The impact of treatment for gynecological cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A systematic review

Gynecologic cancers are major sources of mortality and morbidity. Although many review articles have reported on the impact of these diseases on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), none have reviewed the evidence in specific relation to the effect of treatment on HRQoL. Consequently, we systematically searched 4 electronic databases and hand-searched relevant reference lists and bibliographies to identify literature on this subject. Only 47 studies used a validated questionnaire to measure HRQoL. Although a meta-analysis was not possible, we found HRQoL rarely included as a treatment outcome, and when included assessment was often methodologically flawed. Seldom were pretreatment and posttreatment data collected or treatment regimes documented. Except for a few studies, analysis of HRQoL was conducted on small samples, excluding the cancer site and stage. Consequently, no definitive conclusions could be drawn and therefore we conclude with recommendations for the future reporting of HRQoL in gynecologic oncology studies.