Benefit of temozolomide compared to procarbazine in treatment of glioblastoma multiforme at first relapse: effect on neurological functioning, performance status, and health related quality of life.

Since high-grade malignant gliomas can seldom be treated curatively, the main aim of first line therapy is to improve progression free survival (PFS), to reduce morbidity, and to preserve, if not restore neurological functions and the capacity to perform daily activities. Focusing on a single clinical efficacy parameter in clinical trials may provide a potentially biased result, as for patients the overall result of treatment entails a more complex picture of weighing and balancing gains and losses on different outcome measures. In this paper we address different clinical outcomes measures separately and we illustrate the value of multiple outcome measures using the results of a recent clinical trial comparing temozolomide with procarbazine in the treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Health-related quality of life in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma: results of a randomized phase III study comparing temozolomide with dacarbazine.

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a crucial endpoint in the evaluation of treatments that have limited survival benefits. The HRQL evaluations help ensure that patients are not sacrificing life quality for quantity. Current treatments for metastatic melanoma are primarily palliative, because cure is unattainable.

Patients' health-related quality-of-life and health state values for motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Motor neurone disease (MND) has a severe impact on patient quality of life, especially in later stages of the disease. This study assesses the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of MND patients, and for the first time elicits health state values from patients for their present health state. A structured interview was conducted with 77 patients.

Development of the satisfaction with inhaled asthma treatment questionnaire.

For the management of a condition such as asthma, patients should feel confident with their medication, feel that the treatment is adequate in controlling symptoms and that side-effects of the treatment are minimal. As no comprehensive instrument to measure patient satisfaction with inhaled asthma medication existed, the Satisfaction with Asthma Treatment Questionnaire was developed. The procedures that were used are described, and the initial validation and reliability tests are reported.

Atopic dermatitis is associated with a decrement in health-related quality of life.

Background: Although atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease that can have a major impact on a patient's life, the burden of illness associated with this condition has not been well characterized.

Objective: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with atopic dermatitis by disease severity and to compare it with that of the general public and of patients suffering from other chronic illnesses or skin disorders.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine atopic dermatitis patients aged 4-70 years completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index.