Abstract
Introduction: Immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment which profoundly impact patients’ quality of life [1-3] caused by immune-related adverse events [4, 5] . However, it remains unclear the status of Quality-of-Life are associated with distress of physical, emotional, social, practical, and spiritual or religious concerns in patients treated with immunotherapy[3, 6]. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate status of Quality of Life (QoL) and a variety of distress concerns, and further to identify influencing factors of QoL.
Method: A cross-national study was conducted[1]. Patients with cancer who were treating with immunotherapy were recruited in a medical center in Northern Taiwan. A set of questionnaires including a demographic and clinical characteristics form, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT) questionnaire, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT-G) was used to collect data. Multiple regression with backward elimination was used to identify factors influencing Quality of Life.
Results: A total of 81 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 59.06 years (SD = 10.94) and an average of 11 months of immunotherapy treatment. Younger age (p < 0.01), worse functional status (p = 0.02), chronic diseases (p = 0.03), and experiencing fatigue distress (p = 0.049) were associated with lower levels of physical well-being. Patients who received a longer duration of treatment (p = 0.02) reported lower levels of social/family well-being. Female gender (p < 0.01), individuals with an education level below college (p = 0.02), and those concerned about death, dying, or the afterlife were found to have lower levels of emotional well-being. Patients with worse functional status (p < 0.01) also showed lower levels of functional well-being. Finally, individuals with worse functional status (p < 0.01) and those with fatigue distress were associated with lower levels of QoL.
Conclusions: Nurses should pay closer attention and provide individualized care for patients who are younger, female, have an education level below college, have worse functional status, have chronic diseases, receive longer treatment durations, and are experiencing fatigue distress or concerns about death, dying, or the afterlife, in order to enhance their quality of life following immunotherapy. Preventive interventions need to be designed and implemented before treatment to improve their QoL more effectively.
Notes
References:
1. Mannino, M., et al., Quality of Life Impact in Patients with Cutaneous Toxicities Caused by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors and Immunotherapy. Dermatology, 2024. 240(4): p. 523-530.
2. Chen, M., et al., Is there a role for physical activity when treating patients with cancer with immune checkpoint inhibitors? Protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open, 2021. 11(10): p. e046052.
3. Aso, S., et al., Exploring the educational needs for severe immune-related adverse events of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced lung cancer: A single-center observational study. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs, 2022. 9(8): p. 100076.
4. Xu, H., et al., Prediction of immune-related adverse events in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors based on clinical and hematological markers: Real-world evidence. Experimental Cell Research, 2022. 416(1): p. 113157.
5. Grote, C., et al., Quality of life under treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab in melanoma patients. Real-world data from a prospective observational study at the Skin Cancer Center Kiel. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2024. 150(10): p. 454.
6. Liu, J., et al., The effect of nursing intervention combined with PD-1 inhibitor on platelets, white blood cells, tumor markers and quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev, 2024. 40(3): p. 1556-1570.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Beta at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Quality of Life, Immunotherapy Patients
Recommended Citation
Shun, Shiow-Ching; Yang, Hui-Ying; and Kuo, Yu-Chen, "Factors Influencing Quality of Life Undergoing Immunotherapy for Patients With Solid Malignancy" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 158.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/158
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Factors Influencing Quality of Life Undergoing Immunotherapy for Patients With Solid Malignancy
Seattle, Washington, USA
Introduction: Immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment which profoundly impact patients’ quality of life [1-3] caused by immune-related adverse events [4, 5] . However, it remains unclear the status of Quality-of-Life are associated with distress of physical, emotional, social, practical, and spiritual or religious concerns in patients treated with immunotherapy[3, 6]. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate status of Quality of Life (QoL) and a variety of distress concerns, and further to identify influencing factors of QoL.
Method: A cross-national study was conducted[1]. Patients with cancer who were treating with immunotherapy were recruited in a medical center in Northern Taiwan. A set of questionnaires including a demographic and clinical characteristics form, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT) questionnaire, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT-G) was used to collect data. Multiple regression with backward elimination was used to identify factors influencing Quality of Life.
Results: A total of 81 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 59.06 years (SD = 10.94) and an average of 11 months of immunotherapy treatment. Younger age (p < 0.01), worse functional status (p = 0.02), chronic diseases (p = 0.03), and experiencing fatigue distress (p = 0.049) were associated with lower levels of physical well-being. Patients who received a longer duration of treatment (p = 0.02) reported lower levels of social/family well-being. Female gender (p < 0.01), individuals with an education level below college (p = 0.02), and those concerned about death, dying, or the afterlife were found to have lower levels of emotional well-being. Patients with worse functional status (p < 0.01) also showed lower levels of functional well-being. Finally, individuals with worse functional status (p < 0.01) and those with fatigue distress were associated with lower levels of QoL.
Conclusions: Nurses should pay closer attention and provide individualized care for patients who are younger, female, have an education level below college, have worse functional status, have chronic diseases, receive longer treatment durations, and are experiencing fatigue distress or concerns about death, dying, or the afterlife, in order to enhance their quality of life following immunotherapy. Preventive interventions need to be designed and implemented before treatment to improve their QoL more effectively.
Description
Patients with solid malignancies treated with immunotherapy experienced a reduced quality of life. Younger age, female gender, lower education level, worse functional status, chronic diseases, longer treatment durations, and experiencing fatigue distress or concerns about death were associated with greater deterioration in various QoL domains. Early assessment of these distress concerns and preventive interventions should be implemented before treatment to effectively improve their QoL.