Changes in quality of life following initial treatment of oesophageal carcinoma: a cohort study from Sri Lanka

BMC Cancer

Table 4 QOL scores for disease specific dimensions of oesophageal carcinoma, before and after the initial treatment

Disease-specific dimension^a	Baseline score		Follow up score		Mean difference^c (N = 41)	SD	95% CI	Significance^d
Disease-specific dimension^a	Mean (N = 51)	SD	Mean (N = 41)^b	SD	Mean difference^c (N = 41)	SD	95% CI	Significance^d
Dysphagia	54.03	27.0	37.13	29.0	−13.55	29.7	−22.91, −4.19	t = 2.93; df = 40 p = 0.006
Problems with eating	31.21	22.0	30.28	23.1	1.63	27.3	−7.0, 10.25	t = 0.38; df = 40 p = 0.705
Reflux	42.48	29.5	44.97	36.4	7.32	36.9	−4.33, 18.97	t = 1.27; df = 40 p = 0.212
Pain	29.63	25.7	30.08	32.3	3.25	32.8	−7.1, 13.6	t = 0.64; df = 40 p = 0.529
Trouble swallowing saliva	24.84	35.2	22.76	32.9	−2.44	34.5	−13.32, 8.44	t = 0.45; df = 40 p = 0.653
Choked when swallowing	22.88	30.2	18.7	26.9	−1.63	30.7	−11.31, 8.06	t = 0.34; df = 40 p = 0.736
Dry mouth	39.22	34.4	58.54	37.1	20.33	39.4	7.9, 32.74	t = 3.31; df = 40 p = 0.002
Trouble with taste	25.49	32.4	37.4	35.1	13.0	46.5	−1.66, 27.68	t = 1.79; df-40 p = 0.081
Trouble with coughing	37.25	32.4	42.28	39.5	7.32	36.9	−4.33, 18.96	t = 1.27; df = 40 p = 0.212
Trouble talking	32.68	31.6	28.46	33.8	0.0	41.5	−13.1, 13.1	t = 0.0; df = 40 p = 1.00

^aScores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a higher degree of symptoms
^bTen patients died during the follow up period
^cA positive mean difference indicates worsening of symptoms and negative mean difference indicates improvement of symptoms
^dpaired t test

ISSN: 1471-2407