Publications (5)7.94 Total impact
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Dataset: Urol Oncol 2013
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Article: Restless Legs Syndrome as a Cause of Sleep Disturbances in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.
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ABSTRACT: CONTEXT: Sleep disturbances are frequent in cancer patients during chemotherapy; the contributory role of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in this setting has never been assessed. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the role of RLS in causing sleep disturbances and altering the quality of life in cancer patients during chemotherapy. METHODS: Evaluation tools included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the RLS questionnaires, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for quality of life and anxiety/depression assessment. The study population was 173 cancer patients. The questionnaires were administered during the third chemotherapy cycle. Patients positive for RLS were reassessed six months after the end of chemotherapy. RESULTS: In all, 58.8% of patients reported experiencing sleep disturbances (PSQI≥5) and 20% screened positive for RLS. Neither sleep disturbances nor RLS was associated with anemia, neurotoxic cytotoxic drugs, or benzamide treatment. A direct relationship was found between PSQI and RLS (P=0.007); both PSQI and RLS scores were significantly associated with poor quality of life (P=0.008 and 0.01, respectively) and anxiety (P=0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). PSQI score also was associated with depression (P=0.0001). RLS persisted in four of the 25 RLS-positive patients reassessed at six months after chemotherapy. RLS recovery was associated with a significant reduction in sleep disturbances and improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSION: RLS can be a contributory factor in sleep disturbances in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Screening for RLS could aid in tailoring a potentially more efficacious treatment of such disturbances.Journal of pain and symptom management 10/2012; · 2.42 Impact Factor -
Dataset: CAM QoL Res
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Article: Psychological distress in men with prostate cancer receiving adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy(,).
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To compare the occurrence of depression, anxiety, self body image perception, sleep disturbances, and diminished quality of life in prostate cancer patients undergoing adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) as opposed to patients in follow-up alone. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group essential diagnostic criteria, Body Image Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Prostate were administered to consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy and are presently either under adjuvant ADT or included in a follow-up program. RESULTS: Of the 103 patients enrolled, 49 (47.6%) were receiving adjuvant ADT and 54 (52.4%) were not. Compared with the controls, the patients undergoing ADT showed higher levels of depression (P = 0.002), worse self body image perception (P = 0.001), worse quality of life (P = 0.0001) and worse sleep quality (P = 0.04). ADT was significantly associated with depression at multivariate analysis after adjustment for age, stage, Gleason score, as well as demographic and social variables (P = 0.001). Depression scores showed a strong inverse correlation with quality of life scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant ADT is associated with depression, worse quality of life, and altered self body image in prostate cancer patients.Urologic Oncology 07/2011; 31(3):352-358. · 3.22 Impact Factor -
Article: Prevalence of complementary/alternative medicines (CAMs) in a cancer population in northern Italy receiving antineoplastic treatments and relationship with quality of life and psychometric features.
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ABSTRACT: To explore the use of CAM (Complementary/Alternative Medicine) in a population of cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy, and to compare differences in sociodemographics, quality of life, and psychological features between CAM users and non-users. The study population was consecutive cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment in three Piedmont cancer centers. Data were collected from anonymous questionnaires investigating CAM use or not, and what type if used, and sociodemographics, and through validated psychometric instruments to assess psychological features: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale. Of the 288 evaluable patients, 52 (18.1%) reported using one or more types of CAM; the most often cited were herbs, special diets and body-based practices, such as plantar reflexology, chiropractic application, and massage. On quality of life assessment, CAM users scored lower than CAM non-users for physical wellbeing (P = 0.006); no significant differences emerged for anxiety and depression and coping styles. CAM use is less prevalent in northern Italy than in most other European countries. CAM users were found to have a lower quality of life than CAM non-users.Quality of Life Research 11/2010; 20(5):683-90. · 2.30 Impact Factor
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Institutions
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2010–2013
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga
Orbassano, Piedmont, Italy
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2011
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Università degli Studi di Torino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche
Torino, Piedmont, Italy
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