Subjective quality of life in persons with low-grade glioma and their next of kin

Patients with low-grade glioma have a longer survival than patients with highly malignant glioma, and for this reason questions of quality of life (QoL) are of particular importance to such patients as well as to their next of kin. No studies have been found in which both adult patients with low-grade glioma and their next of kin have estimated their own QoL. This study was therefore designed to investigate the subjective QoL of these two groups. Thirty-nine patients with low-grade glioma selected from a well-defined county population and 27 next of kin participated in the study. The questionnaire used in the study was the subjective estimation of QoL. The main results and conclusions are as follows: the variable absence of work/meaningful occupation showed statistically significant lower ratings among patients than among next of kin. The results show significant influence mainly on the patients' and their next of kin's internal psychological condition; related to background variables but the pattern in the results was inconsistent. There is a need for recurrent rehabilitation during this long-term disease, and a need to give vocational rehabilitation to support the patient's desire to have a meaningful occupation. It is also of importance to include the patient's next of kin when offering rehabilitation.