Undergoing Diagnostic Evaluation for Possible Cancer Affects the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Presenting with Non-Specific Symptoms
PLoS ONEPublished 3 February 2016Open access
Ellen Moseholm, Susan Rydahl‐Hansen, Bjarne Ørskov Lindhardt
Citations15
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score0.80
SNIP1.07
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TL;DR
Examination of the HRQoL in patients undergoing a diagnostic evaluation for possible cancer due to non-specific symptoms found co-morbidity, being unemployed and receiving a cancer diagnosis had the greatest effect on HRZoL around the time of diagnosis.
Abstract
Patients with non-specific symptoms reported an affected HRQoL while undergoing a diagnostic evaluation for possible cancer. Morbidity, being unemployed and receiving a cancer diagnosis had the greatest effect on HRQoL around the time of diagnosis.
Keywords
Medicine
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