Cancer, AIDS, and Quality of Life

by Jay A. Levy, Claude Jasmin, Gabriel Bez

Overview

This volume contains selected contributions from individuals who attended the Sec­ ond International Conference of the International Council for Global Health Progress (ICGHP) held at UNESCO in Paris, France, on January 15-17, 1996. This conference brought together experts in many disciplines that deal with the devastating diseases of cancer and AIDS with a focus on the concerns for quality of life. The ICGHP fosters mul­ ticultural and, multidisciplinary approaches to global health problems to help influence governments and other international health organizations to emphasize prevention and care of diseases and to understand their scientific, social, and cultural features. The Coun­ cil encourages the interchange of information on health problems and policy and supports educational funding for the public at large. Its objective is to effect diseases-free lives in the world community. Participants of the conference included scientists, sociologists, government leaders, physicians, health care providers, epidemiologists, religious leaders, company officials, ethicists, and philosophers. They examined and discussed the many variables involved in quality of life for people affected with cancer and with AIDS. The volume's text begins with introductory comments by officials attending the JCGHP conference. Subsequently, a chapter is dedicated to one aspect of quality of life, be it definition, scientific research, evolution, cultural changes, ethics, measurements, or other issues dealing with health care and treatment survival. The second part of the volume includes commentaries dealing with fi ve aspects of quality of life which merit consideration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475795721
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	04/25/2013
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1997
Pages:	198
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Levy, Jay A. (UCSF); Jasmin, Claude (Hopital Paul Brousse); Bez, Gabriel (Ministere de la Sante Publique)

The contributors represent the specialties of healthcare research, public health, and oncology. Most are from universities and research institutes in 12 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and France. Institutions prominently represented include UNESCO, World Health Organization, and Columbia Univ.

Table of Contents

Introductory Comments. Problems of Defining Quality of Life; A. Feinstein. How Does Asic Research in Cancer and AIDS Approach the Concern for Quality of Life; J.A. Levy. The Evolution of Quality of Life; D. Joyce. Quality of Care for Cancer and AIDS; R.D. George. Changing our Metaphors to Put Quality of Life at the Center of Health Care; G. Annas. Uses of Information about Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with AIDS and Cancer; P.D. Cleary. Improving the Quality of Life of Cancer patients; P. Maguire. How Does the Cost of Care Influence the Effectiveness of Health Care Delivery: J. Rovira. Future Issues in the Use of Health Status Assessment Measures; S. Greenfield. Quality of Life at the End Stages of Life; D. Callahan. Commentaries: Quality of Life, Who Is Responsible? Quality of Life: The Experience of an Oncology Unite Functioning in a Rural Greek Area; V. Georgoulias. Quality of Life, Who Defines It?. Risk as Diagnosis-Implications for the Quality of Life; L. Sachs. Quality of Life at the End Stages of Life. Quality of Life at the End Stages of Life; M. Bedjaoui. Quality of Life: Socio-Economic, Geographic and Cultural Factors. Quality of Life-Pharmaceutical Considerations. Conclusions; H. Feinberg. 16 Additional Articles.

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

This book collects 27 papers given at an international conference convened in Paris in 1996. A diverse faculty of scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, ethicists, and political and religious representatives address the issue of the quality of life in patients being treated for cancer or HIV disease. The intent of the conference and the resulting book was to explore quality of life (QoL) as a new measuring tool for assessing the results of medical therapies for these conditions as well as for understanding the social factors important in patient's lives. The important recognition here is that treatment of physical and other forms of pain is often inadequate, and that heretofore nonquantifiable factors contributing to patients' overall well-being are often neglected. The authors address this basic problem from various angles, including research, clinical, ethical, and political perspectives. Readers in any of these disciplines with an interest in this topic will find new concepts presented here. The opening section features attempts to define and measure QoL, with specific applications to cancer and HIV. Perspectives range from basic science to economic concerns. Further commentary explores QoL issues in palliative care, socioeconomic issues, problems in the developing world, and pharmaceutical considerations. The authors are some of the leading figures in their respective fields from around the world. Their contributions here are marked by brevity and authority, even where there are conflicting perspectives presented on a particular topic. The papers collected in this book represent the first comprehensive overview of QoL as a potentially measurable indicator of the truesuccess or failure of medical care for cancer and HIV disease. Although the information presented is unlikely to be of immediate clinical application at this time, the perspectives are crucially important in raising awareness of issues heretofore viewed as having secondary clinical relevance. Sophisticated readers with some background and interest in medical ethics, cancer, and AIDS will find some stimulating ideas presented here.

Steve Heilig

Reviewer: Steve Heilig, MPH (San Francisco Medical Society)
Description: This book collects 27 papers given at an international conference convened in Paris in 1996. A diverse faculty of scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, ethicists, and political and religious representatives address the issue of the quality of life in patients being treated for cancer or HIV disease.
Purpose: The intent of the conference and the resulting book was to explore quality of life (QoL) as a new measuring tool for assessing the results of medical therapies for these conditions as well as for understanding the social factors important in patient's lives. The important recognition here is that treatment of physical and other forms of pain is often inadequate, and that heretofore nonquantifiable factors contributing to patients' overall well-being are often neglected.
Audience: The authors address this basic problem from various angles, including research, clinical, ethical, and political perspectives. Readers in any of these disciplines with an interest in this topic will find new concepts presented here.
Features: The opening section features attempts to define and measure QoL, with specific applications to cancer and HIV. Perspectives range from basic science to economic concerns. Further commentary explores QoL issues in palliative care, socioeconomic issues, problems in the developing world, and pharmaceutical considerations. The authors are some of the leading figures in their respective fields from around the world. Their contributions here are marked by brevity and authority, even where there are conflicting perspectives presented on a particular topic.
Assessment: The papers collected in this book represent the first comprehensive overview of QoL as a potentially measurable indicator of the true success or failure of medical care for cancer and HIV disease. Although the information presented is unlikely to be of immediate clinical application at this time, the perspectives are crucially important in raising awareness of issues heretofore viewed as having secondary clinical relevance. Sophisticated readers with some background and interest in medical ethics, cancer, and AIDS will find some stimulating ideas presented here.

Doody's Review Service