Abstract

Objective

Monitoring quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer can provide insight into functional, psychological and social consequences associated with illness and its treatment. The primary objective of this study is to examine the influence of cultural factors on the communication between the patient and the health care provider and the perceived QoL in women with breast cancer in Japan and the Netherlands.

Methods

In Japanese and Dutch women with early breast cancer, the number, content and frequency of QoL-related issues discussed at the medical encounter were studied. Patients completed questionnaires regarding QoL and evaluation of communication with the CareNoteBook.

Results

The total number, frequency and content of QoL-related issues discussed differed between the two countries. Japanese women (n = 134) were significantly more reticent in discussing QoL-issues than the Dutch women (n = 70) (p < .001). Furthermore, Dutch patients perceived the CareNoteBook methodology significantly more positively than the Japanese patients (p < .001). Both groups supported the regular assessment via a CareNoteBook methodology.

Conclusions

Japanese women are more reluctant in expressing their problems with the illness, its treatment and patient-physician communication than Dutch women.

中文翻译：

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日本和荷兰早期乳腺癌女性对监测生活质量的看法

摘要

客观的

监测癌症患者的生活质量 (QoL) 可以深入了解与疾病及其治疗相关的功能、心理和社会后果。本研究的主要目的是检查文化因素对日本和荷兰乳腺癌患者患者与医疗保健提供者之间的沟通以及感知生活质量的影响。

方法

在患有早期乳腺癌的日本和荷兰女性中，研究了在就诊时讨论的生活质量相关问题的数量、内容和频率。患者完成了关于生活质量和评估与 CareNoteBook 的沟通的问卷。

结果

两国讨论的生活质量相关问题的总数、频率和内容不同。日本女性（n = 134）在讨论生活质量问题时明显比荷兰女性（n = 70）更沉默（p < .001）。此外，荷兰患者对 CareNoteBook 方法的看法明显优于日本患者 (p < .001)。两组都通过 CareNoteBook 方法支持定期评估。

结论

与荷兰女性相比，日本女性更不愿意表达她们对疾病、治疗和医患沟通的问题。