Assessing the quality of life of cancer patients:Practical issues in study implementation

Developing techniques for assessing the quality of life of cancer patients has become of increasing interest to both clinical oncologists and social scientists. However, the practical issues of implementing such studies in the context of cancer care have not been addressed sufficiently. This article describes a pilot study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in seven outpatient clinics. The specific focuses of the study were the logistical problems of studying quality of life and the burden on patients and staff imposed by such research. The authors discuss problems associated with obtaining patients and determining eligibility, and they examine the reasons some patients refuse to participate. They also offer recommendations for facilitating research on quality of life.