cervical cancer
KW - Nigeria
KW - quality of life
KW - treatment
KW - women
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176734031&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/11795549231212339
DO - 10.1177/11795549231212339
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85176734031
SN - 1179-5549
VL - 17
JO - Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology
JF - Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology
ER -