A 5 page research paper that takes the form of a research study proposal, which briefly describes an area that is under addressed by empirical research, specifically, this area pertains to quality of life issues that take into consideration factors that affect not only the health of the cancer victim, but also consider how quality of life issues affects the patient's life partner. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_khpcqol2.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
of the cancer victim, but also consider how quality of life issues affects the patients life partner. Problem identification: Prostate cancer is typically considered to be a diagnosis that
only affects men, which overlooks the fact that the men who receive this diagnosis inevitably have a life partner, usually a woman, and this diagnosis greatly affects the quality of
her life as well. Background: Quality of life is a "broad concept that relates to all aspects of human life" (Guyatt, et al, 2007, p. 1229). Various researchers have
developed conceptual models that characterize quality of life issues that are associated with health outcomes. For example, Wilson and Cleary formulated a model that is especially helpful to clinicians, which
specifies five types of patient outcomes (Guyatt, et al, 2007). This model begins with basic determinants of health, i.e., biological and physiological variables; but, then goes on to categorize "emotional,
cognitive and physical symptoms" as well (Guyatt, et al, 2007, p. 1229). The third category in this model addresses "physical, social, role, and psychological functioning" (Guyatt, et al, 2007, p.
1229). The next category considers health perceptions and is a subjective evaluation that incorporates all of the preceding factors and the final level refers to overall quality of life (Guyatt,
et al, 2007). Over the last several decades, clinicians have come to regard treatment decisions in terms of quality of life "benefit-cost tradeoff" (Guyatt, et al, 2007). For example,
a patient who is considering undergoing "toxic cancer chemotherapy" that offers only "marginal gains" in extending longevity faces a quality of life trade-off that has to be considered (Guyatt, et
al, 2007). As the primary objective of treatment is to help the patient feel better, considerations of quality of life are imperative in order to understand all of the issues