Differences in health-related quality of life between native and foreign-born gynaecological cancer patients in Sweden: a five-year cross-sectional study
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Published:2023-11-06
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Volume:
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ISSN:0962-9343
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Container-title:Quality of Life Research
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Qual Life Res
Author:
Karlsson Rosenblad AndreasORCID, Westman BodilORCID, Bergkvist KarinORCID, Segersvärd RalfORCID, Roos NathalieORCID, Bergenmar MiaORCID, Sharp LenaORCID
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between native and foreign-born gynaecological cancer patients in Sweden, taking into account clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors.
Methods
The 30-item European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and a study-specific questionnaire covering demographic and socioeconomic factors were answered by 684 women aged ≥ 18 years old, diagnosed in 2014, 2016, or 2018 with gynaecological cancer in the Stockholm-Gotland health care region, Sweden. Clinical data were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Register. Data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and linear regression.
Results
The women had a mean age of 65.4 years, with 555 (81.1%) born in Sweden, 54 (7.9%) in other Nordic countries (ONC), 43 (6.3%) in other European countries (OEC), and 32 (4.7%) in non-European countries (NEC). HRQoL differed significantly between the four groups for 14 of the 15 QLQ-C30 scales/items. On average, Swedish-born women scored 2.0, 15.2, and 16.7 points higher for QoL/functioning scales/items and 2.2, 14.1, and 18.7 points lower for symptom scales/items, compared with ONC-, OEC-, and NEC-born women, respectively. In adjusted analyses, none of the differences between Swedish-born and ONC-born women were significant, while for OEC- and NEC-born women the differences were significant for most QLQ-C30 scales/items.
Conclusion
HRQoL differs between native and foreign-born gynaecological cancer patients in Sweden, with lower HRQoL the further from Sweden the women are born. A more individualised cancer care, with tailored support to optimize HRQoL is needed for this vulnerable group of patients.
Funder
Uppsala University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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