postoperative period. The patients are allowed oral intake as
soon as possible postoperatively and mobilised at least two
hours on the day of surgery and further more the first
postoperative day. The EDA is removed on the second
postoperative day as is the suprapubic urinary catheter. The
discharge is individualised and not definitely set.
Procedures
Different methods of data collection were used, including
questionnaires, data obtained from clinical records and
telephone interviews. A survey was conducted using selfadministered
questionnaires, European Organization for
Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30
(EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire, colorectal cancer module
QLQ-CR38 supplemented by demographic data and a
modification of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire,
short form.
EORTC QLQ-C30 (Aaronson et al. 1993) and QLQCR38
(Sprangers et al. 1999) are multidimensional instruments
validated to measure health-related quality of life
(HQRL) that are specific to cancer. EORTC QLQ-C30
covers the following dimensions: Symptom distress, Functional
ability and Overall health status. The questionnaires
consist of statements to be answered on a four-point numeric
scale to indicate the degree to which the respondent agrees or
disagrees. A high score corresponds to a higher level of
symptomatic distress. In contrast, a higher score in overall
health status corresponds to a better outcome. QLQ-CR 38 is
an addition to the C 30 specifically designed to cover bowel
problems.
The BPI questionnaire is a valid instrument that focuses on
patients’ pain experience and the impact of pain on patients’
functional ability (Cleeland 1989). BPI asks for a rating of
what degree pain interferes with functional ability where 0 is
‘does not interfere’ and 10 is ‘interferes completely’, with a
high score corresponding to a higher level of pain-related
distress. BPI also asks the patient to indicate the location of
pain, treatments for pain and the extent of pain relief.
Approval to use BPI was obtained. Data obtained from the
clinical records were issues concerning patient’s physiological
status, i.e. infusions given, ability to eat and drink, patient’s
temperature and some laboratory reports, complications after
surgery and documented pain report.
The EORTC QLQ-C30 – CR38 and BPI questionnaires
were answered on five occasions, the day before surgery
and one, two, three and four weeks postoperatively. The
first questionnaires were answered on arrival at the hospital,
and the subsequent questionnaires were sent by mail on
separate occasions and returned in a prepaid envelope. In a