Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Quality of Life

Gender-associated differences in the quality of life after allogeneic BMT

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 28, pages 503–509 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of male and female allogeneic BMT recipients. One hundred and nine BMT patients participated in this cross-sectional survey and completed the following instruments: Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT-BMT version 3), shortened version of Profile of Mood States (POMS), MOS Survey of Social Support, and A Brief Measure of Social Support (SSQ6). Independent of the time post-BMT, perceived physical well-being, age at BMT, and education, females reported worse emotional well-being and more fatigue than males. Females also indicated more tiredness and less quality sleep. Males were found to experience less satisfaction with social support regardless of marital status. On the other hand, married males were more satisfied with their sexual life, more interested in sexual relationships, and more sexually active compared to married females. However, no significant differences between males and females were found in terms of overall physical, functional, and social well-being assessed by the FACT-BMT. The present results indicated that important gender differences exist among allogeneic BMT recipients which need to be addressed when designing post-treatment intervention programs for BMT recipients. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 503–509.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aaronson NK, Bekmann J (eds) . The Quality of Life of Cancer Patients EORTC Monograph Series, vol 17 Raven Press: New York 1987

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cella DF, Tulsky DS, Gray G et al. The functional assessment of cancer therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure J Clin Oncol 1993 11: 570–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bird CE, Rieker PP . Gender matters: an integrated model for understanding men's and women's health Soc Sci Med 1999 48: 745–756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Prieto JM, Saez R, Carreras E et al. Physical and psychosocial functioning of 117 survivors of bone marrow transplantation Bone Marrow Transplant 1996 17: 1133–1142

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Andrykowski MA, Carpenter JS, Greiner CB et al. Energy level and sleep quality following bone marrow transplantation Bone Marrow Transplant 1997 20: 669–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Andrykowski MA, Greiner CB, Altmaier EM et al. Quality of life following bone marrow transplantation: findings from a multicentre study Br J Cancer 1995 71: 1322–1329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Syrjala KL, Roth-Roemer Sl, Abrams JR et al. Prevalence and predictors of sexual dysfunction in long-term survivors of marrow transplantation J Clin Oncol 1998 16: 3148–3157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Baker F, Wingard JR, Curbow B et al. Quality of life of bone marrow transplant long-term survivors Bone Marrow Transplant 1994 13: 589–596

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bush NE, Haberman M, Donaldson G, Sullivan KM . Quality of life of 125 adults surviving 6–18 years after bone marrow transplantation Soc Sci Med 1995 40: 479–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wingard JR, Curbow B, Baker F et al. Sexual satisfaction in survivors of bone marrow transplantation Bone Marrow Transplant 1992 9: 185–190

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sutherland HJ, Fyles GM, Adams G et al. Quality of life following bone marrow transplantation Bone Marrow Transplant 1997 20: 1129–1136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Irwin PH, Kramer S, Diamond NH et al. Sex differences in psychological distress during definitive radiation therapy for cancer J Psychosoc Oncol 1987 4: 63–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Baider L, Perez T, Kaplan De Nour A . Gender and adjustment to choronic disease. A study of couples with colon cancer Gen Hosp Psychiatr 1989 11: 1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Friedman LC, Nelson DV, Baer PE et al. The relationship of dispositional optimism, daily life stress, and domestic environment to coping methods used by cancer patients J Behav Med 1992 15: 127–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sneed NV, Edlund B, Dias JK . Adjustment of gynecological and breast cancer patients to cancer diagnosis: comparisons with males and females having other cancer sites Health Care Women Int 1992 13: 11–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fife BL, Kennedy VN, Robinson L . Gender and adjustment to cancer: clinical implications J Psychosoc Oncol 1994 12: 1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Greimel ER, Padilla GV, Grant MM . Gender differences in outcomes among patients with cancer Psycho-Oncol 1989 7: 197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Neitzert CS, Ritvo P, Dancey J et al. The psychosocial impact of bone marrow transplantation: a review of the literature Bone Marrow Transplant 1998 22: 409–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Aromaa A, Heliövaara M, Impivaara O et al. Terveys, toimintakyky ja hoidontarve Suomessa. English Summary: Health, functional limitations and need for care in Finland; Basic results from the Mini-Finland Health Survey Kansaneläkelaitos: Helsinki 1989

    Google Scholar 

  20. Andrykowski MA, Altmaier EM, Barnett RL et al. The quality of life in adult survivors of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation Transplantation 1990 50: 399–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Molassiotis A, Van Den Akker OBA, Boughton BJ . Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplantation Soc Sci Med 1997 44: 317–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McNair PM, Lorr M, Droppelman L . Profile of Mood States Manual Education and Industrial Testing Service: San Diego 1971

  23. Shacham S . A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States J Personality Assessment 1983 47: 305–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Cella DF, Tulsky DS, Gray G et al. The functional assessment of cancer therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure J Clin Oncol 1993 11: 570–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. McQuellon RP, Russell GB, Cella DF et al. Quality of life measurement in bone marrow transplantation: development of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Bone Marrow transplantation (FACT-BMT) scale Bone Marrow Transplant 1997 19: 357–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Katz ST, Downs H, Cash H, Grotz R . Progress in the development of the index of ADL Gerontologist 1970 10: 20–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sherbourne CD, Stewart AL . The MOS Social support survey Soc Sci Med 1991 6: 705–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sarason IG, Sarason BR, Shearin EN, Pierce GR . A brief measure of social support: practical and theoretical implications J Soc Pers Rel 1987 4: 497–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Heinonen H, Volin L, Uutela A et al. Quality of life and factors related to perceived satisfaction with quality of life after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation Ann Hematol 2001 3: 137–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Puska P, Tuomilehto J, Nissinen A, Vartiainen E (eds) . The North Karelia Project The National Public Health Institute: Helsinki 1995

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mor V, Laliberte L, Morris JN, Wiemann M . The Karnofsky status scale: an examination of its reliability and validity in a research setting Cancer 1984 53: 2002–2007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Syrjälä KL, Chapko MK, Vitiliano C, Sullivan KM . Recovery after allogeneic marrow transplantation: prospective study of predictors of long-term physical and psychosociasl functioning Bone Marrow Transplant 1993 11: 319–327

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kontula O, Haavio-Mannila E . Suomalainen seksi, tietoa suomalaisten sukupuolielämän muutoksesta, Finnish sex, knowledge of change in Finnish sexual-life WSOY: Helsinki 1993

    Google Scholar 

  34. Belle D . Gender differences in the social moderators of stress In: Barnett RC, Biener L, Bamch GK (eds) Social Support and Health Academic Press: New York 1987 257–277

    Google Scholar 

  35. Turner HA . Gender and social support: taking the bad with the good? Sex Roles 1994 30: 521–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Shumaker SA, Hill DR . Gender differences in social support and physical health Health Psychology 1991 10: 102–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Andrykowski MA, Brady MJ, Greiner CB et al. ‘Returning to normal’ following bone marrow transplantation: outcomes, expectations and informed consent Bone Marrow Transplant 1995 15: 573–581

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    H Heinonen, L Volin & T Ruutu

  2. National Public Health Institute Helsinki, Finland

    A Uutela

  3. Dept of Psychology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA

    M Zevon & C Barrick

Authors
  1. H Heinonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L Volin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Uutela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M Zevon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C Barrick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T Ruutu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heinonen, H., Volin, L., Uutela, A. et al. Gender-associated differences in the quality of life after allogeneic BMT. Bone Marrow Transplant 28, 503–509 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703158

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703158

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links