Evaluation of barthel basic daily life activity scale in geriatric cancer patients

ABSTRACT Objective: Cancer is a disease group whose prevalence increases with age. Geriatric oncology patients comprise a special group and decisions about their situation are made by making an extensive geriatric evaluation. In this study, the relationship of Barthel life quality scale with the widely used life quality scale and performance scales for geriatric oncology patients was investigated. Method: The study was conducted with participation of 100 patients aged 65 year and over, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer between June 2016 and February 2017. The data were obtained by using patient information form, ECOG and Karnofsky performance scales, EORTC QLQ-C30 and Barthel life activity scales. The evaluation was made before starting chemotherapy and before the second cycle. Results: One hundred patients had an age average of 71.14±5.72 years. 40% of patients were female and 60% were male. In terms of the diagnosis distributions; the highest rate was observed in gastro-intestinal cancers (36%) and lung cancer (20%). It was determined that 61% of the patients were in stage 4 and 75% were receiving combined chemotherapy. Karnofsky mean scores and EORTC-QLQ-C30 life quality symptom scores of the patients were significantly lower after chemotherapy (p<0.001). It was determined that Barthel index was significantly correlated with performance score and EORTC QLQ-C30 life quality scale before and after chemotherapy. It was also determined that mean scores of Barthel index increased in patients receiving combined treatment and they were in a worse condition in terms of living independently (p<0.05). Conclusion: The data obtained from the present study showed that it would be appropriate to conduct performance and life quality evaluations of geriatric oncology patients before every chemotherapy. It was appropriate to evaluate geriatric oncology patients with Barthel life activity scale. It was found that Barthel life activity evaluation was compatible with the life quality scale and the performance scales. Key Words: Geriatric evaluation, Barthel index, performance status.