Which dimensions of health-related quality of life are altered in patients attending the different gynecologic oncology health care settings?

Background: We evaluated the feasibility of measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a gynecologic oncology clinic by using an instrument that is nonspecific for cancer patients. Our aim was to study whether the HRQOL perception of cancer patients differed from general population norms for the same age and gender and if it varied across cancer type, cancer status, age, health care setting, and reason for the encounter.

Methods: Participants in this study included 115 women between the ages of 21 and 83 years who were referred to a university hospital for ovarian, endometrial, and cervical carcinoma.