ABSTRACT Introduction The advent of potent anti-retroviral agents for HIV treatment has resulted in marked decrease in deaths. Health workers now have to ensure that their patient’s physical, social, and psychological well-being is optimized. This study used a validated tool to measure Health Related Quality of Life concepts amongst HIV patients in a public treatment program. The main objective of this research was to establish factors that are associated with poor quality of life of these patients with the purpose of using this information as a basis for determining who would require individualized medical care and attention. Materials and methods The study is set at Bontleng Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. The study questionnaire consisted of two parts: part one for collecting data on sociodemographic, illness and treatment related factors, and part two was the Medical Outcomes Study – Short Form tool used to obtain data on quality of life concepts. Two groups of participants were interviewed: ART-Naïve (n=90) and ARTExperienced (n=110). The study protocol had ethical approval from both the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and the Ministry of Health in Botswana. iv Results A smaller proportion of ART-experienced participants reported various disease symptoms as compared to those participants who were ART-naïve. Statistically significant differences were noted for: weight loss (25% vs 77%), diarrhoea (3% vs 11%), cough (19% vs 39%), and night sweats (24% vs 43%) for ART experienced and ART Naïve patients respectively. CD4 counts and HB levels were also significantly higher in patients on HAART. The overall QoL summary score was significantly higher (better) in the ART-experienced (mean score 53 out of 100) compared to the ART-naïve group (mean score 47 out of 100). Therefore being on ART favoured a higher QoL score. However, changes in the three laboratory indices of CD4 count, Hb level, and viral load had no statistical significant association with HRQoL scores. Multiple regression identified only five factors as being associated with better QoL scores. These factors were to do with the absence of the following disease symptoms: weight loss, diarrhoea, night sweats, and feet pains; as well as absence of recent hospitalisation. Discussion The study patients do respond well to HAART with significant improvements in all dimensions of QoL. This is in keeping with findings from other populations. In assessing these patients at the initiation of HAART, and at subsequent visits, one must take into account any history of recent hospital admission, history of weight loss, and most importantly presence/absence of various disease symptoms. Conclusions and recommendations Symptoms, regardless of the underlying cause: be it due to HIV disease itself or drug side effects; greatly impact patients’ quality of life. Efforts should be made to include the assessment of symptoms in the continuum of care of HIV patients. The introduction of newer potent anti-retroviral agents with fewer side effects should also favour the beneficial impact of HAART.

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among persons aged 50 and above and when a stroke does not result in death, it can cause residual cognitive, motor and behavioural disabilities. Emotional effects of brain injury range from reduced quality of life to various neuropsychiatric disturbances and are of great interest in the South African context and throughout the world as they pose a major obstacle to the rehabilitation process. This study explored the relationship between emotion processing, neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life specifically, how they operate following a cerebrovascular accident. In order to achieve this, an adult population of high functioning stroke survivors completed the emotion processing scale (EPS), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) and comprehensive quality of life inventory (ComQOL-A5) and a factor analysis provided statistical evidence suggestive of intercorrelations among the variables. The results lent support to this theoretical relationship and determined the structure of this relationship as follows: The satisfaction with quality of life after a stroke that relates to traditional masculine or feminine roles, when not fulfilled, related to neuropsychiatric symptoms of general maladjustment i.e. schizophrenia and psychopathic deviate. The second factor encompassed symptoms of general anxiety both internally and externally directed: Internally directed anxiety included symptoms of hypochondriasis and hysterical conversion, while externally directed anxiety included neuropsychiatric symptoms of paranoia. The third factor was associated with mood modulation in that elevated mood connected to neuropsychiatric symptoms of hypomania and depressed mood connected to symptoms of depression and social introversion. Finally, emotion processing and psychasthenia made up the last principal component, namely emotion modulation. This meant that avoidance of emotional iv content, suppression of emotion, unprocessed emotion etc. related to neuropsychiatric symptoms of obsessions or compulsions. High functioning stroke survivors’ behaviours were thus characterised by general maladjustment, anxiety, and symptoms related to mood and emotion modulation. This study underlies the importance of diagnosing, treating and monitoring stroke survivors’ emotional alterations and suggests the usefulness of its application in clinical settings to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments or more general interventions to improve the neuropsychiatric sequelae and quality of life of stroke survivors. Improved understanding of these constructs from the stroke survivor’s perspective has obvious impact for the therapeutic interventions inherent in stroke rehabilitation and as such, contributes towards the fields of neuropsychology, neuropsychotherapy and the social sciences.

No description available.

by Yip Mei Po. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-150). / Abstract and questionnaire also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iii-iv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review / End stage renal failure and dialysis therapy --- p.3 / Stress / The concept of stress --- p.4 / Lazarus' stress and coping model --- p.5 / Different approaches to stress --- p.6 / Stressors in hemodialysis patients: a convergence of chronic strains and daily hassles --- p.8 / The outcome of stressors in hemodialysis patients --- p.10 / Coping / Definition: Coping as a process --- p.12 / Problem focused and emotional focused coping --- p.12 / Functions of coping: its effectiveness --- p.14 / The use of coping methods in hemodialysis patients --- p.17 / Factors affecting coping response to illness in hemodialysis patients --- p.19 / Social Support / Approaches to social support: definitions and measurements --- p.22 / The effect of social support on adjustment to illness --- p.25 / "Social support as a coping resource in hemodialysis patients," --- p.27 / Quality of life / Quality of life as an adjustment outcome to illness --- p.28 / "The quality of life concept: dimensions, components and measurement" --- p.29 / Limitations of studies of quality of life in hemodialysis patients --- p.33 / Approaches to quality of life in hemodialysis patients --- p.34 / "The relation between stress, coping, social support and quality of life" --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Method / Research design --- p.38 / Research hypothesis --- p.40 / Operational definitions --- p.41 / Population --- p.42 / Sample --- p.43 / Ethical issue --- p.47 / Data collection --- p.50 / Instruments --- p.56 / Data analysis --- p.64 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results / Descriptives analyses --- p.66 / Correlation analyses --- p.83 / Regression analyses --- p.88 / Supplementary qualitative data --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion and conclusion / Stressors --- p.98 / Coping --- p.104 / Social support --- p.108 / Quality of life --- p.110 / "Stress, coping, social support and quality of life" --- p.114 / Predictors of quality of life --- p.119 / Conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Limitation of the study --- p.124 / Implications and recommendations --- p.126 / References --- p.128 / Appendices / Chapter A. --- Table showing relationship of the use & effectiveness of eight coping styles with length of time on treatment / Chapter B. --- Descriptions of eight coping styles on the 1987 revised Jalowiec Coping Scale / Chapter C. --- A Sample of interview script / Chapter D. --- Letter of ethical approval / Chapter E. --- Letter of request for permission to conduct researchin clinical setting / Chapter F. --- Letter of request for revealing Hemodialysis Stressor Scale / Chapter G. --- Questionnaire / Chapter H. --- Consent form

It is well established that mucosal dryness is the most common symptom in primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) patients, affecting the nasal, oral and genital mucosa. A systematic review was conducted and a study with the following aims was established: 1) To assess the functions of the smell, taste and sexuality in patients with pSS. 2) To determine whether the mucosal dryness has an impact on the functions of the smell, taste and sexuality in pSS patients. 3) To investigate the impact of the impairment of the functions of smell, taste and sexuality on the quality of life (QoL) and mental health well-being in women with pSS. Methodology: Sixty-five pSS patients and 62 sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. The smell function was assessed by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). The taste function was comprehensively evaluated by assessing the gustatory function using the Taste Strips Test (TST), and the neurosensory threshold by an electrogustometer (EGM). The sexual function was assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The oral dryness was assessed by means of stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate (SFR), clinical assessment of oral dryness scale (CODS) and Xerostomia Inventory (XI). The World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BRÉF (WHOQoL- BRÉF) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) were used for the general and oral health related QoL respectively. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess the mental health status. Results: Data analysis showed that the smell dysfunction was twice as prevalent in the patients group (41.5%, n=27/65) compared with healthy volunteers (24.1%, n=15/62). This difference was even more pronounced when assessing the gustatory function impairment, which was six times more prevalent in pSS patients (54%, n=34/63) than in healthy participants (8.3%, n=5/60). The neurosensory threshold of taste was three times higher in the patients' group (31.7%, n=20/64) compared with the healthy volunteers (9.8%, n=6/61), and was associated with gustatory deterioration in pSS group (β=-0.4, 95% CI=-0.2 - 0), indicating possible neurological impairment in this group. As expected, the salivary flow rate and the clinical oral dryness score were significantly lower in the patient group compared with healthy volunteers. No evidence was found to support that the oral dryness was associated with deterioration of smell, taste or sexual functions in pSS patients. The number of sexually active pSS patients (n=28) was half of that in the healthy volunteers group (n=42), and the FSFI showed that the sexual function was significantly impaired in pSS patients (p= < 0.05). The self-administered questionnaires showed that the life quality was significantly compromised in patients, who were more anxious (58.5%, n=38/65) and four times more depressed (32.3%, n=21/65) compared with healthy volunteers (Anxiety=21%, n=13/61; depression=8.2%, n=5/61). However, neither smell nor taste dysfunction were contributory factors to the reduced QoL, but the sexual dysfunction was the main factor contributed to the compromised general QoL in pSS patients. Conclusion: The smell, taste and sexual impairment are manifestations seen in pSS, but only the sexual dysfunction appear to have a diminishing effect on the QoL and mental health well-being of patients. The taste deterioration in pSS does not seem to be associated with mucosal dryness but maybe precipitated by a Sjögren's syndrome-associated neuropathy.

Quality of life (QoL) questionnaires have been suggested as the most appropriate way to measure the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation. However, several research studies have not been able to detect differences in effectiveness between rehabilitation strategies. The hypothesis of this study is that there are other factors, unrelated to vision, influencing the scores obtained in these questionnaires and masking the changes achieved by rehabilitation. The suggestion is that patients' realistic acceptance of, and successful adaptation to, their visual loss is influenced by psychosocial factors such as; personality, religious beliefs, social support, general health (i.e. mental and physical), understanding of their eye condition, level of education, and financial status. Concurrently, a parallel study was conducted with children. As with the adult arm, the aim of the study was to understand whether quality of life, and social behaviour and relationships in children with a visual impairment were related to the vision loss, vision rehabilitation, or non-visual factors. Patients attending the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital low vision clinic between May 2009 and August 2010, were recruited: 448 patients between 18 and 96 years old, with best-corrected binocular visual acuity smaller or equal to6/18, and 62 children between 5 and 16 years old. Telephone delivery of previously validated questionnaires was used with adult patients and parents of child patients; face-to-face interviews were completed by children. Both studies showed how psychosocial factors were stronger determinants of quality of life in people with low vision, than traditional low vision rehabilitation using optical aids. In the case of adults, physical and mental health appeared to be major predictors of quality of life, adaptation to the vision loss and participation restriction. In the case of children, visual acuity at distance and near, contrast sensitivity (CS), age, and parents' coping strategies appeared to determine quality of life and children behaviours. The final element of this work was a pilot study to attempt to address issues causing poor quality of life. Seventy-one participants who scored low in the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL-25) (i.e. below 62.5) were given the opportunity to enrol for the Expert Patient Programme, which is a self-management programme aimed at adults with chronic health problems or disabilities. Only 2 participants expressed an interest in the programme, and none of them actually took part.

文希甄. / "2011年6月". / "2011 nian 6 yue". / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-58). / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Wen Xizhen. / 前言 --- p.3 / 摘要 --- p.4 / Abstract --- p.5 / Chapter 第一章 --- 引言：探討「美好人生」的方法視野 --- p.6 / Chapter I. --- 從閒暇說起 --- p.6 / Chapter II. --- 工具理性思維 --- p.8 / Chapter III. --- 重提意義價値 --- p.11 / Chapter IV. --- 透過宗教靈性去建構意義價値 --- p.14 / Chapter 第二章 --- 閒暇，邁向「美好人生」的基礎 --- p.19 / Chapter I. --- 社會需要閒暇 --- p.19 / Chapter II. --- 閒暇是文化的基礎 --- p.20 / Chapter i. --- 閒暇是探索意義價値的傳統 --- p.21 / Chapter ii. --- 現代理性難以作爲文化的基礎 --- p.24 / Chapter iii. --- 以道家無爲來理解閒暇現象 --- p.25 / Chapter III. --- 閒暇是生活的重心 --- p.27 / Chapter i. --- 閒暇作爲人類的理想生活 --- p.27 / Chapter ii. --- 拒絶將工具理性、經濟效益價値體系神聖 --- p.29 / Chapter iii. --- 閒暇不是茶餘飯後的生活附加品 --- p.33 / Chapter IV --- 閒暇植根於崇拜慶典 --- p.34 / Chapter V --- 小結：閒暇對我們社會文化的提醒 --- p.36 / Chapter 第三章 --- 安息，展現.「美好人生」的另類實踐 --- p.38 / Chapter I --- 對世界的創造及參與 --- p.40 / Chapter II. --- 對世界的救贖及改造 --- p.41 / Chapter III. --- 記念生命的痕跡 --- p.43 / Chapter IV --- 在社群中的慶賀及歡樂 --- p.44 / Chapter V --- 懷有盼望、繼續向前 --- p.46 / Chapter VI. --- 安息所展現靈性 --- p.47 / Chapter VII. --- 小結：安息對閒暇的意義 --- p.48 / Chapter 第四章： --- 總結 --- p.51 / 參考書目及資料： --- p.55

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto na qualidade de vida dos distÃrbios obstrutivos do sono (DOS) do sono em crianÃas atendidas pelo Sistema Ãnico de SaÃde (SUS), assim como a repercussÃo do tratamento com adenoidectomia ou adenotonsilectomia na qualidade de vida destas crianÃas. MÃtodos: Foi realizado um estudo de intervenÃÃo nÃo controlado do tipo antes e apÃs (before and after) com um componente avaliativo (avaliaÃÃo da qualidade de vida). Uma amostra consecutiva de crianÃas com indicaÃÃo de adenoidectomia ou adenotonsilectomia foi recrutada no ambulatÃrio de otorrinolaringologia do Hospital UniversitÃrio Walter CantÃdio da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do CearÃ, e aplicados aos cuidadores um questionÃrio validado, especÃfico para a avaliaÃÃo da qualidade de vida de crianÃas com DOS, o OSA-18, antes da cirurgia e com pelo menos 30 dias apÃs a sua realizaÃÃo. AlÃm disso, foi realizado exame nasofibroscÃpico, otorrinolaringolÃgico, visando responder a questionÃrio semi-estruturado sobre o perfil clÃnico e social da crianÃa, em ambas as consultas. Resultados: A populaÃÃo do estudo foi de 48 crianÃas e a idade mÃdia de 5,93 anos (DP=2,43). A mÃdia de tempo de escolaridade do cuidador foi de 8,29 anos (DP=3,14). Os sintomas mais presentes foram de sono agitado, apnÃia e ronco. A mÃdia de tempo de queixa de DOS foi de 4,62 anos (DP=2,49), sendo a mÃdia de escore total do OSA-18 basal de 82,83 (grande impacto na qualidade de vida) e no pÃs-operatÃrio, de 34,15. As diferenÃas nos escores total e dos domÃnios entre o OSA-18 basal e pÃs operatÃrio foram todas significantes (p<0,00). ConclusÃes: A crianÃas com DOS apresentam impacto relevante na qualidade de vida e apresentam melhora considerÃvel apÃs o tratamento cirÃrgico. / Objective: To evaluate the impact of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in the quality of life of children under treatment by the âSistema Ãnico de SaÃde â SUSâ, and the outcomes of the treatment with adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy in these childrenâs quality of life. Methods: A non-controlled intervening study was made, of the kind âbefore and afterâ, with an assessment component (evaluation of the quality of life). A consecutive sample of children with indication of adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy was recruited from the Walter CantÃdio University Hospital otolaryngology clinic of the Federal University of Cearà Medical College, and the guardians answered a validated survey, specific for the evaluation of quality of life in children with SDB, the OSA-18, before the surgery and with, at least, 30 days after surgery, besides, a nasofibroscopic exam and an otolaryngology exam were done as well as the answering to a semi-structured survey about the childâs social and clinic profile, on both appointments. Results: The population under study was of 48 children with mean of 5,93 years of age (SD=2,43). The guardiansâ mean of years of study was 8,29 years (SD=3,14). The most frequent symptoms were agitated sleep, apnea and snoring. The SDB complaining time average was 4,62 years (SD=2,49). The total score mean of the initial OSA-18 was 82,83 (great impact in quality of life) and after surgery was 34,15. The differences in the total scores and in the domains between the initial OSA-18 and post-surgery were all significant (p<0,00). Conclusions: Children with SDB present a relevant impact in their quality of life, and they show a dramatic improvement after surgical treatment.

This research work aimed to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life of women with breast and gynecological cancer undergoing adjuvant antineoplastic chemotherapy. A descriptive study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach. The research took place at the chemotherapy ward of a nonprofit tertiary referral hospital for cancer surgery in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 72 women. Data collection happened from April to May 2012. After given informed consent, all women participated in individual interviews and completed the research protocol consisting of a questionnaire of socio-demographic data and the scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer: Quality of Life Evaluation in cancer patients (QLQ-C30 version 3.0). From the analytical study, we highlight the following results: most patients considered the overall QOL measure as âgreatâ with predominant scores 06 and 07. The sub-scale of the item for Social Functioning had the best score with 54.2. On the other hand, we observed the worst performances of women in the Role Performance, Emotional, Physical, and Cognitive Functioning. Regarding the most frequent or intense symptoms, the most reported were pain, fatigue, insomnia, and loss of appetite. At the opposite extreme were dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, with a mean score of 81.9 and 86.1, respectively. The item relating to Financial Difficulty represented a factor that negatively influences the Quality of Life with representation of 44.4 on the average score. Thus, we conclude that the interaction between clinical situation and treatments for the coexisting disease have cumulative and deleterious effects on Quality of Life, emphasizing the specific concerns related to cancer. It is worth mentioning that the predictive factors for Health-Related Quality of Life identified in this study should receive more attention in the health care practice, they may represent also starting points for future studies that address in depth the different aspects involving the QOL of cancer patients. / Este trabalho de investigaÃÃo teve como objetivo avaliar a Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à SaÃde de mulheres com cÃnceres de mama e ginecolÃgico submetidas à quimioterapia antineoplÃsica adjuvante. Estudo de natureza descritiva com delineamento transversal e abordagem quantitativa. O local da pesquisa foi o setor de quimioterapia de uma instituiÃÃo hospitalar filantrÃpica de nÃvel terciÃrio e referÃncia em cirurgia oncolÃgica na cidade de Fortaleza-Ce. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 72 mulheres. A coleta de dados foi realizada no perÃodo de abril a maio de 2012. ApÃs dado o consentimento informado, todas as mulheres participaram de uma entrevista individual e preencheram o protocolo de investigaÃÃo constituÃdo por um questionÃrio de dados sÃcio demogrÃficos e pela escala da European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer: AvaliaÃÃo da Qualidade de Vida do doente oncolÃgico (QLQ-C30 versÃo 3.0). Do estudo analÃtico realizado, destacam-se os seguintes resultados: A medida global de QV foi considerado pela maioria como âÃtimaâ com predomÃnio das notas 6 e 7. A sub-escala no item Funcionamento social obteve melhor escore com 54,2. Em contrapartida, os piores desempenhos das mulheres foram observados no nÃvel do Desempenho de PapÃis, Funcionamento Emocional, FÃsico e Cognitivo. Quanto aos sintomas mais frequentes ou intensos foram relatados a dor, fadiga, insÃnia e perda de apetite. No extremo oposto, estavam a dispnÃia, nÃuseas e vÃmitos, com um escore mÃdio de 81,9 e 86,1, respectivamente. O item referente à Dificuldade Financeira mostrou-se como fator que influencia negativamente na Qualidade de Vida com representaÃÃo de 44,4 na mÃdia de escore. Conclui-se que a interaÃÃo entre os quadros clÃnicos e os tratamentos da doenÃa coexistente tem efeitos cumulativos e deletÃrios sobre a Qualidade de Vida, acentuando as preocupaÃÃes especÃficas relacionadas ao cÃncer. Ressalta-se que os fatores preditivos de Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à SaÃde identificados neste estudo devem ser foco de maior atenÃÃo na prÃtica assistencial e podem representar pontos de partida para estudos futuros que abordem, em profundidade, os diferentes aspectos que envolvem a QV de pacientes com cÃncer.

nÃo hà / O cÃncer afeta o paciente de forma abrangente, repercutindo na sua qualidade de vida. As tecnologias em saÃde, como a utilizaÃÃo de dispositivos de infusÃo contÃnua na administraÃÃo de antineoplÃsicos, visam favorecer o tratamento, repercutindo positivamente no bem estar dos pacientes. A pesquisa objetivou avaliar a qualidade de vida de pacientes oncolÃgicos que utilizam dispositivo para infusÃo contÃnua de antineoplÃsicos a partir da escala WHOQOL-bref; e os objetivos especÃficos foram: Caracterizar os pacientes oncolÃgicos que utilizam dispositivo para infusÃo contÃnua de antineoplÃsicos, quanto aos aspectos sociodemogrÃficos e clÃnicos; identificar os domÃnios de qualidade de vida afetados nos pacientes que utilizam dispositivo para infusÃo contÃnua antineoplÃsicos; comparar os domÃnios de qualidade de vida dos pacientes no primeiro e terceiro ciclo de aplicaÃÃo dos antineoplÃsicos. Estudo descritivo, exploratÃrio, quantitativo, longitudinal do tipo painel, realizado no perÃodo de abril a julho de 2013, com 28 pacientes em tratamento antineoplÃsico com a utilizaÃÃo de dispositivo de infusÃo contÃnua, de uma operadora de plano de saÃde, em Fortaleza, CearÃ. A coleta de dados ocorreu atravÃs de visita domiciliar, durante o primeiro e terceiro ciclos de administraÃÃo do antineoplÃsico, com aplicaÃÃo de dois questionÃrios: sociodemogrÃficos e clÃnicos; e avaliaÃÃo de qualidade de vida WHOQOL-bref. O tratamento dos dados foi realizado com auxÃlio de um software estatÃstico STATA. Aplicou-se o coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach, para avaliaÃÃo da consistÃncia interna das respostas, o teste de igualdade de mÃdias Wilcoxon para dados pareados e o teste de Qui-quadrado de TendÃncia linear. A correlaÃÃo dos domÃnios foi feita atravÃs do coeficiente de CorrelaÃÃo Linear de Spearman. Predominaram na amostra (n=28), mulheres (53,6%), faixa etÃria 51 a 60 anos (32,1%), casadas (60,7%), catÃlicas (67,9%), exercendo atividade laboral (71,5%). A neoplasia maligna predominante foi a de cÃlon e reto (57,2%), com metÃstase (53,6%) hepÃtica. O tratamento cirÃrgico mais empregado foi a colectomia (39,3%). O protocolo mais utilizado foi o FOLFOX (67,9%), com intenÃÃo paliativa (57,1%). Os efeitos indesejados mais evidenciados foram os gastrointestinais em associaÃÃo com fadiga (39,3%). O Ãndice de alfa de Cronbach atestou a confiabilidade do estudo. Avaliando a qualidade de vida quanto Ãs mÃdias dos itens globais e domÃnios da escala, a percepÃÃo quanto a qualidade de vida foi considerada regular; e a satisfaÃÃo com a saÃde ruim, em ambos os ciclos do tratamento. Quanto a avaliaÃÃo dos domÃnios, o de maior mÃdia foi o das relaÃÃes sociais, e o de menor, o psicolÃgico. A avaliaÃÃo da qualidade de vida foi vista como regular, em ambos os ciclos. O dispositivo favorece aspectos relacionados à independÃncia, desempenho de atividades diÃrias e laborais, porÃm nÃo à isento de aspectos negativos, influenciando a percepÃÃo dos pacientes, pelo medo do desconhecido, presenÃa de um aparato no cotidiano, desconforto quanto à movimentaÃÃo. Foi possÃvel concluir que nenhum fator isoladamente vai influenciar positiva ou negativamente a qualidade de vida de pacientes oncolÃgicos, independente do momento vivido. à importante saber os determinantes neste sentido, permitindo a implementaÃÃo de estratÃgias para preservar a qualidade de vida desta clientela. / Cancer affects the patient in an extensive way, reverberating in his quality of life. The technology in health, such as the use of continuous infusion device in the administration of antineoplastic aimed at favoring the treatment, positively reverberating in the welfare of the patient. The research aimed at evaluating the quality of life of the patient who use an antineoplastic continuous infusion device from the WHOQOL-bref scale; and the specific objectives were: to identify the domains of quality of life affected in the patients who use the antineoplastic continuous infusion device, as to the socio-demographic and clinical aspect; to compare the domains of quality of life of the patients in the first and in the third cycle of application of antineoplastics. It is a descriptive, exploratory, quantitative, longitudinal study of panel type, made from April to July 2013, with 28 patients under antineoplastic treatment with the use of continuous infusion device, of a health plan operator, in Fortaleza, CearÃ, Brazil. The data collection was made through home visits during the first and the third cycle of administration of antineoplastics, with the application of two questionnaires: socio-demographic and clinical; and the WHOQOL-bref evaluation of quality of life. The treatment of the data was made with the help of STATA statistics software. The CronbachÂs alfa coefficient was applied, for the evaluation of the internal consistence of the answers, the Wilcoxon test of average equality for paired data and the Chi-Squared test of linear tendency. The correlation of the domains was made through the coefficient of SpearmanÂs linear correlation. The following items predominated in the sample (n=28) were: women (53.6%), age range from 51 to 60 years (32.1%), married (60.7%), catholic (67.9%), working (71.5%). The predominant malign neoplasia was of colon and rectum (57.2%), with hepatic metastasis (53.6%). The most employed surgical treatment was colectomy (39.3%). The most used protocol was FOLFOX (67.9%), with palliative intention (57.1%). The most evident unwelcome effects were the gastrointestinal ones associated with fatigue (39.3%). The CronbachÂs alfa coefficient attested the reliability of the study. Evaluating the quality of life concerning the average of the global items and domains of the scale, the perception as to the quality of life was considered regular; and the satisfaction with the bad health, in both cycles of the treatment. As to the evaluation of the domains, the highest average was the one concerning the social relations and the lowest average was the psychological domain. The evaluation of the quality of life was seen as regular, in both cycles. The tool favors aspects related to independence, performance of daily and labor activities, but it is not exempt of a negative aspect, influencing the perception of the patients, by the fear of the unknown, the presence of a device in the daily life, discomfort related to moving. It was possible to conclude that no isolated factor will positively or negatively influence in the quality of life of oncological patients, independently of the moment lived. It is important to know the determinants in this sense, allowing the implementation of strategies to preserve the quality of life of this clientele.