[Quality of life and coping with illness in patients with acute myeloid leukemia]

Advances in chemotherapy significantly prolong survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and may cure a significant percentage of patients. Therefore, the assessment of quality of life (QL) of patients undergoing chemotherapy is of growing interest. This study was designed to evaluate QL in patients with AML treated according to the protocol of the German AML-Cooperative Group (Münster, FRG). Based on conceptual, methodological and practical criteria, the EORTC-QLQ C 30 questionnaire was used. In addition, patients' coping strategies were assessed by the FQCI. Patients' individual perception of their disease and therapy was evaluated by a semi-structured interview. Currently, 61 patients are enrolled in the protocol. For those patients having completed the course of inpatient treatment, individual assessment of Global Health Status and Subjective QL improves significantly. The content analysis of the interviews shows to what extent aspects of the inpatient setting influence patients' QL. Although only a minority of patients with AML remain in continuous complete remission, the evaluation of QL in patients undergoing treatment shows that subjective benefit outweighs the effects of antileukemic therapy.