The association between having assistive devices and activities of daily living ability and health-related quality of life: An exploratory cross-sectional study among people with advanced cancer

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether people with advanced cancer who had assistive devices had higher or lower ADL ability and/or HRQoL than people with advanced cancer who did not have assistive devices.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 164 participants with advanced cancer. Self-reported ADL ability and HRQoL were assessed using the ADL-Interview and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Data regarding assistive devices were collected using a study-specific questionnaire. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression. The regression coefficients (B) were presented in crude form and adjusted for potential confounding variables (age, gender, cohabiting, receiving help, physical functioning, fatigue and pain). p-Values (p) < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Having assistive devices was associated with lower ADL ability (B = -0.923, p = <0.0001), but this association was not significant after adjustment where it was found that physical functioning was a confounder positively associated with ADL ability (B = 0.030, p = <0.0001). No significant association was found between having assistive devices and HRQoL. Both fatigue (B = -0.336, p = <0.0001) and pain (B = -0.124, p = 0.010) were negatively associated with HRQoL.

CONCLUSION: The participants had the same ADL ability and HRQoL regardless of them having assistive devices. Interventions addressing physical functioning or fatigue and pain might contribute to enhancing ADL ability and HRQoL among people with advanced cancer.