The study of HRQOL in Japanese urostmates

Aim

This study examined Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in clients with an urostomy in Japan by using SF36 questionnaire (Japanese ver.2)

Methods

Sixty urostmates of more than 1 month after discharging our hospital participated in this study after signing informed consent forms. HRQOL was evaluated using The Time Trade-Off Method (TTO) and SF36v2.  They were divided into two groups by the TTO method. One is clients who wish to trade their remaining life with an urostomy for a shorter life without disease (Trade-off group) and the other is that who do not wish to trade(Non Trade-off group) by the range of time trade-off value. Control is eighty-four patients after operation with prostate cancer (prostate cancer G.).

Results 1) Trade-Off group was composed of 17 urostmates (38.3%), Non Trade-Off group was made up of 43 urostmates (71.7%).2)Mean score of eight subscales were significantly lower Trade-Off Group than Non Trade-Off Group(p<0.05). 3)Mean score of the social functioning subscale in Trade-Off Group was significantly lower than those in prostate cancer group(p<0.01),but mean score of vitality and role emotional subscale in Non Trade-Off group were significantly higher than prostate cancer group(p<0.05)

ConclusionThese results show that it is clearly necessary to provide more supportive physical and mental care for Trade-Off group urostmates.